5.0junkie

So glad this was brought up. One negative person can ruin the experience for so many people. It's not just fellow WLS people, its the general public too. One negative WLS patient that failed the system makes the system look like a failure for everyone and therefore people like me don't publicly discuss their decisions because we are automatically judged based on someone else's failure. Please, anyone out there that has a system failure post your story. Thats how we all learn. Please, anyone out there that failed the system, think twice about posting your negativity.

Nothing to be nervous about. Just listen to your fav music before or read your fav book. Worst part for me was what was in my head.

Seems like everyone uses a different protein. I use Isagenix. Love this stuff. The regular shake is 24 grams of protein and all of the other things our bodies need. I add one scoop of their protein only which makes my shakes 38 grams. I feel very full and satisfied with these. My dietician loved the idea of using Isagenix once she read all the ingredients and values. Ive been adding one scoop of fiber as well which has really seemed to help with easing the gas. Day 4 post op and all is well. Feeling somewhat normal again.

Are y'all drinking/sipping slower or faster than you thought you'd be able to? I seem to be not having any issues with normal drinking in moderation. After everything I read I thought sipping would be a struggle but no issues so far.

Nothing gross about a good BM. That's what's great about this forum. This is one place you can talk about that stuff and actually get congratulated for having one or advice on how to have one. I haven't had one since Tuesday. Don't feel the need and don't feel constipated either. Not sure what's happening but I'm sure my body will tell me soon enough. I've actually been up doing laundry and some light cleaning. My wife has been going to a Redbox twice a day for me which I have enjoyed. I didn't think the clear liquids was bad. Jello and Popsicles were the best! I'm still trying to figure out since I'm on my shakes if that means I can have pudding and yogurt too. I've had both and had no problems but not sure if that's allowed or not.

I think 21 pounds in a year is still awesome. How much did you lose without the band?!?!?! Keeping your head right is the biggest battle. You can do it!

So are y'all hungry yet? I've been starving since the second day. Have you started on your shakes yet? Started mine yesterday and had two of the three I'm supposed to. My dietician told me to just take it slow. Everything went down fine but it definitely irritated the gas and got things moving. I've been having trouble staying hydrated. Feel like I should be sipping every other minute to keep up.

I was banded the 26th too!!! Things have been going better than expected. Things will get better!

Day 1 - Was not nervous at all before surgery. Once they came to wheel me back I don't remember much after that. When they woke me up to remove the breathing tube I felt all clogged and couldn't breathe. Ended up having to have a breathing treatment. The surgical pain wasnt all that bad with all the drugs but the gas pain in the shoulders was pretty bad. Felt like somebody was standing on my shoulders and someone else was standing on my stomach. Once they wheeled me back to my final room for waking up and vitals, it all started to hit me what had happened. My nurse brought me some apple juice and I was apple to sip that down. That seemed like the best tasting thing I've ever had. Juice went down without any problems. When it was time for me leave and they brought me the wheelchair I had some sharp pain getting out of the bed but getting dressed wasnt too bad. The car ride home wasnt bad at all. I arrived at the hospital at 9:30 and was home at 4:30. Slept most the car ride home but bumps in the road would make my stomach bounce and that would momentarily wake me up. Got home and went straight to bed. My wife went and got my meds while I was sleeping. When she got back I awoke and took one Lortab pill and a Gasx pill. The gas pain in the shoulders and in the abdomen seemed to the dominant form of pain. After sipping some more water I started to have some PB's that made things start to feel much better. I ended up falling back asleep and found that laying down not flat but not on my side felt the best. A few times I even laid flat in my back with my legs up like I was frog felt really good to relieve the tension on my stitches. I was up and out of bed around 8 for about two hours. Did some walking, drank some broth, had a few small bites of yogurt and had two Popsicles. No issues with any of that at all. Took another pain pill at 10 and went back to bed. This time lying down was a bit more painful from being up so long but finally found a comfortable position and drifted off. Woke up at 4 to go the bathroom and take another pill. Crawled back into bed and went right back to sleep. Getting out of bed is the most painful. Everything else isn't too bad at all.

So last night went really well. Still had some gas pain but nowhere near as bad as the day of. Ended up walking on the treadmill twice last night for a total of a mile and a half. Can't believe how much walking can do for easing the soreness. I felt great after stepping off. I would have never walked a mile on the treadmill before surgery so I'm not sure where I got the motivation to do it the day after surgery but it really does help. Slept really good last night and only woke up once. I told myself I should have gotten up and taken a pain pill but I just fell back asleep. That was a bad decision. When I woke up this morning I was really sore feeling and could definitely tell I didn't have any meds in me. I definitely suggest keeping the pain meds flowing. Anyways, got up, took my pills and made the kiddoes pancakes. Just being up and doing something seems to make things feel better. The pain in my shoulders has started to subside. Now it just feels more like someone is touching my shoulder instead of standing on it. According to my dietician I'm able to start shakes today but haven't tried it yet.

Hope this is the right place to post this question but what has everyone done to prevent scarring on the incisions?

Did it not seem like the roads were bumpier than normal!!!

I was banded yesterday and the only thing I took was comfy clothes. My car ride home was thirty minutes but I don't remember much of it. A blanket and a pillow should be all you need!

Who was your surgeon?

I am supposed to have 110 grams a day. This was based on my weight. My dietician told me to come back in six months after surgery to see if we needed to adjust the amount.

Any idea what caused the slippage?

You should be banded by now. How'd it go?

I second the MIO. I have MIO everyday and have tried several different flavors. The sweet tea and peach tea are the best in my opinion and the Green Thunder taste great while giving you that little extra. I kicked energy drinks and started using the MIO energy. They actually seem to provide more boost.

I have been following this forum for about two months now but just signed up today. I have read and followed several people but its the ones that really spelled out their experience that seemed to keep me from getting nervous. I just wanted to share my side so that others may benefit from my dealings like I did with people before me. Today has been good so far. I've been up several times and have actually walked a mile on the treadmill. The gas pains come and go but are much more tolerable today. My biggest issue today is hunger pains. I'm starving!!! Been staying hydrated though and don't really feel week at all. My incisions only hurt when I'm adjusting or getting up and down. I have found its much better to be out of bed and in the recliner or on the coach. Something about lying flat seems to stretch on my incisions. Overall it's been a great day. I have had no problems sipping or swallowing anything. I'm on liquids for the rest of today but can start back on my shakes tomorrow.

I was banded yesterday. So far so good! Just feel like I have a stomach ache today and sleepy.

There is nothing to be nervous about. I was banded yesterday and it all went great. Nice to see another guy on the forum. Good luck to you and remember its just all in your head!