aubrie

I did the same thing. Reaching really high was a little painful. Be sure to rest, and get someone to help you UNPACK. the little pains are pretty normal, but if the pain persists or gets worse, call the doc. I lifted to much Christmas shopping, and I was sore for a couple days. My already healed incision also pulled open a bit on the corner. So you CAN overdo it. I didn't have any pain, and I watched for infection. Just listen to your body.

I had a major pity party about two days ago. I cried on and off all day. EVEN AT WORK!!! It was awful. I had several little reasons for crying, but none that were earth shattering. It is wierd. Do hormones change with loss of weight? I noticed that my ovarian cysts are not hurting nearly as much. Just a thought. I felt like I did when I was newly pregnant a hundred years ago.... No way that can be it. I have no plumbing. Can surgery trigger menopause?

I'm 4 1/2 weeks post op. For the past three weeks I have had a wild craving for fried chicken. The KFC commercials were killing me. It was the only time I had head hunger. Well, I had been doing so good with that but last night I caved. My DH brought some home from a Christmas party. The smell was incredible. My craving got the best of me and I ate an entire thigh. Crispy, crunchy, outside and all!!! I paid for it for about 3 hours with a tummy ache. I wasn't stuck, just not used to greasy and heavy. I'm "supposed" to still be on mushies. when my DH saw me eating it he said, "What are you doing???!!!" I shrugged and said eating chicken.... He started teasing me saying he was going to tell on me and call the doctor. I told him to go ahead, with crumbs all over me and in perfect bliss. Until the tummy ache started.....

My doctor recommends you stay a day or two, but my insurance doesn't cover an overnight, inpatient stay. BUT 23 hours is considered under one day. I wasn't "admitted" until the very last minute, and then was released EXACTLY 23 hours later. This meant that I did indeed spend the night, and was watched closely, but slid in under the wire for insurance restrictions. They also have a very comfortable hospital lounge for you to spend some of the next day in, if you don't quite feel up to going home after you're released. So if you feel bad, or have problems, you just go back upstairs and they readmit you. It was a nice to know I had the option if I needed it.

If you are not used to eating artificial sweetner, that could also be causing the headaches. I can't eat artificial sweetner, and do everything I can to avoid it. It gives me massive headaches as well.

My insurance doesn't cover it as an overnight procedure. Bastards..... But my doctor discovered that 23 hours is considered less than one day. So they didn't start my "clock" ticking until they were wheeling me into surgery. I was released 23 hours later, so technically it wasn't over night, but I did sleep in the hospital and was watched closely during that time. They just worked around the restriction. It was marvelous.

I could only manage a 1/2 cup serving of cream soup the first few days of full liquid. I had to work my way up to more. Just take your time. Remember, you have a lot of gas in the way too. Walk and try to get rid of some of that. You will feel a little better when you pass some.

My doctor told me two weeks - nothing over 5 lbs. and for 4 more weeks, nothing over 10 pounds. Well at three weeks post op I went Christmas Shopping. The the 3 Grinches that live in my house refused to come and help carry packages. I felt good, so I did it anyway. Well, the corner of my incision popped open and began to ooze a little. NOT smart. I should have listened to the doctor. they tell you this for a reason... obviously. I was just stubborn and hard headed and ended up paying for it. I was very sore the next day and spent extra time in bed. I'm ready to go to the gym, but after that, I'm waiting until after New Years!!

My DH bought me some very high quality liquid vitamins by Nature's Way after surgery. I swear that crap curled my toenails. I have never tasted anything so vile. I gagged it down for about a week and had to give it up. I was starting to get a gag reflex just smelling it. Now I'm on flintstones with iron. Much easier to deal with, but I still feel I need more. I'll try some of your suggestions.

Yup. My husband tells me I burp and fart just like a man. How charming and dainty huh?

Mine lasted about 8 or 9 days. It wasn't to bad though. I was lucky. No shoulder or back pain.

I went through all the 6 month crap. Had EVERYTHING they asked for. I was denied. They wanted more. I went through excessive expense and lot of time and heartache, but after 11 months. Yes, 11, I got approved. I had to file an appeal but I had my rhuemetologist, my cardiologist, my family physician and my OB/GYN ALL write letters to Aetna in support of this. They couldn't argue with all of them, so I was approved. I had the surgery on 11/19/07. I started the process on January 8th. It was a nightmare but worth it. I still ended up paying my surgeon $3000 because Aetna tried to cheat him out of his fee. His fee is $6,000 and they would only pay $1800. He said he couldn't do it for that. He said if you pay me $3,000, I'll write the rest off and call it even. He knew what I had gone through. WHAT A GUY!!!!

I don't normally like broth out of the can either. BUT I have discovered that Swansons makes something called "seasoned" chicken broth. It has roasted garlic flavor and a bit of herbs. It's wonderful. If my meat is dry, I pour a tiny bit over the top. I poach my fish fillets in it. It's pretty decent. I have also found a Mexican brand of bouillon here in Texas that makes shrimp and crab flavor. It's WONDERFUL. It doesn't come in cubes. It's like a powder. sort of. You use 1 tsp. to a cup of hot water. I make egg drop soup with it. It gets the protien in me with little problem.

Everyone seems to have their ports located in different places. I think it may have to do with where your port is located.

I've been very depressed the past couple weeks. I'm only 4 weeks out, and I'm wondering if it's the dramatic decrease in whole grains and breads, which is where you B complex vitamins come from. Rather than get back on antidepressants, which I've been off of for several years, should I try a B complex first? Has anyone had any experience with this??

I got a pamphlet with where to order a medic alert item from the hospital at the time of discharge. I have to assume they recommend it. They also gave me a medical alert, laminated card for my wallet. It sits next to my driver's license, so if they look at that, they will see the medical alert. But I'm ordering a bracelet too. They have such pretty ones with 14k gold, sterling and pearl beads. I would wear it even without the charm.

I don't want mine reduced..... Just pulled up. My nipples have been staring at the floor for years. I want some headlights right out front!!!!!

Only lost 2 pounds.....

At my house, the fact that I have a port and a band makes me the "Bionic Woman". Or the Alien Borg...... Go figure...... I can't feel my band with my hand, but occasionally, for some reason I can feel it pressing on my ribs. It can get uncomfortable. My port is just to the left of my belly button. I have to suck in to be able to feel it good. I can feel it better in the morning. So wierd.

I was banded November 19th. So yesterday was 4 weeks out. For whatever reason, I seem to have some restriction. Not a lot, but enough for me to notice. If I eat to much or to fast I hurt. I've gotten stuck once. No PBs yet. I'm eating anywhere from 3/4 cup of food to 1 1/2 cups of food, depending on the food. I can eat a lot of soup, but solids.... 3/4 cup and I'm stuffed. I'm following the rules to the letter and I have lost 21 pounds in 4 weeks. I was not required to do a pre-op liquid diet except for two days prior to surgery, so I only lost 2 pounds. I'm also exercising more than I have in 8 years. That definately helps. I have had NO fills yet, but my doc put in 4 CCs into my 10 cc band while in surgery. I get hungry occasionally. Mostly in the evening before dinner. Past that, my water seems to control my daytime hunger. So far so good.

When you reach one of your mini goals, don't forget to treat yourself!!! No, not with food..... Have a friend help purchase little fun things for you and put them in a basket. When you do well, you can reach in and choose. For example: a movie pass, a new bottle of nail polish, a pedicure, a funny pair of socks, a gift certificate for the florist, a naughty book, you name it!

I was banded on Monday and went back 10 days later. I could have used another two days, as I was exhausted, but I was okay.

I didn't have a pre-op diet per say. I had to eat VERY healthy with lots of lean meat/fish and fresh veggies for two weeks, there was no restrictions on carbs and two days of liquids before surgery. that's it. I didn't have any problems. I asked my doctor about this, and he said it was more important to him to have his patient nutrionally healthy and strong in preparation for surgery. It helps the healing process progress faster. Weeks of liquids just weaken you. He also said, he wanted the surgery to be easier on the patient, not easier on him. The fatty liver poses a problem in surgery, and it makes it easier on the surgeon for it not to be there, but he was more interested in my comfort and ease, not his. No offense to anyone, but that's what he said.

Congrats Azallboys!!! Welcome to bandland. The secret is protien. If you don't have protien powder, get some. Whey isolate is best. If you eat soup, put in some protien. If you drink anything, make sure it has a little protien. It will help with the hunger. The first 4 days, fortunatley I wasn't hungry at all. I had to force myself to drink. Day 5 I was hungy. By day 14 when I started mushies I was down 12 pounds. Mushies will help. I'm still losing though.... I'm three weeks out and have lost about 20 pounds. Hang tough. It's worth it.

Thanks Dr. Watkins!!! I put in a call and sent an email to my surgeon regarding the suture spitting. I'll steer clear of the pool.