aubrie

My doc told me the EXACT same thing. He feels if you make it difficult with counting calories and measuring and weighing that you will be less apt to stick with it. He doesn't want any protien drinks either. The point is to learn to eat normally, with healthy choices just in much smaller quantities. I already ate healthy. Just about 4 times the amount I needed. My little friend the band will take care of that problem.

Since you are a body builder, and lift weights regularly, I think you should know that you WILL lose muscle mass with a bypass. You have absorption problems, and protien deficiencies are very common. In my support group the other night, I heard 3 bypass patients complain about thier loss of muscle mass, and that they were not able to lift as much weight, or had the muscle strength that they used to. As a body builder, I would think losing muscle mass would be a deterent for you. I'm into health. If I'm very healthy and a little overweight so be it, but to be bone thin and sacrifice my health and nutrition. It's just not worth it for me. Several of the bypass patients in my support group look sickly. Probably because they are!! Their skin is a sick grey color and they look drawn instead of pink and rosey. I'm VERY happy with my decision. They can bash me at the meetings all they want. I did the right thing for ME.

I was banded on Monday the 19th of November. I guess it went pretty good. I was in surgery about 2.25 hours. But that night when I was fully awake and the morphine was wearing off, I noticed my arm was sore. I looked and my hand looked like a rubber glove filled with air. :eek:I called the nurse immediately. My IV had punctured my vien and the Fluid was dripping directly into my arm. I was somewhat alarmed as this was the second bag after surgery. they moved it to my hand. No luck. The vien blew. Third try on my opposite forearm. It finally worked. Well, it's now 9 days post op and my arm still hurts as bad as it did in the hospital. About 90% of the swelling is now gone, but I have blotchy bruises all over my forearm. My wrist is VERY sore. what's up with this? What's wrong? the doctor told me to do warm compresses and keep arm elevated. I did and it still hurts. Is this normal???????? :confused:Is there danger of permanent damage? I'm a little freaked out. Gas was at a minimum. I had a few moments of discomfort but nothiing big. I am having trouble regulating my body temperature. I get SO COLD. Normally, I'm the one that's always hot and turning down the AC. A few times I was literally shivering. Fever of only 99 two days after surgery, but not after that, so it isn't fever. Hunger is at a minimum. I've only been truly hungry maybe twice. thanksgiving was three days post op and it didn't bother me a bit. I even sat at the table with my Soup. It didn't bother me until I saw my son eat a turkey sandwhich for a 10:00 pm snack. (my favorite food) so I went to bed and pouted. Port pain comes and goes. I also have a wierd pain under my ribs. I think it's my band, but not sure. I also have spasms in the same area. At first I thought it was stomach muscles, but I don't think so. Wierd. I got terrible constipation on day 6. Doctor prescribed milk of magnesia. YUCK! I was so miserable. Then once it took effect I had terrible diarreah for two days. Double yuck. got hemerrhoids out of the deal. :omg:Yippee!!! Actually, I think this and the infiltration of my arm is worse that the surgery sites. Other than that, I am A okay. I'm alive and on my way to a thinner me. As of this morning I have lost 7 pounds!!!!! Woo hoo!!!!:whoo: I can't stand the taste of artificial sweetner and have avoided it for years. It gives me headaches and I don't like what it does to your body. Looking forward to real food so I don't have to eat it anymore. Sweets will not be my problem. Had the shakes this morning. What's up with that??? Would love to get some comments here...... thanks.

Caresa, Thanks for the medical information. I was starting to get scared. This makes me feel a little better. I know that there was potassium put in my IV bag. Will that cause the pain? It's so weird. I've had oodles of IV drips in my life and this has never happened. I've had veins roll and also blow, but never this.

4jin I'm 2 1/2 weeks post op, so I haven't had a fill yet, so I can't comment on the restriction. My surgeon didn't mention that, but I definately can't eat as much as I did, even if I'm now on mushies. I'm full on approximately 1 cup of food. Sometimes less. After that I'm uncomfortable.

The first time I went to my support group, I hadn't had surgery yet. I was the ONLY bandster there. They all pressured me into the bypass and made me feel like I wasn't accepted. The next meeting I found a gentleman who had a band. So, out of about 25 -30 people, there are only two bandsters. I mentioned it to my surgeon and he said, "KEEP GOING. I want you to be the person that shows the band can be successful. that way if new people come, they won't automatically choose bypass. Be the good example." I accepted the challenge and now go just because I want to prove them wrong!!! Ihave to say, there are a few people there that have lost tremendous amounts of weight, and were very successful, but at what cost?? Several look horrible. Their skin is grey and pastey. Their cheecks are sunken in and their eyes bulging. They are too thin. Many complain about losing muscle mass, the B-12 shots they are required to take, etc. They have the shakes and low blood sugar problems, and some have vitamin deficiencies. Why would you do that to yourself???? Their absorption problems just seem horrible. As a bandster, I won't have to deal with that. I am MORE than happy with my choice.

I want to enjoy dancing again. Once I lose a good amount, I'm taking ballroom dancing!!! I don't care if it's not with the stars. "I" will be the star!!

It's me again on the IV infiltration. the swelling is now totally gone, but even after 2 1/2 weeks, I still have a little pain in my wrist and up my forarm near my elbow. The veins in my wrist are also very puffed up and hard compared to my other arm. Is that damage??? Any nurses out there to help with this?

Bruising at port site. Normal. They did a lot of "stuff" in there while you were out. Don't worry. If it's red and inflammed, then worry and call the doc. Chills are also normal. Just make sure you don't have a fever. You'll be cold a lot after having this surgery. Somehow it changes your metabolism and regulation of body temperature. I used to be very hot natured. Only slept with a light cotton blanket in winter, and nothing in the summer. Now I have two heavy blankets and socks. Normal temp at our house went from 71 to 75. I slept on my back the first two nights. I slept on my side on night three. I couldn't sleep on my port side until a week out. I still have to arrange a little pillow under my port side, but it gets better almost daily.

I too had the AP band "installed" on Nov. 19th. My surgeon showed it to me during my pre-op visit. he said the little "pillows" actually prevent erosion. so I was happy about that. he also said that with the buckle covered and the structure of the new band, there is less slippage. He had started using them this past August and he has had 100% success so far with all his lap band patients.So he is pleased with the results so far. It is a bigger band, and also holds more CCs of fluid. Mine holds 10 cc and he put in 4 cc at the time of surgery. So I don't have a lot of restriction. It is also a low pressure band. The fluid in not under pressure so there is no problems with the fluid leaking out the port like a high pressure band. I'm THRILLED that I got one. I feel very fortunate and I'm more confident.

I agree. Keep walking. I don't tolerate pain meds very well so I scraped them when I got home. But even the morphine in the hospital did a number on me. I was constipated for a week. That was really the worst part. I had gas, but not severe like I had thought. Sounds like you're doing really way. Congrats on your new band. I was banded 2 and a half weeks ago and have lost 12 pounds. I started mushies two days ago. What a relief to eat real food again. So what if it's all squishy. At least it's real. Good luck to you and stick to your plan!

I was banded November 19th. Have lost 10 pounds as of today. Thank you very much.... :clap2: When I fist got home I couldn't tell where exactly my port was. I didn't realize I was swollen. Now that the swelling has gone down, I can definately feel it. Matter of fact, it kind of protrudes. Will I have a wierd knot on my tummy from now on? It really started to bother me... I guess it bothered me more that I thought. DON'T LAUGH but I even had a dream that I had one of those little red and white plastic things that comes in a turkey that pops up when it's done. I dreamed I had lost my weight and it popped out. Dumb, I know, but I'm afraid now that as I lose my weight and I have less and less fat on my abdomen that the port will protrude even more. What do you all think? Does yours protrude like that?

Early one morning in the Corpus Christi airport, when there were very few passengers in the airport, I witnessed two young girls, both in Daisy Duke, cut-off shorts and skimpy T shirts, get stopped by two MALE security officers. This was at the gate, and not at the security check point. They talked to them, took them off to the side and said they had to "search" them for suspicious behavior. Both young girls were terrified. The men proceeded to hand search them, even using their hands to run down the length of their legs. Remember, they were wearing shorts. What purpose was there in searching their legs? I was horrified. So was my husband. I told him, if they say they have to search me, I am not getting on that plane and I will not go. He told me not to worry, he wouldn't let them touch me, and he would call the City Police before anything happened. Naturally, they didn't search me. I didn't quite have the figure of these two poor exploited young girls. I was so disgusted by the whole thing I almost vomited. So it happens. I watched it first hand.

Thanks for all the great information! I will check at Walgreens this week for the test strips. I think this is fascinating. I can see where it could be dangerous for long periods of time, or if you were not monitoring the effects. Karen. I too have a coated tongue. It comes and goes though. Really weird.

Sophie248, thank you so much for your kind words. I had to digest what you said a bit, but it didn't occur to me that his disclosure was positive in that now that I've done this for MYSELF and not for him, he felt comfortable sharing it. It still really hurts, and I'm going to have to continue working with this revelation, but I'm glad you pointed out that he was finally comfortable with telling me the truth. You are also right that not sexually attractive and repulsive don't mean the same thing, but it sure feels horrible and still bites. My head and heart are telling me two different things. I want to hope, but my confidence is shaken. Not to mention the nagging fear that he took his "passion" somewhere else, now that I know he's "capable". This is going to be harder to deal with than the banding itself!

I must be in ketosis because my breath is horrendous. But since I know very little about all this, how the heck would you measure it? Is there some kind of lab kit, gadget or equipment that is needed? I'm still on liquids, and I got the low carb variety of shakes, so I'm losing pretty fast as well. 11 pounds in 15 days. My sugeon took me off my dieuretic pills so I know it's not water weight.

One of my best friends has a lap band, and hers doesn't show at all. You have to press hard on her tummy to find it. Even though, her two boys call it her alien transmitter! I had to laugh about that. I guess now we are officially Borg??? I guess I don't mind a bump, but I'm afraid it will interfere with the waistband on my slacks when I don't have to wear an elastic waist anymore. Weird I know.

I AM SO HAPPY FOR YOU!!!! I actually got choked up and was right there with you in the group hug. Congratulations. You go girl!!!

I got so used to having gas, it was like automatic.... Well, I was at work last week thinking I had to pass gas again. Well, oops!!! It wasn't gas. How infuriating!

Slept on my right side my third night after surgery with a little pillow tucked under my tummy. Rolling over was very difficult. I had no pain while on my back, but my back would start to hurt. Then figured out how to position my body pillow. OH MY GOD what a difference! So now I used my body pillow every night and roll back and forth with it up against me. I slept on my port side (left) with a body pillow for about 4 hours on day 6 or 7. It started to hurt after that. I just built up the amount of time. I'm 2 weeks post op now and can sleep on either side, but the port side still gets a little tender. I have to wiggle around with my body pillow a little until I get comfortable.

P.S. I did have some cream of portabella mushroom soup last night that is made with soy milk. It was HEAVENLY. I found it at the health food store and it is low fat and low carbs. I added a scoop of protien and voila... GOURMET!!

Thank you for the V8 recommendation. I LOVE it. It never tasted so good, and for some reason I stay full longer with it than just about any other liquid. I'm having a hard time with avoiding the artificial sweetners. ANY recipes or advice would be welcomed.

With experimentation, research and dedication, "diet" food can be yummy too!! I'm only banded two weeks, but I'm already trying to figure out how to modify my favorite recipes to work for me. It's like a game or challenge. I love to cook, so I'm just adding to the challenge of making it healthy and taste good at the same time. Even looking for new recipes can be fun.

DITTO!!! I was always the hot one. I kept the house on 68 just to be comfortable. I was banded two weeks ago and now I'm FREEZING. there were a couple nights that even under flannel sheets and TWO blankets I shivered for about an hour before I warmed up enough to sleep. My teeth were chattering. I thought I had a fever, but I didn't. It's definatley weird. I now keep the thermostat on 73 - 75 and am comfortable, but still have cool hands and feet.

I'm 2 1/2 weeks post op. I was constipated for 6 days after. Doc recommended Milk of Magnesia. Then I had explosive diarrhea. then constipated, then diarhhea. In 15 days I've only had one normal BM. I've NEVER had to force a BM. Now I do, and it hurts. I even got hemmorhoids. It's just awful. I hope this isn't something I will have to deal with from now on, as I soiled my clothes at work the other day. I wanted to cry. I started drinking 2 oz. of prune juice every night before bed. so far it seems to help a little, so I will stick with it. Stupid me, I thought gee, "Liquids in... Liquids out...." It's just not so.