geochic77

Alatina...do I know you from Yahoo groups? If so, I was wondering how you were doing and I hope everything went well.

I completely understand what you're going through. My surgery was scheduled two weeks after my first appointment with my surgery. He wanted to do it a week earlier, but anesthesiology was off for Good Friday. I'm glad I had the extra week to get prepared. Still, two weeks didn't seem like long enough! Fortunately, you don't have to wait such a long time like so many other members on this site. Consider yourself lucky. I know you're probably feeling anxious and nervous, but that's completely normal. Believe me, I think a good part of us feel that way before getting banded. The band is going to wonderfully change your life forever. Be sure to keep us posted to let us know how you're doing. Congratulations! You're going to do great!

Best of luck to you! You'll do great!

I'm sure you'll have no problem with the pre-op testing. I know it seems to be taking forever, but that's okay. You'll get your new band before you know it! Good luck with everything and keep us posted on how you're doing.

I got the strips too. I think I was allergic to the glue too. I got tiny little rash bumps from the adhesive in the strips. I pulled those things off as soon as they started to loosen. Talk about itch! I sure am glad that's over. Once my incisions were closed completely and started to get a slight scab in some areas, I concocted a little salve for them. I use pure shea butter, a little vitamin e oil and lavender essential oil. Not only does it keep them from itching while they are still healing, but it should minimize the scarring. Be sure to keep in mind that whatever the doctor used to close you up, it won't be there too long.

I wish I was able to say I did so well after surgery. I had what people might consider to be a horror story. I was so close to an emotional and physical breakdown. I was banded on 4/1. Surgery took 1 1/2 hours and almost went from laparoscopic to open method. I was unable to keep ANY food or water down for 11 days. During that time, I lost 30 lbs. Yep...30 lbs in 11 days! I was admitted at the hospital twice for dehydration and scoped a total of three times before my second surgery on 4/11. Luckily, all it took was to push my band up a little. Now, looking back, I still don't regret my decision. Although I'm still recovering from two surgeries now and have more pain and discomfort associated with last week's surgery, I'm so happy with my new band. I wouldn't wish what I went through on anyone, but I know it'll be worth it. All the guys at this site really helped me through perhaps THE roughest time in my life. For that, I will always be grateful.

I'm doing great. I'm a little miserable as far as the bloating and the pain from the actual incisions. Otherwise, I'm doing so much better. I was re-opened so that the band could be pushed up a bit. In a week and a half I had lost 30 lbs. About 6 lbs of that was due to dehydration for which I was hospitalized twice. Now, I'm at 247lbs. I figure that's not too bad considering that I was unable to eat or drink for 11 days. I've passed my one week of liquids and now I get to find out for myself what kinds of foods (besides beef) I am able to tolerate. I'm in a weird place in the mushy phase because I was banded about 3 weeks ago but was adjusted a little over a week ago. At this point, I just kind of try and see what I'm able to tolerate. Thanks for all the support! I couldn't have made it through the second surgery without all of you!

You can SOOO PB on liquids! I did for like 11 days when nothing would go down until my second surgery last week. It sucked so bad. Now, all is well in PBland. Great job on the weight loss, by the way. Keep up the good work! **To Becky in Texas-- PB=Productive burp. Food or liquid that goes down, but comes back up with a lot of mucous. It's kind of like vomiting without the heaving and gagging. It doesn't hurt. It's not at all a pleasant experience, but one almost every bandster will encounter.

I'm so happy to hear how well you're doing. Remember that the first week of liquids is the worst. You'll make it through. Congrats!

After the hell I've been through during these last couple of weeks, it seems as though this last surgery has done the trick. Although I am still recovering from two surgeries, three scopes and was hospitalized for dehydration twice all in a week and a half, everything now seems to be in working order. I haven't been dehydrated once and I can actually eat and it all stays down! Yeah! My arms may be covered in dark bruises (hope when I venture out of the house, nobody thinks I'm a little druggie!), but I'm feeling so much better. I'm still pretty weak from the second surgery, but I keep telling myself that I'm still recovering from the first surgery too. The soreness and swelling in my throat from the scopes is almost completely gone. I find that staying away from acidic liquids and drinking really cold drinks helps that. I want to thank each and every one of you who lended your kind words and support to me. At a moment when I didn't think I could take any more, you guys showed me that there was a light at the end of that dreadful tunnel. Thank you all. I couldn't have made it through this without you.

Well, after a whole week of being banded and miserable, I landed myself in the hospital this evening to be scoped and treated for dehydration. I think I'm running out of veins for those IV's. I feel SOOOO much better after they flooded me with a couple of liters of fluids. Unfortunately, I think I'm going to have to have another surgery Sunday to slightly change the position of my band. I'll know for certain tomorrow when I talk to my doctor. I think it's inevitable and he's already told the hospital to hold a bed for me. I must admit that I'm pretty nervous. I think more so than before I had the main surgery a week ago.

Had surgery today. Went to hospital last night and was admitted for dehydration...again. Surgery went well. So far, so good. Able to keep liquids down. Not feeling well due to gas and pain. Just took some pain meds left over from surgery, so maybe that'll help. Will let all of you know how everything is progressing.

Surgery is scheduled for Monday morning. Luckily, I won't have to spend the night in the hospital. Besides being frustrated to the point of tears, I'm trying to take it as easy as possible so I don't get too dehydrated between now and Monday. My throat is killing me from being scoped again. Twice in one week...nobody should have to go through that! My left hand is so bruised and swollen from IV's that I can hardly stand to use it. I figured by now I'd feel almost as good as new. Now, I have this setback. Please forgive me for pitying myself, but this is all so overwhelming and I just don't know how much more of this I can take.

For everyone else, the band would be in a perfect position. Unfortunately, due to the size of my liver, it seems it's pushing on the band just enough to restrict the liquids. Anyway, my band just needs to be slightly adjusted because of that. When I was scoped, the doc said it looked ok, so I'm sure I'll find out something soon.

I'm still having a lot of trouble keeping anything down. My new diet, so far, is consisting of lots of water, tea, juice, pedialite and a little lactaid milk. I'm being closely monitored by my doctor to make sure I'm not getting dehydrated. Most of what goes down still comes right back out. I sure am glad my mom convinced me to take that trusty bucket from the hospital. My surgery wasn't an easy one by any means. My liver had become so enlarged and fatty from being obese that it took my doctor 1 1/2 hours to complete the surgery. He was very happy and relieved that he did not have to opt for the "open method" during the procedure (as was I). He told me that because of the size of my liver and the trauma on my stomach that I may continue to be swollen for a while yet. I suppose with all this crazyness of not being able to keep anything down, I have found one upside...I've lost 21 lbs. Granted, it's not quite the way I was going for, but I've gotta find something positive!

It's only been a week, actually. I was banded on the first of this month. My doctor is worried about me becoming dehydrated and not getting any nutrition. I'm making an appointment with him for my two week follow up appointment, but he may want to see me earlier than that.

Well, things are about the same. I went grocery shopping and bought every kind of beverage known to man! Since I'm not being able to keep anything down, the diet drinks are being replaced with drinks with more calories. That will end as soon as liquids can go down and stay down. To Paula: I live in Orange. Funny thing, you came to Texas for your surgery and I went to Louisiana for mine. Nice to meet you!

I wish you the best with your upcoming surgery. It seems like once they actually set the date, your nerves will be shot until the surgery. I know mine were! As for the liquid diet, I am a bit of a fruit junkie, so I would buy canned fruit and puree it. I think Del Monte makes a carb conscious brand of fruit sweetened with Splenda that is really good. The pre-op liquid diet will definitely give you a chance to get really creative with goodies that can be turned to mush in your blender. Don't worry, you'll do great!

I got banded on April 1. The pain isn't horrible, but I cannot keep anything down. I've tried keeping a few things down, but nothing wants to stay. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has had this problem. What can I do? I can't even keep water down.

I got a call back from my doc who said that I'm probably just swollen. To quote my doc, my surgery was "hard as hell." Apparently, it took him about an hour and a half to finally get my band correctly situated. As it turns out, I have a very large and fatty liver which made the surgery more complicated than he anticipated. He thinks that because of all the trauma from the surgery, I am probably just swollen around my new band, but to keep drinking liquids as much as I can. He said that if things don't improve soon, he'll have to scope me to find out what is going on. Thankfully, more liquids have stayed in than came out. I know each and every one of us is unique, so I am taking all of your suggestions. Thanks again.

I only take the pain meds at night and only take one pill. A lot of the time I'm not nauseated when the liquids start coming back up. Sometimes I am, but most of the time it just comes up. I'm sipping slowly and have found that the tepid water stays down a little better than cold water. I just figured while I'm waiting to hear from the doctor's office, I'd see if any of you guys had the same problem.

I got home yesterday and I feel like hell. I know I'm not going to feel this way too long. I'm having a terrible time keeping liquids down. Since I'm not feeling all that well, I'm going to go. I just wanted to let everyone know that I made it ok and when I'm feeling a bit better, I'll let you all know a little more.

Thanks you guys. I still can't keep anything down, but the pain isn't all that bad anymore. I know it'll get better. I already feel a lot better than I did a couple of days ago. I just wish I could keep things down. I'm trying to get plenty rest and walk around the house as much as possible. I'll be sure to keep everyone posted with the lastest.

Hey everyone. Well, tomorrow is the big day. Yesterday, I had all my pre-op tests and now it seems I'm ready to go. It will probably be a couple of days before I'm back on. Just in case, I hope everyone with scheduled surgeries a very speedy recovery. I'm just a little nervous now, but really just ready to go ahead and get it over with. Wish me luck!!!

Thanks you guys!! I truly appreciate all the support. I'm about to go to bed since I have a big day tomorrow and have to wake up really early. I just wanted to tell ya'll thanks and I'll be sure to let you all know how I am as soon as possible. Happy April Fool's Day!!!