tlynnem

Hi, I am new to Bariatric Pal, and found it from a Google search for online support groups. I just had surgery 4 days ago, on February 5, 2014. So far, I think I am doing fine and healing as I should be. I do have some pretty strong gas pain, but that is alleviated with gas-x strips and walking. It is getting a little better each day.

About my journey...

Over the past seven years, since getting married, I had put on 60-70 extra pounds, and could not get the weight off. I would lose a little, gain it back, plus more. I tried every diet imaginable, but found it very hard to stick with it for the long-term. When I was younger, I used to dance, and now that I am older, I really enjoy jazzercise. The only problem, is that my weight made it hard to keep up. My knees hurt, my feet hurt, and I was no longer enjoying what I used to love. I started developing weight related illnesses, first sleep apnea, then high blood pressure and high triglycerides. Just a few months back, my doctor diagnosed me with diabetes, but said I did not need medicine yet, but I needed to get the weight off. My husband works with a gentleman who had the lap band surgery and had lost over 50 pounds in less than a year. The man had nothing but good things to say about the surgery. I started researching it, and talking to my friends, and found others who had similar success. I decided to check it out, and ended up going through the approval process. I had to get approval from my primary care doctor, a psychiatrist, the surgeon, and the dietician. I was surprised how quickly and smoothly the whole process went. My insurance approved the surgery within a couple of weeks. As far as the procedure itself, I would say it also went as smoothly as it could have gone. The preoperative diet was a little challenging, but I made it through. The day of surgery seems like a blur. Right after I arrived, I was taken to the nurses station to have my vitals checked, blood work, urinalysis, and the injection to prevent blood clots in my stomach. There was one lady ahead of me for the surgery, but I had received my relaxation meds. and it seemed like it was only minutes before I was wheeled into the operating room. My nurse held my hand the entire time. It was the last thing I remembered before waking up. They took me for my x-ray and then wheeled me to the bariatric unit, where I had to drink at least 1 cup and 1/2 of a liquid of my choice, use the restroom, and walk around. It turns out, I was the first patient to leave that day, and when my nurse called a day later to check on me, she said I had won the "gold star" award. (LOL) Four days after surgery, and I am feeling okay. I don't have nearly as much pain as the first day. The biggest complaint I have, is the bloating and gas, but it is alleviated with gas-x and walking. I am also finding the post-operative diet easier than the pre-op diet. Maybe because I am bloated and don't feel as hungry. I have lost 8 pounds since my pre-op diet. I don't know if that will stick since I am just having fluids, but it is still encouraging. It is not a lot but it is something. I am looking forward to the journey ahead. I have a ways to go, but hopefully, with support and encouragement, I will get there.

2-1/2 weeks later: I am feeling much better. The gas pains have subsided, and I no longer need an anti-inflammatory medicine either. I am on the "soft-food" stage of my diet for another week and 2 days. I have had two small episodes of getting food stuck, both were with tuna fish. I think I forgot to chew. When I chew my food really well, I have no problems. No problems with liquids at all. I have lost 15 pounds and that is encouraging because it has been a long time since I have seen the scale move in that direction. Still a little tenderness around the port area, but it is getting better also. I thought the port was located higher up than it was, and when I found it, a little below and to the left of my naval, I thought I had given myself a hernia. I called the doctor, and he said it was my port, but not to feel embarrassed because a lot of people don't realize that surgeons put the port in different areas. He said when the port is placed closer to the rib cage, it often is at an angle, and harder to get to for adjustments. My first adjustment will be in a week. I am a little nervous.