Kristin1031

I woke up this morning with a stabbing pain in my left side it feels like a really bad side ache......like you would get sometimes as a kid. It is on my port side and midway between my port and breast. It is more towards my back though. It hurt really bad when I woke up it is not that bad now, but it is still there.....has anyone else had this? I am seeing my surgeon tomorrow to have him check it out. I was just curious if anyone else had had this happen to them.

I went to my local WLS support group through our Bariatric Center here last night. One of the ladies who I got to know over the last few months went for her surgery on Nov 1st along with her good friend they did it together. They were having bypass though. She came through her surgery fine. But 6 days out she started vomitting and passing black stools and so her husband of 47 years called the office and they told him that she must not be following the diet and he corrected them and said no she is. The 7th day after surgery, she continued to get worse, could not keep anything down and was having even more black tarry stools. He called again only to be told to watch her and call back tomorrow. The 8th day she was projectile vomitting and tissue was coming out, sorry about the graphic nature, she was having tissue in her black stools as well and they were even more and more than before. He called again and they said bring her to the ER. He called 911 because she was nearly unresponsive. She was put into ICU and tests were ran and low and behold she had developed an infection. Caused by the antibiotics that they give before surgery it had killed off the good bacteria in the colon and left a nasty bacteria called: Clostridium difficile, and it was taking over to the point of being beyond the control at this point. She died on November 10th. It was so sad to hear about this being only a few days after her on my own surgery date. It makes me realize just how dangerous these surgeries we have are. Again what fighters we are to make that hard decision to go ahead. The Mayo Clinic has a web article about this nast bacteria and it states that the number of cases has doubled from 1993 to 2003. with most of the increase coming after 2000. I believe they are right when they say that the ever increasing desire to treat with wide spectrum antibiotics is only going to make this type of situation more common. This bacteria is found in hospitals but it is also found in healthy people and in their colons. It is spread by people not washing their hands and it can be on anything, anywhere. So be careful out there and take care, wash your hands and wash your counters and bathroom areas diligently. We need to make sure to call the DR and go to the ER if things get too bad. Perhaps if she would of just gone in on day 1 of the symptoms she may of beat it, but of course we will never know. :think

My Dr appt is the 11th but I doubt I will be filled because I am not the least bit hungry and that is what they look for. I am not at all upset by that. I can only eat about 1/4 of food max at a sitting, so I think I have some restriction going on.

Awesome news TISH!!!!!! Of course you can stay with us here.......we would miss you if you left now feel like you are part of our group!!:whoo:

Jill: I think it is so cute that you named your band... I feel like mine is going to get one too but I am working on just what yet...LOL All I know is that I love him and he is doing great things for me already!!

Hi Debbie it does get better honest. You will feel better in no time. Take it easy rest and use your heating pad. Take your pain meds and drink slowly lots of Water. I know that is hard I still have trouble getting all the liquid in some days. I am three weeks out tomorrow. But It was rough in the beginning I have not forgotten. Just take it easy you will do fine. We are all here for you and are pulling for you as well.

Lorid Thank you: I live in Peoria,IL the surgeon was at our support group meeting and he was very supportive of the husband. I really believe he had no idea she was experiencing this until she got to the hospital. I believe the staff nurse is the one who made the call.......frankly I believe she should no longer have her job. She at the very least should have to go back to school and learn about symptoms. I know we all are human and capable of mistakes but this one was sad. Not that they could of done anything, it sounds like it was too far gone anyway by the time she got to the ER. But I appreciate all the kind words said here about her. I hope we all learn leasons from her loss.

I used the heating pad last night and went to bed and woke up this morning and it was gone. I called the Dr and they said I did not have to come in as long as the pain was gone and if it came back just to call them back. I feel fine tonight. I assume it must of been gas.

I was woke up this morning at 4am with the same pain as you are describing here. I am 2 1/2 weeks out nearly 3. I called the Surgeons office and they want to see my tomorrow afternoon. I put the heating pad on it tonight after work and it seems to be much better. It has been there all day, not only when I eat. It is very strange indeed. I certainly have no other symptoms with it. Everything has been going along just fine.

I lost 75 ppunds on my own 7 years ago and gained it all back......I have yo yo dieted for many many years. I agree with Linda.....how many of these people will be right back up there in a few years. The sad part is alot of them will.........It is very hard to maintain the weightloss....that has been proven by statistics. I chose the band to help me always be able to eat within limits.......I wanted to feel satisfied with little food. So far no hunger and nearly 3 weeks out from surgery.

To all of you who responded......yes it is hard and I wanted to get the word out so everyone knows how important it is to call the DR and then go to the ER.....if you are feeling bad.

I had a small spoonful of mashed potatoes and gravy, small spoonful of sweet potatoes and small spoonful of dressing and a small bite of Turkey that I masticated before I swallowed. It was a very rewarding experience. As I watched all of my family stuffing themselves and feeling bloated afterwards. I had none of that I felt very proud of me.

I get up at 4:45 am and I usually leave for work around 5:45 and once there I eat some yogurt mixed with cottage cheese and then 40 minutes later I begin drinking Water. Around 9:30am I have a Protein shake and then again drink more water or I may have some V-8 juice. I have lunch at 11:30am and then around 2:30 or 3 I have my Protein Shake and then at 5 or 5:30 I eat supper. I drink in between as much as I can. I have had no hunger since my surgery. I have an occasional rumble of my stomach not my pouch. But it is normally time to eat when that happens. It seems so easy now, compared to when I wanted to stuff myself with chips late at night while watching tv or something like that.

I started walking in the pool at our club at then end of August and then started Water Aerobics the end of September. I am so missing the water it is killing me. I so want to get back in it. I was told not to for at least 4 weeks. So I am waiting to see him on the 11th and hopefully he will allow me to start back. It is awesome because of not sweating, it is easy on my joints and I can do more because of the boincy<sp>.

I went back 1 week after but I was extremely tired and sore. I have a sit down at a computer job as well. So make sure you allow yourself the time to heal that you need. It is not so much about being able as to being tired. This surgery takes alot out of you, simply because of the liquid diet and lower caloric intake than our bodies are normally used too. It takes time for our bodies to readjust to the new metabolic changes caused by all of this.

Good Luck tomorrow everyone!! You will be in my thoughts and prayers. I am sure you will all do just fine and be on your way to a smaller you in no time. Be sure to keep us updated on your surgery and recovery. Hugz!!

Wow what an adventure, I can't imagine having to hand carry my band to a hospital here.... Glad everything is working out for you and you sound like you are recovering nicely. Two weeks out for me and I feel 100% better than I did 4 days ago. I believe that was the turning point for me. Most all of my pain is gone now. Only the occasional twinge here and there. I have no hunger issues, although I have had moments when I wanted to eat something for other reasons. This is what I must fight. I realize now why I am overweight, it was the emotional hunger that had me eating not the real hunger our body experiences. I think this will be a success and I am thrilled with my new found friend. I hope things continue to go smoothly for you. Congratulations!!

Cherlita I used to live in Fort Collins....love Colorado my son is buried there. Good luck to you this week and to everyone who will be banded. It is the most awesome thing. I love my band. I respect it and I do not try to do anything that will cause it problems....... I am staying close to my plan and trying to excerise more each day. I walked a great deal these last 4 days. I know that helps. I am heading back to work tomorrow and am certain that my life will be getting back to normal. You all have something wonderful to look forward to.

I was told popcorn can be a problem but not for the reasons most people think. Popcorn as long as chewed very well should not be a problem. But my surgeon doesn't like us eating it because it is empty calories. No food value and we need the food value since we are eating so little. Makes sense but at the same time, I love popcorn and I will on occasion partake if I can, when the time comes that I can have solid food again......

I went through months of classes required by our Bariatric Program here before I was banded. It was ingrained into our heads that if you do not get enough Protein the consequences can be devastating. We do not make protein nor do we store it. What we get is what we eat every day. So you can see why we need to eat it in our food. I make it a high priority, I always eat protein first and since I am still in the mushies stage I am pretty much just eating protein for my meals. I know this is so important to my overall health My program requires no less than 60grms per day. You cannot get that by eating food alone, you must drink it as well. Because we are only allowed 2-3ounce meals you can see you cannot possibly get the protein your body requires by food you eat alone. I am never to eat more than 4 ounces ever. That is what I knew going in and I am comfortable with. I can barely eat the 2-3oz right now. I have no hunger and am consistently losing. So how can I be upset. I trust my team of Dr's, Nutritionists and Nurses as well as exercise specialists that follow me for the rest of my life. They have been doing this for quite some time and they know what the studies are showing and they also have there own patients to go by. I beleive this is why they are a Center for Excellence which was a huge factor in my decision to have this surgery.

Edie you are my inspiration!! I see stories of great success as yours and I know I too can do this. You are amazing!! Congrats on achieving such health in one year. I had fear too and everyone does it is natural. But you have to realize that inspite of being afraid I was more afraid of eating myself to death.

I have had no hunger at all since my surgery. There are times when my stomach growls and makes noise but I do not feel any real hunger. Not like I did before my surgery. I am eating 2ounce meals and drinking 8oz protein shakes in between breakfast and lumch and in between lunch and dinner. I drink water and I also drink V-8 juice. I sometimes will have a sugar free popsicle just to get a little more liquid in. The liquid has been the biggest obsticle for me. I am down 2 pant sizes since my surgery. I feel wonderful about that. I have no idea where the scale sits since I am not weighing at home either. I will wait until my Dr's appt on the 10th. I was told not 2 scale watch and I am sticking to that.

Tish hang hear with us anyway you are great for our November group.....and I am certain you will get your surgery soon!! God Bless and keep thinking thin.........!!

Longhorn I love Tolkein by the way!!!! Thanksgiving was at my house and everyone who came knew about my surgery. My duaghter and mother made the dinner. I was feeling really tired and was very sore for a couple of days prior to Turkey day. I think it was the long days of work I was just worn out. When it came time to eat, I first fed my 1 year old grandson. While everyone else was diving in to huge plates of food. I took a small plate and put a small teaspoon of dressing and mash potatoes and gravy and sweet potatoes, and a small bite of shredded turkey that I masticated before swallowing. I ate it slowly and savored the tastes. I had a baby spoon bite of coconut creme pie and pumpkin pie and that was it. I was not stuffed, never felt hungery and had no pain. It was wonderful not feeling stuffed and wanting to sleep afterwards. The whole day was fine.

I was told by the nurse at my post op visit to NOT scale watch......to instead let my clothes speak for me, she said they would speak volumes and as the pounds melted and the sizes changed you would not need any scale to tell me that I had lost. It is not the amount of weight or #'s.......it is how we FEEL in our clothes. I am proud to say that I have gone down 2 jean sizes since my surgery. I have no idea what I weight because I will not weigh again until my Dr's appt on the 10th. I was so happy today when I put on these jeans I have not worn in over 15 months. And they ZIP.......Yippe I have been living in stretch pants with elastic waistband since I cannot recall. My DH said sweetheart your baby is gone. I had a huge stomach and it is gone......for real....LOL So my advice is don't scale watch......just follow the program to the letter and watch our bands work for us.