JustinsMama

Bandster hell is when you are hungry and have no restriction yet. Basically you can eat like you could before the band and it isn't really doing anything for you yet, after all the swelling from surgery has gone down also. Unless your stomach tissue healed superfast and the swelling has gone down all the way already (which I doubt) then you aren't in bandster hell yet, you're just having cravings. Believe me I know about cravings, I dreamed about eating spaghetti and meatballs last night (and I just had surgery on the 12th). So far I've stuck to my full liquids but to kind of ward off the cravings today for lunch and dinner I had cream of tomato Soup with a little chili powder and spices in it. Was definitely not the same, but I guess it will have to do for now. If you're on full liquids and some people say pudding counts as a full liquid, I'm sure you were fine with a little melted ice cream. My TOM is coming soon I think, but luckily so far I'm not craving sweets, unfortunately I just want some REAL food!!! I keep telling myself okay, only one more week and I can move on to mushies (refried Beans with guacamole or ground beef with spaghetti sauce thrown in a blender), I'll probably think I've died and gone to a buffet or something. Good luck to you and take care!!

Just be careful...I guess I got overconfidant today in how good I was feeling and drank my first Protein shake of the day fairly fast. I didn't gulp but I probably finished a decent size shake (10 oz.?) in 10 minutes. Then around noon after a little warm soup and I went to drink some cold crystal light - let me tell you, that did not feel good at all. As soon as the cold liquid hit near my diaphragm area it was pain and pressure. I layed off the cold liquid and have just had a small amount of warm/lukewarm liquid since then. Just about 20 minutes ago I was thirsty and tried some cold Water (very tiny sips) and it seems to be doing okay, but I'm definitely going to slow it down from here on out and maybe switch back to clear Protein drinks for a few days. Best of luck to everyone!!! I guess it is definitely a learning process :thumbdown:

Cydli, I'd be pissed too! I hope you called him on it and asked him what in the hell he was thinking going against your wishes like that. I hope you're feeling better soon!!

Be careful with bean soups. I had been doing well since Tuesday on protein shakes, cream of tomato soups and crystal lite. I decided to eat the liquid part out of some bean with bacon soup tonight (was very soupy and didn't eat any of the solid stuff) and I had the worst gas pain after that. I guess because whatever is in the beans leaks into the broth in the can that causes the gas or something. At any rate, not going to be doing that again any time soon.

I think you read on the other thread I posted, so I won't bore you again :thumbdown:. Today I'm a little more sore. I took some liquid tylenol last night but since I had to drink it so slow I was afraid it was going to come back up so I haven't taken anything today for fear of getting sick. I dropped my pepcid and lortab prescriptions off at Walgreens today so I will pick those up later and maybe will just use the lortab at night. I drove my son to school today. Then I got some gas, picked up a form at my son's doctor's office, went through the drive through at Walgreens and then back home. I had started to feel a little light headed and weak in the car (I had only had about a sip of a Protein shake before I left home) so that may have been it. I got home and vaccuumed my living room, dusted off the tables in the living room and windexed the front storm door. Also gave my dog some Water and put a few of my son's things away. I'm trying to move around and do things but not lift to heavy of things or overdo it too much. I also finished my Protein Shake and got on the computer some. I now have my 20 oz. of Wal-mart "On the Go" premixed apple juice I'm going to start drinking so hopefully I can get all my protein and fluids in for the day. My throat is more sore today than yesterday or surgery day. Hopefully that will go away soon - it's more annoying than anything. I was told I couldn't take a shower by the nurse only like a sponge bath, but I think if I get in the shower with my back facing the water to at least wash my hair that I should be okay and won't get my tummy area wet. My husband's job sent him out of town today until Saturday (knowing I just had surgery Monday - thanks a-holes!). So it's just me and my 6 year old. I think I'm going to have my dad come take my dog in to the kennel until Friday and then go stay with parents for a night or two just until I'm feeling a little better and my husband gets back in. I'm sure I'd survive but I know I'd feel a little better over at my parents, so why not? Anyway, you'll be fine when your time comes. I'm up about 6 lbs from right before surgery but I guess that's to be expected, I probably shouldn't even bother weighing myself for a couple of weeks. Anyway, take care and see you on the loser's bench when it's your turn! (And sorry this was so long-winded!). -Heather

I was banded Monday also. My (severe) headaches were in the hospital because of the morphine pump so I quit that late Monday night/very early Tuesday morning. Do you think it might be your pain meds?

Thank you! You both will be where we are soon enough too :tongue2:

Yay for you and the rest of us! I'm hoping to not be feeling this way two weeks from now. Trying to read over my post-op instructions from my surgeon. Take care and congrats!!!

I'm glad everyone is doing well and that our stories were helpful to you. I didn't want to get my (narcotic-lortab I think?) pain prescription filled because I didn't think I needed it today (plus I have to drive my son to and from school this week since my husband's work is sending him out of town for the rest of the week). However, I think I will get it filled tomorrow to take at night to get a good night's sleep. Guess I'll suffer through tonight though. Take care everyone! -Heather

I'll try to remember all the details (a little tired today). We stayed at a hotel a mile from the hospital Sunday night as we are 1 and 1/2 hours away from the hospital and I had to be there at 7:15 a.m. Got up about 5:25 since I had been tossing and turning all night and took a shower, etc. Got to the hospital on time and checked in. I was in the outpatient center at the hospital though I still stayed overnight in a private room. Was called in to pay the remaining balance my insurance wasn't covering and then was directed to the outpatient holding area desk. They took my weight (I was 1/10th of a pound under what they wanted me to be - yay!). Then had me go into a little room with a bed and had me change into a hospital gown and those lovely red socks with rubber skid markings on them. At this point my husband was with me. Then a nurse came to take me to the holding outpatient area in a wheelchair and at that point I had to tell my husband goodbye. I got a little lump in my throat and thought I may start getting teary too but I got past that and was okay. They then got me on a gurney/bed and wheeled me into the holding room. There were other people on beds separated by curtains waiting for there surgery so that was comforting that other people were there waiting too for some sort of surgery too. I met the anesthesiologist and the nurse anesthesiologist who both put me at ease (nurse said she would give me a little "margarita" to take the edge off - it did). I also saw the P.A. and surgeon before that and they both assured me everything would be perfectly safe and all would be fine. After getting my blood thinner shot in the side of my stomach (the needle to hurt too bad but the medicine really started stinging there after a few minues) then the Anest. Nurse got my IV going and a little while later gave me my little "margarita" concoction in my IV. I didn't feel it at first then it kind of hit me and I was like, okay - let's do this. They then started to wheel me into the O.R. and the nurse in there asked if I wanted to scoot myself over to the table or have them do it. I said to her "what is normally the better way, I don't want you to throw your backs out". She said don't worry about that we do this all the time and said they would move me over and honestly I don't remember anything after that. I don't know if they had gone ahead and started something else through my IV and I was out or maybe they put a mask over me and I just don't remember but the next thing I knew, I vaguely remember dreaming about something and then a nurse was letting me know I was in the recovery room as I was waking up. After being in there for a while I was taken to a private room where I stayed the night. I got up and walked around after a little while - had a morphine pain pump but quit taking it after last night because it kept giving me these nasty headaches. The nurses would come in and check on me about every two hours last night so needless to say, didn't get a whole lot of sleep last night but plan on getting a good night sleep tonight now that I'm home. I'm on clear and full liquids now for the first two weeks, pureed food weeks 3 and 4, soft foods week 5 and 6 and real food by week 7. I wasn't allowed anything after the surgery (not even ice chips) and didn't start any liquids until today about 2:00 p.m. So that's my experience. Hopefully I'll lose a few pounds in the next few weeks. Glad everyone else is doing well and take care! (I'm going to get some sleep!) -Heather

Hi everyone. I say this post first on Sunday and was a little upset as my surgery was Monday the 12th. Just wanted to let everyone know my surgery was great and I'm home now. A little discomfort but nothing I can't handle. I second BeckN's post as that pretty much sums up my experience. The surgeon, P.A., anesthesiologist and nurse anesthesiologist put my fears at ease right before the surgery and everything went great. I feel sorry for this person but to post one post like this without all the details is irresponsible on this forum. If nothing else she should have posted this (or the moderators should move this) to the complications board. Take care everyone!

Good luck to you, I'm having mine tomorrow also! We'll do great!

Best wishes to you as well. Well, at least we can take comfort in knowing we'll all be nervous together on the same day :tt1:. I have stuck to a low carb diet the last two weeks and went from 282 to 267 (my weight as of tonight). I hope after another day of liquids I'll be there by Monday morning. Why do the insurance companies/doctors like to torture us so?!?

I'm nervous! I still have to be down 3-4 pounds by Monday (need to get back down to 264) has anyone heard of a doctor not doing surgery because you were 1 or 2 pounds away from what they said you should be on surgery day? I'm doing only liquids until Sunday midnight (with having to take a bowel prep on Sunday). I'm freakin' out!!!

Welcome aboard!!!

I hear ya'. I'm more nervous than excited right now. I live an hour and a half away from the hospital so my husband and I will go down the night before and stay at a hotel while my son stays with my parents. Didn't really feel like having to get up at 4:00 a.m. :smile: Okay bandster twin, we're gonna do great! :smile:

I'm May 12th too! I have to be their at 7:15 a.m. and surgery sometime around 9:15 a.m. Good luck to you, I'm sure we'll do fine :smile:

Good luck to you, I getting banded the 12th and chose the Realize band!

Good vibes coming at you - good luck to everyone!

Makes me feel like - bring on the party! (Bring on that lapband - go lapband, go lapband!)

Realize band here - May 12th! Good luck to all!!!

Hey lapdeb, I'm right behind you on Monday the 12th, good luck to you - I'm sure you'll do great!

Sorry, needed to test signature and wasn't sure where to put it?

Glad you were able to get clarification. As a side note, my surgery is May 12th also, so I wanted to wish you well!!!

May 12th here!