ajoneen

banded on 3/4 so a little over a week.

everyones got some in there system its when it runs a muck and starts having a party with friends that you have to worry. Just let you Dr know. Good Luck!

everyones got some in there system its when it runs a muck and starts having a party with friends that you have to worry. Just let you Dr know. Good Luck!

They use a tube that goes into your stomach to size where the band goes and they aren't going to do that with you awake. I was told that they use a mighty powerful muscle relaxant because they need to be poking through the abdominal muscles and they don't want them fighting back(also why they told me they use a catheter during surgery). Don't worry about the stuff that will be happening while you're "out of it" there is enough stuff that you will need to concern yourself with. Learning to use your new tool is just the beginning. Good luck.

I think I just got my butt kicked into gear. Thanks Fenton. Im not a sole searching kind of person. I tend to stuff things into neat pigeon holes. Im beginning to understand that isn't going to work with the whole band thing. The band doesn't like to be stuffed. yep Im getting about 800 cals and 65-70 gm protein-same as the two weeks pre-op

Thanks HarleyGirl I have to find out where my inner cheerleader wondered off to. she was going strong until a few days ago.

It all seemed to hit me. I may never eat regular again. I now have surgical scars on a body that had never even been to a hospital. I mean Im having BIG time doubts about this and I can't change back. It's not like ANYTHING Ive ever done before. I had this thing put in. It was my choice, Im the only one to blame. I really did a lot of research before the surgery but nothing could prepare me for how Im feeling. I was really thinking about making myself puke so it would slip and have to be removed. I really shouldn't be complaining I get a good nights sleep. Ive been sleeping on my stomach since the first night in the hospital. Drinking my 5 meals getting all my protein. Not getting enough water, but whatever. Going on walks with the DH to get exercise. Im not really in pain, just discomfort. I wish I could be more psyched about this but right now I'm just trudging through the day thinking I've made the worst mistake of my life and pissed at myself for putting my family, body and mind through this. I know this is not what you guys want to hear but It's how Im feeling. I think Im getting depressed. __________________ UPDATE If you're reading this please know that Im fine and after a few days I wrapped my mind around stuff. I'm doing really well and am happy with my decision. :biggrin:

Andi you're really sweet, thank you. I was bitching to my sister a little while ago and she told me to go post on the boards. Get support from those that are in the same position. I just never thought of myself as weak and this thing has me pinned to the mats.

First off- I too have that sharp feeling below my port. I asked the Dr & he said that it is very common and the muscle they worked on/through runs up and down so the little bit of muscle that was cut isn't yet supporting the muscle below it. Just take it easy, he said. Second- I had a bit of a melt down last night. It all seemed to hit me. I may never eat regular again. I now have surgical scars on a body that had never even been to a hospital. I mean Im having BIG time doubts about this and I can't change back. It's not like ANYTHING Ive ever done before. I had this thing put in. It was my choice, Im the only one to blame. I really did a lot of research before the surgery but nothing could prepare me for how Im feeling. I was really thinking about making myself puke so it would slip and have to be removed. I know this is not what you guys want to hear but It's how Im feeling. I think Im getting depressed. I really shouldn't be complaining I get a good nights sleep. Ive been sleeping on my stomach since the first night in the hospital. Drinking my 5 meals getting all my Protein. Not getting enough Water, but whatever. Going on walks with the DH to get exercise. Im not really in pain, just discomfort. I wish I could be more psyched about this but right now I'm just trudging through the day thinking I've made the worst mistake of my life and pissed at myself for putting my family, body and mind through this.

there is a new trial going on where they are cutting the nerves to the stomach at banding to see if that has any effect on the recovery/weight loss/pain of banders. Should be interesting.

I love that rapid blast tylenol. I think it works faster then the pills. A tip to the next to be banded- bring a small bottle of mouth wash to the hospital. Your mouth will feel like cotton and just swishing & spitting will feel heavenly. This might be contraband in you hospital so keep it in your over night bag and sneak a sip then use tissue to absorb. :huh2:

looks the same but no needle sticks to fill.

The Realize band has different post op requirements then the lap band. They shave about a week to 10 days off each phase. I know it was a bummer to read the information from the nutritionist and the realize info had folks progressing through the phases faster then me with the lap band. I remember thinking that while I was still sipping Protein drinks Realize folks would be starting solid food. No one could give me any reason for this except to say that it was the policy of the makers. :confused2: I talked to the Dr (4:30pm)about the pulling below the port & he said it is common but if I felt I needed to have someone check I could come tomorrow. Trouble with that is I would have to leave/miss work and Im backed up as it is from not being there last week. I did have today off and could have seen him if he hadn't call me back 5min before he was leaving for the day.:smile: So I figure if something is wrong i.e. port moved, muscle ripped, adhesion it can't be changed/fixed now so I might as well wait until post surgical follow up apt on the 21st. Im thinking it might be the extra tubing rubbing over the muscle or like Elsie suggested the muscle that has the stitching is complaining. Cathy I don't have staples. Who knows this is all new to me. Im with Fenton on the watching what we eat, just because we can eat something doesn't mean we should.:wink2:right ps for some reason my shamrock shrunk.

So today I was off work, but that didn't mean I just stayed home. I did lots and stayed busy. I have a call in to the Dr. I have this weird pulling below my port about 3-6". I'm hoping it's nothing and especially not an adhesion but I have no control over that. Anyone else have this?

BFE = Bum _Uck Egypt.

Syosset hospital

I hope mine goes as well. thanks for the play by play.

I was banded last week and I can really feel my port. I know it will make for an easy fill but Im pissed. I asked my Dr for the low profile one and after surgery he said he didn't put it in and if I lost enough to be able to see it make a bump on the surface I could get it replaced. Im ticked because he did this to be easier for him(fills) not me. Now I will have to have another surgery later. :blushing: Ps most of my weight is distributed around my body and my past weight loss Ive lost my tummy first.

I had surgery on 3/4 at 10am. Great time cause I got to sleep in a bit. Arrived at the hospital with my sister and husband and was directed to the surgical waiting area. They called my name, I was taken to pre op and given a gown , slippers and a hat, pointed to a tiny restroom. I changed, put my clothes in the bag with my name on it and came out into the pre op area with the beds separated by curtians. I was weighted (255) and assigned a bed. Note on the gown- nice and big made of soft paper and had velcro at the shoulders for-I found out later- ease of removal in surgery. The nurse asked me a million questions-allergies, what I was there for, name, is the ID band correct, medication Im taking. She started the IV, gave me a shot of Lovenox(hurt,stings) and my family was brought in. Anesthesiologist came looked at chart and left. Sidebar- I contacted the complementary medicine department at the hospital about relaxation therapy before surgery and was told to purchase a cd in the gift shop and listen to it before surgery. Than this lady, Irene would come up to pre op to help me with the stress of the surgery. Ok Im game. I buy& listen. In comes Irene all cheery, did I listen to the cd? yes. Am I still nervous? yes. How about listening to the cd again? screw the cd, I need more then the cd. She rubs my forehead and ears kind of like a massage, but not. She has stinky perfume. Ok I smiled said she could stop. Now she just hovered next to the bed talking about grace and mercy. I tuned her out. My Dr comes in & starts talking about the procedure and how everything will be fine. OK here it comes- I say It will be fine as long as I don't have a catheter. Dr says well thats not how they do it here. Wait for it..... Amanda FREAKS!!!!! I banged both hands on the rails of the bed and started in on how I was the patient and what I said goes. I gotta give the Dr credit he didn't freak (Irene jumped and disappeared) He just continued talking like I never popped a fuse and said maybe I wasn't ready for the band. My sister gives me the look and said I needed to explain why I wasn't going to have the cath. Now Im a little embarrassed about popping off and pissed that the cath has anything to do with getting banded. Staring off into the ceiling I explain why- infection, pain, and (the kicker) if no cath I will get up and walk more in recovery as with the cath I will remain glued to the bed. I will be a happier more willing patient. The Dr stops, blinks, says OK, and walks away. I am so pleased with myself. The Anesthesia nurse comes in with the good drugs, asks me who I am then pumps them in the IV. They start pushing the bed out of pre op. Sister squeezes my hand and husband gives me a kiss. I totally freak-again. Am I doing the right thing? Did I think this through? Someone is going to be CUTTING ME! This all passes though my head in about 5 seconds. Deep breath. The drugs must be kicking in. I don't care any more. Im just enjoying the view. Rolled into the surgery suite, asked to slide to other table, centered myself and told them I was "equadistance from both sides of the table". Ha ha. Next thing Im waking up in recovery. Im asked if Im in pain, rate it 1-10, I said 3 or 4. nurse said you mean more like 7 right? Nope , then I remember about how if you say you're nauseated they give you something that has a side effect of making you really sleepy and Im thinking sleepy would be really good now. So I say Im nauseous. In go the drugs out goes Amanda. I woke up about 2 hours later with the nurse saying that I needed to be moved to the bed I would be in overnight. HA? Bed? You mean moved to room, right. Nope. No room at the hospital, Im going to be staying at the back end of the recovery with 3 other Lap banders. Great. So they tell my family to leave and get me out of bed. Here is where I found out about the velcro on the gown. noone redid it after putting it back on after surgery and as I go to sit up I flashed the recovery room and my fellow patients all my new incisions and my boobs. Great. I get wrapped up, moved, pit stop at the john where I have to pee in a container they called the hat and connected to monitors and compression bootys. So starts my first overnight stay in the hospital. I could keep going about all that happened. The bed didn't work, the compression booties stopped working about midnight, pain shot (that I took only to get some sleep) gave me a headache, I used the sore throat spray on the scrape the Anesthesiologist made on the top of my mouth, ate alot of ice, tried to sleep, 3am ripped out of sleep by the fire alarm clanger next to my bed, the people running through the fire door also next to me,(the false alarm was never explained but since my hospital was in the fire district my husband volunteers in I knew I was in good hands), 8pm 12am,5am 8am temp and blood pressure, 2 more Lovenox shots(ouch), multiple trips to the john (about 500cc each for those that were counting) 8am trip to radiology for the barium and x ray. They messed up the first picture and had to do a total of three which meant that I drank 16oz of barium. Then Im sent home with instructions to drink 1 ounce every hour. (I asked about the 16 0z of barium, no one had an answer or comment) a pain scrip (later at the pharmacy I found out it was one that Im allergic to) and the instructions printed out from the nutritionist for my meals for the next 5 weeks. I dont think I want to go to the hospital again. At home all things are better. Heating pad for the shoulder, liquid Tylenol(good stuff!) for pain, lots of juice and broth with unjury added. Im a happy camper now. Very minimal discomfort. I don't think I will ever stop passing barium. (ya-TMI) Before surgery I drew a smiley face (my signature as I have one as a tattoo somewhere) and a green shamrock on my belly for the Dr to find. It was the first thing he mentioned to my family after surgery. Said everyone got a good laugh and he put the port right under the shamrock. Im thinking of getting a shamrock tattoo there later. So I guess Im really committed to this shrinking shamrock thing. TTFN

Christine that is so cool that you are an Ultrasound tech. You can look at your band in place too. welcome newbies- We have an international group. :blushing: regarding the full liquids phase, I was instructed to have thin liquids so my diet is fat free milk or soymilk with unjury, broths with unjury, juices with unjury. I should buy stock in unjury. I can't have creamy stuff until the mushy phase at week 3. :confused2:My question is do I start counting from the surgery day 3/4 or when I began the full liquid phase 3/8? I know it is only 4 days but I think you guys can understand my need for something other than liquid. Speaking of which do you think I could have fat free pudding? Its kind of like thick Protein drinks right?:confused2:

I can't get the shrinking shamrocks to copy and go into my signature. I feel very left out:sad:

Hi folks, just checking in from work. Im dragging today, don't know if it is the time change or the surgery. Whatever it is Im going home early. I totally forgot to tell you guys. Before surgery I drew a smiley face (my signature as I have one as a tattoo somewhere:smile2:) and a green shamrock on my belly for the Dr to find. It was the first thing he mentioned to my family after surgery. Said everyone got a good laugh and he put the port right under the shamrock. Im thinking of getting a shamrock tattoo there later. So I guess Im really committed to this shrinking shamrock thing. (I think my sister took a picture I will have to check when I get home) Cheers!!

yep that about sums it up. I think it is a burp/gas that can't make its way out and is pressing on the nerve at the base of the esophagus that is responsible for the referred pain in the left shoulder. the following is from Anatomy Notes: Referred painand is the best example I have found. "If you woke up with a pain in your shoulder, you'd probably think something was wrong with your shoulder, right? Maybe you slept on it the wrong way, In most cases, your hunch is probably right. Pain in the shoulder usually indicates an injury or disease that affects a structure in your shoulder, such as, say, your subacromial bursa or a rotator cuff tendon. Makes sense, doesn't it? But you might be way off. Sometimes the brain gets confused, making you think that one part of the body hurts, when in fact another part of the body, far removed from the pain, is the real source of trouble. This curious (and clinically important) phenomenon is known as referred pain. For example, it's unlikely but possible that your shoulder pain is a sign of something insidious happening in your liver, gall bladder, stomach, spleen, lungs, or pericardial sac (the connective tissue bag containing the heart). Yup - conditions as diverse as liver abscesses, gallstones, gastric ulcers, splenic rupture, pneumonia, and pericarditis can all cause shoulder pain. What's up with that? Neuroscientists still don't know precisely which anatomical connections are responsible for referred pain, but the prevailing explanation seems to work pretty well. In a nutshell, referred pain happens when nerve fibers from regions of high sensory input (such as the skin) and nerve fibers from regions of normally low sensory input (such as the internal organs) happen to converge on the same levels of the spinal cord. The best known example is pain experienced during a heart attack. Nerves from damaged heart tissue convey pain signals to spinal cord levels T1-T4 on the left side, which happen to be the same levels that receive sensation from the left side of the chest and part of the left arm. The brain isn't used to receiving such strong signals from the heart, so it interprets them as pain in the chest and left arm. So what about that shoulder pain? All of organs listed above bump up against the diaphragm, the thin, dome-shaped muscle that moves up and down with every breath. The diaphragm is innervated by two phrenic nerves (left and right), which emerge from spinal cord levels C3, C4, and C5 (medical students remember these spinal cord levels using the mnemonic, "C3, 4, 5 keeps the diaphragm alive"). The phrenic nerves carry both motor and sensory impulses, so they make the diaphragm move and they convey sensation from the diaphragm to the central nervous system. Most of the time there isn't any sensation to convey from the diaphragm, at least at the conscious level. But if a nearby organ gets sick, it may irritate the diaphragm, and the sensory fibers of one of the phrenic nerves are flooded with pain signals that travel to the spinal cord (at C3-C5). It turns out that C3 and C4 don't just keep the diaphragm alive; neurons at these two spinal cord levels also receive sensation from the shoulders (via the supraclavicular nerves). So when pain neurons at C3 and C4 sound the alarm, the brain assumes (quite reasonably) that the shoulder is to blame. Usually that's a good assumption, but sometimes it's wrong."

I dont think I want to go to the hospital again. At home all things are better. Heating pad for the shoulder, liquid Tylenol(good stuff!) for pain, lots of juice and broth with unjury added. Im a happy camper now. Very minimal discomfort. I don't think I will ever stop passing barium. (ya-TMI) Im off to take a shower. Yes Fenton showers are wonderful!!!!! You can't have too many. Hugs to all.

I could keep going about all that happened. The bed didn't work, the compression booties stopped working about midnight, pain shot (that I took only to get some sleep) gave me a headache, I used the sore throat spray on the scrape the Anesthesiologist made on the top of my mouth, ate alot of ice, tried to sleep, 3am ripped out of sleep by the fire alarm clanger next to my bed, the people running through the fire door also next to me,(the false alarm was never explained but since my hospital was in the fire district my husband volunteers in I knew I was in good hands), 8pm 12am,5am 8am temp and blood pressure, 2 more Lovenox shots, multiple trips to the john (about 500cc each for those that were counting) 8am trip to radiology for the barium and x ray. They messed up the first picture and had to do a total of three which meant that I drank 16oz of barium. Then Im sent home with instructions to drink 1 ounce every hour. (I asked about the 16 0z of barium, noone had an answer or comment) a pain scrip (later at the pharmacy I found out it was one that Im allergic too) and the instructions printed out from the nutritionist for my meals for the next 5 weeks.