vegors

Being put to sleep is the best part of the whole surgery!

I don't think they put a tube down as I had no problems with swallowing or feeling like I had a sore throat when I woke up. I cried a few days before my surgery with my husband as I was concerned about whether I was making the right decision or not as it is a life changing one, that is for sure. Not to make you scared even more, but I really had no idea what to expect when it came to the left arm pain that I read so much about. Be prepared for that, okay? That is the only thing that bothered me after the surgery, okay, getting in and out of bed was not easy either, but for me, the left arm pain was the worst part and I am stil having problems with it a week later. But then some, never ever have the problem! May you be blessed to be one of those people! Good luck and after one week I am down 13 pounds. Might not be a lot at all compared to some, but for me, it is great!

I had one just before I had the band put on last week, but it was a quickie and nothing came up about it. The thought of heart problems had occured to me, but with so many talking about left arm pain, I just assumed it was from the diaphragm being swollen or the phrenic nerve being irritated. I will give my doc a call tomorrow and see if I need to come in. Thanks for the advice!

This has been a very tough winter for a lot of us here in the midwest and I have heard many, many people talk about being depressed. I have heard that taking the vitamin Bs as there is more than one of those little guys, is suppose to help with depression and so as soon as I can take pills again, I am going to buy some. I try burning scented candles in my house when it is dreary out, but it is just darn tough to deal with and I really feel for those of you who have it so bad. I agree with Trystelle that is seems to run in woman and especially those of us who are really over weight. I think in the past, men who had depression, drank to deal with it and thus the reason for so much alcoholism in families with depression. Sounds like a lot of good suggestions are coming out with this thread and I plan on trying some of them.

Tina, Boy do I hear you! I have been looking through the site today to see if anyone else also was not as perky and normal as they were before they were banded. I was banded on the 13 and am still just plain worn out! I am a stay home mom, so there is no demands on me to get up and go to work, but on Monday I started getting up again to fix breakfast for my son who is a junior in high school. It use to be I was up before him and was doing stuff, but now, I feel bushed and may take a few bites of yogurt and then go back to bed. I feel lethargic and not myself at all! yesterday was my first trip into town to run errands and the pain in my left shoulder was so bad by the time I got home, I was crying on the way. This is not what I had expected at all! My port area is still quite tender, enough that I can not sleep on that side and my jeans really seemed to irriatate it yesterday. Guess I was imagining being up and at 'em a few days after the surgery with minimal pain and lots of energy. BTW, I am 43 and did have bronchitis and the beginnings of pneumonia in November and December, and my husband thinks that I was just so worn out from that, that my body is just taking longer to bounce back from all that has happened to it. I just have always been a very energetic person( who loved to eat!) and this is NOT what I want to feel like! I do know that if you are not getting enough hydration you will feel dizzy, so could that be some of what you are feeling?

I was banded on 2-13-08, by Dr. Teresa Lamasters, the new surgeon that was brought into Dr. Eibes' group. Would enjoy talking to others here in central Iowa as to how they are doing and what they find helpful. I have been to one of the bariatric support meetings that are held the first Saturday of every month, and really found if helpful and look forward to going to the one in March. This is a good place to meet and speak to others who have either had lap band surgery or have had the gastric by-pass. BTW, I too, was told that I needed to do the 6 month diet thing by my insurance, but my doc has the forsite to start documenting when I first went in to talk to her and then we sent copies of all my visits with her in the past 5 years. Needless to say, in January when they wanted more proof that I had been dieting(as one of you said, like we haven't been doing it all of our lives)my doc said what more could they possibly need? I called my insurance company and talked to the nurse who was in charge of my case and told her what my doc said and asked her to look through all my papers that were sent. Two days later I was approved! If I knew this woman's last name, I would have sent her flowers!!!

Sue, Thanks for your comments and it looks like I will take it real easy when I finally get to my mushy stage! Since you never had the pain until your tuna got stuck, I guess that throws out my theory on hiatal hernias!

I was banded 7 days agoand have had the pain that so many of you have mentioned. I noticed that I wake up fine, but even before I eat or drink, it is back, but certainly tolerable. Today, however, I woke up and it was already hurting and proceeded to make my day miserable. It was also my first day out and about, running errands and driving. I noticed too, that my stomach was much more swollen than it had been in days past. I am assuming I ate something last night that my digestive system did not like. So I am assuming I caused the increased pain for myself-lesson learned!! What I have noticed is that my pain can be any where-neck, shoulder, area between the two, the bicep and the area down below the clavicle. When it is really bad and I tense up and yes, I will admit, I have even cried a few times it hurts so darn bad, that it all seems to hurt that much more. Does crying seem to irritate the diaphram area so that it contributes to the pain? I find that a heating pad and laying down are the only things to take it away. I know I had a pretty bad hiatal hernia from what my surgeon said, but I have not read in any of the posts about the shoulder pain, if anyone else who seems to have the pain worse than others, if they too, had a hiatal hernia repair. Wonder if that had anything to do with those who seem to have the pain more chronically than others. Thanks for this site everyone-it reassures me I am not alone in these problems that I have!

I am very new to all this posting of messages and just have not been able to find a area that discusses what to wear after the surgery. I did read where one person said to wear comfy clothes and not underwire bras, but have not heard any of this from my doctor. If we are to wear sports bras, can you lift your arms well enough to get them on? I am thinking that those may not be very comfortable either, but wanted to hear what you all might suggest. Thanks so much as I am getting banded on the 13th. We think it is the best Valentines's Day gift that my husband and I will ever receive!:biggrin:

Thanks for the suggestion and BTW, I really like the quote that you have listed!

So NukeChik, was there difficulty in raising your arms to get your t-shirt and sweatshirt on?

Thanks Bigmarathoner! I will pack my slippers for inside the hospital and snow boots for the outside. I am hoping I can get my hubbie to tie those for me before we head home. How is the pain level for you today? My doc doesn't give out liquid scripts for pain mamagement. She says the medicine that she recommends is small enough to swallow. Just wondered if you needed any at all or could it be managed with liquid Tylenol?

This list is just wonderful and since I am getting banded next Wednesday, I was getting a bit concerned that I just didn't quite have the hang of what all I could and couldn't have. Thanks for putting list out here for all to see!

I put this in the wrong thread-sorry!

This is the best list that I have found so far! I am to be banded on the 13th and both my husband and I were getting a bit concerned as I was not really getting the info that I wanted as to what I could have and how much. This list is such a blessing and we thank you for taking the time to post it!

I have a question regarding creamy soups. Can I take any soup that is low cal and low sodium and blend it to make a creamy soup? Or do they have to be an actual cream soup, like cream of chicken?