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Hi! Was banded on 2/19. Pain was awful!! However, I am a weenie and I believe that my pain level was not the case for most. However, it is all better and I am down 15 pounds. If you have any pain tolerance whatsoever, you will be fine. Someone even posted that they went to the mall after they left the hospital!! soooo jealous. Good luck!

Well, I have survived to day 4. I am hungry. Tonight, I pureed some Campbells bean and bacon soup and strained it and had that for dinner. Hope I didn't overdo it. How much am I supposed to be able to eat in one sitting? My literature says 4-6 oz. but after 6, guess what? Still hungry!! Is this normal? I am not able to meet my protein goals- cannot stomach the protein drinks now- blech. But I am in heaven with this bean and bacon soup- yummy!

AndreaL- thanks for the advice. I don't expect to lose 11 pounds this week, that is for sure. I really think it is in my head about not wanting to eat too much (afraid I will vomit). When I hit the mushie stage, I am certain I will do better. Here I go to drink some protein!!

I had to stay and was so glad. there was no way I could have gone home. I had surgery at 9 a.m tues and went home at 8 pm Wednesday. Had to be seen by the hospitalist and get repeat EKG for low heart rate. I was so doped up, it was no wonder. Good luck!!

I just caught up reading the replies... OH mY!! Chicken and chinese food- a little jealous but too fearful to attempt. I had a really rough post op the first couple of days. I hope to never vomit again. thanks everyone for the replies. I am doing better with the protein. I bet I am only getting about 500 calories a day, just afraid to overdo it. I have lost 11 pounds since surgery on 2/19 and I am hardly moving. This second week, I will try to experiment with the protein and the blender. Thanks everyone!!

ta- sorry you are having such a hard time. I agree you need to find a physician who is committed to finding out what is wrong with you. You should not be having fevers for no reason. As for MVP, it is very possible that you may have it and it can cause weakness, though it is usually without symptoms. It seems as if your cardiolgist's nurse may be uninformed. If I can recall my latest statistics, almost 30% of women have MVP and it can be definitively diagnosed with an echocardiogram. A physical exam may or may not reveal a heart murmur. It is also possible to have a benign murmur (a murmur with no structural defects of the heart). Sorry, was this tmi? My advice to you is find a physician and get him/her involved and advocate for yourself upfront. There is nothing wrong with saying- I wan't answers, however long it takes. Your symptoms are somewhat vague-meaning they could be from any number of possible diagnoses- so it may take a while. Good luck on your journey.

Hi all, I am two days post op and pretty much have been wondering what I have done to myself. I was so completely unprepared for the amount pain I have been experiencing. Now, as a disclaimer I am a weinie when it comes to pain. On top of the pain, I am so HUNGRY!! I know it is because I am not getting in my protein. Hopefully tomorrow I will feel like a could choke down a protein drink. I have also been fighting nausea. I do not want to discourage anyone who may be considering the band, but basically just need someone to tell me it will get better. So, did anyone else out there have a rough post-op period immediately? Are you better? Not regretting? thanks, just needing some encouragement.

Well, it is day three and I am feeling some better. Can't understand why I am torturing myself with the Food channel, though. I just keep reminding myself that this time next week, I will be a different person. Thanks for all of your encouragement!!

Hey- to answer the tube question, yes they do. Everyone gets this- this is how you breathe and get oxygen during surgery. I was freaked out about this part, too. However, you are out before they do it so you never really know it was there. good luck!!

Thank you Cakegal for sharing that story!! Isn't it awesome we can laugh at ourselves?? You sound like a kindred spirit. Best wishes on your bandster journey!!

You are correct... Insurance companies count on you getting frustrated and giving up. They know that the majority of people won't do all the hoops required. A colleague of mine was a nurse for an insurance company and has given me a small inside picture of their SOP. As for a fee to attend a seminar, sounds a little unethical to me IMHO. I guess I am just fortunate that I am using a very good, very efficient Center of Excellence. Seminar in November, surgery next week.

Make sure you tell your doc that your stools have been black. that is important.

Ok, I could be wrong about this but... I believe the surgeons at KDMC first trained with the docs in Charleston (when learning how to do WLS) and they have great outcomes. So I would say you would be fine. Is the center in Ch'ton a center of excellence?? A COE has less to do with the surgeons and more to do with overall program. If your insurance requires a COE I know KDMC is accredited as one. Best wishes in whatever you decide!!!

Rachel, best wishes to you in whatever you decide. I can't keep from chuckling as I read these posts because I have been telling anyone who stands still long enough to listen!! LOL I will be banded probably the 3rd week of this month and am so excited!! I am an ER nurse, and we are all "one big happy family" and the support I have received from my colleagues has been great. We joke all the time that I will be fired for wearing "belly shirts" to work and my new name will be "skinny bitch". But I work with a phenomenal group of people. Hope all goes well for you and whatever you decide to tell or not tell will be the right thing because it is what YOU want to do!!

So glad to hear you all love KDMC!! I am an employee of the medical center and am very proud of the work we do. I see Dr. Wheeler on 2/11 to schedule surgery and am so excited!! By the way, Dr. Wheeler and Tompkins are great. They have good outcomes and the SWL staff are wonderful and sooooo supportive. Best wishes to all!!!

BC powder or powdered aspirin is still an NSAID. Many individuals mistakenly believe that it is the actual tablet that causes gastric irritation. However, the mechanism of action for such medications is that it inhibits prostaglandins that protect the lining of the stomach. Is this too much info?? In a nutshell, it is not the physical form of the medicine, but how it works in the body that we can't have it. Hope this helps!!

Oh let's see.... paint my toenails not worry about chairs holding me pretty underwear become a flight nurse shop at regular stores weigh less than my husband just to name a few!!

why do you need a greenfield filter?? GFFs are not routinely placed prior to LBS, even for some individuals with known clots. Lovenox injections are used in my facility and is considered best practice. My doctor did an EGD during my preop workup but said he would scope me the day of surgery as well (in about 2 weeks). My hernia will be repaired before he places my band- so it is like 2 surgeries in one. I am assuming he is scoping because of the HH, but I also have some ulcerations. hope this is helpful-good luck tomorrow!!

Correct with the peroxide.sometimes half strength is okay IF ok with your doc- but nothing beats soap and water. We tell our patients at the facility where I work (for surgical or sutured wounds) not to keep ointment on it. Keeps it too soft and it won't close. Open to air is usually best, but check with your doctor. Mild wound infections can clear up on their own as well. Good Luck!! BTW... fever, increasing redness, increasing drainage, increasing pain, or foul odor should be reported too.

Hello! I am in the process of trying protein powders so I am not scrambling after surgery. Any suggestions? I tried Unjury in skim milk and hated it. Could be better prepared in a blender, who knows? Also, can you use ice for your water and mix it all up as a smoothie/sorbet? I will be checking out the recipe thread as well. Any suggestions for a decent tasting protein powder/drink mix will be appreciated.

If I could offer one piece of advice before choosing a WLS program, it would be to pick one that is certified as a "Center of Excellence" from the American Academy of Bariatric Surgeons. Their programs have to follow certain protocols and guidelines developed by the AABS and their outcome statistics are better than the national average. You typically get alot of support and education pre and post op. My center for example requires an educational seminar, surgeon consultation, nutrition consult, psych consult, PT consult, pre-op teaching class, and then a final surgeon pre-op visit. This is in addition to any medical workup or specialist consultations needed. I go for my class next week and then I will be banded the following week. Sorry this is so long- Best Wishes in your endeavors!!

I used to use children's motrin all the time, but since my ulcer diagnosis I can't. Just do the math for whatever dose your doctor says you can use. It is 100mg per teaspoon. So 4 tsp is a typical adult dose (400 mg). Generic is fine, too. hope this helps.

Hello! Getting banded next month... Had my pre-op session with the dietician last week and she told me in no uncertain terms do not use Carnation Instant Breakfast because it contains too much sugar. I did not know what kind of dietician support you have, or they may have you on a different kind of plan- just trying to help! Hope you are able to find a happy medium and Best Wishes on your journey!!

just to clarify the above response- NG tubes are inserted in the ER, especially in trauma situations. NG tubes are inserted through the nose, down the esophagus, into the stomach. Breathing tubes are inserted through the oral cavity, between the vocal cords into the lungs. Hope this is helpful in deciding if a med alert ID is right for you.