Wheetsin

I had surgery Wed and am scheduled to return tomorrow. I think I am going to work from home until my staples come out (this coming Wed). I could dl work pain-wise, but my staples hit right where my pants go. If i work from home I can lounge in my bathrobe until the staples are out.

These are from my surgery day. I'm 4 days post-op and still have no bruising at all (from the incisions... the Heparin shot - different story). The first one is the largest, it's almost centered on my stomach, about an inch below where my bra is. It seeped a little blood for 2 days but dried up afterward. This is the lower level of staples, closest to the center of my belly. The next cut to the left: And the next (this may be my port, but I'm not sure): This is the left-most:

I was banded Wednesday. My most significant pain, which isn't that significant anymore, was from my largest incision. I don't believe it's the port incision because it's in the middle of my chest, about an inch below where my bra goes. The discomfort comes from a "pulling" sensation when I stand or walk, it does not hurt when I sit. About 2 days post op I realized that if I supported my stomach from underneath, basically carrying it with one hand, while I walk - it hurts much less and I can stand up straight w/o discomfort, whereas before I had to walk hunched over like an old lady. Hope that helps.

I just had my surgery Wednesday, but here's my first week so far: Wednesday - surgery went fine, I was very quick coming out of the anesthetia and had no significant pain, no nausea, and no gas. I went in for surgery around 10:30 and was headed back home by 2:00. Wasn't hungry, slept off and on most of the day. Highlight of the day - it was Ash wednesday, and I had no idea. When first coming out of anesthesia, I apparently told the recovery nurses that they needed to stay away from me until they washed, because their faces were filthy & I didn't want any infections. SLept in a recliner DH moved into the living room (so I could watch TV without waking him up). Thursday - still sleepy. No real pain, but a "pulling" feeling when I walk - much better when I hold my stomach. The only incisiont hat hurts is the biggest one, in the middle - I assume the one used to get the band in (I didn't see my surgeon post-op, so I couldnt ask). Slept in the recliner. Friday - Feel much better. Went to Target at night to walk around for about 45 mins - 1 hour, felt MUCH better afterward. Slept in bed with pillows piled up behind me. Saturday - Felt pretty good. Incisions still feel tight. Went to visit my parents (about an hour away). Walked around too much and overdid it... took some Lortab elixir. First night I felt hunger, but it went away quickly. First day I was allowed to add foods to my "Jello, broth, water" staples -- cream Soups, Protein supplement, and yogurt. They tasted like heaven! I have no restriction that I can tell, but I'm following the post-op diet to the letter, even portion size. No pain in any of the incisions that could be my port (again, I'm not sure which it is), just the one in the middle of my chest - and that's more of a pulled feeling, from the weight of my tummy pulling down on the staples. I've still had no gas from the surgery, knock on wood... gas from drinking my Protein drinks, that's another story. I'm scheduled to return to work tomorrow and I don't think it would be any problems except the dress pants I wear to work hit right on my lower level of staples. Fortunately I'm able to telecommute, so I plan to work from home until after my staples come out (Wed).

I have a high pain tolerance, but I can tell you what it was like for me. The day of surgery - it hurt to move any which way. My best description was that it felt like something was pulling, but also like I'd been kicked hard in my abdomen. Not unbearable, but enough to make sitting down a good idea. Once I was sitting, I hardly felt any pain. The Lortab elixir really helps. Anything heavy on the abs, like sitting up/down, bending, etc. was very sore, but bearable. I'd say my highest pain was a 4 on a 1 - 10 scale, and that was definitely sitting up from the recliner. Day after surgery - more sore than the surgery day. Same kind of things hurt, just a little more -- but again, not unbearbale. I was able to shower & dress, walk around, etc. The majority of my pain is coming from 2 of the incisions. Pain still around a 4. 2 days after surgery (today) - feel MUCH better. I was able to get in bed this morning - it was so nice to get out of the recliner. Slept like a baby for a few hours. Pain really is minimal today. I showered, got dressed, and DH drove me to GNC to get some Protein powder, then we went to Target so I could get some more broth, more Vitamins, etc. and I made sure to do some extra walking. The more I walked, the better I felt. After coming home from the walking, I could sit down and get up with very little soreness. The worst pain today came when I was struck with a little episode of hiccups... man that hurt.

Hi Bill, we are close in age and I just had my surgery Wednesday, but it took me years to come to the decision to do it. For a long time I kept telling myself, "I will try XYZ diet, and if in X amount of time I'm still overweight, I will seriously look into it." After doing that for four years, I had several failed diet attempts & few pounds lost to show for all that time. When I truly started getting serious about it, around a year ago, my questions took a different tone. I started asking myself, "...but what if I do this, when in reality just one more diet attempt could have been a success?" I also had some opinion roadblocks I had to get past, because I did tend to think of this as any easy, or perhaps desperate, way out. It took a while to change that thinking and "come to terms" with my thoughts about doing this, but once I did it I never really looked back. If you believe you might be doing this out of desperation - so what? I think a lot of people here are in the same boat. Desperation to get healthier, to try and preserve as much life longevity as they could, to get off medications, to be able to regain their mobility, etc. There's nothing wrong with being desperate to get the weight off. iw ould advise you just make sure you do your research, know what you're getting into, and make an informed decision rather than a blind one. Best wishes, and welcome to the board!

Hi DAA, I had surgery Wed morning and the majority of my pain is coming from mylargest incision, but mine is in a different place than you describe. What I found out yesterday that made walking around sooo much better is to "hold" my belly up when I'm not sitting down. I carry a lot of weight in my belly, and when I would stand or walk, since my belly hangs down, it would "pull" on the area where my incision was. It looks absolutely ridiculous, but if I support my belly from underneath (literally - hold it up) I'm able to walk with MUCH less pain and "puling" sensation... but man, befire I ralized that yesterday, I described it as feeling like I was being pulled apart. It hurt so much. This was my first surgery too. I cannot cough, hiccup, or laugh w/o significant pain. I can finally today get in and out of a chair without a lot of to-do, but it still hurts. I do not have any swelling at my incision sites. I had planned to return to work Monday, but think I was a little optimistic. Not so much a pain factor b/c I have an office job, but my incisions are placed such that they would interfere with bra/pants. ----------- Editing to add - don't be worried by our difference in pain/symptoms. I have a very high pain tolerance.

Wow, thanks for all the warm wishes! Finally today I don't feel like I was hit by a train! I was actually able to crawl into bed this morning, and even though it took a long time and I had to have a mountain of pillows behind me, it was sooo nice to sleep somewhere other than that recliner. I can walk around much better this morning, but still have to support my stomach if I don't want to walk hunched over. I'm going to focus on Jello and broth. I've been doing good on Water, because I've been so dang thirsty, but too sore to eat. Tomorrow I start my Protein drinks & a few things other than broth, jello & popsicles. Also today my larget incision looks like it's starting to dry up a little. That one had me a little worried, b/c it had a very slow seep of blood since I came home. I wish I'd seen my surgeon post-op, because I want to know which of these incisions is my port!!!

I'd never had surgery before this, and I know all of the questions & concerns I went into it with, especially things around what aurgery was like. Since I was just banded yesterday, it's still pretty fresh in my mind so if anyone has any questions please feel free to post them or to PM me.

I know from my own very recent experiences that there's a difference between what you think you know going in, and what you know after the fact. I researched, for a few years. Heck, I was here for half a year just asking questions. I thought I knew what I was doing, going into this, but I just had my surgery yesterday and I'm already lost, and already feel like I know nothing. If I asked the questions I have right now, I'd probably look like someone who didn't do any research, either. *shrug* However, if there are people out there who truly fif no research, then it's shame on them. IMO this isn't something to be impetuous about, and I'm always taken aback when I read posts about someone is just starting tot hink about it, and their surgeon had a cancellation and can get to them in X days... this is something I would hate for anyone to rush into uneducated, unprepared, and unarmed. I mean -- look at all the research I did, and I feel completely lost... I can't imagine how much worse off I'd be if I hadn't spent any time researching.

I was banded yesterday.

My surgery is tomorrow morning. So far no nervousness, just a cross between "finally" and anticipation. I hopefully burned off my nervousness Saturday. No idea why then, but I had it and I had it bad. Anyway - lots to do tonight, and have to head out pretty early tomorrow, so I thought I'd post my last message so you guys can give me lots of attention and happy wishes so that when I return tomorrow evening I will have something to take my mind off the gas pains. :confused:

Sashimi is solid happiness.

If you don't have anything better to do, cast a vote for my dog - Mr. Hobbs. I made a mistake entering a contest - submitted the photo thinking it wouldn't get included until next month, but they added it today, with only one day left to get votes. I don't normally post things like this, but I have a big gap to fill in just one day. :eek: You can vote at: http://www.1800petmeds.com/petcontest/vote/25416201346023.021513938

As for my fav. types, Maguro, Hamachi, Unagi (all Nigiri), and for Maki -- Tekka, California, and Boston. Mmmmm... dammit I'm on liquids today. :eek:

I'm a sushi freak! But - you guys have your bands and can eat it? I assumed it would be something I'd have to give up. I know everyone is different, but you're giving me a glimmer of hope! So what do you guys do - just light on the rice and... can you do the nori? What about the sushimi -- too hard to chew it to the right consistency, or does it do ok?

Thanks for your vots all! I'm biased, but I think he's adorable. And has such a personality it hurts. Here's another favorite:

Too bad I just saw this message, my husband and I were in Florida then. He is from Sweden and can speak Norweigan. Don't be a stranger to LBT. :eek:

Ok - does anyone remember an OLD movie called "The Stuff," which was basically toxic waste Cool Whip, that people first became addicted to, and then became possessed by? "Are you eating it ...or is it eating you?" One of my fav. treats on Atkins was "clouds" - little batches of whipped cream & cream cheese goodness.

Wow Jennifer, small world! What time is your surgery? I did my PATs last week. I went to the info night back in November. I, too, and growing a little impatient. :eek: After my last trek there tomorrow morning, I guess it will all be downhill.

I haven't worn shorts in about 4 years. I'm too uncomfortable with the appearance of my legs. I'm knock-kneed too, which just makes my legs look that much fatter! Thanks goodness for capris, because our summers can get over 100 degrees! Setting the health aside for a minute, and focusing on the image/appearance aspect of weightloss, one of the things I'm looking most forward to is being able to wear little when it's hot out - and I don't mean skanky little - I mean regular summer clothes (which have so much less fabric than what I currently wear during the summer). I remember summesr when I was thin... throw on the lightweight/short clothes and go. Now it's so much work - won't wear the shorts so I'm automatically that much hotter... have to find a lightweight shirt that doesn't emphasize the rolls too much, but can't be too heavy or it's too hot... so it's 100 degrees out and here I am in denim capris and a long-length, short-sleeved shirt hanging around me. Oooh do I ever miss the days of real summer clothes!

My problems with food aren't addiction so much as behavior. I'm not am enotional eater at all. When emotions get high, I actually stop eating. But I see it every day in my behaviors. Never smoked, never did drugs of any kind, never been drunk.

Oh, me too! "Awnry" for "ornery". I actually say it the right way, but have been corrected! "Pacific" for "specific". I used to work with a lady who was infamous for hearing something & trying to repeat it, but she would say what she thought she heard. "They were really loud, raising a carcass" (raucous) "They're going to lamp blast me" (lambaste) "...all intensive purposes" (intents and purpose) "It's a mute point" (moot) "I've always had eligible handwriting" (legible) There are a few things I'll get "preachy" about, because they bug me that much. Mostly in written form. A biggy is common to weightloss message boards in particular, and that's the difference between "lose" (to no longer have) or loose (opposite of tight). Your bracelet may get loose because you lose weight! :eek: Wreckless vs reckless. Wreckless means to be without a wreck. Reckless means acting before you consider the hazards. Yet 99% of the time people use wreckless. Insure vs. ensure. Insure means to protect against loss. Ensure means to verify something will or has happened. Your car is insured, you will ensure the task is complete. Effect vs. affect. Effect means a cause, or to create, or possessions, or.... affect means you have influence, or it deals with emotions, or... In other words, you can affect a situation, and influence the effect of it, in which case you probably won't have a flat affect. All clear, right?

:clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

What is it that you're scared of? I think it's interesting, how we all go in to the exact same thing with such different fears. We were visiting my parents this weekend and my mother went shopping for the last of my pre/post-op stuff with me. She asked me, "Doesn't it bother you to think you'll never be able to eat XYZ again?" I told her, "Well, maybe I will be able to, who knows. In a way it bothers me, I'm not going to lie and say it doesn't, but if someone gave me the decision right now to never eat XYZ again, or be healthy, I wouldn't think twice. It's going to be sooooo worth anything I have to give up, I have no doubts about that." Then I drew a comparison to her efforts with low-carb dieting, and said, "When you wanted to lose weight, you have to give things up too. There's no way either of us will lose w/o giving something up, even if it's portion size." Her response was, "Yeah, but if I wanted something I could just cheat and have it." And I nicely reminded her that yeah, I did the same thing, which is why the 100+ lbs I lost on Atkins has come back... so I reminded her that I'm getting "built-in portion control". :eek: The only time I felt apprehension before this was the day of my consultation. After I met with the surgeon and set a date, I headed out to the front desk to pick up some paperwork and had this "WTF?!?" feeling. It felt like I was walking into the OR instead of the front desk. All in all it took me 5 years to make this decision. I know, after that long, that I'm doing the right thing. In my heart of hearts, I know this to be true. But that doesn't make it any less scary. I told my husband over a month ago that come the final days before surgery, I was going to be second guessing myself, and told him he would have to give me lots of reassurance. I KNEW I would do this, I always do. My husband has been WONDERFUL about this whole thing. He actually pulled me aside lastnight when I was doing my "expend nervous energy" cleaning, put his arms around me, looked at me with teary eyes and told me that I was his hero for being brave enough to go through something like this, and that he was so proud of me for doing what I felt I had to do to give us more years together.