bandfan1

StephC: How are you?? I have been wondering about you!! How did you make out with your tummy tuck? Please share!! Glad you're back!!

I had gauze over my port incision and just bandaids over my smaller incisions. I developed a reaction to the tape that was over the gauze, so I called the doc. He said to take everything off...this was only a couple of days post-op. I showered without bandages and let them air dry...no problems at all!!!

I still have scabs, but I will apply Mederma creme to all of the incisions.

I didn't get one where I had my surgery, but I do have one that is on my arm where they gave me a shot. I also have a dark purple bruise that is about 3" x2" right next to it.

Oregonrose: Good luck tomorrow. Best advice that I can give is to GET UP and walk as soon as you can after surgery!! You are going to do fine!! Check in and let us know how you made out!!!

Hello everyone!! I am almost 2 weeks post-op and feeling really good!! Those of you who are yet to be banded, I'm rooting for you!! My friends and family have already noticed changes in my weight. 14lbs in 13 days isn't too shabby!! I know that it will slow down, but I am enjoying it right now. I have progressed to "mushy" foods and so far have had no problems with anything!! I went to my endocrinologist today and he took me off all meds. My sugar is just about normal. YIPPEEEEE!!!!!!! I am now focusing on 60g of protein per day and eating every 2 hours...What more could I ask for? I will get a fill in 2 weeks So far, so good!! I am just thrilled with the results that I am seeing and am totally motivated for eating right and exercising!!! TTFN!!! Marilyn:lol::thumbdown:

Hey Plow Jockey: Welcome!! Is your doctor saying that he won't do the surgery until you lose 15lbs? Maybe he is trying to get you into the frame of mind that you need to be successful as a "bandster". Even after you are banded, it is still a very conscious effort to make better food choices and exercise. I am 2 weeks post-op, and my daily focus is to take in 60g of Protein. Maybe you should try that now. Focus on the protein first. When are these insurance companies gonna "get it"!!?? They are spending millions of $$ on medication and medical costs due to complications from people who are obese...diabetes, heart disease, sleep apnea, etc... If they would smarten up then maybe they would see their costs go down dramatically by approving these surgical procedures. Good luck with everything!! Let us know how you make out!!

Chilly: I think that the most important thing is for you to identify why the weight was gained back. I was told that anybody can eat "around" the band and be unsuccessful. The band is only a tool to help you feel full faster and eat slower. It is up to us bandsters to be committed to using it as a "tool" combined with good food choices and exercise. Hopefully you can get your mind back into the game. Without the right mindset, the fills won't work either. All the best to you!!

Miss Meliss: Tomorrow is your big day. I want to wish you all the best. Most of all, don't be nervous. Think positive!! Before you know it, it will be over and you will be in bandland. My best advise to you is GET OUT of bed as soon as you can so the gas/air doesn't have a chance to get to your shoulder!!! Walk the hallways if you can with rest in between!! It will make all the difference in your recovery!! Good luck!!! Let us know how you make out!!!

Hi Caminco!! My birthday is July 16th!! Great time for a birthday!!! Congratulations on your surgery!! It gets better every day. Just try to walk as much as you can. :tt1: My biggest challenge is getting the 64oz of Water in every day. :Dancing_wub: So far I have lost 13lbs..I was banded on May 1st. I have never lost that kind of weight in such a short time, but I feel great!! :biggrin2: All the best to you, you deserve it!!!

How are all the May 1st bandsters doing? I'm doing pretty well since I have been banded!! No pain to speak of, just some tightness under my bra line. Also, some diahrrea. Overall, I'm doing well!!! I'd love to hear from all of you!! How are you all doing????

I was banded on May 1st. I woke up with a bad sore throat and now my throat feels like I have a golf ball in it, but it's not sore. It must just be from the breathing tube being put in. My throat may have been scratched and is now healing. I consider myself lucky because I had no shoulder pain AT ALL!! I got out of bed within an hour of going to my room and just started walking the hallways.. I think this helped A LOT!!! I have been feeling a tightness right under my bra line. It feels like I have to burp, but I can't. Then I will hiccup and get an uncomfortable feeling straight through to my back... I will discuss this with the doc on Monday. I am only allowed to have 64oz of water (or more if I want), broth, 1 protein shake per day (4 oz in the morning & 4 oz in the evening). my diet will be advanced when I see the doc on Monday, but I am starting to get hungry!!! I have my daughter's communion this weekend. It's going to be difficult looking at all the food and not being able to eat any of it.

I have been banded 1 week so far and have lost 12lbs. I am ecstatic about this!! I have never lost this much in such a short time period before... I can definitely feel the band there and feel some restriction when I am drinking my Protein shakes. I know that there is no restriction in the band yet, but what I am feeling must be from the swelling post-op. I will visit the doc on Monday and advance my diet and then again in 2 weeks for my first fill!!! I am on my way to healthy!!!!:thumbup:

That is a great way to look at it!! I am happy that I am not as hungry myself. Since I was banded 6 days ago, I have been realizing that I have been eating out of habit and not out of hunger!! I just have to find another thing to turn to when I get stressed. Right now I can only walk, but I think that exercise will be my best friend!!! The whole purpose for being banded was for better health. That is what I am focusing on.

Hey Amsderb!! You have already heard my bi%#@!! Yes I am still a little stressed out. May is a great time to be banded, but it is also the equivalent to Christmas with activities, graduations and communions in my case. I have my daughter's communion on Saturday. My biggest frustration is that since I can't lift anything, I have to depend on my family to get things done to prepare for this party. Usually I plant flowers and it takes all of 3 hours...it took my family 3 days to get this done . I borrowed a power washer to clean around the house. My son used it for 5 minutes and it broke!!! My husband was supposed to be home on Sunday to get things done. He got a call for work at 9am and was out of the house for the rest of the day :angry_smile:. NOTHING IS GETTING DONE!!!:cursing: Ok, now I feel better!! :smile2: I know that it will all get done, just not in the manner that it would if I was able to work at 100% capacity. The doctors orders are don't drive for a week!! HA!! I had to go grocery shopping 2 days after my surgery!!! I hope this makes you feel better Amsderb. I think that many of us are in the same or similar situations. Before the surgery, we tend to "nest" to try to get everything done. It is human nature..... Have a great day everyone!!!

Welcome Colleen!! This is a great place for support. I was banded on May 1st. So far I have lost 12lbs!!! The experience has been great for me and I'm sure it will be for you too!! Enjoy the journey!!!

I was banded on May 1st and am still expelling gas. Now that I am having a Protein shake during the day I have to be careful. Most of the time I have to be on the "pot" when I pass gas or else I may have a much more serious problem . Luckily I run a daycare out of my house so I have easy & quick access to the bathroom. I still feel like I have a bubble right underneath my bra line. I don't know if this is still gas or if it's the band...time will tell..... I had no shoulder gas pains and am thankful for that. If the "passing gas" is the worst of it, then I am happy :biggrin2:

Yes, the brown liquid that I had to swallow was disgusting, but it was only a sip. After that I had to take a sip of barium which tasted like a smoothie after that nasty stuff!! It is 5 days out. I am feeling great!! sleeping on both sides and sleeping well through the night. I am not taking my diabetes meds because already my sugar numbers are normal!!! Amazing!!! I can only have the equivalent of 1 Protein shake a day. I divide it into 2 meals and believe it or not, they REALLY fill me up!!! I am drinking broth, tea, Water, popsicles during the day between my shakes... I am drinking my 64oz of water per day. That is a little tough, but I am doing it. Best of all, I am already down 8lbs!!! That is just amazing to me!!!!

Allison: Just like anything, you will learn to live with your band. If you are getting banded for health reasons, then you should be happy about your decision. I am only 5 days out from surgery and already my blood sugar has returned to normal!!! Stay positive. You may be able to have that pizza if you learn how to chew it real good. Maybe take some cheese off. The key is that you will eat 1 slice and be satisfied as opposed to 3 or 4 slices. I know that it will be a slow transition to eating all foods again, but I am confident that I will be able to enjoy almost everything again in moderation!!!

I was not on a pre-op diet and everything went very smoothly. I wouldn't stress out if you feel like eating a little something while you are on the pre-op diet. The main purpose is the shrink the liver. Just stay away from foods that are high in carbs & fat. I am finding it difficult to not be able to snack like I used to. I think maybe the pre-op diet starts training you to lay off the snacking. Once you are banded, you will not be able to snack. Period!! The surgery was a snap and my recovery is almost too good to be true!!! Before you know it, you too will be in bandster land!!!

Way to go JustVal!! I was a May 1st bandster and I had to lie about my pain just so they would give me pain meds!! I wanted to stay ahead of the pain, but honestly it never got too bad. My only bad experience in the hospital was when they gave me morphine. I had a wicked bad experience (sweating & heaving), but they gave me meds for nausea right away..... It is 5 days out and I am thrilled at how good I feel. I still feel like I have a lot of air in my belly right below my bra line, but I am also moving a lot of air (if you know what I mean). I never had any shoulder pain and am thankful for that!!! For all of you future May bandsters, just keep a positive attitude. I swear that was part of the reason for my good hospital experience.... P.S. I am already 8 lbs down in 5 days!!! Amazing!!!

No need to panic Kim!! It was a piece of cake for me (no pun intended!!). Just stay calm and be as positive as you can. I am banded for 3 days now and have had an unbelievably easy recovery. I am taking advil during the day for pain, but hardly have any pain!! I'll be back to work tomorrow and will be ready!! I still need to remember to take it easy...... I can't wait to hear from stephc, although I am sure her recovery will be longer...

Lisamae & Kamikola: It's great that you will be surrounded by support!! That is key!! It's been 3 days now for me and I have zero complaints!!!!

I also was doing the "last supper" thing. Now that I am banded (3 days), I am realizing how much I really snacked. Everytime I get the urge, I just have a sip of water or a cup of broth...... Don't be too hard on yourself. Enjoy the food while you can because once you are banded, there can be NO cheating!!! It would help if you cut back a little bit, just so you can get your head into the game. It's been 3 days since I have been banded and so far it has been a piece of cake (no pun intended!!). I have had very little pain and was up walking right away. I think the walking right away is what made me feel so good....I can't stand sitting in a bed (especially a hospital bed!!). No shoulder pain, just expelling gas !! It's all good!!!!! Good luck to all of you. I'll be cheering you on!!!!

Hi guys: My first couple of days were very easy. yesterday was only 2 days out from surgery and I was only taking Advil during the day. I took the stronger "stuff" last night, but I don't know if I even needed it!! I even went to the grocery store yesterday and went food shopping!! I took it nice and slow and just leaned against the cart if I needed to. My kids unloaded the car when I got home. I have had no shoulder pain from the gas, but have been moving air the other way (if you know what I mean ). I have had several other abdominal surgeries (2 hernia's, 3 c-sections, 1 tubal ligation), so maybe that is why it has been so easy...I don't know.... I am just thrilled that I feel so well. I'm sure you'll all have the same experience!!!