TxChelsey

Today, the area around my port incision is hurting pretty badly. I have had no pain for quite sometime until today. I did have an anxiety episode this week where I was gasping for breath and coughing a lot and maybe I aggrevated something? Should I be alarmed or wait a few days and see how it feels? It's pretty sore when I move or bend. Crazy.

It's a very deep, sharp, muscle pain. Feels like something is pulling and ripping my muscle. Only hurts in certain positions. It was actually pretty unbearable a few minutes ago. I would really rather wait until I can call my surgeon on Monday. I suppose if it gets worse I will go to the ER.

I have seen a lot of variation in the post-op diets, but most of them seem to include a mushy food phase. I had 4 days of clear liquids, followed by 5 weeks of full liquids, then 1 week of processed solids (blending everything to cole-slaw consistency), then solids. I am still on full liquids and would love some mushies, but my surgeon said no. I think most people are on mushies after a few weeks. Hating it, but following instructions.

I'm hoping I will win the lottery so I can afford massive cosmetic surgery! In the mean time, I can hide skin with clothing and the only person who sees me without clothes is my bf. If he loved me at 330 lbs , I think he will be able to cope with some extra skin. I have come to accept the fact that I will never look good naked. It's just a side effect of neglecting my body all my life. At least we can be healthy!!

That sucks! Did you have the procedure done in a hospital? My surgeon required one night stay in the hospital for observation, and I am grateful for that. I had a repsiratory therapist show up within an hour after I woke up to start breathing treatments. They came back every few hours while I was awake, and though it was annoying, I had no problems. They also left a spirometer for me to use during the breaks. Hope everything works out for you!!

I went in for my 2 week post op-today and found out I have the Allergan 10cm - 4cc band. I mentioned I would prefer the AP as it is newer, but the surgeon seemed to lean towards the older bands. I told the nurse before surgery I wanted the AP as well. Kinda bummed about this. Anyone else have this band? How is it working for you? How much was your first fill?

I have lost less than you and have a much higher starting BMI, but I allready feel and see a difference. My pants look loose and my face and booty :tt2: look smaller. Unfortunately, my boobs look smaller as well. I have a neck again (albeit a small one) and my back doesn't hurt when I do housework and walk the dog. That's as much as I have done since the surgery. I was quite amazed at how much of a difference it made. It's going to be different for everyone. Good luck!!

Actually, my surgeon said he would ultimately put in whatever I wanted and I would never chose my surgeon based on his band preference. He came highly recommended and has many years of experience. My disappointment lies in the fact that someone "forgot" what I chose or maybe it wasn't available at the hospital. Not sure what the reasoning was, but I did want the AP. Bummer.

That is such a hard decision. I would hate to be in your shoes. If my insurance had not covered it, it would not have been an option for me at all. I never would have been able to come up with that amount of money and my credit is less than fabulous. If you do have credit options, I would certainly consider it. I just got my hospital bill (pending insurance payment) and it was over $23,000. That doesn't include everything else I am expecting. Surgeon, asst surgeon, anesthesiologist, etc. I researched and switched insurance companies during open enrollment. Though I pay a higher rate per pay period, the coverage is great. Is changing companies an option for you? Good luck!!

I realize band sizes vary, but please humor me. How many cc's were put in at you first fill and what was you level of restriction? :confused2:

This whole fill thing is quite the hot topic...."I'm too full and I'm PBing. I have no restriction because I can eat a sandwich. I haven't found my sweet spot." Etc, etc. I am actually getting nervous about the whole thing as my surgeon refers to himself as an "aggressive filler", and I want to be able to eat a sandwich! I did not balloon up to this weight eating just one sandwich. I do no want to be able to eat Jack-in-the-Box's bacon ultimate cheesburger, bacon cheddar potato wedges, and a large chocoloate shake in one sitting. But a sandwich sounds like a perfect sized meal to me. I suppose I will have to talk to my surgeon about "baby fills" until I feel good about it. I just really don't feel that I need that much restriction to lose weight at a reasonable rate. Am I being unrealistic?

I am 11 days post-op and having no problems. I have no more pain and have started walking for exercise. I am having a hard time remembering to take it easy and yesterday I made a big boo boo. We had a hail storm and I was trying to get my car under cover before it hit. Long story short, I ended up helping my bf push his car about 5 ft, as he let it run out of gas!! He drives a '66 Ford Galaxie, a VERY heavy car. I did not hurt myself, but who knows what is going on inside of me? I have been kicking myself in the ass since then and I pray I did not hurt anything. Would I have some pain or symptoms? Anyone else overdo it early on?

It is amazing just how much variation there is across the board. My post-op eating instructions are as follows... 3 DAYS OF Clear Liquids This included SF Jello, broth, popsicles, juice 5 WEEKS OF FULL LIQUIDS Including oatmeal, applesauce, grits, creamy soup, malt-o-meal, pudding, yogurt, etc. After that I can "add solids as tolerated". Runny food for 5 weeks sucks, but the worst part is the amount I am allowed to eat. I am only supposed to have 2 ounces at a time, 3 times a day. I am not starving, but I do get hungry, and honestly, I have an extra 2 ounces before bed. My nurse said they limit the volume to allow the band to adjust and the goal is not to fill the pouch. I space everything out very well and the extra 2 ounces is working for me. I don't ever get full.

I have seen that trend, but I have also heard a bit of variation across the boards. When I met with my dietician, she was very specific and gave me a couple of pages of menu suggestions. She said I should eat 6 to a maximum of 8 ounces per meal. All her plans include 6-8 oz of food per meal. I have been counting on getting to comsume a cup at a time, as that seems very small anyway. I guess I figure a chewed up sandwich would not exceed that. Some of her sample meals.... Breakfast: 1/2 cup light yogurt 1/2 small banana 1/2 cup egg whites Lunch: 2 oz tuna salad 1 slice of wheat toast 1/2 cup fresh fruit Dinner: 2 oz pork loin 1/4 cup black Beans 1/2 cup steamed carrots

I have been posting like a crazy person, but the solitude is breaking me down! I sit at home every day listening to digestive sounds and taking note of every little pain and cramp. This is my third day on full liquids and I don't feel like I did well on my first two. Day 1, I kept forgetting to not drink after I ate. Day 2, I had that mastered but ate too much and drank to much. I felt full and bloated and weird. I was horrified with myself and was perfect today. I am scared of damaging my band/stomach or causing a slip and pray that I didn't harm it. How much can it take? Is a band beginner eating 2 ounces too much or taking to much fluid at once going to wreck it? Is there a learning curve? I plan to follow everything to the letter. Please tell me I am not the only one who has had early mishaps?? On a positive note, I had a pedicure today and for a whole hour I did not obsess on my band!! :huh2:

Take a deep breath and take some pains meds. Narcotics will make you feel better. As for the protein, what are you taking? I hate that crap as well so I found the IDS Whey-Protein Bullets. They are only 3 oz and have 42 grams of protein. You only need 1.5-2 a day and it goes down fast. Only THREE OUNCES and they taste like fruit. What exactly does your doc have you eating? I was on clear liquids for 4 days. This is my week bandiversary and I feel much better. It will get better. Hang in there.

Yesterday was my 6th day post op, and second full liquid day. I am allow to eat "full liquids" for 5 weeks, including grits, oatmeal, applesauce, pudding etc. I am only supposed to eat three 2 oz "meals" a day along with protein drinks. And I did that yesterday, along with stopping to sprinkle a little bit of parmesean cheese in my hand almost every damn time I passed the fridge. All adding up to probably a half cup of cheese throughout the day!! I also got SF Kool-Aid happy and drank over a liter of that. Old habits die hard!! In all I comsumed maybe 600-700 cals for the whole day, but the volume was such that I felt bloated and full. And it certainly exceeded my 6 oz daily allowable intake. I am so scared I am going to damage the band. I didn't get sick, and it didn't hurt, I just felt weird afterwards. I suck!! :smile2: Who overeats on the 6th day after surgery?? I threw the parm cheese away first thing this morning, but what if I messed something up by eating to much to soon??

For five weeks I am on a full liquid diet. I was told by the dietician, three 2 oz "meals" with protein "shakes" in between. That's 6 ounces of food for the day plus shakes. I think I got a little over zealous and had about 8 ounces of full liquids, (4 oz grits, 2 oz applesauce, 2 oz pudding). My protein is concentrated, because I hate protein supplements, and is only 4.5 ounces for the whole day. I also kept forgetting not to drink. After each "meal" I went straight for a sip of water. It's such a habit. I feel guilty. I spaced everything out well, but I suppose I should have skipped the last 2 ounces of pudding and followed my drinking schedule. I will be better tomorrow. This is all so different. Also, when I eat and drink I burp a lot. Is this normal? I have only been banded since Monday and I still feel a little gassy. But, I worry that too much burping might be bad for the band. Just regular burps, not pb's. Lovely. Advice welcomed.

Thanks. :biggrin: I'm doing well. Still a little gassy, but feeling good. Incisions are healing nicely, no more pain. I am on five weeks of "full liquids", but I can have pudding!! I would say I had a pretty good experience overall and I am very happy my insurance covered it. Great aftercare and an overnight stay at the hospital helped. My surgeon insists on one overnight for observation and the hospital's bariatric nurse was great.

I was banded this past Monday and thought I was coming down with a sinus infection 3 days before. I started taking antibiotics immediately and everything worked out. Good Luck!!

Aaaaahhhhhhhh, to be able to fit into a rollercoaster seat again. Can't wait!!

I swear by the IDS protein bullets. I can get all 60 grams of protein in 4.5 oz of fluid. I do a 1.5 oz "shot" three times a day and I am done. I am not a fan of any protein supplements so I like the small volume required. When I get off mushies I will still use them if need to supplement.

Congrats!! Glad you enjoyed yourself. I can't wait for my first meal. Dreaming of chicken fajitas!!

Banded on Monday and can't stop looking at my incisions. I suppose I should have asked my surgeon this question, but where is my port? I have one big incision a couple of inches under my left boob. It's the biggest and the one that hurts the most so I assumed it was the port. But, it's dangerously close to my bra line. Then I have four small cuts. One is on my left side, the place where I thought the port would be. I don't know? Please help me out.

Hello all. I am post-op day 4 and have some concerns. Today I am having really bad pains in my back, in the kidney area. It hurts worse in certain positions, but is pretty constant. I have been drinking all my fluids, but am concerned it may be a kidney problem. Another possibility could be gas pains? I have not really had pain up to this point and was thinking its a bit late for them to start. Now, I could feel the air moving around for the past several days and am still a bit gassy. And yet another idea might be genuine back pain from laying in positions I don't usually lay in for a long period of time. I don't know? I keep going back to the kidney thing. Anyone else have this problem?