triser72

It took me about 3 days as well for a b.m., and then it was diarrhea for 3 days. With liquids and pain meds, it's normal. I ate about 4 oz. of SF jello during the course of my 5th or 6th day, and then it was 3 more days before I had another b.m. Then it finally came in solid form. Just be patient with your body. Being so overweight, I was used to having 3-4 bm's a day, so I kind of appreciate the respite from all that stuff during the first few weeks after surgery.

I was banded on 6/11 and I have lost 10 lbs so far! I know that most of it is water retention, but the sheer joy of saying good-bye to the 300s is worth it!

I went to CVS and bought the Listerine pocket spray, it's sugar free. Seems to work for now. However, now that I think about it....I was around people today and forgot to use it. Oops!

Not to worry, the pain is still here on the 3rd/4th day. The nurse said it's b/c of the cutting into the muscle. Well, my abdominal muscle feels like someone's punching bag. The liquid Loratab works for a couple of hours, but now that I am out of the hospital, I only take it at night. The liquid Tylenol during the day helps me forget that I have scars. As a singer, I really miss being able to take really deep breaths. While in the hospital with that left shoulder pain and not taking good breaths - omg, I thought I was going to scream bloody murder! But I couldn't - b/c that would hurt, too! The lady who waxes my eyebrows says "You big baby!" cuz I cry when she rips off theat tiny strip of fabric. Uh, yeh, pain is pain and it's relative.

Good morning to all! It's 3 days post-op for me and I am feeling fine. I stayed overnight in the hospital - I was glad cuz I have never had surgery and I would not have known what to do with all the pains - gotta love a morphine drip! 4 outta 5 of my incisions are pretty small (less than 1/2 inch), so there's pain but minimal. The morning after my bariatric nurse, the surgeon, and bariatric nutritionist all checked in on me - at that point the pain had subsided and I was ready to go home. I was tired of pulling myself in/out of that hospital bed. I am on a full liquids, of course. My nutritionist's diet is 1 oz of liquid every 15 min. for 2 wks - so I am never far from the kitchen. I took four 10 min. walks yesterday - which was nice. I have been peeing like a madman, but yesterday the diarrhea came in. I'm not far from the kitchen or the bathroom now. Everything gurgles in my body now - I can't figure out if that is all the liquids talkin' or if I am actually hungry. I did figure out yesterday that "full" doesn't feel the same anymore. Before surgery, "full" mean a bloated feeling, now it means a tightness. My DH and I got out and about last night for a few little shopping trips. I am going to short concert this afternoon, so I shouldn't have cabin fever too bad. Just keepin' the Water bottle handy and staying close to the bathroom. So far, so good.

I have had chronic lower back pain for about 10 yrs now, and surgery didn't help it. It was the lying flat in hospital that did me in, then in the hospital bed that raises/lowers - it's divided exactly where my lower back is - not good. Now that I am home, it's trying to find the right way to sit or lay down. But a 10 minute walk seems to work the kinks out.

Good luck tomorrow morning! We'll be buddies for a day - my surgery is at 9:45am. I'll be thinking about you and hoping for the best!

Of course, my DH knows (or I wouldn't be doing this)...but I told my close friends first and the reaction has been good. Then, as school has come to a close, people begin asking "What are you going to do this summer?" To my students, I said "Absolutely nothing." Then I joke with them and tell them that I may become addicted to soap operas again or maybe reality tv. I have told a few of student's parents - reaction was good. To some of my co-workers that are close to me, I have told them - again reaction was good and encouraging. I was surprised to learn that my boss had LB surgery in 5/07! I am not telling my own mother till I have lost a significant amount of weight - I don't need her negative rattle before the surgery. We told my in-laws last week - once we had a definite surgery date - they were surprised and skeptical. Which is PRECISELY the reason for the wait. It limits the amt of time my mil has to be negative.:biggrin2:

I guess a lot of us are in the same boat - uh, yeh, that's what lbt.com is all about! Okay, so no pre-op diet here either. Yes, the portion sizes are getting smaller, drinking more liquid food all the while wrapping my brain around this concept, and I am completely bored with food. So, instead of thinking about food....and all the decisions I have to make for my life to revolve around it....I got a mani/pedi yesterday, I am getting a full body massage tomorrow (plus it's the last day of school and that alone is cause to celebrate). Then Friday night, I am going to Taste of Texas for a steak dinner. Monday is a well-woman exam, Tuesday is psycho-therapy (because my brain short-circuits everytime I think about having to put myself on a bed so they can operate and I have never ever done this before), and Wednesday - WLS!!!!!! Life as we know it....has a new way of living!!

YES! This surgery is for you! Go forth and conquer!

No kids here, either...just the two of us...my husband can cook but cannot make a decision when it comes to eating or preparing a meal. I am a good cook, he loves my cooking, and I love the taste of my own cooking! It would not bode well for me to cook anything in the first 2-3 weeks. So, at the advice of my therapist, my DH has to fend for himself. One of the reasons I am an emotional eater is that I keep doing so much for others, and neglect my own health/well-being. So, this surgery is for me. Re-learning how to eat is for me. Learning what to do instead of eating is for me. I will do this for myself and the world will not come to an end because I didn't cook for my husband for a few weeks.

Cathy - I was scrolling through this thread and saw "It's June!". I thought "What?!?....oh yeh, it is!" YEAH!!!!!

Ooooooo....I was thinking about the books, but I forgot about 1/2 price bks! Gotta put that on the errand list!

Most teachers count down the last month of school - in 13 years of teaching, I have not done so. I mean - I love school! - I am crazy, but I have been this way since I was 6yo.. That being said - I am counting down the days till my wls - 17 days till the newest chapter/season/act of my life begins! :biggrin2:

It's a Wham-Bam-Thank You-Ma'am kind of process now! I did my 2nd pre-op appt with Dr. Balette today. We set the date for June 11. I went ahead and did all of my preregistration for the surgery - pre-admissions, bloodwork, chest xray, ekg. Now, it's time for get ready for surgery and lots of life changes!

I am a middle school choir director in Houston TX. Actually in the northwest suburbs of Houston. I have been married for 5 years to a wonderful man. We have no kids, but we have two cats - Linus and Lucy.

Thank you so much! I appreciate you sharing this experience!

I love this thread almost as much as I love the Before/After Pics thread!!! I will not miss.... rolling off the couch. my car leaning to one side and bouncing up/down as I get in and get settled. the sinkhole that I create every night in my bed. wearing out clothes, shoes, and toilet seats within in a year of purchase. feeling like I am 65yo in a 36yo body (or is it the reverse?). the way people look at me when I eat. the quantity of space that I consume. my chest rolling into my chin when I lay down. the sweating in between my thighs when I wear a skirt. the price of plus size clothes. waddling. entering a building with mirror windows and being ashamed to look at myself. the swelling in my legs. the fear of being diabetic like my mother and her mother. constant fatigue. sitting sideways in chairs with arms. having only one or two pairs of shoes to wear and insisting that they have shock absorption. the size of my arms. the size of my front end load.

YEAH!!!! You finally got a band date!!! w2g!!!

All of the preop stuff took 4 days total. 2 of which were appts with the surgeon, the other 2 were nutrition and psych eval.

June 11 is my LB surgery! WOOHOO!!! I am so happy! And I found out that I lost 3 pounds - didn't expect that to happen. I went ahead and pre-registered myself for surgery, so I am good to go............... I'll be banded by Dr. Balette in The Woodlands.

Thanks for this site resource - very informative!!

I think that you have struck GOLD!!! w2g!! I'm in!

DaisyMay - thank you so much for sharing your experience! At 36, I have never had surgery, so your realistic testimonial helps ease my nerves quite a bit!! Thank you and I hope things are still going well!

Yeh, I tried checking online - it's not possible. Once the doc sends the pprwk - give the insurance about a week, then start bugging them. Claims and Care Coordination are separate entities of UHC and don't use the same computer system. Claims will tell you one thing, but it's Care Coordination of Dallas that you need to be talking too. Call your Customer Service number on the back of your ID card and just go through all the teleautomation till you get to a cs rep, then ask to speak to Care Coordination of Dallas. They'll patch you through. You can't find their number on the website either.