twiggysmiff

I thought you had to be at least 100 pounds overweight to even qualify for the band. You say you already lost 10 and only need to lose 40, so that would only be 50. What was your BMI? Comorbidities? Your BMI needs to be less than 35 if you have medical conditions, less than 40 if you don't. I find it horrible that your doctor did not advise you, but on the other hand, as an adult with access to a computer, you really would have been better off if you had spent hours on the computer researching the band and life after the band. The fact that he didn't have time to give you the details doesn't excuse YOU from the responsibility of researching for yourself. I'm not trying to be rude or mean, but I'm being blunt. The band is only a tool and you still have to work to succeed. It's not a "magic wand" that will instantly work.

Always follow your doctor's diet plan after surgery. Some doctors allow you to begin eating this early, but some do not. Your doctor has these in place for a reason and you chose your doctor because you trusted yourself to his/her care. You need to call your doctor and let them know that you've been eating so that he/she can advise you. You don't want to mess up your stitches and end up with a slip 6 months down the road because you didn't heal properly.

I was banded on 1/14 and have not felt the slightest bit hungry at all. My doctor allowed me to start adding foods to my diet beginning on 1/18. Today I was allowed to begin well cooked veggies, veggie soup, mashed potatoes, etc. Well, even with eating the mushies, I'm having to force myself to eat. I'm only getting in about 400 calories per day and I'm up to about 30 oz of liquids per day (I'm really trying hard to get it all in and I just can't). In the morning I feel very nauseous and the thought of eating is just horrible. I am barely able to drink my Water. Later in the day, I eat about 4-5 bites of something like smooshed up peas or drink a couple drinks of soup and I'm full. It took me 2 hours to eat a banana today. I feel like I'll throw up if I eat more. It's not painful like I'm stuck. I'm just full and I have that "I just overate feeling". I don't know if I'm just swollen from surgery still or if it is because he said he put a 10cc band on and it was pretty snug. It just seems weird to me....

I'm looking forward to tomorrow because according to my doctor's plan, I can begin with cooked veggies, beans, pureed soups and mashed potatoes. I'm following my doctor's plan to the letter. It's like he has staged it so every couple of days, I can add something else, so I don't get bored too much with the diet. Obviously, I'm being conservative though and MOST (80%) of what I'm still eating is full liquids.

I was allowed to start cream based soups on Sunday and I had some Creamy Tomato (Cup at Hand) and I have to say that was the best stuff I've ever had!!! It felt SOOO good going down. It took me 45 minutes to get the whole thing down, but it was glorious! I have to say that I'm feeling better today. I only had liquid Tylenol this morning before work. I started back to work (teaching) this morning and got a wonderful surprise! We had a 2 hour delay due to the weather! I didn't have to be at school until 9, so I was able to leisurely get ready and drive in. Then, since it was inauguration day, we watched the coverage of the inauguration all day while doing various projects related to it. I also had to leave early today to take my daughter to a doctor's appointment. It was a great day to go back. I found that being busy really helped me get my mind off the band. Today was the first day I can say that I felt human again. Also, the past 2 nights, I've been able to sleep on my left side AND on my stomach! :thumbup: Maybe there is a light at the end of the tunnel after all!

I don't go to see my doctor until Feb 11, but if something goes wrong, I can always call ahead. I keep telling myself, just make it through the day. I go back to work tomorrow and I'm hoping that will distract me enough to make it through the day. I'm a teacher and 4th graders are very distracting! :scared2: We'll get through this...hang in there. Just remember what your reasons were for getting this in the first place!

I am a day ahead of you. I had my surgery on Wednesday and I'm having much of the same doubts that you are. I'm trying to be strong, but I don't think I'm doing so well. I've even been researching lap band removal on google! I will say that the pain for me was so much better today. I'm only on Tylenol and I'm sore, but its definitely manageable. Now I'm having a hard time getting the water in. I think I'm getting dehydrated, so I'm sitting here drinking like a fish (as much as I can without feeling sick). My tongue is turning white, I'm freezing to death even though the temp in the room is 71 (took my body temp and no fever), and I feel a constant lump in my throat. I keep telling myself that I'll be OK...wait it out for at least a couple of weeks, but its hard. From what I've seen, many people feel this same way during the first weeks after surgery and then once the effects of surgery goes away, we're OK. I'm counting on this. Hang in there. You're not the only one going through this.....we're in it together!:scared2:

I know I'm probably bugging all of you to death, but your help has really been getting me through these early days of the band. Today, when I woke up (5 days post op), I felt like I was on the verge of choking. Its almost like I have something stuck in the back of my throat. Is this normal? My doctor told me that he put the 10cc band on and "its pretty snug" and I'm fearing that it is too snug. If that's the case, will they have to go back in and put the 14 cc on or will it loosen as I lose some weight? This is such a foreign land. I did at least 2 years of research on this before I did it, but now I feel so ignorant in many things. Its really a matter of there's no way to fully prepare until you do it. Thanks,

Bad idea....you will be under general anesthesia which stays in your system for up to 24 hours. If you drove, you would be just the same as drinking and driving and you could have an accident and hurt yourself or others. If you got pulled over, you could be arrested for DUI. My doctors would not release me unless I had an adult to take me home and I only lived 5 minutes from the hospital (if that). Surely, there HAS to be someone who can take you!

Thank you so much. I have no intention of turning back now, but I was worried I'd have to spend a lifetime of panic attacks! I guess my whole body is just in shock right now!

How long until you stop panicking about the band itself and life after the band? There are moments where I have to fight a panic attack and the thought of "I want this thing out of me" hits. Then I can distract myself and I'm OK again. Is this a sign that I just wasn't ready psychologically for the surgery or is this normal? I would feel like such a failure and be so embarrassed if I end up having it removed because I was having panic attacks. I guess I should say that I'm on 10 mg of Buspar for anxiety...maybe I need the dose increased.....

Thank you both for your replies. That makes me feel better. I really thought this was the case, but I wanted to make sure I wasn't a total nutcase. Well, I am, but at least I can't blame it on the band!! :huh2: This too shall pass....

What is the surgery to remove the band like? Is it as tough as the recovery from getting the band or is it easier?

Thanks...I thought I was going crazy for a minute! It would have been ripping her if you had responded the way you did based on the post that I saw, but now I understand fully! :glare: Yes, muffins and salad is a no-no for me right now too. Now I can see where your concern came from and things were not as they seemed. :huh2:

I've always been irregular due to PCOS. I had my surgery on Wednesday and today (Sunday) I wiped and saw evidence of her arrival! UGH....There must be something to surgery that brings it on. I did it will all my other surgeries too.

This is weird. I am allergic to the adhesives on bandaids, etc and always get a red rash where it sticks. I woke up this morning to find a perfectly square rash around each of my incisions, but I don't have a bandage there. They closed with durabond. Does anyone know if they put something on there to keep the instruments in place that would have adhesive in it?

Luckily, the incisions are nice and dry, and the bruises are fading to yellow/green and the rashes are disappearing. I have to give myself lovenox shots every day for a week-10 days. I don't feel the needle, so that part is fine, but the meds sting a bit. I can see where I've given the shot though because there is a tiny little purple dot at each location. My tummy looks like a mess!! LOL Connect the dots anyone?

Well, I had my surgery on Wednesday and its now Saturday. Today has been one of the worst days for soreness yet, but that may be a result of stopping lortab and just using Tylenol. I've been tolerating the special diet so far. I was on clear liquids until Friday and then I could add protein shakes. Tomorrow I can add applesauce, pudding, and bananas. I haven't really felt hungry since then, but I know that is due to the swelling. I've lost 5 pounds since surgery due to my liquid diet. There have been times where I've wondered, why did I do this? I know that once the soreness goes away and I get into a routine, I'll be much happier.

Hey...I see you are from KY too. I'm from Lexington and my husband works in Louisville. I've had quite a bit of gas pains too, but they seem to be fading now. My shoulder doesn't really hurt anymore. Now its just muscular pain that I'm dealing with.

OK... thanks! I didn't see the edited thing. I didn't think you could edit your message after it was sent. I'm still learning all the ins and outs of LBT.

I wasn't banded at this location, but I would suggest you read the sticky of surgery day stories, if you haven't already. There are so many similarities that happen regardless of where you are banded that you should get a good idea of what will happen.

JB...your picture freaks me out a bit.

That the meds that I take too and even though I still feel pain on it, there have been a couple of times when I missed a dose because I slept through it. It was THEN that I realized how much it really WAS helping. Now I take it every 4 hours and even set an alarm at night! My pain feels more like a severely pulled muscle, but it does seem to be getting better today. If I'm sitting still or walking, I don't feel it too much. Its just when I have to cough, stand up from sitting or lying down, or bend over for any reason.

Ummm...did I miss something? All she asked in the first post was what was an absolute no-no and the next post was ripping on her for eating muffins and salad. Where did THAT come from? Am I not getting all the posts or what? I'm so confused. Maybe its the lortab???

I had my surgery on Wednesday 1/14 and I was very thirsty when I woke up, but I have yet to really feel hungry. I've only been "eating" broth, shakes, etc because I know I should to keep my energy up and my muscles. I was allowed to eat a banana this morning and it took me 45 minutes. I was chewing and chewing until it was practically liquid. I only ate it to get some calories in, not because I was hungry. I'm sure this will change once the swelling in my stomach goes away. Then again, my surgeon did say that the band was a bit snug on me (10cc), so maybe I'll get lucky and have restriction just from the band itself.