Eeyore

I am so upset. I switched over to mushies 2 days ago and have managed to gain 3lbs. I was so excited at the progress I was making, I feel as though I have failed. I can't get in for my first fill until July 11. Reading through here I am going to try to make some adjustments of my protein intake. I can't bear to drink another protein shake though - they make me nauseated just thinking about it. <sigh> Sorry for venting everyone...

I just accidentally posted in the pre-op section - oops! Tomorrow the great mushie diet begins!! Although I will confess I tried some tuna salad today and it went just fine - never has bland tuna tasted so good. I have a concern as I take this next step.... it seems I am getting my pre-op hunger back. I've lost 10lbs since being banded and I am terrified I'm going to gain it back. I hear that once you start eating normal foods again that's when you gain back but I don't wanna!!! (do I sound like a two year old yet? ) This has been at the forefront of my brain the past few days and has me very concerned. I've also discovered that I'm allergic to something. I'm not sure if it was the adhesive glue (instead of stiches) the steri strips or what but I have red welts that ITCH like crazy around my incisions. I went to the nurse today and she told me to put hydrocordizone cream on it and just try to let it be. Anyone have any other ideas - this cream only does so much. Thanks!

Hi everyone! I just got home a short while ago and wanted to say hello. I had my surgery yesterday around noon time and am home already. Surgery went well, though I was terrified. I was at the hospital alone and even until the point I was laying on the table and they were setting up I was thinking about running. Next thing I knew I was in recovery. Here's how the day went. I arrived at 9:15 for my 11AM surgery, filled out paperwork and read my book until they called me back around 11:10AM. The nurse took my blood pressure (about 10 times because the machine couldn't get a reading), temperature and verified I hadn't eaten since the night prior and that I was doing the liquid diet prior to surgery. Next the anastesiologist (I will never be able to spell that) came in. He was SOOOO nice to me. I was obviously nervous but he told me everything was going to be ok, his calm and caring personality really helped. I started crying (I was really nervous!!!) and told him I didn't want to die - he told me I wouldn't and that he would take good care of me. Another nurse came in and confirmed again my diet and no eating since day before, she took my belongings as well. The anastesiologist assistant came in next and just chatted with me and gave me a step by step of what was going to happen - this was very helpful for me. Essentially once you hit the room people start buzzing all around and if I didn't know that was going to happen it would have really scared me. My surgeon came in next and we chatted a bit, apparently she had heard how nervous was. She was great- I really think she is the best. After she left I changed in to the really cute gowns and made the long walk to the OR. The OR was really frightening - with all the stuff and lights and people in there. But they were talking to me the entire time which took my mind off of it. I laid down on the table and someone attached the leg massager things (to prevent clots in your legs), while I got a shot of relax drugs and they started my iv. They continued to talking to me - where are you from etc. My surgeon came over and held my hand as I tried not to cry and then TADA I was going to recovery. I felt like a few people were yelling different commands at me - Open your eyes, take deep breaths etc but that's about it. It took me a good 2 hours at least in recovery to be fully aware and able to focus. A nurse stayed with me the entire time which was great because let me just say that pain from the gas they filled me with made my chest so tight feeling I really did think there was something wrong with my heart. Some morphine in my iv helped with the pain and then they gave me some percacet. While I was uncomfortable I wasn't in pain after that. Around 5ish I went up to my room. I got some broth and water around 6 and around 8 my belongings finally came back to me (yay!!! my underwear!!!!). After I put those on I went pee for the first time and then made circles around the floor for a little bit - really takes away the gas pain. Went back to my room to rest and have more broth and then more walking back to my room to read for a bit before bedtime. They kept following up during the night on how my pain level was and I was doing fine, again more uncomfortable than anything. I got some motrin through my IV instead of the heavy stuff. This morning more motrin more walking more broth. Nurses checked on my pain and the someone from the surgical team came by and checked out my incisions followed about an hour later by my surgeon who cleared me to go home. So here I am. I got to take a shower and I am sore but not in pain. They did give me a perscription for pain meds which I filled just in case but so far I'm ok. Its time for a nap and some gas x I think. I hope this information is helpful. :cursing:

Tomorrow the great mushie diet begins!! Although I will confess I tried some tuna salad today and it went just fine - never has bland tuna tasted so good. I have a concern as I take this next step.... it seems I am getting my pre-op hunger back. I've lost 10lbs since being banded and I am terrified I'm going to gain it back. :rolleyes2: I hear that once you start eating normal foods again that's when you gain back but I don't wanna!!! (do I sound like a two year old yet? ) This has been at the forefront of my brain the past few days and has me very concerned. I've also discovered that I'm allergic to something. I'm not sure if it was the adhesive glue (instead of stiches) the steri strips or what but I have red welts that ITCH like crazy around my incisions. I went to the nurse today and she told me to put hydrocordizone cream on it and just try to let it be. Anyone have any other ideas - this cream only does so much. Thanks!

Whoa!!!! Hold up there Bob. You mean to tell me they gave you jello??? I'm SO very envious of your jello. :grouphug: My meal was broth and tea (which I don't care for) and Water. Not that it mattered because my broth was filling enough. Congratulations and all the best to you!

I went for my post op appt today and the first words out of my surgeons mouth were - What happened here?? :biggrin: One of my steri strips had unstuck around the corners etc and was getting caught on my pjs so I took it off. It bled like 2 drops and so I figured to be safe I would cover it with a bandaid. She seemed disappointed but she plucked that band aid right off and said look no blood its fine and left it uncovered. I'm itchy (the good itchy-healing) and could probably take the others off but I think I'll wait till Friday - day 10 for me.

There is one thing maybe you, my fellow bandster friends can help me with. I've been having these weird little... episodes where I have a warm sensation take over my body (mostly on the left side) in a matter of a few seconds, my heart starts beating very quickly and then I feel like I'm going to pass out. IT sort of feels like 1) I'm having a panic attack or 2) I've gotten really sick with a cold or something and I've taken too many meds in too short a period of time. It happened at 2 odd moments, both times I was just sitting watching tv. I haven't passed out yet, I just take a cold ice pack and put it on my forehead, lay in bed to some soothing music and count - and eventually I take a nap. I'm not sure why this is happening. Anyone have any ideas or have the same thing happen? :confused2:

Thanks for the advice everyone. I'm a little worried about trying to get to the doctor tomorrow - the heat and humidity here is just horrible but I will definitely speak to her tomorrow about it. I'm trying to increase my fluids and just taking it easy. Maybe I over did too soon after surgery. I don't know, but that will be first on the list tomorrow morning. PS I shouldn't be in pre-menopause yet but that would be a scary issue if I was (I'm only 29).

Thanks Cris. I was just banded last tuesday June 3. For the first few days I had all the energy in the world (my poor body couldn't keep up) now I'm more slugish too. I wasn't diabetic before surgery (was one of my my main pro's to get the surgery done to try and prevent that). I've eaten a little when these things came on - some pureed Soups because I thought the sustinance would help. I haven't spoken to my MD yet - but have an appointment tomorrow so I will definitly talk to her about it then.

Thanks AZ! Today I'm doing ok. I tried to go out yesterday and thought I was going to drop dead in the very humid heat wave here. As far as my heart is concerned...might not be exactly 'ok' but I think I'm doing better (or that could be my rose colored glasses?) I got a vm 'just checking to see how you are doing'. I haven't bothered to call back as all I can think of saying are expletives and snyde (sp?) remarks about the new girlfriend. I know its probably not exactly healthy. But I'm holding back no so much because I want to protect him from the fury of my scorn, but because I really do want to show off in the next month or so when he comes to town (and probably throw in a few expletives and snyde remarks then. Like I said, not exactly healthy but it keeps me going and right now I'll take any source of motivation I can. :incazzato:

This is so true Favorite - I've been thinking about that alot lately. He'll be back in town for a few days in about a month. Would love to look completely different in a beautiful and healthy way As of tonight I lost another 2lbs. I hope it keeps going and my .... indiscretion... doesn't counter act the rest.

I've done some 'emotional eating' the past two days. I seem to be fine during the day, doing lots of walking, drinking my protein shakes and water and a few sugar free ices but once night falls I get sad and lonely and go back to the old (EVIL) reliable things -namely chocolate because it melts and goes down. I got so ticked at myself tonight I threw the junk away but I'm only a few days post op!!!

Hi Pam! I don't know if this link will come through or not but this is where you can find all the abv. info. Lap Band Surgery and Lap Band Discussion Forum - FAQ: Lap-band Abbreviations

Congrats Luigismama! I'm only a few days ahead of you and the uncomfortableness and all that gets better each and everyday. Walking really helped me. I've been taking at least 3-4 per day at about 1/2- 1 1/2mi each and I really think it has helped my healing process. Sounds like you are doing great getting back into the swing of things. PS Can I borrow you're husband to install my a/c? This heat wave and the humidity is going to be killer (I'm in No. NJ).

I think this is one of those things that varies by doctor. Mine has it in the info packet and everything that I could take the outer layer ones off after 3 days, but everyone is different. The steri strips I was told to let fall off - so I am patiently waiting for that.

I just took off the waterproof bandages today (was banded tuesday). The smaller ones I almost forget are there, the big one .... not so much. :tongue2: It has a deep bruise that is yellow and purple and I get this random pulling type of pain every once in awhile. I also noticed that part of my skin around it is numb! That shocked me a little but nothing looks infected and I feel pretty good- didn't even take a nap today, everything seems to be getting back to normal- except my throat but that is a whole different issue. MyLapGotBigger makes a good point - I was so upset when I saw my scale when I came home - it was 6lbs more than when I left the morning of surgery! Its now 2lbs less than when I left for surgery (almost an 8lb difference in 4 days). I still feel a bit bloated but nothing like I did right after surgery. I felt like I was that girl in Willy Wokna's - you could just roll my big blue/purple tummy down the street like a bowling ball. :thumbup:

Hi All! Things are going well. I weighed myself when I first came home from the hospital and found out that I gained 5 lbs since the morning I left for surgery. :confused: I was so upset. But as of today I've lost 3 of those lbs. My tummy was really distended (more than usual) when I first got home. I even took a picture of it. :wub: I haven't been very hungry and at first I was sort of on autopilot. I woke up and tried to eat and then again at lunch time etc before I realized what I was doing. I wasn't eating because I was HUNGRY. Its a bit of a balance because you want to give your body the nutrients to heal but at the same time this is a whole new way to eat and you should eat when you are hungry, and I wasn't. So I've been trying to listen to my body. The signs of hunger have been different than I'm used to so I really have to listen (and make sure it isn't the gas roaming around that is making noise). Last night I slept on either side (the side with the small incisions is more comfortable). I'm too chicken to try my stomach yet, which is how I normally sleep. I did take half a vicoden last night which knocked me out. I've been doing a lot of walking and trying to get back into doing all my normal stuff and it seems to have caught up to me today as I am very sore and tired. I find I can bend (at the knees and then over if need be) to pick up things but I go very very slowly and when I sit for a long while or sleep my body is very stiff when I get up. Sitting up from a laying position is getting easier. I was afraid I was going to bust a stich at first but its going well I still went for a walk again today - to the mall. While I was walking through I fell in love with a dress at macys. Its just a cotton dress with a white background and brown trim and a little background pattern in different colors (it may not sound cute from my bad description but it is!). They even had it in an 18 but I gave myself a goal and bought it in a 14. I don't know when I'll reach that goal (could be the dead of winter) but I thought it would be a good visual. Anyway I took some liquid ibuprofen when I got home, had some broth and I woke up 1 1/2 hrs later. I've had a little development. That little thing that hangs in the back of your throat- well mine must have not liked being tubed or it got squished or something because its all inflamed and half of it is white and its so swollen it hangs partially down my throat and gives me this gag feeling. Dr said to just let it heel so that's what I'm trying to do. I suck on sore throat drops and use a spray at night to numb it. I try not to think about it because it wigs me out. Well, its time for another walk for me. Tomorrow I'll take my bandages off and check it all out :thumbup:

My throat was sore after surgery Tuesday which was expected. Now however, my uluva (Sp?) that little thing that hangs in the back of your throat is swollen and half of it is white and touches my tongue (and even lays on top of my tongue). Its making me gag and its difficult to speak. Has this happened to anyone? What did you do?:thumbup: I called the dr on call last night (I was worried about going to sleep and choking as well as throwing up and band slippage) and she told me that its inflamed from being tubed during surgery and essentially that if I went to er they would just numb it. I asked in stead about using cloraseptic throat spray and she said to give that a try. I walked to the store and got spray and drops (by cepacol with maximum numbing right on the box!). It seems to help but I'm concerned it isn't going to go away???

That was my fear about going under as well but I was talking to my pcp and told him about how scared I was and he told me that it is far safer to go under and be intubated than not- because the ventilator does the breathing for you. That actually made me feel better about that part of the surgery. Also the anthes. said he wouldn't take the tube out until I was breathing to his satisfaction and that I wouldn't remember it at all. After the surgery with all the gas I really thought there was something wrong with my heart and/or my lungs because it was tough to breath and my chest was so tight feeling but the longer I was awake the easier it became. You'll also have to do breathing exercises afterwards with this little gizmo that measures how much air you take in to reinflate you lungs to pre-surgery capacity. I don't know that any of this will make you feel better but perhaps it will at least give you the knowledge of what to expect.

I'm no expert but it wouldn't hurt, each doctor is different. You'll see a variety of pre op diets online here, some people don't even have a pre op diet at all! If you are concerned give your doctor a call. :cursing:

I made it home about 20 minutes ago. I ended up staying over night as I probably wasn't going to get out of the hospital before 10pm anyway and it just made me feel more comfortable being around people who could take care of me if needed. Thanks again everyone. Now its time to recover - my belly and my heart.

Me too! Me Too! Where are you having yours YoungNY? Good luck tomorrow and let us know how you are doing!

Today is a new day. Tomorrow is surgery day. I'm actually hungry today, which I haven't been since saturday night. You'd think I'd have dropped some more weight but I haven't exactly been motivated to get outside much. I went for two walks yesterday and I'll go on another today. I also slept a little this morning. I tried sleeping last night and had some sort of nightmare - I remember feeling like the ceiling was falling on me and the next thing I know I was face down on the floor in the bedroom doorway. My knees are sore me, as is my right elbow, my right arm - in the bicep area and my lower back. My knees are bruised and a little swollen and I have a patch of rug burn on my elbow (though I have hard wood floors). I really don't know how I got there or what happened - I'm guessing I tripped or something. I took some advil and fell asleep for 4 hours. My head is a little more clear but the heartache isn't any less. Oh and I got a text message asking me how I was. Seriously??? HOW THE F DO YOU THINK I AM???? It just started all over again. :thumbup: Oh well. Today is a new day, tomorrow is surgery and a new dawn awaits. Thanks again everyone.

Thank you everyone for all your thoughts and prayers. I was able to take a nap for a couple of hours and went for a walk to get an extention cord just to force myself outside for a little while. I think I've decided to go ahead with surgery but instead of going home alone I think I'll get a hotel room near the hospital, if for no other reason than it will give me peace of mind that I wouldn't be far away and alone if something didn't feel right in the night. Thanks again everyone.

Wow this is great!!!! At least I can recoup some portion of the surgery etc. Thank you for asking this question BiCoastal!! I guess I'll have to look into finding someone to do my taxes this year too, but a deduction off my taxes would be well worth it!