RestlessMonkey

I don't get mushies until week 3. And Barbara thanks but....I want food, not a summer treat! LOL Honestly the only time I've been even vaguely nauseated was when I tried the sugar free jello. It tasted so sweet it about did me in! I'll just have to quit whining and wait for food time. And...I really AM hungry. I'm not thirsty. I'm not bored. Just hungry!

It never ceases to amaze me how different every doc/every experience is. I just spent over 1/2 day post op meeting with nutritionist, exercise therapist yada yada etc! AND they told us lap band patients we could start doing resistance workouts (ie weights) at week 2! Of course we aren't supposed to lift anything over 15-20 pounds until the start of week 3, but.... Can't eat but boy we can lift weights ! LOL

Health4life that's great! So glad you are through and now a "bandster". I look forward to seeing you around here as we both start to slim down !

Good luck to both of you! I'm sure you'll both sail through fine!

It's probably ok but you can always call your surgeon and get an antibiotic or an ointment....or if you have clinics where you live (what we call "Doc in th Box".) you can stop in after school hours and get it looked at. Mine looks a lot like yours and it is just healing...but I'm not a doc.

yes I've heard of it. It's becoming more common, as I understand it, because over time their "pouch" stretches (that's how so many GBS patients who regain their lost weight are ABLE to regain it) and they have no more restriction. Where we can always go get a fill, they are stuck with one size fits all. And the pouch does stretch quite a bit over time!

If it is hot, if it oozes and the exudate stinks, if you have a fever, if red spokes radiate out from it, or if it is dark angry red you probably have an infection. If not, then you are most likely fine. There are other topical antibiotics (I don't think neosporin is a sulfa but haven't dug my tube out to be sure; you'd know if you were allergic) and if it makes you feel better you can apply. It's best just to leave it alone and let it heal. What did the doc use to close it? Sutures? Steri strips? staples?

Sorry I can burp better than my husband can.

If i could have crackers I'd be a happy camper. But not yet.

I'm hungry! I was hungry after surgery (and not "head hunger" either! I had no nausea, no problems swallowing water...could've gulped it!) I haven't had anything like food in so long I've forgotten what it is! I have appt w/surgeon etc (post op 1 week follow up) tomorrow and I just pray they let us have something more to eat than water, clear sugar free liquid broth and jello. I'm hanging tough but my stomach is louder than the tv.

Ok I DID just get my band but aren't we supposed to get FULL on less? Aren't we supposed to PB if we overeat? and if there isn't adequate restriction to cause that full feeling, won't the food just go on through and NOT stretch the band? I'm confused....

It messed mine up. My doc had me on a preop diet to shrink my liver and I was hungry and lost 15 but ate things he didn't tell me I could....and I came to postop on 8/11 to find out he couldn't place the band because my liver was too fatty. I know I'm in the minority but I sure learned the hard way to do what my doc said to do! I suggest calling your doc tomorrow, fessing up, and seeing if he thinks it will hurt you or not. It's better to be safe and it's totally possible he'll tell you "ok". Hang in there...

Once I can eat again I plan on doing WW....

Welcome! I was banded last Friday! It was a snap! I love my band.

Hey LANAKILA ! Isn't it great finally having a band? I can drink (and burp) like a lush, too! Are you doing as well post op as it sounds like you are? I got my band Friday and it is wonderful. I can't feel it but I know it's there waiting to help me!

OH! and you'll probably have a VERY dry mouth. It isn't because you are dehydrated (I went up over 14 pounds from fluids they pumped in to me, but they'll come back out over time) but they may give you something to dry up your secretions (protects you from aspirating) So don't worry about that. It gets better by the next day!

I agree it's easy...so easy that I had surgery 8/11 and again 8/29! When you come to in recovery you'll have an oxygen mask on. They will want you to breathe deeply (they'll tell you, don't worry) and that helps clear the anesthesia from your lungs. Your throat may be a little sore because you'll have been intubated (but that happens when you are out; you'll never know) and you may feel "tight" in your torso (not tight like you can't breath, but tight like you are sore from too many sit ups) Breathe deeply anyway! They'll you pain meds; take them! My surgeon let me go home the same day but he usually keeps people overnight just to be on the safe side. I had to pass a swallow test to make sure the band was in place etc (and it was EASY! way better than the first barium swallow test they had me do preop!) and then I got to dress and go home. You will talk to your anesthesiologist preop, your nurse who will assist in the OR, and possibly your surgeon. They will ask a few questions (don't get impatient if they repeat things you already told your nurse...it's a system of checks and balances and safer for you!), answer any questions you have, and then you are set. I LOVE my band. I can't feel it. I can't feel my port. I just know it's in there waiting, once I've healed, to help me live the life I've dreamed of for years. I've never had a doubt since I started this process. I hope you love yours too!

I'm sticking to my doc's plan although I'm hungry and have been since I was in recovery. HOWEVER I know that eating mushies etc can cause my stomach to churn to digest it and I risk slippage, erosion etc. I might "feel" fine but be doing damage. SO I can be hungry a few days. Big woo. Worth it in the long run.

It's ok I wasn't at all insulted. I don't know which is worse...drinking too much alcohol or too many milkshakes! Nice of you to apologize to me but it wasn't needed at all! :blushing:

Michelle...you keep calling it "this thing inside me"...and while I do not know how you feel (I think of mine as a friend already, actually) I can empathize. Do you think perhaps some therapy could help you? Because If I felt like it was "a thing inside me" I don't think there would be enough anti-depressants or fills/unfills to make me happy about it. It can be a big help in losing (although I know you have not experienced that yet)....I wonder if a different surgeon/practice might be helpful to you? someone with more education etc? It might cost a little but so worth it for your happiness! Hang in there!

Beautifult your original post said you were confused about how much you were supposed to be eating...so apparently the answer is whatever your doc has told you to eat!

My liver wasn't fatty because of alcohol LOL it was fatty because of fat! But it's better now! I was very obese and I'm sure that's why he put me on the diet; all surgeons are just a little bit different! :tt2:

I think it depends on how physical your job is. If it's pretty sedentary and you are like me, you'll be fine! I was banded 8/29 and am going back to school today (as a student) Honestly I just looked at a calendar...I'd give myself an extra day or two, even IF your job is sedentary. And if yours is like my jobs always were, when you get back there will be stress from work piled up etc. So I vote don't go back until Tues or Weds if you have an easier office type job, longer if it is more rigorous!

EXTRMFTH...not to scare you but when you eat solids your stomach churns (almost like a little washing machine) to digest it. You don't usually feel it, but it does. That's one reason we are to stay away from solids for so long; we need to give the sutures around our band time to heal so the band will stay in place. Eating too early can cause slippage or erosion or worse. Please call your doc, tell him (or her) what you've been eating and ask them for guidance! I KNOW it's hard to be without food; I haven't eaten for over a week and still have more to go; but it's worth it to heal properly. Hang in there, call your doctor!

Isn't your husband behind you? Does your sister think you shouldn't have the band? When you say 'away from home" do you mean you had to travel to get the band, or you are away from your mom? In the end you have to please yourself first, then your husband, then your mother.....but you are most important. I am sure there are good solid reasons you chose to have the band. You need to sit quietly and remember those reasons. Make a list if you need to. I'm sure you had good reasons for not telling your mother; did you think your sister would keep your secret? Has she kept secrets for you in the past? Your mother is probably frightened (I'm assuming because you don't say why you kept her in the dark) and you can probably soothe her fears if you can talk to her without crying and getting overly emotional. So calm yourself, recenter yourself, and call her. You don't have to have the surgery unless you want it. Assuming you want it, let the rest of the drama go. It will be ok!