RestlessMonkey

The horror stories are the exception to the rule...they seem to be concrentrated on this sight but they are rare. My NP in my surgeon's office told me that the odds are post op (once I've healed and learned the new way of eating etc) I will most likely be able to eat everything I ever did but in smaller portions. I can tell you I had my banding on 8/29 (after a failed attempt on 8/11 ... and that is rare too!) and I feel fine. A little sore, but some of my surgical sites are larger than they would've been because of the 2nd surgery. All in all I'm drinking water and feeling fine. So remember to take the bad stuff, not with a grain of salt, but just as the rare exception it is. Most bandsters feel great and do wonders with the band!

I think you need to go back to your doctor. Sinus infections are hard to treat (the sinuses aren't highly vascularized) and you are lucky yours were so easily cured in the past. This time you might have gotten an infection that was resistant to your antibiotic. As long as your pills are going down your stomach being banded shouldn't hae any effect on if you can sure your sinus infection or not. Odds are you just need new drugs. Sorry you feel bad but call your doc as soon as he opens and go back in! (your sinus doc)

Thanks! And don't get me wrong, I feel pretty good considering! (I had surgery 8/11 and again 8/29, he reused the same entry points so I know I feel a little more sore because of that!) Just wishing I could have ibuprofen too! You are one lucky woman!

Surgeons are all so different! I wouldn't take it on an empty stomach but that's personal preference. I do like it better than tylenol as a pain reliever but for now will follow what my surgeon says. I will say though if i could take ibuprofen instead of tyelnol I'm sure I'd be feeling better too! LOL

I'm in San Antonio Tx My surgeon said it's roughly 15K for the band. The price varies widely depending on where you go and who you use. I think there is a doc in aurora colorado who does it for under 10k but I don't remember his name.

Ok how are you getting away with ibuprofen? We are told ONLY tylenol because the NSAIDS like ibuprofen are bad for your stomach.

Why can't you a vegetarian drink the shakes? They are whey and soy protein...that's ok for vegetarians isn't it? Have you had your band yet? how far along you are postop will affect how much water you can drink that's also pertinent to if you can have peanuts or not

I never thought in my life I'd be so excited about refried beans LOL I don't get mushies till week 3 but then, watch out!

Thank you so much! I feel much better. And as to the poster who put on 5 pounds...take this time to heal, don't obsess about the weight. It has to be Water because there is no way on earth you have taken in 18,000 extra calories over what you need to maintain your basic metabolism. See? Put it in perspective and it's just your body trying to adjust. I've hidden my scale and will only weigh at the surgeons and I suggest you do that too.. Right now, getting your band healed and learning your new eating style is what is priority. The weight loss will come in it's time. (I understand your horror...I went up 14 yes 14 pounds on surgery day! but I know it will come back off pretty quickly. That's why I hid my scale! You have someone hide yours, and just focus on yourself!)

Welcome Andrew6! Sounds like you and the band are a great match! Thanks for your story!

Welcome! I'm a new bandster, just got my band on friday. Enjoy your seminar, ask questions...mine was very informative!

Yes, they always use gas. It helps give them room to maneuver around in there....and protects organs they don't want to operate on from being in the way and getting knicked or something. They do try to remove as much gas as they can before they "close you up" and some have little to no gas pain, some have more. If you walk it dissipates fairly quickly, at least for me it does! It's a good thing. As to babysitting, I can say that I feel pretty good but still wouldn't want to chase a kiddo around yet. I am moving well but more slowly than usual. You need a full week to get your feet back under you, I'd think. Get some back up planned. It can't hurt. If you feel wonderful that quickly so be it, but it is major surgery and you need to give yourself time to heal and rest. Are you getting excited yet?

My second surgery day was 8/29. I was a little nervous because I had gone in to have the band placed on 8/11 and my liver was still too fatty. Back to preop diet for 2 1/2 more weeks (doing it the surgeon's way this time) and hoped it would be smaller. I arrived at the hospital at 5am for a 7am surgery. I was my surgeon's only case; he was performing the surgery friday for me as a favor to accommodate my school schedule (what a great man he is!) . I was rolling away by 715 (the anesthesiologist was running behind!) and back awake in recovery by 9am with my band in place! YAY! Back to my room where I had to stay until they did another swallow test on me to make sure everything was in place. That seemed to take forever, and I felt find and wanted to get dressed but they would not let me. The nurse finally gave in and gave me ice chips and then Water before the swallow test; they could tell I was fine. After the test I dressed, used the bathroom (not in that order) and then just waited for discharge orders. The Doc knew I wanted to go home and graciously let me. But I was up and moving and feeling great; no reason to keep me really! I got home about 2pm and felt wonderful! So glad to have the band! I've been a little sore yesterday and today postop but nothing too bad. I can drink more water than just sips but hold myself to a minimum to be safe. I see my surgeon on Weds and hope I can progress to heavier liquids than just broth and water. It's a little tight when I breathe deeply but I make myself do it and it loosens up (plus it's good for me and helps clear the gas and anesthesia, and prevents pneumonia!) All in all, an easy surgery. If I hadn't had to wait so long for the Xrays of me swallowing I'd have been home much sooner. Feel great and am anxious to get on with my new bandster lifestyle!

Hi Neenz! I just woke up after almost 8 hours of sleep....pretty good considering I sleep on my left side and stomach (owie!) not my back and right side (where there are no surgical sites) I'm able to breath deeply without as much pain, and not as stiff and "gluey" feeling (if that makes sense) as yesterday. I feel pretty good and very happy to have the band! I have to do some nursing school homework today and that's a drag, but I feel up to it at least! How are you?

I'm So glad you're doing better. Once your electrolytes are balanced you really don't need to drink gatorade daily (kind of pricey for me, and it's too salty for me too) but it's great for anyone who has the runs. Even the sugar...helps replace lost glycogen. However, there is a light version that works too! Thanks for posting your follow-up!

You probably know best! It's hard, or we wouldn't be here. Hang in there; I know you can get back on track!

Sorry I can't answer all your questions but are you snacking or eating foods that are easy to go down but high in calories like milkshakes etc? If no, I think you do need to talk to your doctor.

You are right, I stand corrected! Sorry about that!

Kaopectate is not the same as pepto. Very different. It's what we used to take for diahrrea before immodium came out. LOL and the gatorade is right on to replace lost fluids and electrolytes.

You've been banded long enough, just use straws. You swallow the air in the straw but you'll be able to burp and get rid of it. You're healed etc so it's no big deal for you, and some bandsters don't even have the straw restriction! sorry your tooth hurts though. I know motrin is best on tooth pain but you don't want to take that on an empty stomach.

You're probably right! Sounds like you are keeping the Propel in so far...that's good. You know, when I start a different diet this can happen so unless you were on a liquid diet before, this is probably just your body flipping out. You should be ok once the immodium gets a hold. It slows stuff down, doesn't need to bind (like a fiber or something) so you'll be fine.

I'd be jealous if I weren't weak with hunger LOL Those are our "mushies" I don't get them until week 3. Week 1 is only clear liquids (broth..it's not clear! but still) week 2 is clear liquids and protein shakes Week 3 starts mushies. I can hang on till mushies....i can hang on till mushies.... i can hang on....

Ok. Stuff with sugar won't hurt you right now ... more important to get things stabilized. I'm not familiar with Propel but if it's a competitor to gatorade then I'm sure it will work too! Glad to know the shaking is getting better! Poor thing!

Of course I feel really good....recovered quickly etc. That's probably part of it. But I will just have my clear fluids at least till weds. maybe then he'll clear me for a protein drink or something.