TrishaLight

Hey everyone, I can't believe I'm finally banded...and posting from the "other side". Thanks to all who helped answer my pre-op questions. My surgery was on Wednesday and I am finally feeling somewhat "normal" today. The initial 2 days out were very uncomfortable, but bearable. I suffered a lot of gas pain but much of that has subsided in the past 36 hours or so. I have noticed, however, that I am very burpy (especially after drinking WATER) and really, really hope that this will eventually go away!!! Are most people gasey after being banded and does this eventually settle down after surgery? I also have a question about portion size for the full liquids phase of our diet. I was put on clear broths for the first 3 days and am able to move on to full-liquids/thin purees for the next 6 weeks. I'm approaching 5 days out of surgery and wanted to see what portion size I should be taking in for my full liquids phase? Also, how fast should I be consuming my full liquids? For instance, this was what my diet consisted of today: 4 oz of Water at 11AM (woke up late) 2 oz of low-fat soy milk at 11:30AM 2 oz of low-fat soy milk at 12:15PM 1 Jello container at 1PM 4 oz of low-fat soy milk at 2PM 1 jello container at 3:15PM 4 oz of low-fat soy milk at 3:50PM 6 oz of soy milk at 4:45PM 6 oz of soy milk at 7PM 6 oz of miso Soup with pureed tofu at 8PM I am staying away from the Protein shakes because they taste like death to me. I am getting alot of protein from low-fat soy milk and I love tofu, which also contains alot of protein. I am able to consume my liquids pretty quickly (e.g. within 10 minutes of starting). Is this too much to be drinking after being surgerized so recently? Are you able to drink much more than this (e.g. only drinking tablespoons at a time)? Are you able to drink quickly or slowly? Any advice would be great.

My surgery is scheduled for tomorrow morning and I am so incredibly nervous! To lessen the anxiety, I've been going over all the reasons why I elected to have this procedure done: I want to be able to fit into my clothes again(!); I want to be healthy; I want to be able to run without pain in my back and feet from all the excess weight; I want to be more confident; I want to LIVE instead of hiding from the embarassement of being heavy. For these reasons, I am excited and hopeful for my future... But at the same time, I am so scared. I have never had surgery before and I'm worried about what I will feel like after surgery. For those of you who have had surgery, can you please tell me what I should expect to feel afterwards? Also, how have you felt about your choice to be banded? Any regrets? Have your pre-surgery wishes and desires for a banded life been fulfilled after weight loss? Thanks so much.

My surgery is scheduled for tomorrow morning and I am so incredibly nervous! To lessen the anxiety, I've been going over all the reasons why I elected to have this procedure done: I want to be able to fit into my clothes again(!); I want to be healthy; I want to be able to run without pain in my back and feet from all the excess weight; I want to be more confident; I want to LIVE instead of hiding from the embarassement of being heavy. For these reasons, I am excited and hopeful for my future... But at the same time, I am so scared. I have never had surgery before and I'm worried about what I will feel like after surgery. For those of you who have had surgery, can you please tell me what I should expect to feel afterwards? Also, how have you felt about your choice to be banded? Any regrets? Have your pre-surgery wishes and desires for a banded life been fulfilled after weight loss? Thanks so much.

For those of you who have already been banded, do most of you see your port portruding/sticking out beneath your skin? This is my biggest fear-- that my port will be obviously visible. I have a low BMI to begin with (about 32) and I don't know if that's worse since I won't have much fat to cover the port area. Also, how well has your port would healed? The goal is to get into a bikini without any visible scarring! I do have a tendency to keloid so I am a bit worried about this.... Any tips would be most appreciated. Thanks!

One more question-- what size band should low BMI'ers go with? A smaller band (4cc) since our stomachs are presumably smaller or do we want to go with a larger one (10cc). Thanks!

Thank you all for your posts. Is there anyway for the doctor to place the port so that it isn't visible as I gradually lose the weight? I am totally fine with being able to "feel" my port. I would just rather not have it stick out. I've heard horror stories where people have had to resort to wearing loose clothes even after losing all the weight because their ports were visible! All that hard work to lose the weight and still bound by your fat clothes-- that would suck! Also Lulac-- thanks for the support. Yes, a BMI of over 30 is obese and I would rather preempt my condition before it gets worse (which it has, for the past 3 years). I am looking forward to running agian without excruciating pain from the weight on my knees! Thanks again.

Hey everyone, I have an important question regarding recuperation time. My surgery has been scheduled for the first week of September. I am planning on taking vacation the first week of October. Is a month's time sufficient for recuperation? I will be going to a health spa so food/cheating/strenuous activities will not be an issue. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

Thanks for sharing! :biggrin: Do you guys know if it'll be safe to fly at the 1-month mark? I will be on a 6 hour flight....