newcreature

Surgery Day (Tues): :unsure:As I stated in another thread, surgery day was a breeze for me. I had surgery on Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2008 at 12:30pm and went home at 9:00pm. Took a pain pill and slept pretty good that night. Day 1 Post Op (Wed): :mellow:The bloating was miserable, but I was prepared mentally to expect and accept this. I had one GasX strip about every 2 hours and that definitely helped. I did not need any pain meds through the day. I was uncomfortable, but not in any real pain. It was very different to sip on water and fruit juice and hear or feel it sort of gurgle as it went through the new stoma. I am not really aware that the lapband is there except for an occasional knot that comes up - like gas - under my chest and then suddenly goes away. I think the bloating is the worst part at this point. I have had no problem getting in and out of my chair, going to the bathroom, or walking around today. Even took a shower this morning and rode my exercise bike for about 10 minutes. The warm water felt really good on my big belly. I took a pain pill before going to bed, and through the night to sleep good. No point in being miserable if you don't have to. Day 2 Post Op (Thurs): :blink:The liquid diet is already getting old. I've weighed myself and I'm 4 lbs heavier than before going into surgery. IV glucose always does this to me. However, even at this weight, I am 16 pounds lighter than I was when I began the pre-op diet. My stomach muscles are a bit sore, but again, nothing unbearable. I rode my exercise bike for about 12 minutes. My husband made me quit - he was afraid I was overdoing it. At 11:00am, I cooked some chicken and beans, turnip greens, and corn bread for my hubby's lunch. I enjoyed cooking this and was able to eat 1/4 cup or so of the broth from the beans - tasty! I took some liquid tylenol around 3:00pm and took a long nap. That was nice. I went to bed around 8pm and took one pain pill for the night. I noticed it was already easier getting in and out of bed. Day 3 Post Op (Fri): :bored:OK. Some people say you can have this surgery on a Friday and be back to work (desk job) on Monday. Well, I would hate to think I had to be at a job this morning! The liquid diet is really old, but I'm becoming creative. I'm still bloated, but not as bad. The gas has gradually gone up to my arm pits it seems and that is more aggravating than painful. I took a shower today and washed my hair. Dried and styled my hair and put on makeup. Yes, I'm human again! I'm making a shake each day using the Whey Protein Chocolate 52g per 2 scoops. So far, I'm using 1 scoop (26g) in 8 oz of Lite Silk Soy Milk. I can drink about 1/3 of this at a time. It tastes very good and feels like something in your stomach - not the emptiness of water. I am already learning the signs of being full. I have not overdone it yet - I tend to burb in response to the pouch being full. I stop as soon as this happens and wait awhile before drinking more. I can feel my little pouch empty into the stomach - the bloating probably has me hyper-aware of this today. I am thinking, I have just made a huge permanent change to my body. What have I done to myself?! Then I think of all the posts I have read on this site and how everyone has encouraged me to know that you may have momentary second thoughts post-op, but shortly after it becomes the best decision of your life. My post-op weight is disappearing now. I am feeling better and stronger - but still glad I don't have to be on the job today. Day 4 Post Op (Sat): :tongue_smilie: Doing Great! - I used no pain relievers last night which probably helped me wake up without the groggy feeling this morning. I had renewed energy. I cleaned up mess that had already collected in our bedroom then headed to the kitchen to cleanup in there. Today, I could be on the job if I had to be, but I'm glad I have until Monday anyway. I have walked up a long flight of stairs to get to my computer and catch you up on my surgery. Also, my weight is 258 this morning! That's a big hallelujah! I was even able to put my wedding ring back on for the first time in a couple of years. Pre-surgery weight was 279, so I'm already a pretty happy camper. I am getting up and down with ease today and considering eating some watery instant potatoes (1 or 2 tablespoons). My doctor is not a strict about the diet as some. The gas under my arms seems to have disapated (sp?), and I am able to situp straighter without leaning back - thus able to sit at the computer for a long time. I guess I've been on the computer 3 hours or so now and feel well, but may be running out of steam soon. I have to keep remembering to drink water. Good luck to everyone considering this huge life change! I wish I could have done it without the surgery, but 25 years of obesity proved this was not going to happen for me without surgical intervention. I'll keep you posted and look forward to joining the "Lost 100 pounds" list in the future!

My lapband surgery was on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2008. The surgery went very well. It seemed I had just gone to sleep (12:30pm) when the nurse was waking me up from the oh-so good sleep! (1:30pm) No problems in recovery. They put me in a room within a few hours (we had to wait longer than usual because housekeeping did not have a room clean for us). 4:30pm I sent my husband home to take care of our dogs (our babies). I was doing well eating ice chips and could begin feeling my stomach was very bloated. However, I was able to get myself out of the bed, stopped the glucose drip, and go to the restroom. Then I dressed myself and headed out of the room and down the hall to the nurses station. I knew you should be up and walking as soon as possible following surgery. I went up to the nurses desk and asked when I could go home. The nurse asked, "what is the patient's name you are here with?" I said, "Me, I'm the patient." Then I held up my wrist to show my wristband and held up my other wrist to show my disconnected IV at which time she about had a fit!! My sense of humor was still in tact! 9:00pm We left the hospital for home. There is a rule that you have to stay a minimum of 8 hours after surgery before discharge - otherwise, I would have gone home at like 5:00 pm. So, all in all, surgery day was a breeze. The fear I had prior to surgery was far greater than the surgery itself. Click on my name to see more posts from me about upcoming days.:tongue_smilie:

Thanks for the response - NanaIsLosingIt - You have encouraged me today as I countdown my final hours before this surgery. I hope I can be up and at 'em as fast as you were. It would be great to be sleep in my own bed the night of surgery.

This forum has already helped me so much. I've had many surgeries including losing a kidney, but I'm very nervous about this one because it's elective. Having been overweight all of my adult life (30+ years), I feel it's time to do something so that I won't have to be morbidly obese the rest of life! I'm also hoping to ditch a few medicine bottles along the way, too. I'm praying for guidance as I prepare to do this thing.