rachel1969

I had the surgery at 8am and got to my hospital room around 2pm. I didn't have any problems walking or drinking. I spent the night and was discharged around noon the next day. A few hours after I got home, I got very sick and threw up (hadn't eaten anything). I called my doctor and he told me to get on my pain meds right away - and stay on schedule no matter how I felt. It was great advice. I had a significant amount of post surgical pain and just took the meds. I was very happy that I stayed in the hospital to 1) insure everything was OK and 2) not be a burden to my husband who was watching our 2 year old at home. I seriously have no idea how people go back to work after a couple of days. It took me a week to recover. Strangely, it was more difficult than my hysterectomy!

Hi Keri, I know that everyone has a bit of a different experience but here is mine. I did great the entire time I was in the hospital. I experienced very little pain and had no problems walking right away. A few hours after I got home, all of my meds wore off and I threw up, had extreme post-surgical pain and extreme gas pain. I ended up calling my doctor twice, and he reassured me that I was OK and just needed to take my prescription pain pills on a schedule for several days. And it was good advice. Whenever I tried to wean myself off the meds, I felt pain. I know there are some people who go back to work after a few days. That wasn't me. I'm two weeks out and feeling great now although my insisions are still healing. My other advice is to follow doctor instructions on what to eat and don't deviate from it. I've read a lot of stories about slipped bands and many people feel it happens because their tummies weren't given the proper amount of time to heal. When I went into this, I fully expected the surgery and my recovery to be a breeze. It wasn't. Just be open to whatever happens and follow your doctor's advice! Good luck, I'm sure you'll do great. And after the first two weeks you'll no longer wonder "What the hell have I done!" I feel perfectly normal now and am losing weight at the same time. Check back so we know how you're doing!

You were all correct. My doc told me to take the meds on schedule, which I did, and I immediately felt better. I was just mortified that I threw up - I don't want to cause a slip. The meds helped enormously. Liquid vicadin, gas x and the anti throw up med. Thank you all for the info.

I was just banded yesterday and came hime from the hospital around 2pm. It's 8:30pm and I just threw up! I have only had little sips of Water and not even as much as they told me to take. I am also having bad pain and gas pain. I talked to my doctor and he told me to stick with ice chips and water (that's all I had!) He's not worried. Should I be?

I've been doing great although I have been hungry for the last couple of days. I am on soft foods/mushies. I had one bad day when I ate a little chocolate. It was a head hunger thing. I'm not really losing as much weight as quickly as I expected. Is everyone else losing rapidly? I am eating a fraction of what I used to eat, so I really thought it would drop off me much more quickly. I know when I get my fill it will happen - I guess I'm just anxious.

Hi Steph - I am one week post op tomorrow too. This has been a tougher week than I ever expected. The pain was really bad for the first 3 days and then each day after that has gotten easier. My doctor has recommended that I stay on a liquid diet until next week. I have had bad gas and felt "stuck" a couple of times after eating small amounts of yogurt. I an sleep on my side but not on my stomach, and I have absolutely zero appetite. I have to force myself to get my liquids in and I'm not able to tolerate a protein drink yet. The post op pain has been the worst part of this whole thing - I don't miss eating one bit! I make mashed potatoes and grilled cheese sandwiches for my family and have no desire to even take one bite. I'm taking liquid meds about twice daily along with my gas pills. I've been upset that there was so much more pain than I ever expected - I've had surgery three other times and this was the most difficult recouperation for me so far. Not sure why, I just accept it as it is and know that I'm feeling so much better every single day. My doctor has been great and calls to check in on me frequently. I probably would have done better early on if I had just taken all of the pain and nausa pills immediately when I got home and stayed on schedule. All in all, I'm glad I did this.

Poodles, I am in the same boat as you. There has been more pain than I expected - but taking the pain meds has really helped. I admire your ability to drink so much protein shake. I haven't been able to do that yet. I am repelled by food and most drinks right now. I am only on Day 3 post-op and it has gotten better with each day. I agree with the statements above that the problem may be gas. Hang in there and good luck!

I threw up my first night home and all I'd had was water - just a few sips. Bad gas and some pain. Honestly, this is worse than I expected. It makes my abdominal hysterectomy look like a breeze. My doctor keeps calling to check in, and I think that he is quite stellar.

I just got home from the hospital and hurt all over! I'm also not able to breathe in deeply, which makes me worry about my lungs. How long will the pain last? How long before I can breathe again?

Yes, I am staying overnight at the hospital. I am doing a self pay arrangement so this was a big decision for me. The cost difference is about $5,000 - so it was a tough decision...but I have a 2 year old and I really really like my surgeon.

I'm going in tomorrow to get banded too. I have been fine up until today when the jitters set in. Good luck one and all!

Thank you, Poodles. I'm going to wish you Good Luck now because I won't be released from the hospital until Tuesday morning. WE CAN DO THIS!

I can't believe I'm saying this...my lap band surgery is tomorrow morning. I have been very calm up until today. My doctor doesn't do a pre-op diet for anyone under 400lbs, so I'm lucky in that respect. I have been dreaming about being a normal weight again since I booked the surgery. I'm trying to stay focused on that and not let my fears dominate my thinking. I've been told the first ten days are the toughest, and I may have times when I wonder what the heck have I done? However, I have a friend who did this in September and she has already lost 40lbs. She feels great, she's happier than ever and highly recommends it. Her success was really the deciding factor that pushed me over the hump because I have been thinking about this surgery for over a year. Good luck to each of you.

Hi all, I am scheduled for my first consult in early Dec. and hope to be banded no later than January. I (regretably) told my sister about my plans and she has had nothing but warnings for me about the risks. She also said that I would feel sick after I eat for the rest of my life. Is this true? I hope to lose 80+ lbs. For those of you out there who have lost this much weight (good job!), are you going to have to have more surgery like a tummy tuck or breast lift? I definitely want to lose this weight, but I am wondering if I am going to have to have MORE surgery when all is said and done. Thank you for any input on these two issues.

This is really good info. Thank you. Yikes, those complications sound awful, and I have no idea what I will do if something like that happens since I am a self pay. The hospital charges would wipe us out.

Thank you Diane. I appreciate your comment. I don't want to do anything that is going to make me feel sick all of the time.

This is a great thread because it's a place where we can all tell the raw truth and own up to our own contributions. I was always a pudgy kid. I never thought much about it until I went to high school and I overheard a girl call me Fat in front of all of the popular girls at school. I basically stopped eating and lost about 30lbs. I was 5' 7.5" and weighed 113lbs and looked sickly. To keep myself from throwing up from hunger, I took Dramamine every morning. At one point, my poops turned white and I got very scared, so I started eating again. But I only allowed myself to gain up to 125lbs and I stayed that way until I was 30. I exercised all of the time and was obsessed about my weight. Then I made two very bad choices of guys to date. The first one was was my True Infatuation (TI). I was crazy in love and did everything I could to make the relationship work - i.e. get him to love me. I was in great shape, but he always told me that I was going to be big and fat one day, just like his mom. So he refused to marry me, and I was heartbroken. I gained about 20lbs after that. Then I dated a guy who was a weasle - and it took me 3 months to find out. At that point, I lost faith in my ability to make good choices and became very depressed. I went on depression meds and gained about 70lbs because all I did was sleep on the weekends. (They made me really tired.) In the meantime, I got married to a great guy and I had an incredible son. I want this fixed. I know what it feels like to be thin and I don't want to be obese for the rest of my life. I don't want to embarrass my son - i want to keep up with him and go to the beach and play golf. So I am resolved. I am doing this and hope to be banded in January, 2009. I miss feeling confident and healthy.

Hello - I have decided to move forward with lap band surgery and am scheduled for my consult with two doctors: Dr. Kirshenbaum and Dr. Chae. I'm having a hard time making a decision. Dr. C requires an overnight stay at the hospital and Dr. K is outpatient. I have had nothing but positive experiences at Sky Ridge Medical center, although my experience with Dr. C's scheduling is not stellar. Dr. C teaches other docs the procedure and to achieve Excellence ratings, but all the comments I've read about Dr. K are thoroughly positive and glowing. The cost difference between the two is about $5,000 - probably because of the costs of staying overnight at the hospital. I'll pay the difference if it's necessary or will make a big difference - although I'm always a bit concerned about staph infections, MRSA etc. from being in the hospital. Egads, I am completely confused. Is there anyone out there who can lend me their insight and wisdom? Thanks.

Hello - I have decided to move forward with lap band surgery and am scheduled for my consult with two doctors: Dr. Kirshenbaum and Dr. Chae. I'm having a hard time making a decision. Dr. C requires an overnight stay at the hospital and Dr. K is outpatient. I have had nothing but positive experiences at Sky Ridge Medical center, although my experience with Dr. C's scheduling is not stellar. Dr. C teaches other docs the procedure and to achieve Excellence ratings, but all the comments I've read about Dr. K are thoroughly positive and glowing. The cost difference between the two is about $5,000 - probably because of the costs of staying overnight at the hospital. I'll pay the difference if it's necessary or will make a big difference - although I'm always a bit concerned about staph infections, MRSA etc. from being in the hospital. Egads, I am completely confused. Is there anyone out there who can lend me their insight and wisdom? Thanks.