RLittman

I was banded today and noticed that I have a red stain over the entire surgical area and then some - I suppose it is used to clean the surgical site. How does it come off? Soap, Alcohol, or do I just wait for it to fade?

The areas away from the steristrips I removed with rubbing alcohol. The rest just faded with time and it has been a week since my procedure.

Welcome to this site which is full of support and helpful tools. I was banded on August 2 and have already lost 8 pounds since surgery last Wednesday. I am finally feeling back to normal, can now feel my port under the skin, can feel fullness, and when I have eaten too quickly and have that golfball feeling. But I am feeling good and losing weight! Adding what I have lost to the pre-op weight loss I have now lost a total of 15 pounds and my clothes are definitely looser. Be prepared for the best change in your life! So go for it!!

Last night I experienced some shoulder gas pain and I had some today as well. I have finally figured out when I am full. This morning I had 1/2 bottle of water, 30 minutes later I had a nutritional drink with Unjury, and was still a little hungry so I had cup of cream of asparagus soup. Well about 1/2 way through that cup I felt pressure come on slowly in my mid section the way I would feel after I had eaten a little too much. It was uncomfortable but not painful but took a while to pass. I am still passing gas and burping like crazy. No BMs as of yet but did not expect it as I have had only liquid. Just wanted to pass on that so far I have tried applesauce, mashed potatoes, string cheese (chewed to paste consistency in my mouth), and cream of broccoli soup, and it all passed just fine. I am finally losing some weight. I went into surgery at 223, climbed to 226 post surgery (probably due to swelling or water retention) and am now at 218. I can't imagine doing 30 minutes of walking since my stomach muscles are sore but I try to keep moving. How are the other First Week August Bandsters doing?

Okay, I thought all the gas was gone but tonight I did have some shoulder pain. It went away after awhile. It was more a nuisance than pain. I am definitely getting hunger pangs but cannot tell if I the soreness I am experiencing is pain from fullness or pain from the procedure.

Well I try my first soft food - guess I am not a scaredy cat after all. I ate a cup of mashed potatoes and did fine. I ate them very, very slowly. I cannot yet feel a "stopping point" but I definitely am feeling hunger pangs.

Yep, I have the port site pain as well. Lortab seems to help a little, but it makes me sleepy so today I will try liquid tylenol. No gas, but occasional burping. It is a little easier today to get out of the chair/bed. Are any you sleeping on your side yet? I have for the last two nights but I have to hold my hand to my stomach as I turn to the side. When I shift to the side it feels as if something heavy is shifting inside of me. Anyone experience that? Even though we have passed the 48 hour mark, somehow I feel it is too soon to try soft foods. Maybe I'm just a scaredy cat!

Jessica, I feel stronger today then yesterday and on both days I took afternoon naps. Stomach muscles are less sore today and it is a little easier to get up from the chair or couch. What I can't tell is whether I am full or not since I just have this generalized discomfort in my stomach area. I don't feel any internal discomfort when I eat - there is no "you better stop now sign." But I definitely have some belching, burping, going on so maybe that is a sign I have taken in too much. I've only used the pain meds once today. I drove my daughter to camp down the road and it was a little uncomfortable. Same with walking. I guess I never realized how much one uses their stomach muscles when walking. According to Spivak's diet we can start soft foods tomorrow, but I am going to try to stick with liquids for at least 2 more days. Have a good weekend and stay in touch. Robin

I add UNJURY (1 scoop of powder adds 20 grams of protein) to several food choices during the day. Today I added it to chicken broth, jello, and a nutritional supplement which gave me 60 grams of protein. Without it I think I would feel tired.

For those on the August Band crew, Clarity Seeker (jessica) talked the night before surgery to wish each other good luck. But the best part is we got to meet before our procedures. I was scheduled to begin a 1/2 hour ahead of her and so we were side by side in the pre-op waiting area. It gave me extra reassurance that everything was going to be okay. Thanks to this forum for such incredible support.

The only real pain I had was in the recovery area and it was due to the gas pains. Once that dissipated, my stomach muscles just felt sore especially around my port. It is hard getting up off the couch or out of bed. I found the more I walk, drink warm broth and take gas X strips the better I feel. I have taken in jello, applesauce, cottage cheese, chicken broth, nutritional supplements. lots of water, and feel okay, but even with these I find I must drink/eat them slowly. I am burping and belching alot. Anyone else experiencing this?

Two weeks before my lapband surgery, I managed to visit my mother, brother in law, and mother in law, and all my close friends just to let them know about the procedure, that I loved them and how much they mean to me. My husband knows what arrangements I want in case of my passing. At the pre-op area, I must have told my husband that I love him about 100 times. I had never been under general anesthesia before so it was wild to see the mask coming toward me and then what felt like a minute later, opening up my eyes in the recovery room. No sore throat, just a little hoarse afterwards that was gone by that evening. My procedure was at 9:00 am. I left the surgery center around noon with a little bit of gas pain and mid back pain, but by that afternoon I was as right as rain. In other words, things went smoothly. It has now been 48 hours since the band placement and I feel good except that I feel about 5 months pregnant with my swollen belly, and my stomach area is sore as if someone kicked me real hard. You will do fine, keep positive thoughts, and you will be on your way to a new life. :clap2:

Does anyone have a swollen belly after band placement? I look like I am five months pregnant! I am on Rx pain med (liquid Lortab) but didn't really need it today. I am also taking Gas X strips to keep belching. If it is painful again I will just take the Liquid Tylenol that I have.

Well today I was banded and the doctor found 2 cm Adenoma tumor on my liver which he believes it benign. He says he sees this alot with ladies who have taken birth control. So now I have to go to my primary to request either an ultraound or MRI. Anyone enountered this problem?

Thank you Happy2. I have a friend who is an internist and said it benign from what she saw on the picture but that I should have an ultrasound or MRI just to be sure. It supposedly was caused by birth controls pills which I would hate to go off of because they control my acne. Robin

I'm feeling great today - just sore in the stomach area. I had 5 incisions! I thought it might be only 3 but I have 5 bandages. Drinks- cream soups, bouillion or broth, liquid nutritional supplement, diet Carnation Instant Breakfast, applesauce, skim or 2% cottage cheese, jello, flavored and unflavored waters (non-carbonated), juice - apple, white grape, low sodium V-8 juice. Lots of water Also I add a product call UNJURY (find it on the internet under UNJURY) which is an unflavored powder that adds 20 grams of protein to any liquid. Use one scoop to the liquid (but not steaming hot because it will be lumpy) that I mentioned above at least 3 times a day and you will get the 60 grams of protien required per day. They also have flavored formulas. So far I have had jello, a nutritional supplement (Walgreen's brand) water and broth with UNJURY added. I am not hungry at all but I read you really won't be hungry for 4-5 days. Good luck,

I sit here with a sore tummy, but over the worst part of banding. The procedure was very quick - I felt hung over by the anesthesia - everyone seemed wide awake afterwords and I kept falling asleep in the chair. The gas pains really bothered me but disappaited on the way home in the care. I took Gas X (cinammon flavored) and drank lots of warm broth and the pressure ended completely about an hour after we got home. Procedure was at 9:00 and I was at home by 12:30. Thank goodness for this forum as I had the pleasure of meeting Jessica who was banded right after me. She looked great afterwards! First day of the rest of my life started today. Onward and Downward the scales from here!:clap2:

How are you all first week of August bandsters doing? Wednesday, August 2 is the day for me and after tonight no red meat and pasta for quite awhile if ever. I had my last bite of fajitas today and one piece of chocolate. I have not lost any more weight - 13 pounds - but the more protein I take in, the more energy I seem to have. I am already eating much smaller meals but I know they are gigantic compared to what's ahead. Are we all ready for this? I have now told my best friends, mother, and mother-in-law (the latter is typically anti-surgery - she just believes in good old fashioned will power!), and everyone is 100% supportive. I am there and ready for the change. Let's roll!!!! :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

Virgo here

For those of us in the August band crew, have you set any short term goals for yourself? My birthday is September 16, and I would like to be around 205, a loss of about 13 pounds or about 2 pounds per week from my banddate of August 2. Anyone else have short term goals? Please share.

Gas X should be the strips or chewable.

I am no longer nervous, just very excited with 5 days left to go. Tonight I had my last supper of barbeque ribs. I had to forgo the coleslaw and potato salad because of the carbs. The pre-op diet has been a little easier the last few days. I'm mostly sticking to high protein foods and eating smaller portions. I've found that if you add one scoop of the Unjury supplment to a supplement drink like Glucerna or ensure you fill full for hours. I have been told to have the following on hand for post-op. 1. small pillow for car ride home to place in between myself and seat belt 2. liquid tylenol 3. gauze pads 4. gas X or mylanta for gas or bloating 5. For post op 48 -72 hour liquid diet: liquids such as cream soups or boullion, sugar free: jello, Carnation Instant breakfast, ensure, boost, etc., fruit or vegetable juice. Remember the Unjury supplement can extra protein to anything - yogurt, V-8 or soup. I was told to stay on the liquid diet for as long as I could tolerate it as it aids with healing. I was also told to stay on soft diet for at least four weeks or longer as you really lose weight during this period. Have a great "last weekend"!

I'm really amazed at the range of pre- and post-op diets required by our drs. I have to be on a pre-op high protein, low carb diet for 2 weeks. This is certainly not the liquid diet I hear others are on. For post-op, I must be on liquids for 48 hours and then soft foods for the next 4 weeks. This differs signficantly from the 4 week post-op liquid diet that I have read that others must undergo. I guess for all of us it will be a matter of testing the waters with each food we reintroduce into our systems and that goes for everything from vitamins to red meat!

I am cleaning, too. Isn't that crazy? I have bought the kids' back to school clothes and school supplies just in case I can't get around or don't feel like it! I have lost 13 pounds in the last 2 weeks on a high protein, low carb diet. I have included all my "last suppers" in the last 2 weeks as well, just smaller versions of them. I just feel like it is the start to a new life. There is great comfort in knowing that I will not be returning to this size again.

Boo Boo Kitty congrats on your band date and welcome to the August crew!:clap2: