ladyjp

I just started being able to sleep on my port side and on my stomach a few days ago and I was banded on april 22nd. Its so great to be able to sleep any way i want to now - that was probably the hardest adjustment for me.

I had my surgery on April 22nd. At first I seemed to be losing, but now I have put on a few pounds - I'm feeling like its water weight (I know I'm not drinking enough - but its so hard to get it down). I was on an anti-inflamatory for 2 1/2 years prior to the surgery (mobic - 15 mg - pretty strong). My legs are definitely looking puffier than prior to surgery. I also have a pulled hamstring (I think) and have had to take it somewhat easy with walking, but I am trying to walk a little more every day. When I spent more time in bed, my feet were elevated and they didn't get swollen - now they are feeling swollen - but not a tremendous amount. I'm thinking that the salt in the soup isn't helping - so yesterday I made my own. Has anyone experienced this? I go to my doctor on wed. I know I am eating about 800 - 1000 calories a day.

thanks so much for the posts... I'm really letting that sink in that I just need to heal now and will have this to use as a tool forever. Its funny - not having more than 1000 calories and there is still the tendency to beat myself up...lol. But I'm doing ok - and yesterday had homemade soup.

My burning sensation comes and goes when I move in one of my incisions, but its fine and not at all severe. I think it just happens when there is too much pull against the inciscions. My doctor has a very structure plan of eating post-op that involves 2 days clear liquid, 2 weeks full liquid with 4 shakes a day, lots of Water and one meal of lite yogurt or ffsf pudding and another with Soup - pureed and strained... after that comes 2 weeks soft foods - very small amounts at a time... and then comes the introduction of regular food - also taking it slow. He also says no red meat for 6 months. I haven't lost much since i'm home, but I know i need to move more and drink more...every day i am increasing.

thanks so much for responding everyone... turns out that by today, I really started feeling better and less bruised and bulgy... but the posts really comforted me in the meantime. I slept better last night too. I'm loving this band - makes me feel so good about what is to come!!

I had my lapband on April 22nd - 7 days ago. I've been doing ok - but still sore at 2 of the incisions and still not able to sleep comfortably cuz I usually sleep on my side or stomach and move around a bit at night. I'm getting a little concerned, cuz one of the incisions that hurts the most has some black and blue under it and I feel like in that area is a bulge? Does that happen to anyone? I'm having no trouble drinking liquids and having smooth Soup or lite yogurt. I get nervous that the bulge shouldn't be there ... then I calm myself down, saying its probably still some swelling... then I"m worried something moved... HELP!! Can some of the banders with more experience tell me if I should call or go see my dr? My post-op visit is 5/6. I would say that I have some pain, but its not terrible. I still feel like the stiches pull on that incision the most. (especially when I pull myself to a standing position after lying in bed ... ouch! ) Please someone calm me down about my bulge and the fact that i'm still swollen after 7 days? I don't have problems with hunger at all - one day i totally forgot to eat and just had Water and one shake and then realized it was 8 pm! I'm really trying to get in a few shakes a day plus one yogurt and maybe one or a half can of soup. This board is a blessing when I have questions ... sometimes I can get answer from reading previous of others, but this time I guess I need to hear some opinions. Thanks! ! !

I'm on my full liquid diet and most of the soups pureed don't appeal to me, but I do like cream of potato soup. My local stop and shop doesn't carry it - do they still make it? Does anyone know what chain or where I can order online?

i left it up to my doctor to choose the band he preferred for me, since he uses both. He tends to prefer the lap-band, but has been using the realize band when people request it, or at times he will choose it for someone. Is it possible that the success rates have to do with the support and not the apparatus itself? I feel that for the most part, I am responsible for my own success either way at this point. I only have the band a few days but I am glad that my doctor chose for me. MOst of all, I wanted him to be comfortable with what he was doing at the point of surgery and now the rest will be up to me.

I was banded on the 22nd of April and am feeling some gas pains and some pulling or burning near the incisions. Other than that, I'm pretty good. I started on a semi-full liquid today - having 2 shakes, some water, some clear broth and I might have one more protein shake. I did have to run to the bathroom when i first drank the shake, but my stomach felt a little more settled and I think it helped with some nausea I had been feeling. I'm amazed that people go right back to work or can walk an hour in wall mart (i couldn't do that before the surgery...lol). but i've stayed mostly in my room and have walked around in it to get most of my needs. I alternate between a chair and my bed, trying to find a really comfortable spot - but not exactly finding it. I can not WAIT to be able to sleep on my side fully and my stomach - I have been trying to stay on my back mostly cuz it does hurt the insision area if i go on my side. I have to set up my ticker, but I did start this journey before going to the surgeon for the first time at 390. Was 367 - 377 during the sixth month wait. And now, after the two weeks of full liquid and the 3 days since the surgery weighed in at 348 this morning!! yay! I keep reminding myself how good it will all feel as my journey continues ... I think we are all very brave!!

That is such a cool explanation ... oh i'd love lots of energy!! I'm still waitin for mine... lol... had my band done on 4/22 and feeling ok - sometimes gassy and sometime a little nausea - but nothing terrible. I need to walk more. I did start with some medifast today and felt better after having something in my stomach.

congratulations Jerseygirl - that is so exciting! Good luck on your continued effort - its awesome!

I read through this section to see what I had missed ... I saw that people posted about coffee - I tried giving it up, but I felt awful and decided to have one cup in the morning with a small amount of half n half and my dietician from the surgeons office said it would be ok if i just drank a cup of water to compensate. Also, I did get the magic bullet and its very very convenient. You mix the shake right in the cup you drink it from - so no mess. But I did hear that after the surgery, I might not be able to tolerate mixing the drink with ice because it creates gas. So we shall see! Good luck to everyone!!!

thanks help1977 for the great idea of lemon and splenda!! I was worried about the liquid diet, but it wasn't as bad as I had thought. I've done 10 days so far and my surgery is in 5 days! I just decided that I would manage through the first couple of days of hunger ... and not be afraid of the feeling. Between drinking the shakes and drinking the water, I always felt like I was taking something in ... so its been ok and I don't feel very hungry at all now. Good luck to you!

I'll be happy to get to twoderland first !! (i'm referring to the people talking about onederland - congrats to them)

I was shocked when they found that I had apnea. I started using the c-pap machine and I found that my whole demeaner had changed - i had so much more patience and I feel like my old self again ...I no longer snore and I"m so much happier (and so are my kids!!! ) lol. Good luck to you.

Hi ... I hope that all is going well with your new band! It was brave to come to the site and confess - but I'm so glad it worked out for you. I was puzzled about one thing you wrote... they want you to do Lovanox injections on your own at home? Is that a common thing with this surgery? I guess I could do it if I have to, but I didn't expect that would happen. My surgery is wed... YIKES!! - judy

good luck!! its the start of a new life!! i am happy for you having the surgery tomorrow ... and wish you strength and courage and good health!

Today is day5 of my liquid diet - its really not so bad. I am basically having 4 shakes and a bowl of soup per day and trying so hard to drink water - thats the hardest part. I never realized how much i don't like it - but i know its necessary. Does anyone have a secret of how they are getting in their water drinking? I'm getting excited - april 22nd is coming soon!!! YAY. I'm feeling so many emotions - but basically I know I'm saving my own life.

Hi !! My date is April 22nd also! I'm excited, nervous and a whole bunch of other emotions too. I begin my liquid diet on April 8th - next week!! I have pre-op on april 18th i think and an education session on my birthday which is april 14th. I also have to see my general dr about 7 days before surgery. My insurance made me wait 6 months and now its actually 7 months since i made a decision to do this... a lot has happened and I wish I didn't have to wait, but I'm glad the time is here. Hey - nice to meet you - i'm Judy :smile2:

Hi all... I'm Judy... and I plan on having surgery sometime in late February or early March. I have a 6-month waiting period from my insurance, which has been difficult physically. I have very severe arthritis in my knees and I am blessed in that I have been able to continue working, but with a lot of difficulty. I take lots of drugs for pain, and need new knees, but I was told that I'd have to weigh 200-250 in order to have that surgery. I have a substantial amount to lose in order to get there, but I am very determined! I'm here to learn as much as I can in order to make my own transition as successful as possible and I'm grateful that a site like this exists! There are a lot of brave people here, that have already accomplished what I am hoping to, so I am hoping to learn from all of you and help others as I go through my experience. peace and blessings - success to all of you - judy

Crimson, I give you props for losing so well before the surgery. I lost about 20 pounds before I ever went to meet the Lap Band surgeon, but since then I have struggled to lose any more weight (after a few falls on my knees and my cellulitis - the increased pain seemed to diminish my energy to continue losing, although I'm determined and inspired by your post to get back on track now). I'm resisting the urge to beat myself up for wasting the 5 months so far of my six month waiting period, but I keep telling myself that I'll be ok no matter what because I am having the surgery. And since I don't have my date yet, I know I still have some time to take off some weight beforehand. My Dr. requires 2 weeks of a liquid diet before surgery, so that will help as well. Navynurse - congrats on your success!! - sounds like its going beautifully for you. I wanted to ask you about a comment in your reply if you don't mind... you sounded so happy to have the fill - but since I am new to the board, I'm still trying to understand about the fills. It seems that most people need them and can you explain to me how you and your doctor decide how much and when to have a fill? And were you happy about it because it then becomes easier to feel full sooner and is therefore easier to lose? Are you aware of it other than the fact that you might feel satisfied sooner or is it uncomfortable in some way? thanks so much for support and helping me learn. peace and blessings - judy