MNTwinmom

Thankfully the holidays are over and I cannot get distracted by all the yummy goodies that were everywhere! I own the fact that I ate them and the scale is up 7 lbs as a result. I also own the fact that I procrastinated calling to get my January fill (I called the last week and a half in Dec) and now have to wait until the middle of February to get in. I also own the fact that I haven't been exercising since the surgery. That ends today though because I really do not like the "soft" feeling of my muscles that just last year were rock hard. Because of my previous complication with my stomach stopping working post surgery (see prev post) my surgeon has been understandaby cautious with my fills, but I am left feeling very frustrated because I do not feel very restricted. My first fill even seeped out, which my dr. said happens to people. I am left wondering why. Did I do something to cause it? Will it happen every time? Has it happened again and is that why I can eat the amounts of food that I can? So many questions for when I see him again. There is a slight possibility that he might do a fill clinic one Saturday in January. If he does this I am on the list of people who want to come in. It is -20 degrees right now in MN. Our thermostat is set at 69 degrees in an effort to conserve on energy bills. I am a little chilly, so it is a good time to go exercise and warm up.

I agree that you need to walk more. Do not be concerned about walking to workout. Just walk. I too paced the hallway in my home. Each time commercials came on when I was watching TV I would make myself walk a bit. It will get better. If it doesn't you should call your doctor.

First workout of 2010 is D.O.N.E.!

First workout of 2010 is D.O.N.E.!:smile2:

Thankfully the holidays are over and I cannot get distracted by all the yummy goodies that were everywhere! I own the fact that I ate them and the scale is up 7 lbs as a result. I also own the fact that I procrastinated calling to get my January fill (I called the last week and a half in Dec) and now have to wait until the middle of February to get in. I also own the fact that I haven't been exercising since the surgery. That ends today though because I really do not like the "soft" feeling of my muscles that just last year were rock hard. Because of my previous complication with my stomach stopping working post surgery (see prev post) my surgeon has been understandaby cautious with my fills, but I am left feeling very frustrated because I do not feel very restricted. My first fill even seeped out, which my dr. said happens to people. I am left wondering why. Did I do something to cause it? Will it happen every time? Has it happened again and is that why I can eat the amounts of food that I can? So many questions for when I see him again. There is a slight possibility that he might do a fill clinic one Saturday in January. If he does this I am on the list of people who want to come in. It is -20 degrees right now in MN. Our thermostat is set at 69 degrees in an effort to conserve on energy bills. I am a little chilly, so it is a good time to go exercise and warm up.

I am feeling the same way! I will have my 3rd fill in February and won't get to talk to my dr. about this until then. I will be interested to hear what other people have to say about this.

I. Can. Not. Eat. Hamburger! :smile2:

I. Can. Not. Eat. Hamburger!

Amazing! Good for you! I'll have to try Trader Joe's. I've been eating cottage cheese too. I was banded 8/12 and have lost 13 :smile2:

I went back to work Monday (8/31) after being banded 8/12 and then on vacation a week and a half after that. I had my complications (prior post) but am now feeling much better. I do not miss my meds, although sometimes I take them after eating and I am supposed to take it before as it stimulates the stomach and makes me feel hungry. Taking it after I eat is not ideal as I just end up feeling hungry again even when I know I am not:mad2: The next thing I have to check off my list is walking 30 mins/day. I know it is important, especially since I have a desk job and walking here consists of walking to the water cooler to refill my water glass. The swelling must be way down now around my pouch because since about 5 days ago I have been able to eat whatever I want including bread. I had 2 days of experiementing with it before the scale went up, up, up, so it was back on the pureed foods I am supposed to be on and the scale went right back down :smile2:

I went back to work Monday (8/31) after being banded 8/12 and then on vacation a week and a half after that. I had my complications (prior post) but am now feeling much better. I do not miss my meds, although sometimes I take them after eating and I am supposed to take it before as it stimulates the stomach and makes me feel hungry. Taking it after I eat is not ideal as I just end up feeling hungry again even when I know I am not:mad2: The next thing I have to check off my list is walking 30 mins/day. I know it is important, especially since I have a desk job and walking here consists of walking to the water cooler to refill my water glass. The swelling must be way down now around my pouch because since about 5 days ago I have been able to eat whatever I want including bread. I had 2 days of experiementing with it before the scale went up, up, up, so it was back on the pureed foods I am supposed to be on and the scale went right back down

I was banded 8/12/09 and the surgery was textbook. I did have a bad day dealing with vomiting the day of surgery, but that was not unusual as it was a result of the anesthesia. What was unusual is about two days afer I came home I started getting extremely nauseous and would vomit at least 3 times in a day. I am on the clear liquid diet, so my intake amounts were very small. I was in communication with my doctor daily for three days. We tried anti-nausa pills first - no luck, I also developed a yeast infection from all the antibiotics given to me in the hospital - yeast infections can induce vomiting I was told, so I started taking a med for that. Still no luck. On the third day that I called him, he called me into his office and removed 2 ccs from my new band and had me drink about two ounces of water as I sat across from him. It definitely went down faster, and sitting down I felt good, so I was free to go. As soon as I hit the lobby I knew I was in trouble and made a beeline for the bathroom where I promptly threw up all the water I had just drank. My dr. walked me right over to the hospital for an upper GI where we found my stomach was not contracting to push food into the intestine. I ended up being admitted over night (exactly one week after my procedure) to start an IV as I was pretty dehydated at this point, and started on regular doses of Reglan, a stomach stimulating med which also helps stave off nausea (a big plus for me!). I have been home over 24 hours and really need to stick on my med schedule or I get nauseous. My dr. has never seen anything like this before. I have a friend who is a gastroenterologist at another hospital and he has seen this before. He theorizes the stomach stopped working for a number of reasons: the narcotics I was taking for pain, the new anatomy and my body trying to adjust to it, and the edema and swelling at the band site. I haven't taken any pain meds for the last couple of days, so I am hoping that by tomorrow or Sunday it will start to "wake up" a bit on it's own. As it is, I will be on the Reglan for at least 3-4 weeks. Today I have been able to eat yogurt (a food the dr added for me today), jello, and a popsicle. It is all I dared to do for now. I am go on vacation tomorrow and have all of my oher staples alrady packed. Tomorrow I am loking forward to some soup instead of broth :cool2:

Thanks everyone. I am doing so much better! No, they did not give me Reglan in the hospital. This was the first time this happened to my surgeon, so it was definitely unexpected.

Before I begin, I am sharing this because if there is one person going through this like I was do NOT just tell yourself to tough it out. I am glad I didn't. I write this to share and to help as I am not loking for sympathy. I was banded 8/12/09 and the surgery was textbook. I did have a bad day dealing with vomiting the day of surgery, but that was not unusual as it was a result of the anesthesia. What was unusual is about two days afer I came home I started getting extremely nauseous and would vomit at least 3 times in a day. I am on the clear liquid diet, so my intake amounts were very small. I was in communication with my doctor daily for three days. We tried anti-nausa pills first - no luck, I also developed a yeast infection from all the antibiotics given to me in the hospital - yeast infections can induce vomiting I was told, so I started taking a med for that. Still no luck. On the third day that I called him, he called me into his office and removed 2 ccs from my new band and had me drink about two ounces of Water as I sat across from him. It definitely went down faster, and sitting down I felt good, so I was free to go. As soon as I hit the lobby I knew I was in trouble and made a beeline for the bathroom where I promptly threw up all the water I had just drank. My dr. walked me right over to the hospital for an upper GI where we found my stomach was not contracting to push food into the intestine. I ended up being admitted over night (exactly one week after my procedure) to start an IV as I was pretty dehydated at this point, and started on regular doses of Reglan, a stomach stimulating med which also helps stave off nausea (a big plus for me!). I have been home over 24 hours and really need to stick on my med schedule or I get nauseous. My dr. has never seen anything like this before. I have a friend who is a gastroenterologist at another hospital and he has seen this before. He theorizes the stomach stopped working for a number of reasons: the narcotics I was taking for pain, the new anatomy and my body trying to adjust to it, and the edema and swelling at the band site. I haven't taken any pain meds for the last couple of days, so I am hoping that by tomorrow or Sunday it will start to "wake up" a bit on it's own. As it is, I will be on the Reglan for at least 3-4 weeks. Today I have been able to eat yogurt (a food the dr added for me today), Jello, and a popsicle. It is all I dared to do for now. I am go on vacation tomorrow and have all of my oher staples alrady packed. Tomorrow I am loking forward to some Soup instead of broth The moral of the story is if you think there is something wrong, there probably is. Call your doctor!

You are going to look amazing at 175!!!

Thanks everyone! I am feeling so much better even after my hospitilization 1 week post-op (see most recent blog).

Ugh, the surgery went great but afterwards I had so much nausea. It took the better part of the DOS for the dr. to figure out the right cocktail of Rx to stop the nausea. We eventually got there. If I ever need surgery again I now know to tell the anesthesiologist to add more anti-nausea meds and to include a behind the ear patch too. I had my upper GI scan later in the afternoon DOS (surgery time was 7:45 AM. Scan was 4:30 PM) and everything was clear. I was allowed to start my water intake around 6 PM. I am drinking 2 - 1/2 oz cups of liquid every 15 minutes. With the naps I am taking during the day I have not been able to get in the required post op amount of liquid. This morning, before my shake I am making sure I get in at least 8 oz of water. Now that I am home I am struggling with pain at the port site as well as pain in my left shoulder. I am taking my pain meds (the children's chewable Tylenol gave me a stomach ache). I can also feel the band which is very odd. I am wondering how long it will take to heal and feel normal again. I see my surgeon Fri, 8/21, so I will ask him these questions then.

I was banded 8/12/09 and the surgery was textbook. I did have a bad day dealing with vomiting the day of surgery, but that was not unusual as it was a result of the anesthesia. What was unusual is about two days afer I came home I started getting extremely nauseous and would vomit at least 3 times in a day. I am on the clear liquid diet, so my intake amounts were very small. I was in communication with my doctor daily for three days. We tried anti-nausa pills first - no luck, I also developed a yeast infection from all the antibiotics given to me in the hospital - yeast infections can induce vomiting I was told, so I started taking a med for that. Still no luck. On the third day that I called him, he called me into his office and removed 2 ccs from my new band and had me drink about two ounces of water as I sat across from him. It definitely went down faster, and sitting down I felt good, so I was free to go. As soon as I hit the lobby I knew I was in trouble and made a beeline for the bathroom where I promptly threw up all the water I had just drank. My dr. walked me right over to the hospital for an upper GI where we found my stomach was not contracting to push food into the intestine. I ended up being admitted over night (exactly one week after my procedure) to start an IV as I was pretty dehydated at this point, and started on regular doses of Reglan, a stomach stimulating med which also helps stave off nausea (a big plus for me!). I have been home over 24 hours and really need to stick on my med schedule or I get nauseous. My dr. has never seen anything like this before. I have a friend who is a gastroenterologist at another hospital and he has seen this before. He theorizes the stomach stopped working for a number of reasons: the narcotics I was taking for pain, the new anatomy and my body trying to adjust to it, and the edema and swelling at the band site. I haven't taken any pain meds for the last couple of days, so I am hoping that by tomorrow or Sunday it will start to "wake up" a bit on it's own. As it is, I will be on the Reglan for at least 3-4 weeks. Today I have been able to eat yogurt (a food the dr added for me today), jello, and a popsicle. It is all I dared to do for now. I am go on vacation tomorrow and have all of my oher staples alrady packed. Tomorrow I am loking forward to some soup instead of broth

Thank you. I am feeling much better. I just need to keep taking the Rx otherwise I feel nauseous. Yes, I agree, anything can happen as a result of surgery. This was my first major surgery, so there was no way to know how my body would react. I would say now that I have a pretty good yard stick. Vacation starts today at noon. Yay!

Is that where your port site is? I have pain on my left side as well and my RN explained that is where my port site is. Good luck at your appt tomorrow. I was banded 8/12 and see my Dr. on Fri.

I was banded 8/12 by Dr. Jeffrey Baker at Unity Hospital (considered a "Center of Excellence" for banding) in Fridley, MN. I was walking the day of surgery. I went home the next day at 3:30. The gas is finally passing and I hope the pain in my abdomen from that subsides. I also had referred pain up in my left shoulder. I am having quite a bit of pain where my port is, so I have stayed on my hydrocodone/acetominphen Rx for now. I tried Tylenol yesterday but it made me semi-nauseous, so I am staying away from it for now since I had terrible nausea in the hospital that resulted in retching before I was given the right cocktail of anti-nausea meds. This was my first surgery, so we did not know I would have such an adverse reaction to the anesthesia. I keep looking forward to the future and wonder how I'll look and feel a few month from now and it motivates me and encourages me to know I made the right decision to have the Lap Band procedure. I am also looking forward to reading more profiles and success stories on this website and one day I hope to be one :biggrin: All the best - Jen

My surgeon told my DH that he put in a smaller band (I didn't know there was such a thing!) and that I could expect more rapid weight loss more quickly. When I got home I got on the scale and expected to see a weight gain because of the IV fluids, which I did. I was up 5 lbs. Today I got on the scale and not only were those 5 lbs gone but so were another 4.5! I am following my liquid diet to a "T". I am on clear liquids this week and thicker liquids next week. Then I go to pureed foods, then eventually soft meats and then "normal" food. It is a 6 week process to get back to regular food.

Ugh, the surgery went great but afterwards I had so much nausea. It took the better part of the DOS for the dr. to figure out the right cocktail of Rx to stop the nausea. We eventually got there. If I ever need surgery again I now know to tell the anesthesiologist to add more anti-nausea meds and to include a behind the ear patch too. I had my upper GI scan later in the afternoon DOS (surgery time was 7:45 AM. Scan was 4:30 PM) and everything was clear. I was allowed to start my water intake around 6 PM. I am drinking 2 - 1/2 oz cups of liquid every 15 minutes. With the naps I am taking during the day I have not been able to get in the required post op amount of liquid. This morning, before my shake I am making sure I get in at least 8 oz of water. Now that I am home I am struggling with pain at the port site as well as pain in my left shoulder. I am taking my pain meds (the children's chewable Tylenol gave me a stomach ache). I can also feel the band which is very odd. I am wondering how long it will take to heal and feel normal again. I see my surgeon Fri, 8/21, so I will ask him these questions then.