suchadiva

I was banded this past Wednesday. Yesterday my tongue was coated with a white substance but didn't think much of it. When I brushed my teeth and tongue this morning, I found that my tongue is very red, and my gums are tender too. Also, my throat is hurting (in a different place than it did from the intubation). Also, I am feeling kinda weak because I haven't had enough nourishment. I have only been able to get down Water, Propel, chicken broth, and watered down yogurt (but not much yogurt). How did yall get enough nourishment to keep you from feeling weak. Thank you so much for being here for me. :clap2: I have never thought of myself as a big baby, but I must admit I'm scared. :help: Thanks. Sharon

Hi Ladies. Today is my first post. I was banded Wednesday (6/7) by Dr. Spivak in Houston. I must say that Dr. Spivak is wonderful and his staff is very nice. Everything went will the day of surgery but that evening I begain to feel nauseated and had a BAD headache. No matter how little I drink or what I drank I just became more nauseated. The next morning I felt really bad, nauseated, dizzy, weak, and a BAD headache. I spoke with Dr. Spivak's office several times and they had me try a bunch of different things, but nothing worked. Finally I felt so bad I went to the hospital. The problem was that I was dehydrated. I couldn't get enough fluid down because of the nausea - I never threw up. Once they gave me some IV fluids and something really strong for the headache - I felt better. I also have vaso-vagal depression which means that my heart gets every irratic, fast then slow and my blood pressure goes up and down too. It is a very uncomfortable feeling. Because I was dehydated, I had a vagal episode in the hospital too - it past after a while. Hopefully I will be able to stay hydrated from no on. How much water do yall drink - how much a one time and how often? I really am worried about getting dehydrated again. Dr. Spivak was very nice in the hospital also. They took good care of me. I wanted to stay another night because I was scared it would happen again but they said i would be fine and that I should leave. So far, this morning is good. My mouth feels dry from time to time and I am drinking pretty well. I have had two 10oz glasses so far today. Thanks for reading this - I hope I won't be so long winded in the future. Thanks. Suchadiva

Hi everyone: I'm a Junbie too - banded June 8 but Dr. Spivak in Houston. Wow - the doctors' sure to give out different advice about what to eat when. So far, everything has gone down well for me. I ate fish the other night - I was really scared, but it went down fine. I'm really worried about getting fill - I am so scared of PBing!!! I am thinking of waiting until after my vacation in August 1st to get my first fill. What do yall think? I will be going to a foreign country and I'm worried that I will be so restricted that I will have a very hard time finding anything that I can eat. I'm glad to be a Junbie. Good luck everyone!

Hi EM1125: Sorry about taking so long to reply - I have had computer problems. I have been on the mushie stage for about 3 weeks now. I have eaten mashed potatoes, cauliflower and well cooked carrots (that I mash with my fork), summer squash, zuccini, fish, Soups (blenderized), oatmeal, and yogurt. I haven't had any problems with these foods. In the morning, I ususally have a Protein shake. I am going on vacation also in early August. I have decided to wait and have my first fill after vacation. I hope everything goes well for you. Let me know.

Hi PaulaA: Sorry it took me so long to post a reply - my computer has been down. I worried about sugar lows too, but that hasn't been a problem for me so far. My port does not interfere with stretching or bending. The first week, I was sore so it did hurt to bend, but that past. Let me know how things go for you.

:help: Hi everyone, I'm sooooooooo glad yall are here! I was banded Wednesday, June 7. I had a problem with dehydration the day following, felt horrible, and went to the ER. :cry They have me IV fluids, kept me overnight and I felt better. I'm still worried that I won't get enough fluids because it seems that I get full real quickly - at about 2 or 3 ozs. At least I think I'm full because I get this pain in my chest. I have gas too, but I don't think that is what it is. Is the pain in my chest because I'm full? Does it seem normal to only be able to take a small amount of liquids 3 days post op? Any ideas on getting more liquid in? I have been sipping and sipping - I just don't want to feel like I did, because it was awful. I am thirsty, because my mouth feels dry from time to time. Thanks so much for being here. suchadiva

Melissa: Thanks - I'll give Smart Water a try.

Soccermom: I decided on lapband for several reasons: less complications, less invasive, it''s reversible, and at 70 pounds to lose, I didn't think by-pass was for me. I don't think food cravings are going to go away. The way I believe the band works is that the small stoma created by the band does not hold a lot of food and it empties very slowly. So you are full quickly and stay full for quite some time. I am only 7 days post surgery. So far I am only able to eat about l/2 - l cup of Soup or mushies (very soft veggies, mashed potatoes). At that point I feel full and I am full for several hours. I'm hoping that this will continue - it is working for me. There are some things that I just will not be able to eat again. Bread and Pasta to name a couple. I have read that some people can stomach this but since bread was one of my downfalls, I will just not try it. I think the band is just a tool to help us reign in our eating. It will be up to us to make sure that we eat in a way that let's the band work for us. I am happy so far - I have not been hungry and when I am, I eat a small amount and feel full. Right now I'm eating some tortilla soup (minus the tortillas and the chicken - I'm still on mushie foods only) and it's really good. I have had about 3/4 cup or less and I am full and it tasted really good. Dr. Spivak told me he felt I was a good candidate for band surgery because I had been able to lose weight in the past but always gained it back (plus some). Hope this helps - good luck to you.

Hi desertmom: That's strange that you have repeated bouts of Thrush. I hope I don't get it again. Did you ever ask your doctor if the infection could move down into your stomach? I was worried about it. The doctor today told me that I could - which kinda worried me since I am only 6 days post surgery. He have me some medicine to swirl in my mouth and some Diflucan and assured me it wouldn't spread.

Glad you're feeling better. Old habits die hard - I just put a pill in my mouth like I have for the past 52 years, got some water and had almost swallowed it when I remembered - I was able to hack it up like a fur ball!!:clap2:

Dr. Spivak did not require that I be on a liquid only diet pre-op. He asked that I be on a low carb/high Protein diet. Nothing about a liquid diet at all. I didn't follow the low carb/high protein diet strictly - I just had to have some bread before the band. My understanding of why they want you to go low carb is because it will shrink your liver. Apparently they have to go behind the liver in order to place the band so they want it as small as possible. Good luck.

TO RLittman: I really like Dr. Spivak. Spivak did recommend that I go on a low carb/high Protein diet prior to surgery - I don't think that he required 30 days though. I did not have 30 days between my first consultation and the day of surgery. Honestly, I did not follow the low carb diet very well. I am 5 days post-op and I have been able to walk and be out of bed the whole time. I did have a problem with nausea post-op, became dehydrated, and had to spend the night in the hospital. I was fine after that. I think it would be reasonable to say that you needed 5 to 7 days to return to work. Hope I answered your question.

Jut spoke with Dr. Spivak and he said it is Thrush - a type of candida. I had started getting white ulcers in my mouth and frankly, I was getting worried. He gave me a medication to rinse my mouth with and asked me to follow up with my primary care doctor tomorrow. He assured me that the candida could not travel to the surgical area.:clap2: Thanks for the support. Having this forum for support has been wonderful.

Laurapar: I puchased a mortal and pestal at Williams Sonoma - it works like a charm. It crushes the pill into a fine powder. I put the powder in a glass with some juice, orange or grape, and drink it down. Hope you feel better soon.

Woodys: Let me know how the aloe vera juice works for you. Thanks.:kiss2:

Best of Me: Thanks so much for your advice. I will try so aloe vera juice. Thanks for being there. suchadiva

Hi Em and MRJ: Thanks for your support. This website is wonderful for us banders. Thanks for your thoughts. suchadiva:)

Carlene: Congratulations on your success. You really have done well. Can you tell me how many fills you got and when you got them. Thanks for your help. Suchadiva