AShaffer

I was banded on the 24th of Nov. and I had a few days of gas and bloating whatnot but now I am feeling perfect. No gas, no pain, no restriction. I'm feeling hungry but haven't been brave enough to try "baby" type foods yet. Did anyone else feel like this so soon after surgery? My Dr. said that typically people are on liquids for 7-10 days but I had to follow my body and go from there. How soon did everyone else wait? Thanks guys! :Yawn:

Include me too please LBT NAME AShaffer Height 5'87 Surgery Date 11/24/09 Starting Weight (preop diet) 333 Surgery Weight 329 Current Weight 325

Before I had my LapBand surgery I found reading everyone’s surgery day experiences helpful so I hope mine is helpful to someone out there! I was called the day before my surgery to let me know what time to arrive at the hospital. The message said 5:45 am which meant I was the first surgery of the day at 7:30. Since my hospital is an 1 ½ hour away we left at 3:20 am which was supposed to give us ample time to get there. We got on the toll road headed toward the hospital when someone going too fast in the rain caused a wreck a head of us. I’ve never (ever) been stopped dead on the highway for an hour, but there it happened on the morning of my surgery! We didn’t move again for an hour and 5 minutes. Thankfully we had built in extra time, the hospital is in Philly so I know they have traffic, and I had the number for the hospital in my bag, just in case. I called the operator and they connected me to the head nurse at the OR and I explained the situation to her and she seemed really nice and told me not to panic, even if I was late they would make sure I was taken care of that day. I finally got to the hospital at 6:20 and went to the administration desk where I filled out my final paperwork and was given my wrist band. Then I was taken to get changed into my gown and put into the pre op ward, which was kind of weird because I was in there with 35 other people waiting to go in for varies surgeries and most didn’t have their curtains closed. I closed my curtains and then the nurse came and took my vitals and asked a round of questions. Then they let my husband come in with me. After him, my surgeon came and signed my stomach (a signature that is still on me 2 showers later! I think he used a super sharpie) to show that I was in fact his patient, then his nurse who just wanted to say hi and ask a few more questions and then finally the anesthesiologist came and gave me my IV port. I suggest lying down for the IV because if you haven’t eaten in a while it can make you lightheaded. And then it was off to the OR. Once in the OR things went really quickly, they hooked me up to a heart monitor, and then pushed something into my IV that made me really cold. I remember asking for blankets and being covered up, then a mask being put over my mouth and a lady behind me telling me it was just oxygen. Then I was asleep. I woke up a little in the recovery room, but don’t remember it at all. I don’t really remember the first few hours after I was taken to my room, I was pretty tired and kept falling asleep. Once my husband left for the night I woke up really well and didn’t feel much pain. I had a button that took care of that. And then my nurse came to try and get me to use the bathroom, which I tried but couldn’t. After I couldn’t use the bathroom I walked for a bit and then sat in a chair in my room. I started to feel sick so my nurse brought me a bucket and I ended up getting sick. She said it happens from the anesthesia sometimes and we would just have to make sure I didn’t throw up any more to make sure I didn’t have a leak or anything. But I felt much better after and it didn’t happen again. But I wasn’t able to use the bathroom so they had to put in a catheter and my nurse assured me it was normal, they didn’t leave it in only to drain the liquid from my bladder that once. The next morning I was fine on my own. I was woken every few hours for vitals and to walk a bit, and then at 7 am they came and took my blood and scheduled my barium test. The barium test went fine, I drank 2 different types of liquid one barium and one I don’t remember. The cool part was the tech doing my scan showed me the band inside of me, really amazing! Then I was taken back to my room and had to drink liquids for 1 hour. A small cup of water than a small cup of apple juice. Then I was free to go! I was given pain meds, Prilosec and Colace (which I didn’t need). I didn’t sleep great through the night, I was up and down but not in any pain which I was grateful for. I hope this is helpful for anyone about to have this surgery! And if you have questions I’ll answer what I can! Good luck future bandsters!

Hey everyone! I'm 4 days post op and feeling really great. I'm doing my protein shakes and pudding, yummy, and walking as much as I can. A nurse called me today asking how I was doing and I told her and she suggested I could move on so some, not all, really mushy foods and eggs to see how I tolerate them. But she did point out I would be on this (mushy/liquid) diet for about 2-3 weeks. Anyone else eat egg this early?

Hey. I made my bar at Weight Loss - Diet Ticker then use the bbCode (it's the first code at the bottom) Copy everything in the box and just paste it to the page you want.

My Dr also said that if I'm feeling hungry to eat eggs. They were good from a few days post op. I may try that soon.

I went out a little yesterday too, after the rush, but came home after 1 store because I felt too tired. I'm sticking to my Protein drinks and soups for now, seems like the best bet, slow and steady. Also Crystal Light makes popsicles now, they are amazing! So good. Also I found that the dry milk mixes best with warm things, so when I make Soup I add some and it helps boost the protein.

Thanks TJ. I dont' plan on rushing anything, I called my Dr. and they said on Sunday mix in a little baby food mixed with dry milk for extra protein. So I think I'm going to try it. Walking is the best thing, I had no idea before this surgery how great it could make me feel just walking! My gas pains are all gone as are my stomach pains. Hope you're feeling as good as I am! And congratulations on getting banded as well!

Hey everyone! I got banded on the 24th and made my way home on the 25th! I'm feeling really good but the gas is kinda annoying. I'm going to go get some GasX in the morning. So excited to be a part of the "November Bansters"! :thumbup:

I have just a few days until my surgery and I'm starting to get really nervous. Anyone have any advice on what I should expect the first few days? Also I did my nutrition class and got a ton of information but was wondering what others did to make sure they got all their Protein. Thanks guys! :confused:

I'm officially banded! So excited! I'm headed over to the Post Op board! :thumbup:

I'm so excited to meet so many people going through the same thing as me! Absolutely we should all keep in touch! I've had laparoscopic surgery before so I remember the gas thing well... not looking forward to that again! lol. But like someone else said I've come too far to let little things like that get in my way! As for the protein shakes, I've found a few that I really like, then some others that are not so great.... just mix them around and you'll find one you love! Good luck! :thumbup:

That's awesome! I have Tricare Prime and my surgery is on Tuesday! I was really happy with Tricare, there were no problems and I got my approval quickly! Good luck to you! And Congratulations! :thumbup:

I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one with no pre-op diet reqired. I am doing high protien and extra calcuim, as the doctor suggested though. My post op instructions are 14 days liquid (with first day home clear liquids) and then "baby food" for 14 days then soft foods for 14 days. It's interesting that so many doctors had so many different instructions!

Thanks everyone for all the great advice! I'm actually really excited now, and it's really neat to know there are people having it on the same day or right after me! Good luck to everyone and can't wait to see you all on the post op boards!

I was wondering how many of you wern't required to do a liquid diet pre-surgery. My hospital doesn't require it at all, in fact they specifially told me not to do a liquid diet before hand. Only time I can't eat is after midnight on the date of my surgery. Anyone else have those same instructions? :thumbup:

Thanks so much! I am heading over to the Nov Bandsters now! LOL. And I'll be thinking about you on the 24th too! Nice to know that somewhere in the world someone is going to the same thing as me! :confused:

Hello everyone! I'm a Nov. Bandster too! The 24th! I'm so excited, and a little nervous! Right now it all seems like a blur, I've been going to the dietitian for 6 months for this surgery and now that it's literally days away I'm trying to keep my cool! lol. Any advice?

Sorry to say but it doesn't sound like Tricare would approve you. The rules are you have to be 100 pounds over the recomended weight and then have 6 months of working with a dietitian (or your PMC if a dietitian isn't around). But try talking to your HAWC or PMC to see what they have to say. Good luck!

Hey everyone! I'm new to this and am hoping to get in touch with other people in the same situation as me or who have already had the lapband. I am in the weight management phase, 6 months for me, and have a tentative surgery time of early December. I'm having it at Penn State in Philadelphia and am told it's a great hospital. Any advice or help would be great! I'm really excited and anxious over the whole process and unfortunately the discussion groups the hospital offers are too far for us to drive (over 2 hours without traffic). Thanks and I hope to talk to a lot of you soon!:confused:

I was wondering if anyone here used Tricare for their surgery and if so what did you do for your weight management? I have appointements set up with my primary doctor once a month for 6 months for weigh ins, is that enough? Thanks!

I think they still will because either way if your in for lapband you're over weight. I think they might try and help you get over any problems you do have, ie eating disorder. But in the end if your BMI is over 40 and you want the lapband, psych eval is no reason to say no. I know a friend of mine ate when she was nervous, had the lap band and the doctor helped her get over eating when she was nervous and the combination was very successful.

Hi! I'm not 100% sure but I think the psyc. eval. is so they can determine if you have an eating disorder, for example you overeat to cope with stress. And also to make sure you are mature enough to work with the surgery to achieve the best results. They aren't looking for a reason not to give you the surgery, just the best way to help you along. I hope that helps!

Thanks guys! When I called Tricare they didn't seem to know about the 6 months weight management program but Penn State Hospital said again today it was 6 months. I'm confused! But waiting 6 months isn't a big deal I guess because I'm already 2 1/2 months into it.

Hi! I just had my first actual doctor appt today. I went to my orientation about 3 weeks about and at both appts they mentioned that certain insurances will wave the 6 months to a 3 month if you take specific weight management classes through the hospital. I know my insurance dosn't but it's something to look into! Good luck!