bestbette

Hi All- I was banded on Monday 7/20 and this last week has been very painfull for me. I wasn't quite prepared for the amount of pain that surgery would bring. It's now Saturday and I'm *very* unsure about going back to work on Monday. I'm having a lot of port site pain. I'm taking the percoset as prescribed and liquid tylenol but my belly is still very bruised and swollen. I have a sedentary desk job but am just unsure that I'll be able to sit up all day! Any suggestions? :biggrin:

Many thanks to everyone for their replies and suggestions. I ended up taking off Monday, working 1/2 day Tues, and then first full day today (Wed). I'm still having quite a bit of swelling and pain but my Dr's office says that's normal and called in some Darvocet for me (which I took at work today, LOL). Anyway, I'm hopefull that everything will resolve soon and just also learned that I had hernia repair during my surgery, which I did not know before and may be contributing to my soreness. Thanks again for the responses!!!!!

All of these are really helpful to read. I hope people keep posting. I'm a week post op, banded 7/20 and am still on a liquid diet. I blend together a slimfast can with two extra scoops of protien powder and work on that pretty much all day. If I'm able to finish that early I have some protien pudding in the fridge that I'll take a spoonful of. I'm really looking forward to being able to eat "real" food again. Including pre-op and post-op I will have had liquids for 4 weeks total.

My surgeon told me not to take mineral oil (I had the same question). I was given the option of colace, milk of magnesia, or mira lax. I tried colace with no luck and then milk of magnesia. The MOM worked but was rough, I've heard miralax is better.

I used ACE microwaveable warm compresses to help with my gas pains. They were the best!!!

My surgery is tomorrow and I'm playing it cool. I've completed my "to-do" list (including pedicure) and have just had my final shake of the day. It's almost 7:00p here and I'm about to set my alarm for 5:00a as I have to be at the hosptial at 7:00a tomorrow. I have everything in order to the very best of my ability and am keeping a positive attitude that things will go well with the surgery. The only thing that I'm concerned about is my past history of very bad nausea/vomiting after going under general anesthesia. My solution is that I'm going to write in Sharpie on both of my forearms "HIGH NAUSEA RISK" before I leave for the hosptial. Yes, I may be the laughing stock of the OR but I really don't care and hopefully it will ensure that I get the drugs that I need in the recovery room. I'm a little tired of the High Protien Slimfast shakes that I've been drinking for the last two weeks, but honestly the shakes weren't that bad. The hunger was bad, but the shakes were entirely bearable. So I'm off to watch a movie or something and turn in early. Wish me luck tomorrow!

If you're set on buying liquid Vitamins I easily found liquid calcium and an adult liquid multivitamin (Centrum) at my local store. I've heard many folks in support group say that they don't have any issues with taking whole pills. My surgery is also tomorrow. Best of luck to us both!

My surgery is tomorrow and I'm playing it cool. I've completed my "to-do" list (including pedicure) and have just had my final shake of the day. It's almost 7:00p here and I'm about to set my alarm for 5:00a as I have to be at the hosptial at 7:00a tomorrow. I have everything in order to the very best of my ability and am keeping a positive attitude that things will go well with the surgery. The only thing that I'm concerned about is my past history of very bad nausea/vomiting after going under general anesthesia. My solution is that I'm going to write in Sharpie on both of my forearms "HIGH NAUSEA RISK" before I leave for the hosptial. Yes, I may be the laughing stock of the OR but I really don't care and hopefully it will ensure that I get the drugs that I need in the recovery room. I'm a little tired of the High Protien Slimfast shakes that I've been drinking for the last two weeks, but honestly the shakes weren't that bad. The hunger was bad, but the shakes were entirely bearable. So I'm off to watch a movie or something and turn in early. Wish me luck tomorrow!

Well it's Friday night and I'm about to turn in. I finally got my arrival for the hosptial time this afternoon, which is Monday morning at 7:00am. That means just Saturday and Sunday and then I'll be off this godforsaken LSD diet and the band will be in place! I'm very excited. Scratch that, I'm very very excited! I think that the next two days will pass quickly as the things that I have to do to before surgery day is a bit long. So busy busy over the weekend...hopefully will be able to squeeze in seeing the new Potter movie, and then my day will be here. Wheeeeee.... I can't wait!!!

Well it's Friday night and I'm about to turn in. I finally got my arrival for the hosptial time this afternoon, which is Monday morning at 7:00am. That means just Saturday and Sunday and then I'll be off this godforsaken LSD diet and the band will be in place! I'm very excited. Scratch that, I'm very very excited! I think that the next two days will pass quickly as the things that I have to do to before surgery day is a bit long. So busy busy over the weekend...hopefully will be able to squeeze in seeing the new Potter movie, and then my day will be here. Wheeeeee.... I can't wait!!! :smile2:

I cheated on my pre-op diet today :blushing: I stopped and got a burger on my way home. I had a bad day at work and auto drove to fast food and ate it even really before thinking. I am in complete shock... Actually I think I might be past shock and on to rationalization. So here's my rationalizing...my surgeon said that everyday for dinner we can have a sandwich with two slices of bread. Since last Monday I have had only high protien slimfast shakes and a total of 4 salads...that's it. If I'd had a sandwich every night that would have been more bread than 1 bun and more meat than 1 burger. That being said I'm sure what I did have was loaded with calories and fat and all kinds of trans badness. I feel guilty and have horrible indigestion to boot. My surgery is next Monday and I'm vowing to 3 shakes per day until that and water. Nothing more, nothing less. Sigh.

I cheated on my pre-op diet today I stopped and got a burger on my way home. I had a bad day at work and auto drove to fast food and ate it even really before thinking. I am in complete shock... Actually I think I might be past shock and on to rationalization. So here's my rationalizing...my surgeon said that everyday for dinner we can have a sandwich with two slices of bread. Since last Monday I have had only high protien slimfast shakes and a total of 4 salads...that's it. If I'd had a sandwich every night that would have been more bread than 1 bun and more meat than 1 burger. That being said I'm sure what I did have was loaded with calories and fat and all kinds of trans badness. I feel guilty and have horrible indigestion to boot. My surgery is next Monday and I'm vowing to 3 shakes per day until that and water. Nothing more, nothing less. Sigh.

Hello Everyone -- My surgery is a week from today, 7/20 and I'm getting very nervous/excited. I'm so happy to read on here that most ppl are doing well that have been banded thus far. I was really happy to read that one poster isn't having problems drinking water. My class told me it would take me 5 mins to drink 1oz and that I need 64oz per day -- what a task. I've ordered some of the Unjury protein, a friend of mine who's banded says it's great. Has anyone else tried it?

Hi Melissa - thanks for your comment and welcome to LBT. The 20th is my day as well. Good luck to you!

Well at this time next week I will be at home recouping from my procedure. Things have passed by swiftly. I'm going to my first support group meeting tonight and am glad because I feel like I could use a little support. This past weekend was reeeeaaallly tough on the pre-op diet and I had one slip-up, which is discouraging. And honestly, I'm feeling a little depressed and not sure why. It will be good to get around some other people who are experiencing similar situations. I have been having one day full liquid then one day with a salad allowed. Today was my salad day, which obviously makes tomorrow my liquid day and being so hungry puts me in a crap mood. I'm dropping weight like nobody's business though and am down 15lbs. That's more than 1lb per day, which seems a little fast. Things are also complicated in my non WLS world, work is crazy, I've just interviewed for another job, my best friend is pregnant and sick, and others in my family are ill as well. All in all stressfull. I think that the day of surgery I might have to ask for some vitamin V as the nurse suggested...I wonder if she'll let me take any home? :cursing:

Well at this time next week I will be at home recouping from my procedure. Things have passed by swiftly. I'm going to my first support group meeting tonight and am glad because I feel like I could use a little support. This past weekend was reeeeaaallly tough on the pre-op diet and I had one slip-up, which is discouraging. And honestly, I'm feeling a little depressed and not sure why. It will be good to get around some other people who are experiencing similar situations. I have been having one day full liquid then one day with a salad allowed. Today was my salad day, which obviously makes tomorrow my liquid day and being so hungry puts me in a crap mood. I'm dropping weight like nobody's business though and am down 15lbs. That's more than 1lb per day, which seems a little fast. Things are also complicated in my non WLS world, work is crazy, I've just interviewed for another job, my best friend is pregnant and sick, and others in my family are ill as well. All in all stressfull. I think that the day of surgery I might have to ask for some vitamin V as the nurse suggested...I wonder if she'll let me take any home?

I just returned home from my final pre-op seminar. Whew. It seemed like a lot of hoops to jump through to get to surgery but I'm sure it's nothing compared to those wrangling with insurance denials and I've probably just been watching too much Nip/Tuck. Tonight's seminar was more like group and the moderator was great and we had some good discussion. I think I'm going to start going to the regular support group at my hospital to get to know some of these folks better. I know one other person who's been banded but she's not a close friend and I would like to connect with some more locals. They're offering fun things like shopping trips, cooking lessons, and even pilates class. I've always read that follow up and support is of utmost importance but I guess you gotta show up first! Today is my fourth day of pre-op diet. I had a really hard time finding the High Protien Slimfast that my Dr recommended and even now I only have enough to last me another day or so. I'll have more time to hunt during the weekend. I got a really good invitation to a friend's birthday party at a local bar/restaurant tomorrow night and another invite to a good band playing tomorrow night. I don't want to seem anti social but I'm not sure that I'm up for going out when I'm on a liquid diet. I think it might just be a weekend for reading a book and going to bed early......

I just returned home from my final pre-op seminar. Whew. It seemed like a lot of hoops to jump through to get to surgery but I'm sure it's nothing compared to those wrangling with insurance denials and I've probably just been watching too much Nip/Tuck. Tonight's seminar was more like group and the moderator was great and we had some good discussion. I think I'm going to start going to the regular support group at my hospital to get to know some of these folks better. I know one other person who's been banded but she's not a close friend and I would like to connect with some more locals. They're offering fun things like shopping trips, cooking lessons, and even pilates class. I've always read that follow up and support is of utmost importance but I guess you gotta show up first! Today is my fourth day of pre-op diet. I had a really hard time finding the High Protien Slimfast that my Dr recommended and even now I only have enough to last me another day or so. I'll have more time to hunt during the weekend. I got a really good invitation to a friend's birthday party at a local bar/restaurant tomorrow night and another invite to a good band playing tomorrow night. I don't want to seem anti social but I'm not sure that I'm up for going out when I'm on a liquid diet. I think it might just be a weekend for reading a book and going to bed early......

Hey, how did your appointment go today? As I'm sure you've found out you can't wear shoes on the scale...I think it measures your body fat. I wasn't quite at 40 bmi at my initial consult either, I think it was 39 but the Dr said it was ok. I'm interested to hear about your experience!

Most of my time today was spent waiting... The pre-op history and physical consisted of the nurse practioner saying "well are you ready for surgery?" then listening to my lungs and giving me some papers. We were probably in the same room together for 90 seconds (after an hour wait). The tests were pretty speedy and consisted of a pee test, blood draw, 2 chest films, and an EKG. That was it and they told me to show up on my surgery date! Today is day 2 of the LSD diet. I got through it by having a small green salad at lunch with a hard boiled egg. It's currently 5:37p my time and I'm going to wait to have my second shake until 6:00p and then go to bed early. The good news? I weighed in at 270lbs at the Drs office today! I think their scale is light, I couldn't believe it!

Most of my time today was spent waiting... The pre-op history and physical consisted of the nurse practioner saying "well are you ready for surgery?" then listening to my lungs and giving me some papers. We were probably in the same room together for 90 seconds (after an hour wait). The tests were pretty speedy and consisted of a pee test, blood draw, 2 chest films, and an EKG. That was it and they told me to show up on my surgery date! Today is day 2 of the diet. I got through it by having a small green salad at lunch with a hard boiled egg. It's currently 5:37p my time and I'm going to wait to have my second shake until 6:00p and then go to bed early. The good news? I weighed in at 270lbs at the Drs office today! I think their scale is light, I couldn't believe it!

Today I went to my last mandatory seminar prior to surgery, which was a 4 hour educational course. Half of the course was devoted to what to expect and risks, the second half to diet, both pre-op (which I am enjoying now) and the first phase of post op. I'm looking for the High Protien Slim Fast cans but they were not at my local grocery or WalMart. I might let my fingers do the walking instead of driving all around town wasting gas. I'm excited about the procedure and think I've decided on getting the LapBand version. They passed around both the Lap and Realize bands for us to inspect today and although I know the statistics say the results are identical I liked the LapBand better (except for the port). The band itself seemed more sturdy and honestly it looked to me like the balloon on the inside of the Realize band was visibly glued on? Not the most encouraging. As I'm self pay, the instructor said that they will most likely try to get me in early in the morning...arrival time 5am and Sx at 7a and then in the car on the way home by 1 or 2p??? Wow. I'm very thankful that I have a strong support system. I would be much more concerned if I was going home alone.

Thanks, I really appreicate it. I have 130 total to lose. It seems a bit daunting, but I'm sure I'll get there!

Ok. Before signing off I noticed that I had some comments to my previous posting. A) that's pretty cool, I didn't know you could comment and I'm not sure how to best respond except in another post? If there's something better, please advise. Anyway, many thanks to all of your well wishes - please consider them equally returned :confused3:. I found out more details about my pre-op diet today and while I am allowed non starchy vegetables, the main point is to keep the daily caloric intake between 500-700 per day. That's a big cut for me. Today I've had 4 regular slimfast cans and water. I thought maybe I could drink unlimited slimfast but not so. The diet is called LSD (Liver Shrinking Diet) and is to be low carb, low fat, and low sugar. To the person who asked about tea - unfortunately my answer is no. I'm traditionally a strong black tea drinker but I think the other part of that equation really for me was the sugar. I tried many different artificial sweetners in the tea but it wasn't the same w/o the copious amounts of sugar added. I have some decaf green tea in the cupboard that I'm planning on brewing tomorrow. If it's any good I'll post the brand. Thx for the responses and here's to all of our current and future success!

Ok. Before signing off I noticed that I had some comments to my previous posting. A) that's pretty cool, I didn't know you could comment and I'm not sure how to best respond except in another post? If there's something better, please advise. Anyway, many thanks to all of your well wishes - please consider them equally returned . I found out more details about my pre-op diet today and while I am allowed non starchy vegetables, the main point is to keep the daily caloric intake between 500-700 per day. That's a big cut for me. Today I've had 4 regular slimfast cans and water. I thought maybe I could drink unlimited slimfast but not so. The diet is called LSD (Liver Shrinking Diet) and is to be low carb, low fat, and low sugar. To the person who asked about tea - unfortunately my answer is no. I'm traditionally a strong black tea drinker but I think the other part of that equation really for me was the sugar. I tried many different artificial sweetners in the tea but it wasn't the same w/o the copious amounts of sugar added. I have some decaf green tea in the cupboard that I'm planning on brewing tomorrow. If it's any good I'll post the brand. Thx for the responses and here's to all of our current and future success!