pmommy

My port is just above my belly button too. Maybe about an inch...I'm only 6 days post op but it hasn't bothered me too much yet.

My intention was good...I just realized too late that it was wrong. Hopefully I did not cause any damage. I guess I could of screwed up more and had a whole meal or something because I feel like I COULD. Obviously, I won't though. Another question: I am able to drink fluids (water and Protein shakes, etc) just as quick as I could pre-band. Should this be a concern? Or is it OK and just a reflection of me NOT having real restriction?

I just wanted to relate as well! I am 5 days post op as well and starving for food. I had my first follow up today thinking I might get the green light for soft/mushies....uh, not! 2 full weeks of liquids and then 1 week of mushies and finally, reallll food. It helped re-motivate me. I just keep drinking my shakes, which btw, I drink the whole thing in 15 minutes! It doesn't cause me any pain or discomfort and I'm just hungry so I slurp them down (with a straw usually ---oops!). But I have no shoulder pain anymore and no gas. I will have to ask about the straw thing. I went back to work today and that was OK. Sitting all day started to irritate my belly button towards the end of the day. But no one knows so I had to suck it up. You're posts helped me feel better. Thanks for sharing.

I'm 5 days post op too and over liquids. I want something not sweet.... beef, chicken, lobster, veggies....yum. I can't wait for mushies. I see the doc for my post op follow up tomorrow and am going to ask about adding in some yogurts, cottage cheese, and other "soft/mushies". We'll see...

I was banded this past Friday as well. I am feeling good, only some port tenderness, and returning to work tomorrow. I am at the point where I am getting hungry thou. Liquids aren't cutting it anymore. Is anyone else starting to struggle with this? Or are you all not hungry still?

I had surgery on Friday, 3/12. The doctor prescribed me prevacid and said it's very important for me to take for several weeks after the surgery. I was instructed to open the capsule and take the contents (mini bead like) over a spoon of liquid. I tried this for the third time and it's just horrible. It's making me gag, I'm spilling the beads everywhere, they are getting stuck in my teeth, etc! Does anyone else have to take these? Do you open them first? Any pointers? Thanks.

DId anyone else receive a "card" with info on their band? I didn't get anything like that...

I would love to just take the pill. I am doing so with my thyroid medicine but that pill is so tiny. This one is a capsule..I thought I would try but that I should follow instructions for the first few days since it is fairly bigger than my thyroid med. I am on full liquids BTW... The dissolvable strawberry tablet sounds good too... Thanks for the suggestions. I will try them all.

I'm on my 3rd day post op and also over the shakes. I just ate frozen yogurt though....I started off slow and then I found that I could gobble it all up, no pain in my chest feeling like if I drink too fast or too much. Is that a bad thing? It seemed strange to me... oh what I wouldn't do for a scrambled egg right now.

Just wanted to reach out to the March bandsters and see what stage they were in (pre-op/post) and what eating phase. What are the staple(s) that are getting you through your current phase? I am 2 days post op, on liquids. I am mostly eating protein shakes and water....and some strained soup on occassion. Would love some new ideas and to see what others are able to eat in their liquid phase.

I had surgery yesterday and have been having some issues with Water. When I drink it I feel discomfort, and a tightness in my chest. It only last a minute or two and then passes. 1. Is this just because my surgery was so recent and there is swelling? 2. Am I taking too big of sips or drinking too fast? 3. Is this being "stuck" and is it bad for my band? 4. Will I be able to drink bigger sips/ faster after I heal? I'm just realizing how hard it's really going to be to drink and eat slow....I thought I was already. :wink2: TIA!

Sorry to be obnoxious but I am posting this question in both of the threads I started in hopes of getting an answer... I am now 48 hours post op, and I have another pain question. Sometimes before I even drink or even after, I get this tight feeling in my THROAT. It lasts only a second and it's a tightness/shortness of breath feeling at the same time. Has anyone experienced this? I am really working on eating (liquids of course) and drinking Water slow but it's harder than I thought. Today I actually think I have hunger for the first time since coming out of surgery. I am just super paranoid about blood clots so I want to be sure chest pain is explainable!

OK, I have another pain question. I am now 48 hours post op. Sometimes, even before I eat or drink or after, I get this tight feeling in my THROAT. It lasts only a second and it's a tightness/shortness of breath feeling at the same time. Has anyone experienced this? I am really working on eating (liquids of course) and drinking water slow but it's harder than I thought. Today I actually think I have hunger for the first time since coming out of surgery.

I had surgery Friday and have felt pretty good. In the evening I was starting to get some pain on the insides, in all the places I would expect with the exception of this pain i have on the lower left side of my abdomen, right inside from my hip bone is. I feel asleep for a few hours and work up and the pain in that area has increased. It feels sore and very tender, its like a dull ache which increases at times when I am walking around, or if I sit up. I just cant imagine why the pain here is prominent when it's about 6 inches over and 3 inches down from my belly button incision. It's on the opposite side of where my port is as well - at least from what the doc told me at my consult. Just wondering if this is normal or should concern me at all? I don't have any gas. I do have the left shoulder pain and have burped a few times but haven't felt any bloating or gas "below" sorry for the tmi!

what is the 5 day pouch test?

I think the biggest risk of blood clots is within the first week but they can appear up to several weeks after surgery. I'm pretty paranoid about them too.

oops - I drank my 10 ounce protein shake in about 15 minutes... I wasn't given any instructions other than sip slow...i thought that was slow. I will try to eat slower next time...

I have the BSN "Dessert" Protein shakes which can be purchased at GNC. My favorite shake is from "Beach Body" Meal Replacement shake in chocolate but I've only and ordered that online. It's delicious! Neither contain aspartame. BeachBody has fructose though. I also have the unjury powder which I have yet to try....hopefully it's better than that chicken flavored soup. Tip: I usually make mine with ice, and occasionally add soy milk or choc soy milk instead of milk, and PB2 (lowfat Peanut Butter powder) and shake it up some. Delicious! Taste like a milk shake....

oh and by discomfort, it left me feeling like I had to burp, but couldn't. I'n beginning to think I will lose a ton of weight with the band because I'll never enjoy eating again!...it seems too painful. I need a mentor.....

my protein shake (a very liquidy one) caused me about 30 minutes of discomfort. Not like to water as much but hurt my tummy. I think I am drinking too fast. How long should I be taking to drink a liquid protein shake, or a cup of water?

Just had surgery yesterday but I will reallly miss bread. I am sure I will attempt it and have to learn that one the hard way...

Yesterday was my surgery. My post op instructions just said "liquid diet for 2 weeks post-op - clear wasn't specified. I ate a very small amount of strained cream Soup and a little bit of fat free frozen yogurt (really helped the throat). The hospital wouldn't even give me juice or anything.....I thought that was weird.

It is actually NEAR where the blood thinner shot was given...it's about two inches below the injection site. I considered that but it still just didn't seem right that's where the most prominent pain I have is coming from. I'm not overly worried (yet), I will give it some time but wanted to see if anyone else had a similar issue. I think i am just super paranoid after I stumbled across that one thread someone posted about a recent death, the night before surgery!...it majority freaked me out and had me reading up on complications. I am freaked about blood clots! So abnormal pain is causing me a little paranoia. Thanks for the answers!!! I really appreciate it.

I am officially banded as of this morning. :frown: The experience was totally OK. Immediately after waking up I had some discomfort and was really drowsy. The discomfort went away quickly with the pain meds. The hospital would not give me anything but Water. So when I got home, I was anxious for something to relieve my sore throat and dry mouth, plus take my pain meds. I can't believe the amount of the liquid painkiller I needed to take (15-30ML). Not great tasting either! It actually left me nauseous for a few minutes. Even the water I sipped in the car ride home made me a little nauseous. IS this normal? When will it go away? Did you take your pain meds on an empty stomach? I haven't eaten all day but now I find myself scared to eat/drink.

Hi everyone! I've reviewed these boards for some time, posted questions and joined this group but haven't yet introduced myself. I live in the LA area and I am officially banded as of this morning. The experience was totally OK. Immediately after waking up I had some pain/discomfort and was really drowsy. The discomfort went away quickly with the pain meds. The hospital would not give me anything but Water. So when I got home, I was anxious for something to relieve my sore throat and dry mouth, plus take my pain meds. I can't believe the amount of the liquid painkiller I needed to take (15-30ML). Not great tasting either! It actually left me nauseous for a few minutes. Even the water I sipped in the car ride home made me a little nauseous. IS this normal? When will it go away? Did you take your pain meds on an empty stomach? I haven't eaten all day but now I find myself scared to eat/drink. Did anyone have a hiatial hernia repair at the time of their surgery? If so, were you given an special dietary guidelines to follow? I didn't see my doc after surgery and we only spoke for a few minutes beforehand. I have no idea if he put in any restriction. I got the standard 2 weeks liquid and 2 weeks mushy instructions and he told my husband avoid cold things...which i have no idea why and my throat is dying for some ice cold water or some frozen yogurt. I just finally ate and found it's hard to remember to eat slow..I am so used to rushing as I am always the last to sit down and have to tend to the children's plates. It was strained Soup which I found left me thirsty and with some increased pressure right in the middle of my chest. I am hoping this is from the surgery and not a result of eating. Oh and the shoulder pain seems to be starting in... Goood luck to everyone.