AFmom

Hope a different medicine helps. My gas pain ended up coming back with a vengeance last night and even the new medicine was not helping. I looked through some more old threads and found some advice that did work. Sounds unconventional, but the advice was given by an E.R. doc, here goes...get down on all fours, and then lower your head and chest until they are touching the floor, with your bottom up in the air. This is suppose to get the trapped gas moving. It did help me to "expel" some of that gas, and before morning I was moving even more

Great to find a positive place on these boards! I have a few questions for all of you experienced bandsters out there. This is just my second day post-op, but I am already so excited about the changes to come!!! My questions...how soon after surgery did you start to exercise and after surgery, but before your first fill how much liquid would you take in at a time. My instructions say what I can have, but not how much at a time. It see my doctor tomorrow for my post-op check and will ask him, but for today I am still wondering?

I know how you feel, but you will do fine. I had my surgery this morning, and am home and doing fine. Pain is not bad, but the pressure from the gas is the worst, but still not unbearable. Take a deep breath and trust in your decision and in your surgeon.

Dblex, Sorry your are in pain...I just had my surgery today, and no cramps, but I have so much PRESSURE it feels like an elephant is sitting on my chest/abdomen. The pressure is worse when I am sitting, but feels better when my body is either laid out straight or standing up. I am guessing that the pressure is from the gas, but it is more than I expected. Almost no pain from the incision sites...or maybe the pain meds are keeping those at bay :thumbup:

Just to update....I did have my surgery this morning! Can't believe it...I am banded!!! I did talk with my doc about the stomach bug, and he said that as long as there was no fever we could go ahead. I felt like total crap, but there was no fever so surgery went on. Don't remember anything after they told me to think of a sweet dream. Woke up in recovery with a lot of pressure from the gas, but not too much pain. Barium swallow was fine...pretty cool. Came home within 90 minutes of getting to recovery. Hope everyone else is doing well :thumbup:

Just had surgery this morning and I did not have any trouble waking up. I don't remember waking up in the O.R. just remember them telling me to think of a sweet dream and the next thing I knew I was waking up in recovery. I woke right up, and was in some pain, and asked for meds, but they wanted me to be able to stand and do the barium swallow first. That just took a few minutes, and then got the pain meds...I was sleepy then! I was motivated to get home so I stayed awake, got dressed, and was discharged. Slept on the way home and then took a 3 hour nap in my bed...ah, that was wonderful! Now, up, awake, and surfing the net. But they are right, everyone reacts different. I watched a lady who came to recovery after me and she had a hard time staying awake and it took a long time before they could get her up for her barium swallow. She kept taking her oxygen off and saying off the wall stuff.

Yes, my doctor required one too. It was taught by the nurse coordinator of the program. There were 7 of us in the class, all having surgery the same week. We each had an individual time where our weight was recorded, pictures were taken, and we had the opportunity to ask any question we would not want to ask in a group setting. After that we were all given folders that we filled up as the class went on. I really did learn a lot. Mine was about 3 hours...hope this helps.

Today is banding day for me...I hope! The stomach bug hit out house yesterday afternoon. My 9 year old was throwing up most of the afternoon and into the evening, at which point my 12 year old started. I did the best I could to take care of them from a distance, all the time washing my hands and spraying disinfectant. Last night about 10:30 I started getting sick...oh yea, it was bad and it was not just throwing up. It has stopped, but being that I am patient number one this morning, I can't get a hold of anyone to see if I should still come in or not. I am feeling better, but I am sure that I must be dehydrated because I can't drink anything after being sick (not after midnight). Scared to cancel surgery (what if I am totally fine now) and scared to not cancel surgery (this can't be the best way to start). I have left messages with the hospital and hopefully someone calls me back before we need to leave at 6:15!

DottieAnn< I am thrilled to hear that you are doing so well! It is a comfort to hear from you, now that you are on the other side. My surgery is in the morning at 8:30. I do have a question for you...what are the things that you have needed since coming home? I have a recliner set up in case I can't sleep in the bed, chicken broth, Jello, and a few popsicles. Anything else that you recommend? Thanks!

Praying for all of you Cinco De Mayo surgery friends! Can't want to hear how it all went! Your new life starts today, mine starts tomorrow. :thumbup:

I will get the OR ready for you! I am scheduled for 8:30...can you believe that it is almost time? I am so excited!!!

Just have to share this...with just two days to go until surgery I have seen the scale register a number under 300 pounds!!! I have set many goals for myself along this journey, and being under 300 pounds was the first one. I still have a long way to go, but it is great to get this first victory under my belt even before surgery :thumbup:

Thanks Hal...how funny! I can't believe that I put Friday on my post:) I will make sure that I am there on Thursday!!! Good luck everyone!

I know that every doctor is a little different, but my doctor allows any type of soup as long as it is not cream based. I can't tell you how much I have enjoyed chewing up the little bites of veggies and meat in my soup :scared2: The soup is once a day, for supper, other than that I have a Protein shake in the morning and at lunch. I can also have sugar free pop-sickles and sugar free Jello.

Thanks for the words of encouragement! Day 2 is almost done for, and I have stayed the course. I am wanting to snack on something really badly right now, but reading everyone's post is a big help! I am trying to keep extra busy too. My kitchen has never been so clean and organized! I had too much of the kids food sitting out where I could see it, and that was more temptation than I wanted to deal with. I even found attractive canisters for my protein powders, Stevia, and calcium chews :biggrin:

It looks like we may have a few more connections other than being military spouses! My husband is active-duty Air Force, we have 3 sons, and of course we have Tricare. One last biggie...my doctor is Dr. Adam Smith! I have a feeling that I know why they are running behind in Texas. Dr. Smith has started a new program in Albuquerque, NM. He is here at least one week a month. I imagine that is causing longer than normal waits in Ft Worth. I am glad that you were able to get everything transferred to Dr. Green and hope that things move quickly for you now! If you really want to get your surgery quickly, come to Albuquerque. Dr. Smith's program here is new, and so there is practically no wait once you are approved :biggrin:

I think that it is very surprising that you were approved in April and they can't get you in until the end of June. My opinion would be that if you are comfortable with the second doctor, and you are motivated to get the surgery ASAP, then I would go ahead and change. I would just make sure that the second surgeon is good! Hope it works out for you :wub:

Of your first 5 days, which day has been the hardest? I am finishing up day 1, and it has been hard, but not as awful as I thought it would be. Does is get harder or easier?

I am on day one of my pre-op diet...my shake for breakfast was good, but head is telling me that I need to eat, so I am trying some gum My pre-op diet is a two week liquid diet. Shake for breakfast and lunch, and a Soup for dinner. sugar free pop-sickles, Jello, and stuff like that is allowed. As far as Protein shakes go. I bought the EAS powder from Sam's club. It has the same nutritional breakdown as the Bariatric Advantage the doctor's office was selling, but at a much more reasonable cost ($29 for a 5 pound bag/ 76 servings) I bought a chocolate one and a vanilla one. I really like the taste, and so do my picky kids...they say it tastes just like chocolate milk. Michelle

Thanks Ghanian Queen! I appreciate your sharing, and I look forward to watching you progress. It is nice to be able to have someone who is a few steps ahead of me Do you know when you are going to get your first fill? Michelle

Thanks AllieBear! We will have to encourage each other through the next few weeks. I need to get to the grocery store and stock up on a few things, but I have been so busy. Guess I will go after my pre-op appointment tomorrow What is your pre-op diet like? Mine is 14 days of a liquid diet...2 shakes per day with a Soup for dinner.

I was sure that I was never going to be able to sleep with so many wires hooked up to me, plus knowing that someone was watching me kind of freaked me out, but in the end I did fall asleep, and I am sure that you will too. I did take something to help me sleep, and I do recommend that. Hope all goes well! Michelle

My surgery date is May 6th and I start the pre-op diet tomorrow...much more concerned about the next two weeks than I am about the surgery! I have been enjoying my favorite foods, and am ready to take this next step! Michelle

Hi, my name is Michelle, and this is my first post. I feel like I am caught up in a Lap-Band whirlwind. Ahhh, let me start at the beginning... I have been obese since my late teens, and I just turned 40. I have been considering WLS for at least 5 years, but due to military moves and other issues I have only recently decided that NOW is the time to move ahead. I only made this decision about 2 weeks ago. Since that time things have happened at a speed that I would not have believed possible! I had discussed WLS with my PCM before, and knew that I more than met the requirements, so I called and asked for a referral. Within days I was told about a Lap Band Seminar, that was the following night, and I went...this was just last Wednesday night. After the seminar I talked with Dr. Smith and felt comfortable that this was the right decision. I talked with his support staff and before I left that night I was told that I could see Dr. Smith for a consult on Monday. A wonderful nurse and my PCM are bending over backwards to get my referral and approval pushed through. Today, 5 days after going to the seminar, I met with the doc, he said I was a great candidate, answered all of my questions, and his staff asked when I would like to schedule the surgery. I said ASAP...I left with appointments next week for the phych consult, nutritionist appointment, pre-op appointment, and surgery date of April 20th. All I can say is WOW! I think this must be some kind of record...just 3 1/2 week from seminar to surgery. It is a blessing to have things happen so fast, when most people have to jump through hoops to get this done, but my head is also spinning at the thought of how quickly things are moving. I could wait a few months, but I feel like the sooner I get banded, the sooner I will start my new life, but I must admit that I am overwhelmed. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks, Michelle Albuquerque, NM

Thanks Melissa... It is great to hear from a patient of Dr. Smith's! I am planning on coming to the support group meeting in April. I have lots of questions now, and I am sure that I will have even more by then How are you doing since your banding? I will be praying for you as you heal and adjust. Looking forward to meeting you! Michelle