431kiwi

I just had revision surgery from band to sleeve last week. I had the band 3 1/2 yrs and it slipped 2 years ago. I never knew if I was going to be able to eat or not from day to day. It got much worse about 2 months ago. I couldn't take it any longer. I'm at work today - still weak but functioning. I only took 4 days and the weekend. Good luck to you.

Had my op yesterday. Apart from the horrible nausea coming out of anesthesia I have been pleasantly surprised. It doesn't really hurt to sit up or move around in bed despite the 5 incisions. chicken broth has never tasted so good! Spent most of yesterday either NPO or sipping watered down Gatorade. All in all - everything is going good. Looking forward to my new healthier self! Thanks for the support November buddies. Toby

I'm home and just resting. I haven't ventured to the shower yet (gross) but I was told to leave the bandages on until Saturday. I have clear bandages over gauze. I've read a lot of stories where people have regretted their decision in the following weeks after surgery. I think we all need to remember our reasons for doing this. We want to be healthy and needed help to get there. Don't lose focus. We can all do this. There will be hard times but in the long run I believe it will be worth it. Hang in there!

Really nervous. Surgery scheduled Tuesday. Band is slipped so have to have surgery anyway! Anyone want to buddy up? I could use some friends to keep on track with.

I'm sure you are not a bum! I am super competitive with myself and keep having to better my times - I thought I was gonna have to call in sick after I got home if that is any consolation. I was dead - it was too much, too soon. I need to let my body heal more before I go do that again. Everyone is different - :-)

Hi everyone, I am two weeks post op today and I still have incredible shoulder pain. It was so bad last week that I went to see my doc early and had to do an Upper GI to make sure everything was where it should be. Mine is apparently caused by the large surprise hernia repair he had to do. He said I could piggy back the hydrocodone with ibuprofen for a while until it got better. My primary also gave me some lidocaine Patches to use at night as it was waking me up when the meds wore off. It was really bad when I would try to exercise or if I got the slightest bit puffed. It is subsiding finally and I managed to do 4 miles on the treadmill this morning without having to push through it. I feel your pain - literally. I hope your's gets better soon. Toby

costco.com has the BodyMedia FIT - the same as the bodybugg - same maker for $199.00 and free shipping. Includes 12 month subscription and 3 free skins to change the appearance of the device. Toby

I had an impromptu visit yesterday. I'm a week post-op today and I was still having severe shoulder pain - now attributed to the large hernia repair. I had called because I was barely getting any releif from the pain and any form of exercise that made me breathe harder than normal caused immense pain - so they set me up for an upper GI and told me to bring the films with me to the office when I was finished. He showed me the films, explained the hernia repair more, looked at my incisions and asked if I had any problems. He was really caring and reassuring and said that I needed to be more patient and let my body heal. He even obliged and gave me a hug. I think I lucked out and picked one of the best surgeons that I could have. The office is also still very helpful and never seems too busy to help me with any issue - be it a back-to-work note or a receipt for my FSA. I'm sorry that others have not had positive experiences, but take heart - there are good surgeons out there.

I had surgery last Friday (3 days ago). Didn't sleep well last night as my shoulders are still in incredible pain. I attribute that to the surprise hernia repair. My problem is that I feel like I have a Dorito stuck in my throat. I haven't had any solid food as I am being diligent about following post op instructions, but something felt like it was poking me all night right in the middle of my esophagus. Did any one else have this or hear of it? It is very painful and causes me a lot of missed sleep. Thanks in advance for any advice.

Hi Sandradee, I am not a veteran by any means, but I am looking for a buddy to go through this experience with. I was just banded last Friday. I am happy to help in any way possible.

Thanks for the thoughts and ideas on my problem. I did call the Dr's office and had a long conversation with my doc's MA. He said it is due to the stitch used to repair my "surprise" hernia. He advised me to take the pain meds to sleep - as I do and to keep taking deep breaths - even though it hurts. Also that if it hasn't resolved or at least improved by Thursday morning to call the office again as my doc is in that morning for clinic. Mystery solved - at least for now.

I have been heavy all my life and just getting heavier. I have been lucky so far as to not have developed any co-morbidities. My husband and I were trying to have another child for the last 3 years. I put $5000 in my flexible spending account for this year and after being told it would be around $20,000 to do invitro with donor eggs - I was looking for other ways to spend my funds. I had been contemplating and researching this for a while. A couple of friends/colleagues had mentioned it a few times as they knew people who had done it and we worked in the medical field so they knew staff and the physicians at the local bariatric center. Once I make a decision, I don't waste time. I went to an info seminar on March 9 and I had surgery last Friday (April 23). I have no regrets and am happy with my decision. I want to be healthy for me and my family to enjoy our lives. I have spent far too long hiding from pictures and situations because of my weight and uncomfortableness. It was time for a change and I'm proud to say I did it.

My surgery story went like this: 3 nights out I was having trouble sleeping - which is normal for me - so I took an ambien that my primary gave me (6.25mg) finally dozed off at 11:30 after taking it at 10:00, then woke up at 1:00am!! The next night decided to try upping the dose to 12.5mg - same thing happened, woke up at 1:30am. Which brings us to the night of surgery - still took the ambien and managed to sleep to 3:30am this time. My husband and I were all ready to go a little early - surgery was scheduled for 11:00am and the doc had already told us it might be a little later cause the case before me was a complicated one. So we went to Ace Hardware to get a new umbrella for the patio. All all things to have to go get - who knows why. :wink: At Ace my husband and I had a small fight, which has been happening a lot lately. It seems it's always a competition. I broke down at the checkstand crying and told him that this day had to be all about me - right or wrong to him - it just had to be. I was scared and anxious and he was not helping. He agreed and everything calmed down. Got to the surgery center and when leaving the car I said to not forget to lock the car - he went into this rant about how he's not a 5 year old and not drooling on himself, why do I treat him like that. Well, that was the end of that - I tried to take my bag from him and he wouldn't let go, so I took off down the stairs and waited in the courtyard for him - he finally showed up and we had a yelling fight right in front of the surery center - how nice!:cool::eek: I grabbed the bad from him and told him in no uncertain terms to F off - and he did. So I checked in by myself and then had to call my boss (who is a good friend) to see if she would come get me after surgery as they woudn't take me back with out a ride home. She agreed and everything proceeded. THey showed me to the other waiting room and I just sat there crying - nice beginning to my new life, huh? The nurse came for me and we went to get changed and weighed etc as I was crying - she asked if I still wanted to do this and I said yes, so we proceeded. THey let me keep my phone and I texted my husband saying that I was scared and I needed him. He had driven all the way home (about 20 minutes) and he was on his way back. Can't believe he would actually leave me - I know I said it, but really? The nurse started my IV and the doc and PA came in and did the usual 20 questions to make sure everything was ok. At this point, everyone had heard that he wasn't there. The anasthesiologist came in and we were just waiting for them to clean the OR. My husband showed up with about 5 minutes to spare and I was grateful that he was there. Got wheeled down the hall, asked to slide across to the little table and they started hooking up things and strapping me in. The anasthesiologist said he was putting in some medication that would make my vision blurry and then they put oxygen on me. I remember closing my eyes and that was it. I woke up at 1:20pm in recovery not too groggy but it was very bright and I didn't want to open my eyes. I had ice chips immediately and then about 15 minutes later they transferred me to the recovery room with the recliner - ahhhh.:w00t: My husband was there. He said that the doc never did talk to him afterward - I guess he didn't know that he came back. I walked around as soon as I could and we were off home around 2:30pm. I called my patient advocate at the surgery group and left a message asking if the doc could call me or my husband back cause we didn't get the scoop from him after surgery. He called in less than 1/2 an hour and I was very impressed. He said everything went fine except that I had a "pretty good sized" hernia that he had to repair with a few stitches. I had no idea!:thumbup: Now it's two days later and I'm still in pain - mostly my shoulder but that must be from hernia repair. I walked around the block yesterday and I'm just taking it easy. I haven't paid much attention to my fluid intake or anything the last few days, just trying to take what ever I could. Today I am paying more attention and going back to writing things down. I'm pleased to be a bandster now - I wish everyone else a safe journey to the other side. My home scale is finally back to where it was when we left for surgery - yeah! Toby:thumbup:

Been home for 2 days and it's not that bad, but there is no way I want to be at work tomorrow. I have been approved for FMLA for 2 weeks although I think I'll go back after my post op appointment with my surgeon on Tuesday, May 4. Everything went smoothly - op was scheduled for 11, but got underway around 11:30 as the previous case for my surgeon was complicated - he had told me in advance. Guess he knew I was a clock watcher!! With me he also had to repair a "pretty good sized" hernia that I had no idea I had. Was heading home by 2:30 that afternoon. Still a lot of shoulder pain - I'm guessing it's due to the hernia repair as all the gas must have dissipated by now. I hope everyone is doing well. Here's to new beginnings! Toby:thumbup:

I am also having surgery on Friday - can't believe it is this close. All in all - it's only been 45 days between seminar and surgery. I'm running through all the emotions right now - it's almost 3am and I can't sleep, which is not unusual for me. Mostly, I am excited to see if this tool can help me once and for all with my 20+ year struggle. I'll be glad to let something else dominate my life from now on. Hugs to all - have a great surgery day! Toby:thumbup: