wickwit

I just had my 4th fill two days ago,I'm at 7.1cc and I'm thrilled! My doctor had me on liquids for one day and mushies for the second, so today is the first day with solid food. I just had a 6 oz steak and part of a tomato with vinegar and I'm full. I don't think i've ever been full on this amount of food. I hope hope hope this means I'm at my sweet spot. I was banded over a year ago and after my initial weight loss, I went on to...gain 5 lbs. After receiving my hospital bill and doctor's bill I couldn't afford to go back for a fill. So here I am a year later and hopefully I'm back on track. I have to re-educate myself; do I low carb it or just a tiny bit of everything, do I count calories or...? I have been exercising 5 days a week, so please God, hopefully I'll start losing weight...again.

I had a piece of suture still sticking straight out at one end of my incision. It took a couple of days to work up the nerve to snip it off with a small cuticle scissor. But I digress...my incisions were itchy as h*ll, so I've been rubbing Vitamin E on them, morning and night. It's helped a lot. Hope that helps.

I had my first fill on Friday 9/17. While I was waiting for the doc to come in, I looked at the dreaded BMI chart...and realized that I was below 40%, in fact I'm 39% now. Gee I guess that makes me overweight instead of morbidly obese?! I'm taking my size 26s & 24s to a consignment store. The 22's are kinda lose and I can get into some 20's, but I'm hedging my bets and keeping the 22's for a bit longer! My DH made me change out of my favorite pair of shorts, before going to Home Depot, said they were ridiculously baggy. I walk everyday at lunch, 1.5 miles in 30 minutes. I think it's time to change my sigg! Oh and my MD put 4cc in a 10c band. She started with 5 but it felt a bit too tight, sodown to 4cc. Great thread!

Today I'm post op day 9, and finally no pain under my ribcage, but it feels sort of tight. Usually the shoulder pain comes back in the evening, especially if I've pushed it (cleaning the bathroom, sorting laundry, loading and emptying the dishwasher, THEN shopping for tile and kitchen cabinets) I thought I was gonna die the day I did all that, which was day 5 post op. I only take the liquid Lortab right before I go to bed, and last night was the first time I didn't take any. The pain really does get better everyday. But I haven't been able to drink more than one Protein shake a day, and I know I'm drinking enough Water. Oh well, little by little it'll get better.

Make sure you wear really comfortable clothing. I wore one of those soft bras that snap in the front and a soft dress that let me go commando if needed, also slip on shoes. If you're male, uh, make adjustments . I had a little clutch bag with my driver's license, hospital ID card, and ATM card to pay the deductible, chap stick (you will be very very dry afterwards), and a mouth moisutizing spray. I've had some rotten hosital experiences, so better I have it and not need it than need it and not have it. I also had a splint pillow for the ride home, a very hard pillow to hold against my abdomen to protect when we drove over bumps, or God forbid, cough. Make sure you have your prescription for your pain meds already filled. You've already mentioned chewable gas-x tablets or strips, they helped me too! I knew my husband wouldn't leave to eat, so I packed a thermos with coffee, and several soft drinks/ice tea, and other Snacks. I guess that's everything. Good Luck!

What a great thread! I'm only 4 days post op, but I haven't had a hot flash yet, just kinda warm sometimes, and I realized that was due to not taking my HRT. No more acid reflux either. I had high cholesterol so I'm curious to see where that is now. My feet and back don't hurt anymore. I think tomorrw I'll take my nicer size 24 and 26 clothes to a consignment store. Because I'm never going to wear them again!

Holy crap, and I'm complaing about a full liquid diet, I'd be miserable if I had to stick to clear liquid for this long! I was clear liquid for 24 hours after surgery, and now full liquids (soups, Protein shakes, yogurts, etc) for two weeks, then mushies for two weeks. Call your Doctor!! Does any one know how long before we see any weight loss? I didn't expect to lose anything, consider this a healing phase, but someone posted that they had lost something like 7 pounds in 4 days post op! WOW!! Please tell me that's unusual?!

Hi everyone, Today is the first day that the pain in my shoulder hasn't driven me crazy. I hate taking the pain meds, but I usually give in twice a day. I might tonight so I can sleep for 4 hours or so. I've only been able to sleep two or so, then I have to get up to pee or try and shift and inevitably it feels like I've pulled a stitch. OWWW!! And I think I found my port, right on my waistline! I hope I'm wrong, but if I'm not, WTF, do I really want my jeans resting right on it?? I must still be swollen because I can feel the band if I swallow too much too fast. Honestly the idea of heaving or barfing (sorry Amber) just scares me blue! I'm just starting to get hungry... OMG I just writhed through a cough attack! Picture this, fat black chick with scarred gut hanging out and pillow hugged to my abdomen as hard as I could while I tried not to cough and scream at the same time. Oh great, now my shoulder hurts again. *sigh* Where was I, oh yeah bitching about being hungry. I know I'm not drinking the amount of Water I need to, nor the amount of Protein I need, I keep thinking when I feel better I'll start paying more attention to what I'm eating, but, uh, isn't this when the good habits should start?? I'm rambling, sorry. The pity party should be winding up soon, I hope. We have to try and keep our spirits up, without our old crutch of food. Let me go dig out my favorite trashy romance novel and escape Keep your chins up!!

I couldn't urinate right away. Had to sit on the toilet and wait and wait, but eventually I was able to void. It happened at home too, but eventually my very lax muscles eased up. And I'm running cold. I suffer from hot flashes, so I sleep with the AC on and the ceiling fan set to helicopter, but since I got home from surgery I'm actually bundled up in bed. It's been two days since my surgery and finally this morning I was able to pass some gas, and not little delicate burps either, I'm talking about frat boy trumpets if you know what I mean, but GAWD the relief. And I seem to have a permanent pain in my left shoulder and neck, I suppose it's deferred pain from the hiatal hernia repair. I haven't quite figured out where the port is, I had the SIL surgery, and that incision is near my waist on the left side. It's still sore to the touch so I can't quite yet find it. My ribs feel sore too, but nothing drastic. No weight loss yet, but I'm still swollen. So for now I'm just taking it easy, trying to keep hydrated, and sleeping when the urge hits. How is everyone else doing?

Yesterday was my day. We had to be at the hospital 6am, got there early enough for DH to have a last couple of cigarettes. I had a nervous stomach so I had to make a couple of last minute trips to the bathroom. I started out in the Same Day Surgery where I filled out the paperwork, had the leg squeezers put on, changed into a very warm attractive hospital gown and brown fuzzy socks, and received the dreaded Heparin shot in the abdomen. OUCH!! At this point DH laughed at me, said he'd never seen my pout and stick my lower lip out; well it did hurt. After a goodbye kiss I got wheeled to the OR and waited, and waited and...my surgeon was running late. An hour later(it was 8:15am by this time) I was wheeled back into the OR suite. I slid over onto the very narrow table, and the last thing I remember was putting my arms out onto the armboards. I don't remember the recovery room at all, I woke up as I was being wheeled into my room around 2:30pm. I could smell the chemical smell of the anesthetic I was exhaling and the betadine soap on my abdomen. I have one little puncture just below my breastbone and to the left which was sealed with dermabond, and one other longer incision about 3-4 inches also on my left side below my waist. That incision had a larger bandage on it; I suppose it's where the port is. My DH fed me ice chips because I was so dry, it really was the worst for me. I dozed on and off for a couple of hours then the nurse had me up and walking to the bathroom. I sat on the toilet for a long time trying to make myself wee. It was almost as though the anesthetic hadn't worn off my bladder yet. When the second shift of nurses came on about 3:30 or so, she gave me a painshot (I hadn't asked for it) and another heparin shot (blood thinner) this time in the batwing part of my arm. It stung, but not has bad as the first one. She also brought me a food tray with broth, jello, apple juce, crystal light iced tead and an Italian ice. There was nooo way I was going to get all that down! It felt like I had a weight on my chest. It felt as though if I swallowed too much that it would come back up. I had managed to bring some gas chewable tablets with me, I don't know if that helped or it was me walking up and down the halls but I did manage some little baby burps, and no gas pains. I was home by 8pm, moving slowly. The pain meds make me feel sort of out of it, I know some folks pay for this feeling but I don't like it. I slept propped up on several pillows, and had to get out of bed every two hours to pee. Today I'm feeling kinda sore and bloated, just occasional gas pains, but overall I feel pretty good! Can't wait to get on this loosing weight business. !

Wow congratulations, that's 30 lbs approx. in two months?? Did you lose that quickly on your preop diet too? Was your surgeon Dr.Jessee in St. Pete? I'm schedule for 8/04 wil Dr. Jessee at Palms of Pasadena. Again congratulations, you look happy, healthy and glowing!

Hi everyone! My surgery date is 8/04 and I didn't start to get excited until this morning. I've been on my diet for 13 days now (but who is counting) and I'm down 12 pounds, Pretty cool! My husband seemed a bit reluctant at first, but he's come around. Says as long as I'm healthy and don't lose "the girls" he's happy. Men are so simple!:rolleyes2: As far as work, my boss never asked, but she's a bit of an airhead. Anyone who asks I tell them I'm having a hiatal hernia repaired...which is true. I've got all my precriptions filled, teas, broths, popsicles stocked up. I plan to go out tomorrow and buy some gas-x strips and a liquid pain med. I feel like I'm missing something...anyone wanna help me out? I'm even sewing a dress this weekend that I can just slip on and off easily at the hospital. OMG we are all really doing this! How exciting!!:w00t: Good luck everyone!

Today is day 12 for me and I had a migraine for the first three days. I can't drink coffee unless it has lots of creamer and real sugar, I can' t do splenda nor stevia in coffee. So I was low carb, high Protein and no coffee. After the first three days I felt a lot better, and as long as I "ate" every three hours and kept my Water intake up and gelt fine, just a lot of mouth hunger. But on the positive side, I had my preop appointment today. I needed to lose 4 pounds and I lost 11!! Woohoo!! So keep your eye on your goal, really it does get better!

I'm on day 9, and I'll get weighed in the day after tomorrow. I had to lose 4 lbs, which I thought, "...piece of cake.." GULP Did someone say cake?? Anyway, where was I, oh, and my surgery is a week from today. Yesterday I was down 5.5lbs, I was thrilled, but DH made corned beef for dinner. This morning I'm up 1.5 lbs!! :wub: Well, crap...please Lord let it be Water weight. So of course to make my self feel better...I had two biscottis. *sigh* I guess that means the next day and half will be Protein shakes and veggies and more time on the treadmill. :cursing: