w8t4me

w84me says: hi december banders. I was done dec 11th. I have noticed since the banding I have not quite felt right. I feel lousy most of the time. I keep thinking the shingles( I got that 2 weeks before my surgery) is the main cause of my feeling poorly. But, I have trouble sleeping and I dont' feel hungry, dont' feel full, I feel nothing but just overall poorly. I have lost a total of 20 lbs but that was mainly from my pre-op liquid and my post op liquid diet. Ihave been slowly introducing soft proteins and try to eat every few hours. I take the optisource vitamins. Even though I was obese I rarely was sick or felt poorly. I really pray that this yucky feeling that I am having will be short term. Anyone else out there feeling this yuky not great feeling?

Hello Fellow December Bandsters. My Surgery Was Done Dec. 11th. I Am The One Who Has Been Talking About Miscommunication With My Dr About Pain Control. My Good Friend And I Went Through The Whole Process Together. She Has A Hernia Repair, While I Ended Up With A Huge Case Of Shingles. The Dr Ordered "standard Pain Control Of Childrens Liquid Ibuprofen." Both Of Us Suffered Through Some Excrutiating Pain, Not Really Related To The Banding. I Am A Week Out, Still On My Optifast Liquids, Have Been 100% Compliant With The Before And After Regimin. What I Seem To Be Battling Is Crying Alot. It Seems Small Things Get My Eyes Squirting With Tears. The Last Time I Felt Sad Or Blue Was Many Months Ago When They Diagnosed My Husband With Lymphoma, So I Really Don't Think It Is Depression(been There Done It). This Just Seems Different. Anyone Else Going Through This Or Is Is The Shingles That Could Be Changing My Personality Temporarily. The Net Doesn't Offer Much On The Psychological Impact Of Having Shingels. I Look Forward To A Healthy New Me. W8t4me

Hi there, I was trying to let newbies know that it is important that they understand what they can and can't have after surgery. My friend and I suffered needlessly with secondary issues and at the time did not question anything about what was ordered for pain control (CHILDREN'S liquid Ibuprofen). 3 days into having alot of pain, I finally decided that enough was enough. It is then when the Dr.'s nurse agreed what me and my friend went through was inhumane and was very apologetic. I want to prepare fellow banders to educate themselves and advocate for themselves. In this day and age of medicine, we as humans should never have to suffer with "Pain." As I told the Dr's nurse, we are more humane for our pets/animals than we are for the human race. I know this because I am a nurse and pet owner. Thank you for having this space for us to help others to avoid getting into situations that easily could be fixed by true communications with the Dr and pts. And, that to remind newbies, those going through the process and those that are well into their journey to advocate for them selves. w8t4me

josephine, advocate for yourself. I don't know if you saw my letter about pain control after surgery but to make a long story short. Both my friend and I were told that the only thing we would have is liquid children's Ibuprofen. I have a horrible case of shinges and my friend had a hernia reapair done at the same time. We called each other many times a day to support each other THROUGH the pain and discomfort. Finally, 3 days post op I called the Dr.'s nurse. After I explained what my friend and I had been doing and the minimal pain control that was ordered, the nurse was horrified that we were not told that we could have more for pain control esp with the both of us having more than just the banding. So, the point is; make sure you are clear with the Dr what kind of pain control you can have, if you can have something to help those times when you have horrible gas pains and the walking doesn't cut it (although for me I have not had the horrible gas pains/ walking has helped alot), if you develop diarrhea, what kind of medication should you take. I developed the type of diarrhea no matter what I drank it would go straight through. Make the Dr be accountable for what you can and can't have. You dont' want to experiment with meds after the fact. And, if something doesn't sound right, call another Dr and get a second opinion. We are not dr's on this site, we can only suggest what has worked and what hasn't. But, the biggest lesson I have learned is that you have to advocate for ourselves. w8t4m4

edieparks, I just got banded dec 11. yes, there are gas bubbles to deal with even when you work hard not to sip up air. Walking is a really good way to move the bubbles. But also just moving side to side, and gentle twisting motion. The walking just helps build you back up and your strength after surgery. I really started walking and doing more b/4 the surgery and I think it has paid off. You dont' have to miles, just short distance several times a day. Always start small and move up. Every step is an accomplishment. And, ALWAYS remind yourself that this is the first day that we love ourselves enough finally to do something for ourselves and not always for others. w8t4m4

Hi Laphappy, I too marveled how these big loosers were able to loose their aprons. Sometimes there are those who through genetics are blessed with rebound skin. I had two children with out a stretch mark and my sister has never had children has a large amount of stretch marks. I think age helps for the skin to respond, but over all most of us will have bat wings for arms, gobblers under our chin, and bellies that will be long and floppy. But out of all this, we will have mobility, live a longer and healthier life. I want to be able to do what healthy wt people do and not be ashamed that I cannot control my eating. That is what will keep me from focusing on my body and how it AIN'T going to be. I just want to love the real me under all that phat and flesh. But, you are right, how did they manage to loose wt fast and not had skin issues. w8t4me: Banded 12-11-07 in Fargo MN. With Dr. Munson. He is awesome.

amillerjones I finally thought this is rediculous having discomfort and the inablity to sleep due to my shingles and surgery. I called my hometown dr and insisted on Nuerontin for the shingles, a sleep med for a week, and then called the nurse of the dr that did the surgery and told her I needed some a little stronger than children's motrin. The nurse was shocked that the PA(physician assistant) didn't order thins for me. Again, we have to advocate for ourselves. I got a few Darvocet, a few Ambien, and Nuerontin. Guess what? I slept for the first time in days, my shingles pain in under control, and I am able move about, feeling functional again. I really believe in this day and age we have to advocate for ourselves with the medical world. I thought by being "strong and enduring the pain" was all I had. Talk to your dr. ahead of time and have a short term plan for pain and discomfort. My Dr.'s nurse has asked me to write up a short term pain control protocol. I plan in adding a medication for gas, and for those of us that ended up with watery stools, a medication for that. I am day 5 of banding and just feeling good now. If I had had those meds in the beginning I think I would be much further ahead. w8t4me

amillerjones, I had my banding on monday. Insisted that for the ride home they give my some IV Zofran. I had an hour drive to get home and was not going to deal with car sickness. I am disappointed in the weak pain medication routine of tylenol or children's ibuprofen. Doesnt' cut the pain. I also have complications of shingles that really makes my life miserable on top of trying to heal. I find walking is the best relief for the gas pain and using a small pillow to protect my belly. It is the port site that hurts the worse for me. I cannot believe in this day and age, we have to heal with children's strength medications. Call you dr about the nausea cuz they can deal with that without you having meds in your tummy. take care, hopefully we both can look back on this in a month and give newbies what worked for us. take care of u, w8t4me

hi flower pot, I was blessed having a friend do the same thing with me. I too have not told anyone. She had her banding last monday and I have mine tomorrow. Stay with the program. You have come this far and I am proud of you. I am looking forward to people noticing that i have lost wt and the secret will be mine for as long as i choose. w8t4me

Hello everyone. I am new to the site and am having my banding done on Dec. 11th. I did this with my friend Carol. It has been great that we started our venture in July and now she is having her surgery today. I am into my 7th day of Optifast and have 7 days left to go. I think this has been the hardest thing I have ever had to do. So far I have been 100% compliant. It is great to know that there are soooo many of you out there. I will be glad to read and take in your experiences and watch your goals. I have found that doing liquids for 2 weeks is playing with my mind. I look at my dog and start thinking about her hind quarters ymmmy. :omg:

Hi little ed, I too have not had my banding. I am in the process of doing my Opti fast 2 week liquid diet. I did really well the first few days and now I am in the middle of my 14 days. I have my surgery scheduled Dec. 11th. There are moments when the hind leg of my dog is starting to look good to chew on. Anyone have any ideas on how to get through this last week of choices of strawberry or chocolate Optifast? I have tried tea, SF soft drinks, broth, etc. What is keeping me going right now is that I have been so compliant that I just don't want to undo a weeks worth of hard work. irena