BethAnnB

Last night I dreamt about food.....plates and plates of spaghetti and meatballs. I like spaghetti and meatballs but not enough to waste a perfectly good dream on it. I woke up this morning and had runny oatmeal....nine days postop and starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel. Yesterday was my first full day without an episode of vomitting. Yesterday was a good day and today is feeling even better. One day at a time.

You have my prayers! You're doing so well and whatever's up with your band I believe you'll continue to meet your goals.

I am one week post-op today and I've been battling headaches ever since surgery. While in the hospital they decided it was probably dehydration so I was given IV fluids. Today I have been very careful to get fluids in...constant sipping and I'm still fighting a headache. Anyone else experience headaches after getting the lapband?

Hi everyone! My name is Beth and I had lap band surgery done this past Friday, October 1, 2010. I was supposed to have gastric bypass in order to get the maximum benefit for my diabetes but I guess this fat girl was too fat to do gastric bypass :thumbup: so now I'm the proud ? owner of a lapband. I think what I'm looking for right now is an it's going to be okay because so far it's been nothing I hoped for. I left Arnott Ogden on Monday on oxygen. I kept desaturating so it was determined I need oxygen all the time. I know that's not the fault of the lapband but I did this to get healthy not go backwards. I got home Monday afternoon and put in a horrible night. First thing Tuesday morning I called my primary care physician and he saw me and put me back in the hospital. Again for my breathing difficulties....I have severe asthma that can be very stubborn. My breathing difficulties put my GI problems on the back burner but not for long. Since the lapband.....I know a whopping five days does not a pro make but I feel sicker than I have in a very long time. I'm having trouble taking in anything and am still in the hospital on IV fluids and nausea medicines. I feel great for a little while and then wham it's wave of severe nausea and dry heaves. Has anyone else experienced these symptoms after lapband? I need to know there's light at the end of the tunnel because I'm feeling mightily discouraged right now. Thanks for accepting me and not showing me the door. Nobody likes a whiner and right now that seems to be what I'm doing best.

I hope you are now resting comfortably!

Hi and yikes. I did hear some of that before surgery but all the risks related to gastric bypass...the 1:200 morbidity rate (still leaves it at under 1%) and I grouped the naysayers in to 2 groups...those who genuinely cared and those who were a wee jealous it was me doing something they either can't or are too afraid to do. To the second group I waved them off with a shrug and large eyeroll....kind of a get over yourself. To the genuine concern group I simply explained all life comes with risk but...at least...in my situation...this extra weight is killing me and robbing me of my life...one day at a time so the risks outweighed the certain death I was walking towards. Obesity is a terminal illness but it is one we can do something about. Good luck to you.

Thank you and I will indeed keep a copy of my journey and look back on it from time to time. It is amazing how much life can change in a week or two weeks so it will be interesting to look back and track progress...the emotional with the physical. I can say I'm seeing some of the positives in the lapband...now that I'm learning about it. My Doctor tried to prepare me for this possibility my I was hellbent that it was going to go the way I wanted. Live and learn...a little humility at least. Thanks again.

First of all good luck to you...it's getting close. I clearly remember my week count down to the day of my surgery, in some ways it was the longest week of my life and in some ways the shortest. I'm glad it's behind me...despite the challenges....I'm glad the surgery part is over with but it didn't hurt as I feared it would. I was told about the trapped air and shoulder pain and I haven't really experienced the shoulder part of it. I have bilateral encapsulated shoulder issues going on so I might be having some of that pain and attributing it to my shoulder issues. I do wonder if some of the pain I'm experiencing above my breastbone isn't that trapped air issue. This is my first abdominal surgery and I'm a little surprised to find the "internal farts" so much more distressing than the incisional pain. This is the longest I've been able to sit up and type in one setting so things must be on the right track. Good luck with your surgery and I'll be watching for your update. :thumbup:

Thank you and good luck to you. As I explained earlier I had planned on having gastric bypass....for other health issues...primarily my diabetes....so, part of my adventure is to learn as much as possible as quickly as possible. Dang I can tell you all about dumping syndrome but I didn't realize my band isn't even tightened yet. Some of this is catch up....I think most of us do better when we know what to expect...and adjustment. My challenge of being a steroid dependent diabetic is still going to be my number one health challenge. Alas, any help with that will be welcome and I've read some promising statistics with diabetes and lapband. Knowledge really is power so keep doing what you're doing and learn...learn...learn. Again thank you and I wish all the luck in the world.

A doctor on Halloween? That gave me my first genuine smile in days....thank you. Everything you said is absolutely 100% correct. I'm out of the hospital today and it's my hope that a few days of getting stronger at home, while meeting some of the demands of home instead of playing patient in the hospital will give me the kick in the rump I need to grow a slightly more flexible but stronger back bone. I did speak with the nutritionist today and I was told I can do full liquids but that didn't work so it's keep trying and frozen SF popsicles have proven to be my best friend. They seem to stay down the best and I have noticed the more hydrated I am the better I do feel. I've also had to give in and get a pill to take for nausea...I like mind of over matter but in this case the matter is louder than the little mind I have left. :thumbup: Thank you for your response and for sharing your delightful sense of humor.

Thank you and sometimes the best comfort is simply hearing another say...yup btdt and this too shall pass. I usually handle health challenges a bit less wimply than I've handled this so far but I think my brain is still trying to catch up with what actually happened to my body. I had expected a lot more pain and lot less....this constant tummy virus feeling but alas....this too shall pass. Again, thank you.

I am so sorry you are going through this. I've had scans done and everything points to the band being fine so it's all me. I'll still feel better after I see my surgeon. I hope they're able to resolve your pain quickly. No-one's ever told me it's normal for breathing to hurt. I have gas pressure/pain that has showed me why burping babies really is a big deal but not breathing pain.