just got banded yesterday

[rrogalla 0]

I was just banded on Tuesday, Nov 1st. I am feeling some chest pain also, I find the breathing "machine" they sent me home with helps a lot. Try doing that like 5 or 6 times every hour or so and see if that helps. It would be best though to call your doctor, they know your situation best and will be glad to help.

[NJChick 3]

Congratulations !!!

Hope today is more comfortable for you. I was feeling MUCH better by my 4th day.

hugs

[giveyouthemoon 4]

I think I coughed up about 25 yr. worth of gunk after my heart surgery. Is coughing up this mucus normal if you are not a smoker, or does it just happen with smokers.

I've never smoked and I coughed up plenty of gunk. You probably get *more* if you are a smoker, but coughing up the mucus is normal and in fact positive. Getting it out is preferred.

[DeLarla 22]

Bandman, I got really sick with bronchitis immediately after band surgery. It wasn't related to the band, just a bug that was waiting to come out and ruin my day. Maybe you have a cold, but best to have Doc listen to your chest.

I also had shortness of breath, so they gave me a breathing thingy to exercise with. A little plastic thing with a ball - you exhale into the tube to make the ball rise to strengthen your lungs. If you don't have one, just do it yourself. Take a breath and exhale as long as you can, go go go go, till you are completely out of breath. Do it several times a day to exercise your lungs.

As far as showering, I wouldn't take a chance on getting the strips wet no matter what my doc said. My wounds leaked, so the strips fell off and I had problems with infection. Best to wait for the wounds to close over. How about a 1/4 warm bath on your back so the Water doesn't touch your belly? And no, that's not an offer!

Good luck, hope you feel better soon. I'm the official banded man stalker, so you're my new boyfriend. Just kidding & trying to make you laugh.

[Clementine 0]

Hi Bandman,

I was banded the same day as you, and in Texas too! I have had some tightness in my chest, especially after I drank some Gatorade too fast! Ouch! I think walking helps with my gas pain more than anything else. It is the last thing I feel like doing, but after a short stroll up and down my street I do seem to feel much better. Did they send home a wonderful stay-dry ice pack to keep on your incision? I've been having some pain at one of my incisions, and that ice pack has been great. I got brave enough to shower this morning and it felt GREAT. I took the clear bandages off but left the white ones on, per the surgery center's instructions. I didn't rub soap directly on my belly. I think you would be fine with a shower, and might feel refreshed.

Hope you are doing better by today!!!! Keep us posted!

[porclndoll 0]

Just jumpin in here to say congrats on your sugery! Each day does get better. It was my six month Bandaversary on Saturday!!! WAHOO. Six months! I applaud you for getting this done at such a young age! I wish I had the opportunity to do this sooner. Your coughing will go away, talk to a dr of course, your gas pain will go away...and showering is just fine!!! Get in there and let some warm Water run down your back...helps so much!

Good luck to you and let us know how you are!

[Parvathi 2]

Congratulations!

I had trouble breathing after surgery as well. I'm a smoker, so that'd probably be why. It hurt to take deep breathes, but they insisted I do it, so I did - 4 times an hour, I took about 15 really deep breathes. They also had me walking around alot and up and down stairs. That helped. By day 3, I was feeling heaps better.

I was showering the next day, as all the wounds were well covered and I hate a day with no shower/bath lol.

Hope you're feeling heaps better soon.

[bandman 0]

thanks everyone walking helps a bunch, and im feeling much better today, i also showered and it made my day,

[Lynn B 0]

If you got a spirometer from the hospital (the breathing thingy with the ball that Lisa discribed) I would use it as much as possible - clears the lungs up and prevents pneumonia. If not take very deep breaths several times an hour - it really does help. If you doctor is local he may also be able to get you one.

Good luck,