1 Week down

[Byass77 0]

Today is exactly one week from the day I was banded. So I started the "mushies" It is pretty interesting. I guess I wonder what people out there are eating during these next couple weeks. The full sensation is a really different feeling. It's kind of like having indegestion, but not quite.The one thing I have been amazed with is the fact that I have not felt hungry at all even though I know I am intaking less calories than I did on the Medifast diet I was put on prior to surgery. This might sound weird, but does anyone else have gas problems? It is probably the most annoying part since surgery. I have to get up and walk around to get things moving.

All in all after going through my insurance and following their instructions and actually getting the surgery, I am excited to see what's to come!

[Katy517 1]

Congrats to a fellow tax day bander. I'm also one week to the day from surgery. I'm jealous that you were able to start mushies today. My doc requires six weeks full liquids post-surgery and then straight to regular food with no mushy stage.

I'm also having issues with gas, but find that lots of walking plus the chewable Gas-x really helps with that. My biggest problem is port pain. It's constantly hurting still and even a bit more now than earlier on post-surgery. It's super painful when bending over so am trying to avoid that. Am told that it's normal though.

[Byass77 0]

Hurray!!!..Congrats to you as well. Ya know the walking is what I have been doing. Gas-X has not been helping me much, but maybe the dissolvable strips are not strong enough. Six weeks full fluids is a lot different than what I have to do. I had one week full and Clear Liquids, two weeks of mushies, then starting at week 4 I can start to introduce some things back into my diet.

I am also having some pain at my port site. I wonder if that is why you have to wait a month before you can have your first fill. I think it would be pretty uncomfortable right now to have some one poking me with a needle there.

Edited April 22, 2010 by Byass77

[Katy517 1]

Yeah, my doctor's six week post-op liquid diet is pretty unusual from what I can gather. Not quite sure how I'm going to get through it other than sheer will power. I'm already thinking of how nice chewing would be.

I agree that anything having to do with the port site right now would be pretty much out of the question. I'm still terribly swollen there in addition to the constant pain.

Love the avatar!

[Nean4488 1]

Congrats on getting banded! My date is 5/17 I was curious since its been a week if you guys would be ready to go back to work?!?!

[Byass77 0]

I went back to work today actually. I probably could have gone back to work yesterday or the day before. I took the extra days because one I had the time that I could take off and two my surgeon had to do a little manipulation with my liver to get the band installed and that was a little uncomfortable for a while especially when I would walk around.

My surgeon suggests 5 to 7 days off. He told me that some of his post op patients go back in as little as three days (not me, I was still way too uncomfortable to go to work then) and he even had one go back the next day (CRAZINESS!! All I wanted to do was sip my fluids and sleep..I had to get up and walk around a bit, but I mostly relaxed..

GOOD LUCK!!!

[Byass77 0]

Katy,

I have all the confidence in the world you can make it. I'm not sure what you had to do to get to this point, but I know what I had to do to get insurance approval and there is no way I would mess this opportunity up.

Edited April 23, 2010 by Byass77

[Nean4488 1]

I hope im ok to go to work in a week! I start a brand new job the week after surgery! New life for me!

I didnt really have to do much to get approved.. a 3 month diet and a phsych evaluation.

It ended up being like two months, i guess my insurance accepted that i visited my dr 3 times as long as it was in the different months.. so I kinda just sat back and waited...but I am a baby when it comes to pain so I am going to make it worth it!

[Byass77 0]

That's very similar to what I had to do. I have a case manager at insurance company and I had to send in bi weekly weigh ins. The first and the final weigh in had to be verified by a Nurse, Dietician, Nutritionist, etc. I had to lose 5% of my initial verified body weight in six months. Then I had to do a psych eval. Then approved.

I have to keep in contact with my case manager for the next two years even if I move out of state.

[Katy517 1]

Thank you and good luck to you too. As to going back to work, my surgeon requires two weeks minimum for all patients and I'm very happy he does. I need to R&R and am still in a lot of pain at the port area.

Congrats on getting banded! My date is 5/17 I was curious since its been a week if you guys would be ready to go back to work?!?!

Thank you for the vote of confidence! Yes, I will get through this and I will follow the program. It's my God given opportunity for a new lease on life and I'm not going to mess it up.

Katy,

I have all the confidence in the world you can make it. I'm not sure what you had to do to get to this point, but I know what I had to do to get insurance approval and there is no way I would mess this opportunity up.

[woodie221 0]

I went back to work today actually. I probably could have gone back to work yesterday or the day before. I took the extra days because one I had the time that I could take off and two my surgeon had to do a little manipulation with my liver to get the band installed and that was a little uncomfortable for a while especially when I would walk around.

My surgeon suggests 5 to 7 days off. He told me that some of his post op patients go back in as little as three days (not me, I was still way too uncomfortable to go to work then) and he even had one go back the next day (CRAZINESS!! All I wanted to do was sip my fluids and sleep..I had to get up and walk around a bit, but I mostly relaxed..

GOOD LUCK!!!

I guess that I'm one of those "Crazies". I got banded yesterday morning at 7:30 and by noon, I was ready to go back to work... but I didn't. I felt great... no nausea and only minimal pain. Today, I really feel great... almost normal. I could have easily returned to my (desk) job today and been fine. I just got back from a 2 mile walk that I had to take to avoid going stir-crazy.

I realize that everyone is different and I certainly don't knock those people that take several days or even a week. I just wanted to sat it is possible.

I'm definately going back to work on Monday.