May 10-14 Banders--How's it going? Share.

[sydney1976 0]

Thank you about the Vitamin. My Vitamin is making me sooooo sick. My Dr. specifically told me not to take children's Vitamins, but I may follow yours and take 2 of the flinstone completes.

Sydney

[Family First 0]

Hi All - My recovery is definately slower than I expected. I honestly thought I would be back to work today. I feel completely drained when I start moving around. Also, the Dr put my port right above my belly button in the crease of my stomach. He has this clear tape that is about 4x6 inches over the top of gauze that is on top of the port area.That makes the top of my stomach stick up and out. Weird looking. And painful area.

Question - I had surgery last Thursday, May 13. Is it too early to go back to work. I have a desk job. :thumbup:

[CrabbyCrab 0]

Hi All - My recovery is definately slower than I expected. I honestly thought I would be back to work today. I feel completely drained when I start moving around. Also, the Dr put my port right above my belly button in the crease of my stomach. He has this clear tape that is about 4x6 inches over the top of gauze that is on top of the port area.That makes the top of my stomach stick up and out. Weird looking. And painful area.

Question - I had surgery last Thursday, May 13. Is it too early to go back to work. I have a desk job. :thumbup:

I had surgery the same day as you and I'm going back to work tomorrow morning. Apparetly, I was supposed to go back today but didn't realize it...oops. If I had realized it, I would have called out.

My Dr. doesn't want you going back to work until after your post op appt. But I don't have unlimited sick days and as it is I'm using holiday float and vacation days. I also have a desk job.

If you are going back just take it very slow and listen to your body! Do not pick anything up off the floor or lift anything!

Good luck!

[perryjoyce 0]

Hi All - My recovery is definately slower than I expected. I honestly thought I would be back to work today. I feel completely drained when I start moving around. Also, the Dr put my port right above my belly button in the crease of my stomach. He has this clear tape that is about 4x6 inches over the top of gauze that is on top of the port area.That makes the top of my stomach stick up and out. Weird looking. And painful area. :frown:

My surgeon put the port in the same spot and that's the only lingering discomfort from my 5/14 surgery! I still don't know why he'd put it at the one part of your stomach that creases the most! I don't have a bandage but I do have that liquid skin stuff that I can't wait to have off! It's rough and prickly. :w00t:

The upside is that my largest incision is basically just a widening of my belly button, so it's practically invisible. I'll give him points for that Smooth Move. :wink:

[sydney1976 0]

I was planning on going back today I was banded 5/13th, but when I called to ask the Dr. a question they said not til my post op on Monday. Unfortunately I have some meetings I have to go to Thursday so I'll be heading in then. I have felt fine enough to go in, just don't want to go against the Dr. too much.

Sydney

[anglov 0]

I am heading back to work tomorrow. I have a desk job too. I went to the store today and overdid it. I was sore where my hernia repair was. I think it was the slight bending and straightening I did getting things from my grocery cart to the conveyor belt. I felt it about an hour later. Just me and the heating pad on the couch right now.

[FTSTOMPER 0]

Hello !! I was up to 478 pounds on march 31st . I started on what they called a suger buster diet to help shink your liver .. I was very lucky to be able to start so early on it .. they told me to do it 2 weeks befor my surgery , but i started early .. I was able to lose 41 pounds doing .. and was not real hard on my self , but i cut off 80 0/0 of my suger , and 80 0/0 of my bread .. went in for surgery at 442 pounds ... had my surgery on 5-10-10 this had been a week and 2 days now I have lost a total of 56 pounds .. 15 of that was sence surgery date .. I feel so dang much better .. the LAP-BAND® was a very good choise I made .. no regrates .. my goal one day to see 200 pounds again and level out .. ( God ) bless all bandster's . and good luck with ya'll's .. Tony Burt .... and I was banded by :: Dr. Bagnato .. Albany Ga. ..

[wannabesmall09 0]

I was banded on the 14th and came back to work today. Doing well. I have a desk job as well. I refuse to lift anything, and the two girls I work closest with know of my surgery, so they don't even ask. :w00t:

[KidLaw 0]

I was banded on May 10, 2010. I would categorize my first week as re-booting my digestive system.

I was on a clear liquid diet for the first two days after my surgery. I could barely get in any liquid whether that be Water or Protein shakes then. And, I had no...ummm...movements if you know what I mean. Hehehehe....

On the third day, the PA called me and recommended that I take some Milk of Mag to get things moving again and that basically did the trick. I also took about 4 tablespoons of Maalox to get rid of that awful surgery gas.

I moved to full liquids on the third day, post surgery. I had been doing fine there until yesterday, May 18th, when I first started feeling hungry. I also went to visit my surgeon yesterday and was told that I could move on to mushy foods. This was contrary to the nutritionist recommendation which had me starting mushy foods next week. However, I was told by the PA to start, in very small portions, pureed food if I am experiencing hunger between meals on the full liquid (which I had just started experiencing). So, now I am still on full liquids, but I am also eating some pureed chicken salad (I bought a rotisserie chicken from Publix, fat free mayo, and finely diced an onion; then I put that in the food processor and pulsed it to a paste basically). After being on liquids for almost two weeks (a week pre-op), it was nice to have some meat for a change.

Anyways, so far so good. Noticing more "I think I'm hungry" signals then last week, but that's to be expected with the stomach swelling going down post-surgery.

Oh, wait one more thing. Late into my first week, I did have some mid to lower back pain after eating. My doc said it's likely that I was eating to fast and putting too much food in the pouch out of habit. I had figured that's what I was doing at the time, and noticed that when I slowed down and reversed my eating (meaning, drinking Water first, and then waiting 30 minutes before I ate/drink yogurt, Protein shake, etc.) the back pain went away. Don't know if anyone also experienced that, but thought I would share. :w00t:

Edited May 19, 2010 by KidLaw

[jwkrock 0]

I was banded on 5/12/10. Started at 260, was 255 by surgery day. Had to spend the evening in the hospital, standard for a sleep apnea patient. So for the first two nights, staying ahead of the pain was simple. Once I got home, the only real problem I had was gas pain, especially under my left rib. That's slowly going away. Clear Liquids yuck.

Towards the end of the week I was so sick of chicken/beef broth that I went to the chinese resturant and got some Wonton broth for a change of flavor. That got me through to fulls which I started today and think I may have gotten caught making out with my sugar free chocolate/banana cream pudding :wink:

Other than that, I've been back at work for three days now and feeling a little stronger each day. I've dropped 17 pounds so far. I know that rapid weight loss won't last forever, so now it's time to get back to the gym. If I hit 180, I'm getting another tattoo, lol. That's my prize.

I think during the first two weeks, my biggest problem has been discerning what is hunger pain and what is simple surgery pain. As the swelling goes down, I'm finding it easier to tell the two apart. I'm very excited for the future.

Anyone stuck in limbo right now, keep your head up. Everyone is different. Do the right thing to your body and it will pay you back! :w00t:

[LoserHeather37 5]

I had my surgery on May the 10th as well, but my recovery has not been as easy as I thought it would be. I ended up having a hiatal hernia repair (which a lot of you did) and some scar tissue removed. I could NOT drink anything the first 2 days, but slowly I've been able to get through on SF lemonade and broth. I'm now on to the mushie stage, but I am hungryyyyyyyyyy!!!! LOL. I don't go for my follow up, first fill appointment until June 8th.

I am VERY excited though, I get to add fresh fruits tomorrow, which is awesome cause it's my birthday! And then fish this weekend.

I still am having quite a bit of pain around the port site, can not sleep in my bed because it stretches out my abdomen and I can't stand it. So I'm very tired from sleeping in a chair, which is not very restful.

Sounds like everyone's doing alright with all of the new and somewhat difficult changes.

Good luck to everyone!! Let's keep up the good work!

[KidLaw 0]

I had my surgery on May the 10th as well, but my recovery has not been as easy as I thought it would be. I ended up having a hiatal hernia repair (which a lot of you did) and some scar tissue removed. I could NOT drink anything the first 2 days, but slowly I've been able to get through on SF lemonade and broth. I'm now on to the mushie stage, but I am hungryyyyyyyyyy!!!! LOL. I don't go for my follow up, first fill appointment until June 8th.

I am VERY excited though, I get to add fresh fruits tomorrow, which is awesome cause it's my birthday! And then fish this weekend.

I still am having quite a bit of pain around the port site, can not sleep in my bed because it stretches out my abdomen and I can't stand it. So I'm very tired from sleeping in a chair, which is not very restful.

Sounds like everyone's doing alright with all of the new and somewhat difficult changes.

Good luck to everyone!! Let's keep up the good work!

You and I are on the same schedule. Had my surgery on May 10th and my first fill won't be until June 8th. I'm also hungry now that I'm on mushie foods. Trying to take in more Protein from shakes and yogurt instead of just relying on purred chicken salad. I think tonight I'm going to make a lima bean Soup (or 16 bean soup) and try to get more filling with that as well.

Good luck to you! :w00t:

[TylerDurden 0]

My surgery was May 11th. I find it strange that it seems many of you already have fills scheduled. I have a post-op appointment on Monday but nothing about a fill was mentioned when I made the appointment.

Not to question any of your progress but shouldn't fills only be done when necessary? I'm pretty sure I am not ready for any fills. I don't get to progress from full liquids until next week. Please reply if your surgeon has some different plan or strategy that mine may not be considering. Seems they are all vastly different in approach. Keep up the good work!

[KidLaw 0]

My surgery was May 11th. I find it strange that it seems many of you already have fills scheduled. I have a post-op appointment on Monday but nothing about a fill was mentioned when I made the appointment.

Not to question any of your progress but shouldn't fills only be done when necessary? I'm pretty sure I am not ready for any fills. I don't get to progress from full liquids until next week. Please reply if your surgeon has some different plan or strategy that mine may not be considering. Seems they are all vastly different in approach. Keep up the good work!

I had my first post-op visit yesterday and was not told about scheduling a fill until I actually showed up to the appointment. So, perhaps your doc will schedule your fill when you show up to your first post-op appointment next week.

I was also scheduled to stay on full liquids until next week (so basically for two weeks). At my post-op appointment I was told to go ahead and introduce mushie foods into my diet as I was *beginning* to get hungry in between meals.

It's true that fills should only be given when necessary. However, it is a fact that in a month's time your stomach is going to be much smaller due to weight loss and/or reduced surgical swelling. Scheduling a fill for three-four weeks from surgery date is standard procedure from what I've seen.

I'm not an expert though, but I believe it's rather common that fills begin at least a month after surgery date. I think you'll get more info on that when you show up to your post-op appointment.

[smittinkittin 2]

I was banded 5-14-10, and I got to go home that night which was great. Nothing really major at this point, just had horrible muscle aches in my legs and arms. liquid diet seems go be going well, I can't believe it's almost week 2 which I AM SOOO EXCITED about!! Mashed Potatoes here I come! I have been really tired lately though. Anyone else experiencing this? My port incesion is sore too, I think that's normal. I have had some Constipation issues too. I took some stool softner and that seemed to do nothing. Any suggestions on that? Thanks all! I hope everyone is doing well too!!:laugh: