Getting banded on Monday...What is the most important thing(s) I need to know?

[cesfirst 0]

I had surgery 6/07. and i have lost 19 lbs. . I stuckto my liquid diet and this week the soft food diet. After 5 days of that I have found that i can eat more without feeling full. Is this because the swelling has gone down some and I have not had my first fill ? After the fill will I have more ristriction again ?

[courtneybnp 0]

Hello all! I am getting banded this Monday as well. I'm both nervous and excited. This pre op diet is killing me though. I know it's to help shrink my liver, but gosh i'm hungry. I've lost 11 pounds in 4 days! I just can't wait for this lifestyle change. I should have done this years ago!

[schwartz26 0]

Good luck to those being banded on Monday! I was banded on Thursday. One thing that bothered me the most was the pain in my left shoulder..it was excruciating! Also make sure you get enough potassium before surgery...mine was slightly low at time of surgery then really dipped afterwards and I had to have 8 bags of Potassium drip which was more painful then child birth..it was like somone ripping the veins out of my arm. Any way, I almost had to stay a second night due to vommiting but I managed to keep some stuff down and was srpung free at about 8 last night! I am not in too much pain, I had some pretty severe brusing even my surgeon was shocked at how bad it was but it doesn't bother be to much. I was also sent home with pictures of the surgery, my kids thought that was pretty great! Good luck to you all, it will be over before you know it! Oh Yeah, I gained 4 pounds of Water weight from the IV's.:smile:

[kagead 0]

I was banded almost 2 weeks ago. I did not have any Fluid retention because I had to pee every 38 minutes!! :smile:

My pain was very minimal, so I stopped taking pain meds in the hospital and switched to Tylenol every 4 hours (took it whether I felt I really needed it or not.) I walked and walked and walked. Every time I got up to pee, I did at least a lap, sometimes 2, around the floor. Seriously, I wish I would have had a pedometer because I walked almost nonstop from 2am until I was released at 9:30am.

The gas I had was intestinal gas (could feel it rumbling and gurgling around in my stomach) so the Gas X did help. From what I hear, it does not help with the surgical gas, but YMMV.

Per the suggestion of the NP and everyone here, I did not weigh myself at all the first week. I am about 10lbs down as of today, 12 days post op.

Good luck to you!

kagead

Edited June 27, 2010 by kagead

[KAS1971 0]

I also was told no straws .. I went to a support group last week. Just a few of us unbanded folks most were pre op. However several post ops agreed they did childrens sippy cups to remind them to sip but didnt get the gas issues since there is no straw. 2 even admitted to buying baby utesils to remind them small bites

[JOYCE13 0]

Hi everyone. Thanks for all the great infornmation, I won't be banded till 7/21 very excited.

I was told no straws as the air will streach the pouch and I did buy baby spoons.

[Froggie D 1]

Congratulations and good luck to all of you getting ready to get your band!

I was banded April 7 and I did not have real hunger for several weeks after my surgery. Like your doctor said, don't worry about weight loss - this first month is the time for healing.

Just work on getting your fluids in - you do not want to be dehydrated and have to go back for IV fluids!

I had a lots of gas for over a month and used a lot of GasX. It really helps.

Don't fret about weight loss early on. You have to get healed up, get some fills and do the steps in the right order.

Take it a day at a time. We are pulling for you!