Outrageous Octobers

[elikis 0]

Hi Outrageous Octobers! I am officially a bandster now! So for all of you who haven't had their surgery day yet, here is my experience.

7am - Checked into the hospital and registered.

8:30am - Finally called in by the nurse to begin prep

8:30 - 10am - Prep consisted of - Urine test, body wash, blood thinner shot in lower belly, IV put in, anti-nausea medication introduced int IV, visited by surgeon to make sure I didnt have any further questions, visit by anesthesiologist to make sure I am not allergic to anesthesia, visited by OR nurse to introduce the next part of procedure and to wheel me into OR.

10am - transfered from mobil bed to surgical bed, asked to breathe the oxygen.......(thats all I remember there).

12pm - 12:30pm - awoke slowly - new nurse advised me that I had slept longer than the norm so they did not give me pain medication.

12:30 - was asked to drink a full cup of Water 1oz at a time until completed and to blow in lil machine to excercise lungs before being able to go home.

2pm - still trying to finish the cup of water. Each sip was difficult to get down due to gas pain in chest. Had only drank half of the cup. The nurse decided to call my husband in the waiting room to tell him I was still working on it. As she was talking to him, I began to violently dry heave. (it was so loud and uncontrollable and embarassing). I hadn't taken any pain meds so that REALLY hurt my belly!! The nurse became quite flustered as if she didnt realize that would happen. Sure made my husband upset, since he could hear it and wasn't allowed to come see me. The nurse called the Dr. and asked if I should have an Xray, but he said that if I didn't actually throw up anything that it was going down so I was probably just being irritated by the gas. He said I could go home without finishing the water.

3pm - got home and tried to get comfortable while hubby went to the store to get liquid vicodin and gas-x strips.

Gas pains continued all night, but I was still able to get some rest.

By this morning the gas is better, but continues to come back each time I try to drink something.

Not sure if GasX is working or not, I don't feel anything happening, but who knows if it would be worse if I didnt take it. I haven't really been consistent in taking the vicodin, the incision pain is really not that bad.

Overall, the experience up to this point has not been nearly as scary as I thought. The absolute worst part was the dry-heaving and also having a headache throughout. I finally broke down today and broke up an imitrex and took it. It didnt seem to irritate anything any worse that regular water does! And if finally made my headache go away! Woohoo!!!

Hope that everyone is doing well, and thanks for all of the well wishes, I hope everyone keeps updating! :smile2:

[Karenwinpa 1]

Hope you get to feeling better elikis,

Would like to send warm wishes to Scotlandlass, an Macie1 who are scheduled for banding tomorrow, everyone keep them in your thoughts and don't forget to pray for them:thumbup:

[R gran 1 0]

R gran 1 here. Doing real good. Best advice to future bandsters, WALK don't lift, push or pull but walk. Age has nothing to do with it. Determination! Good luck to all you kids that are coming in the next few days. You WILL be fine.

[Karenwinpa 1]

R Gran 1 I totaly agree with you the best thing you can do is walk, walk, an walk some more. My surgery was on the 5th and when I got discharged on the 6th I walk 4 miles before I left the hospital, that was just on the 6th, the day of my surgery I started out walking 1/2 mile at a time all day every hour. And I feel GREAT!:smile2:

[RUMiller 0]

I am so pleased with myself, I had my first week post-opt. appt. And I lost 17.5 lbs. since my first pre-opt appt. :smile2::thumbup::tt2: so happy. I am working on a schedule of meal times and walking time. :crying:

Congrats! I know what you mean - I am thrilled with my progress and feel great. I not only feel lighter in body but also in spirit. I hope I continue to be so motivated.

[chinacat31 0]

I am so pleased with myself, I had my first week post-opt. appt. And I lost 17.5 lbs. since my first pre-opt appt. :smile2::thumbup::tt2: so happy. I am working on a schedule of meal times and walking time. :crying:

Thats awesome Karen!!!! So happy for you:thumbup:

[chinacat31 0]

" Elikis-Gas pains continued all night, but I was still able to get some rest.

By this morning the gas is better, but continues to come back each time I try to drink something.

Not sure if GasX is working or not, I don't feel anything happening, but who knows if it would be worse if I didnt take it. I haven't really been consistent in taking the vicodin, the incision pain is really not that bad. "

The gas was the worst part for me...amazing how painful air can be, lol..Hope you're feeling better, remember to keep walking!

[amjames 0]

Hi fellow October Bandsters! I was banded last week. Tomorrow will be my graduation to soft foods. I have had my 2 first major NSV this week. On sunday I was able to put my wedding ring on and wear it comfortably. This is the first time in 3 years I have been able to wear it. I also was taken off my insulin yesterday. I know my doctors said that it would happen fast I just didn't think it would be this fast.

I wish you all the best of luck and look forward to watching your progress!

[elikis 0]

I'm starting to feel a little worried about the feeling I have every time I swallow. I am feeling fine (gas-wise) until I take a sip of anything! Every sip feels like a giant lump going through my esophagus and then air bubbles seem to come up each time. Is this normal? Has anyone else been experiencing this? What does it feel like when you sipped liquids 2 days post-op?

[R gran 1 0]

I too put my old wedding band on. It soooooo sparkles! My little gold band that I bought to replace it when it was to tight fell off and my husband found it in the yard.

Hey, I think that was one of those what did you kids call it, no scale event?

[RUMiller 0]

I'm starting to feel a little worried about the feeling I have every time I swallow. I am feeling fine (gas-wise) until I take a sip of anything! Every sip feels like a giant lump going through my esophagus and then air bubbles seem to come up each time. Is this normal? Has anyone else been experiencing this? What does it feel like when you sipped liquids 2 days post-op?

When I sat on my couch kind of leaning back and sipped liquids I had a terrible time but when I sat up straight or walked around the room a bit I didn't. I also sipped slowly to limit the amount of air I was taking in. If you tried all that then I don't know. Good luck!

[R gran 1 0]

Somethings we need to check with a Dr.. For a few days my back hurt and I had a headache. Then blood in the urn. Called the Dr., ran test and I had a UTI. All better now. When in doubt call your Dr. that's why he gets the big bucks.

[Cita_Debi 0]

I was banded on October 6th. Felt pretty good after and then tired a lot. Had my first post op visit on Friday. I have lot 14 lbs so far. 10 lbs on the pre op diet and then another 4lbs on the post op full liquids diet. I am now on the pureed foods. Doing good. Looking for ideas for things to puree and make them taste good.

So how are the rest of you Outrageos Octobers doing?

[Karenwinpa 1]

Hello bsktdebi, nice to see you have joined us. I was banded on the 5th, and I too am like you trying to figure what else to puree, because nothing really taste great like mush. :wink2: Keep up the good work,

[mis 0]

I was banded on October 9th in Mexico, I didn't have to go threw any red tape, but I had to pay out of pocket...This forum has been great it has been anwering most of my questons.