Not doing well emotionally post-op-HELP PLEASE!

[drivera 0]

Just got home today (9/1/10 at 4 p.m.) from my Tuesday 8/31/10 surgery at 10 a.m. I had a really, really terrible day yesterday. The pain and the nausea were more than I could have ever in my wildest dreams imagined. The slightest movement caused severe nausea like you could never imagine! The pain was terrible! Not to mention, some of the staff were not so nice. I do feel better today and can tolerate the pain with less strong pain meds and finally the nausea is gone....thank God! Now I am on Clear Liquids until September 7, 2010, then I add the Carnation Instant Breakfast no sugar added drinks until I see the doctor on 9/16 and then I will probably start pureed foods. I am having really terrible anxiety and am truly wondering for why I did this. I thought I was prepared and truly emotionally ready. I hope these are normal post-op feelings. Any help and support right now would be greatly appreciated. I am in bad shape!

[zeniada 9]

Hi I was banded on Aug 26th and i too have had the same feelings. Nothing really prepares you for what it will be like after surgery. But I have to keep reminding myself that this pain/sadness will pass it's all a matter of healing. I have had pretty bad gas and port pain but no nausea.

[drivera 0]

Hi I was banded on Aug 26th and i too have had the same feelings. Nothing really prepares you for what it will be like after surgery. But I have to keep reminding myself that this pain/sadness will pass it's all a matter of healing. I have had pretty bad gas and port pain but no nausea.

Do you now generally feel happy with your decision?

What about you others that have had LapBand a while ago, are happy with your choice? Did you have some of the same feelings I am having?

[zeniada 9]

Do you now generally feel happy with your decision?

You know so far i am happy with my decision. I still am healing and cant say for 100% that i would do it again but give me a few months and i probably would.

[losinpounds 0]

I was banded June 4th, the pain was unbelievable for the first couple of days then it was gone. It is worth it!! Just make sure you walk to help with the gas pains. Some days I feel discouraged over no or not enough weight loss. But I have never regretted having it done. No question it is an emotional rollercoaster of doubts and fears. You will be so happy when you step on those scales and see a difference. The pain will go away now I dont even know I have it and I havent had any pain in a very long time. If I remember correctly I only hurt for 4 weeks and that was minor pain it was just the first couple days after post op that is was severe.

[olwen 0]

i had my band 5 years ago. like you, i had a bad pain day then picked up over the next week. i had my op in belgium monday afternoon and flew back to UK weds morning, then drove my car home from airport about 40 miles. i had physically recovered when i got home but emotionally, i felt lost. i went to bed, not because i was ill or tired but it was the only normal thing i could think of to do. i lay there n out it cam e- i cried my eyes out 'my poor body - i only have one and what have i done to it?' - but this can be a natural blues time after gen anaest and it is a big decision we have made. I do not ever regret my decision, i swear that to you, but there were hard times, that i wont deny. like any addict, we have to withdraw from our drug and i remember sitting with two bowls - one to eat my small amount from, then overeat a bit, then chuck it up into the second bowl n do this over n over - this went on for about a week then i had a 'talk' with myself - but we have all these craves to break and i know of others who have also succumbed to this. There will be many highs n probably a few lows on your own journey but you will get there. its such a weird world to wake up to when suddenly, like a brake slamming on, the whole food groove has stopped dead. Over-shopping, over- eating, planning the next feed before finishing the current one - severing from your best friend/worst enemy. Iys a massive change n alterations need to be made. But if i cpuld offer one thing - share how you are feeling. forums like this are priceless - sure, there will be afew loons who exagerrate n frighten the life out of newbies, but on the whole, this site seems far more sane than the UK ones! good luck xx dont be afraid hon - you couldn t walk once upon a time n baby, look at you now!!!l!!!!

[BeachBabe 0]

I was banded 2 weeks ago. I was in so much pain and had no energy for the first week and I slowly went out of the house linger and longer. Today I ran around everywhere and was out for 7 hours. I carried a protien shot with me and I took it when I was feeling hungry and weak and I felt much better then. I am very happy I got the band. I had a food addiction and I hated myself often for my eating. I feel in control now and love the fact I am restricted and no longer able to eat like a total pig.

[Karlzmom 1]

Hang in there! I also had a rough go in the early days....turned out it was the post op pain med that was making me terribly nauseous and once I got home on self-med [less potent] the quesiness went away. It took all the way to day 8 to feel even kind of human again....then it improved rapidly. The first week all I could think was what had I done to myself -couldn't even get online for a couple of day! Rest, take your walks, sip, sip, sip and take it day by day. It will get better. 4 months down the road I can't imagine my life with my band and wouldn't change my decsion for anything!

[Portola Suzanne 3]

I am MORE than happy with my choice. It took awhile to reach restriction and that was tough but its the best thing I've done for me!!!!

[Phranp 46]

While I didn't have problems after surgery ... just the gas that caused awful pain in my shoulder, only I didn't know it was gas, I thought they had laid me on my side during surgery and that was the reason. Alas, after a week (or two) the gas pain got better. Didn't have nausea and had very little pain when I went home the next day. BUT, and here's the rub ... I am a slow loser. I read this wonderful forum and there are people losing weight in leaps and bounds over me and, initially, I got a little down on myself. Eventually, with the help of my therapist, who is an obesity specialist, I realized that if I was going to have continued success with this band I could not compare myself to others. I tell you this because at this point you don't know how fast/slow you are going to lose weight, and you should get the REAL right up front. You are unique and like no one else on this earth. You will make up in your own mind how you will use your "tool" and how much you are willing to do to get to your goal. Don't beat yourself up when you falter, just remember that you can do this! This forum has a wealth of information and some very wonderful, supportive people. Take what you can use, and leave the rest behind.

I hope that you feel better really soon and that the (anesthesia) blues go away quickly. I am soooo happy I got the lapband and I hope you will be too!

[FinsUP 0]

What about you others that have had LAP-BAND® a while ago, are happy with your choice? Did you have some of the same feelings I am having?

I'm sorry some of you have experienced severe pain and unhappiness after surgery. Do you normally have a low pain threshold? You DID have your lap band inserted laproscopically, didn't you?

I didn't experience any of the things your speaking of. I was yakking up a storm with my nurse in recovery - talking about swimming with the turtles in Mexico and I was actually giggling with her. (I'd actually just returned from one of my Mexico trips the day BEFORE my surgery, and did 1 week of my pre op liquid dieting while I was away.)

My post op pain was not severe, and I managed with slight pain meds for only the first 2 days. Nothing really to complain about, but manageable. I've had surgery before (tummy tuck, arms done, rhinoplasty, gall bladder full surgery, c-section, etc etc) and would never say any of those surgeries left me with severe pain afterwards...all were manageable with Tylenol #3's -heck the day after my Tummy Tuck {cut hip to hip} my hubby picked me up from the hospital, and we walked around the grocery store on the way home).

I've never felt down, haven't second guessed my decision for having the lap band, and all pain had disappeared certainly by the end of the first week. The only uncomfortable thing I experienced was laying on my left side - that hurt a little bit and I swear it's because the port is on that side.

I've experienced more 'pain' from being 'stuck' while eating something I forget to chew up really well.

Please go easy on yourself. You did the right thing for you! I suspect the add-on of now battling pnuemonia has brought you down. Drink your liquids - enjoy some low sodium beef broth (I rediscovered just how good that tastes!!) or have some chicken broth - that is included in your clear liquids! I actually stayed on liquids, and soft pureed/creamy stuff (like soups) for almost 4 weeks after my surgery. I like it, and would go back to that in a minute!

[drivera 0]

I am starting to feel a bit better now that you are all sharing and giving me support...plus the 60 mg. of diazepam I took has helped too! Yes, I did have it does laprascopically, but I do have five incisions, some tiny and a couple a that about about 2 inches. It's the port area that hurts the most; though now it is just quite tender and not so much painful like the first day. I really, honestly felt as though I was being stabbed to death. They must have really roughed me up in that area during surgery I think. I very much can't wait for the gas bloating to go. I look as if I am going to have a baby! As I was holding my tender site on my tummy, it reminded me of when I was pregnant! I was just waiting for someone to ask me when I was due! Yup, almost 50 and looking nine months pregnant! This all is really more scary that I thought. I expected to be jumping for joy right now that I finally had my surgery. I never expected to feel panic and anxiety!

[JanB23 23]

I had my surgery on Monday and it is now Thursday here in Australia. Day 2 was awful, i just kept thinking"what have i done to myself".I had pain radiating up into my chest, i was nauseated and trying to get any Fluid in just made me feel worse. Today i am happy to say i feel human again, my pain is minimal and i am able to tolerate my fluids. Now looking forward to some weight loss and a healthier life style.

[FinsUP 0]

I had 5 incisions as well, with the major one being almost under my left breast/upper stomach area, that's where the port is. I actually had bruising around the incision below that one - and the bruising lasted for about 3 weeks!

Are you sleeping on your back, with pillows to brace your sides, so you don't roll over too much. I think I slept on my back for almost a week, then would just nudge over to the right slightly after that.

I found one of our generic brands of low sodium beef broth, and decided that I LOVED it! I hadn't had anything like that for soooooooo long I'd forgotten what it tasted like. I think that about 10 days after surgery, we were on a plane and away for hockey playoffs and spent almost a week at a forest type resort where we had a 1 bedroom unit with a kitchen. I bought a bunch of Protein shakes (Ensure, etc), Soups, and broth and stuck with those. When we ate out for lunch one day they had home made Soup on the menu. There was smoked ham and spring veggie Soup - I asked the waitress to ask the chef if he could puree it for me. He did and it tasted awesome! Just like it should - only no lumps bumps or solids. It was great! When we got home, I made some beef stew. I pureed a normal full serving in my magic bullet, which I portioned out into about 5 lap-band servings...and yup...tasted exactly like beef stew! While you're home and recovering, use the time to search our recipes, read your booklets and check online cookbooks. I have 2 books I ordered from Amazon, that are receipes for living after weight loss surgery. recipes for those who've had gastric bypass, and lap band surgery. Pretty cool!

Good luck!

[BeachBabe 0]

I totally felt 9 months pregnany post op and the gas made it feel like the baby was kicking!!! That is a very normal post-op sensation.