November 2010 Bandsters - post op

[DebWS 1]

Can anyone tell me how many ounces of Fluid you can take in & hour? Or how many your Dr. says you should be taking in? Tomorrow will be one week since I had my surgery.

Christie,

My surgeon's instruction is about 8 oz. in an hour. I could probably do more than that, but I don't want to push it.

Deb WS

[Cangel76 1]

Well, I haven't posted in a long time - but this past Thursday (Nov 4th) I was officially banded!!!

I had no idea what to really expect, as everyone is different. But I've found myself very sore with horrible gas pain. The pains in my port are still so bad I cannot lie in bed or get out of bed on my own.

Emotionally, I realized today that I had a relationship with food that I didn't even know I had. I went to a baby shower that was held at a very nice Italian Restaurant. When it came time to order, I just got a Decaf hot tea with spenda. But I watched everyone else eat some of the most wonderful looking food I've ever seen.. and I got cranky - then when I got home and explained how I felt to my husband, I cried talking about food. !!! I never realized it could be such a highly charged emotional thing. I never thought I'd be moved to tears talking about the way the cheese looked or the way the Salad Dressing smelled.

I guess I just needed to vent.

I'm on Clear Liquids for a week then full liquids for 2 weeks - this then followed by pureed foods and eventually solids.

I plan on going back to school tomorrow (I'm a Vet Tech student) and then work on Thursday. I hope I'm not pushing myself too hard because I don't really feel physically ready yet - but refuse to miss more classes.

I hope that others aren't sharing the difficulties that I am feeling post-op.

If anyone can share some tips/advice I would greatly appreciate it!

SENDING YOU BIG HUGS!!!!

My weight was mostly caused by medical reasons. However, I am realizing now how much I love and appreciate the variant flavors of food. It isn't so much that I need to eat them, but that I like to eat them. I enjoy the flavors, aromas, etc. I have struggled with the not eating real food thing. I think perhaps that might be one reason none of us get a fill right away. Imagine if we messed up and tried to eat something and it got stuck or worse. One day at a time hon and you will get through it.

[Cangel76 1]

knoebelcamper,

I struggled also with the sweetness of the Protein Drinks. I found a website, bariatriceating.com and have ordered several of their shakes and they are not as sweet as the premixed or the powders at GNC. They are low in carbs, around 110-120 cal have 30gm Protein and you only have to mix in 4 ozs of liquid. If you use milk they give you 5-6gms more. The flavors I have tried are Dutch chocolate cake, ice cream sandwich and carmel lattee. The chocolate is the richest and tastes like a rich hot coca. They also sell a tasteless, no odor powder you can mix in your Soups or mushy foods that adds 12=24gms protein to your food depending on wheither you add one or two scoops. I will tell you that it does get easier as you progress but it is a work in progress. Good luck.

Me too, now I love a brownie like the next girl but as far as Protein Shakes, ugh, so sick of them.

[Cangel76 1]

Just so you guys know

There is are own board where we can chat and talk about what is going on. Start are own individual threads with questions. I am including the lapbandtalk link for all of you.

November 10 Bandsters - LAP-BAND

[ChristieI 0]

Christie,

My surgeon's instruction is about 8 oz. in an hour. I could probably do more than that, but I don't want to push it.

Deb WS

Thank you Deb for taking the time to respond!! I was just about to give up on this site . I'm barely getting 3oz an hour because I get alot of pain. I think I'm going to call my Dr today & see what he says. Take Care!

[DebWS 1]

Thank you Deb for taking the time to respond!! I was just about to give up on this site . I'm barely getting 3oz an hour because I get alot of pain. I think I'm going to call my Dr today & see what he says. Take Care!

Christie,

Yes, do call your doctor's office. The dieticians on staff will also be helpful to you. And perhaps you need more pain medication...I found, for instance, that I was able to breathe more deeply, without hesitation, and move more freely, after taking pain medication...it may be that you aren't taking enough!!

Let us know.

Best,

Deb WS

[samgirl 0]

SamGirl,

Every Doctor is differnent on how he progresses your diet. Mine progressed mine to soft after one week but I still find myself migrating back to thick liquids and adding Protein Powder to the Soups or mashed potatos. It takes a while to learn to eat again. I have a question for you, I took several medications before surgery and I restarted these post op. I have not crushed any of my medications, I was told to swallow one at a time and sometimes I have to space them out. Now my vitamans are all chewable. Did your doctor tell you to crush your meds? If some of your tablets are large you could break in half or if you need to crush you could mask the flavor in some pudding or yogurt. Just remember we are all individual and heal at our own pace and this will get better. I am almost two weeks out and learn something new every day. Keep up the good work, we all can do this, one day at a time.

My doc specifically told me on several occasions that I must crush my meds. I was on an extended release med and those are not crushable, so she made me go back to my PCP to get the non-XL crushable kind. I'm feeling kind of disheartened, like I'm in a time bubble waiting for it to pop so I can get OUT! Once my two weeks of clear liquids is over, I don't think I'll ever have another popsicle or cup of chicken broth again in my life. Definitely no more Isopure!

[G Rose 0]

Not happy.

Every day is exactly the same since I came out of the hospital on Friday: pain, exhaustion, it never seems to get any better. And I'm so TIRED of the smell of that damned Protein powder! UCK. I'm sick of the pain and I'm sick of not being able to drive.

[ChristieI 0]

Not happy.

Every day is exactly the same since I came out of the hospital on Friday: pain, exhaustion, it never seems to get any better. And I'm so TIRED of the smell of that damned Protein powder! UCK. I'm sick of the pain and I'm sick of not being able to drive.

I'm really sorry that you're down right now. Hang in there & know that you arent alone!! Plus I keep trying to think of the big picture

xo

[DebWS 1]

Not happy.

Every day is exactly the same since I came out of the hospital on Friday: pain, exhaustion, it never seems to get any better. And I'm so TIRED of the smell of that damned Protein powder! UCK. I'm sick of the pain and I'm sick of not being able to drive.

G Rose,

Do you have pain medication, and are you taking it? I'm serious in asking this question: if you didn't receive pain management help, you need to ask for it. Pain can exhaust you. If you did receive it and you aren't taking it, I would encourage you to do so - because I believe it will help. The body can't heal when you're in pain - so this is a big issue.

How long were you told not to drive for? I would suggest calling your surgeon's office and checking in with them. It sounds to me like you may need to consult with them about the way that you are feeling.

I'm concerned and am hoping for a better report tomorrow!

Best,

Deb WS

[Gotta win 4me 12]

I got banded this mornign and I tell you I prayed for little to no pain and that is just what I got...The only incision that hurts is the port site. The gas is also hurting and it is in my chest, back and shoulders. It hurts worse that the port site. I'm excited to finall be banded! Kudos to my Surgeon Dr. Albert Spaw, Nashville, TN!!! I woke up and I guess the pain meds tthey gave me made me sleepier. It was so hard for me to get out the hospital bed but I finally did!! I was so sleepy I could barely walk! I woke about two hours ago and I feel alright!!:thumbup:

[ChristieI 0]

I got banded this mornign and I tell you I prayed for little to no pain and that is just what I got...The only incision that hurts is the port site. The gas is also hurting and it is in my chest, back and shoulders. It hurts worse that the port site. I'm excited to finall be banded! Kudos to my Surgeon Dr. Albert Spaw, Nashville, TN!!! I woke up and I guess the pain meds tthey gave me made me sleepier. It was so hard for me to get out the hospital bed but I finally did!! I was so sleepy I could barely walk! I woke about two hours ago and I feel alright!!:thumbup:

Congrats on being banded!!! I hope you continue to be pain free!!

[lisam-OT 0]

Had my surgery on the 1st, went home the same day. I am still having neck, shoulder, and back pain (from the gas I hope) It mostly happens after I eat. I am on pureed foods now, my doc's guidelines are pretty vague. At 2-3 weeks I can move up to puree. I also have an itching rash on my stomach, I think I'm allergic to the superglue they put on my incisions which are also itching!!! anyone having this problem.

Also how much food is the pouch supposed to hold? ounces? cup? anyone?

[mamaj 2]

Hi fellow November 2010 Bandsters... I am thinking of you all who have had your surgery and wishing you speedy recoveries. Looking forward to joining you in exactly one week! My surgery is on the 16th and I appreciate hearing about your experiences so I am better prepared for what to expect. Thanks everyone for your posts and all the best to us all :-)

[JaGo 16]

Hi fellow November 2010 Bandsters... I am thinking of you all who have had your surgery and wishing you speedy recoveries. Looking forward to joining you in exactly one week! My surgery is on the 16th and I appreciate hearing about your experiences so I am better prepared for what to expect. Thanks everyone for your posts and all the best to us all :-)

As mamaj said, I too am looking forward to joining the post-op group on 11/22! My paperwork was finally submitted to BCBS of IL today (11/09/10. I am learning a lot by reading all of your posts!! I am so looking forward to sharing my own experience when the time comes. Anyone having surgery at Mercy Hospital in Chicago? Let me hear from you!!