Lap Band Surgery Week of May 23rd - 27th, 2011

[TiggleBitties 0]

Hi Everyone! I had my band and a hernia repair on the 26th of May. They sent me home the same day and other than extreme fatigue and now GAS I have been OK... I am still hungry contrary to what others tell me. I had two tablespoons of Jello and felt full! That was weird. I finally broke and had caffeine this morning... I just cant deal with no food or caffeine. LOL Somethings gotta give! LOL I am new to this forum and look forward to seeing everyone's progression. Good luck all!

[Texas12 0]

Hi-I was banded on May 25th at Noon.

The first evening was not too great but the second night was awful. The Gas pain was very intense.

Today I finally took a shower and I feel so much better.

I have been able to walk fairly well but in the mornings I am so stiff.

There is no way I could go back to work this week with how I am feeling. I have a job that requires a lot of standing and lifting.

Also, my brain is telling me I am not hungry but my stomach is growling something awful...Anyone feeling the same thing?

Best wishes for our new journey!

[WEESIE 5]

Texas, My stomach and mind believe that I am hungry. But, when I eat a little or drink some Protein shake it gets bearable quickly. I don't feel hungry but the full feeling is no place to be found. My stomach might still be growling so I guess that is not a hunger growl. I hope I figure out these new feelings and sounds before I am on solid foods.

Hi-I was banded on May 25th at Noon.

The first evening was not too great but the second night was awful. The Gas pain was very intense.

Today I finally took a shower and I feel so much better.

I have been able to walk fairly well but in the mornings I am so stiff.

There is no way I could go back to work this week with how I am feeling. I have a job that requires a lot of standing and lifting.

Also, my brain is telling me I am not hungry but my stomach is growling something awful...Anyone feeling the same thing?

Best wishes for our new journey!

[queenie3 0]

Hello everyone,

I am fron Atlanta GA and I was banded saturday May 28th in Mexico. I stayed overnight due to being in Mexico. I was suppose to stay two nights but felt well enough to leave the next day. My surgery went well with no issues. My only issues after surgery is I am having really bad chest pains, I am assuming it is gas. I have not had any nausea though. My friend went with me and she is having nausea but no chest pains so I guess everybodys reaction is different. I had my band placed by single port, meaning I have a small incision in my navel and a small incision under my bra line. Im too swollen to even find my port right now. I thought it was nice to have a video of my placed band. That makes it easy for the doctors in the US that will do my fills.

I am home now and I have started my monthly which does not make the soreness any better. I have been having noise bleeds, not sure if its due to surgery or dry air in mexico. I only have two small incision and they seem to be ok.

I wish everyone good luck on this journey. I am down 3 pounds since surgery day yay!!!!!!!

[mrnetop 0]

Hi, I was banded a week ago on Monday the 23rd at 12 noon at Cedars Sinai. (Even live a few blocks from hospital) Still have some pain particularly at night but things are going down OK, on the liquids plus pureed Soup, yogurt, pudding phase. Did not have a hernia repair. Stayed overnight mostly to relieve stress on everyone, and 5 nights at my parents. Alway had energy an was walking the halls well by the next morning, making 4 laps of the floor. First night back was a bit scary, kept having muscle spasms, which I suppose where actually the walls of the stomach, got conerned enough to call the on-call Dr. at 3a. He suggested that perhaps it was because I was stretching the stomach by laying flat. I moved to a lounge chair and slept a bit more, but still had spasms/cramps in the morning and called again. This time they suggested giving it 24 hrs. Wednesda night was OK with only slight spasms. Still have the occasional spasm at night, but not as bad as that 2nd night and not in series. Can't really tell if I am getting hungry, or just having gas pains. Has first bowel movement Thursday morning after the surgery, after having warm prune juice on Weds night. Wounds are tender and itchy particuarly the port location. Have a nasty looking bruise right below bell button which is not near any incisions, not sure what is up with that. My first visit with Dr. is Wednesday.

[lee_nyc 0]

Nice to see all these updates.

I am happy to say that the water/gas weight has dropped...plus 1lbs. I'm staying at a condo for a couple days now to finish recovering by a pool before going back to work on Thursday and don't plan to weigh for a couple days now, which i think is a good thing.

I only had to do 2 days of liquid diet and now I'm on to pureed foods...I think my stomach is still so confused that I can barely tell if i'm hungry or full or what.

[oldiebutgoodie2 11]

Hi, I live in S. California. My surgery was Monday 5/23 at 10:00 I was home by 5pm that night. The pain was a lot better than I thought it would be. I am having significant issues with the Protein shakes. I'm gonna try some new Protein drinks today, hopefully they will go down well. I am very excited by this opportunity. I just need to get past the next week and a half. I wish you all so much success.

Hi. I am 5 days post surgery. I thought I would have a problem with the shakes as well. But it is going fine. Have you tried Premier chocolate Protein shake from costco? It is 30 grams Protein for the 11 oz container (I pour 5 1/2 ounces at a time). It tastes like chocolate pudding. My friend who had bypass surgery 8 years ago recommended it. Said she has tried them all, and this is the best tasting for the most protein. She still drinks one of these a day!

I have had wonderful success in mixing 1 1/2 cups skim milk with 2 scoops vanilla Protein powder (40 grams protein) and 1/2 tsp. unsweetened Koolaide (Crystal Lite is way too fake sweet for me). Mixed together, it makes for a pleasant fruity drink. But I put them in 1/2 cup containers and put them in the freezer. (This mixture makes 3 1/2-cup portions equalling 18 grams protein each). I let it thaw for 1/2 hour to an hour, and eat it with a spoon. It tastes wonderful! Like a dreamcycle! I've used orange, black berry, cherry and grape Koolaide. Yum! The grape was so-so, but the rest were devine!

Good luck to you! Good luck to all of us!

[Papillon Princess 13]

I have that bruise also! They were giving me shots of Lovenox (I think was what it was called...) in the tummy I believe for blood clots. One of them pinched to get it in the right spot and it bruised, so that may be what it is. At least that bruise doesn't hurt! I have a huge bruise on my forearm where the nurse attempted an IV (and missed...then dug around in my arm!).

Have a nasty looking bruise right below bell button which is not near any incisions, not sure what is up with that. My first visit with Dr. is Wednesday.

[Papillon Princess 13]

Thanks, I got my staples out today. The incisions are healing up very well. The dr is keeping me off of work another week because I'm still having quite a bit of pain. Still not regretting it, but hoping the pain subsides soon

Princess sorry to hear it is not going as smoothly for you.. as my Mom always says.. This too shall pass. Hang in there and keep us up to date with how you are doing..

[angelpie07 0]

surgery on may 26th, first post-op appointment is tomorrow. I am having a lot of problems with the hunger, but I was told to expect it. I did have a bit of a breakdown, ok I admit it, a HUGE breakdown on Saturday night. I am still dealing with a lot of emotions which I know will continue for a long time, but this is all new and crying and breaking down is just part of my journey. It may not be for everyone, but I know we all find our own path with our bands. Good luck on yours!

[rick1951 0]

Hi, I was banded on May 23rd. The night of the surgery was the worst. The CO2 they used to lift my abdoman was sooooooooooooooo painful I could not lay down. Didn't slepp monday night. Since then i have improved each day. Port area is les painful each day. No problems with liquid going down. Clear liquid for the first 2 weeks then full liquid. Never thought creamed Soup would sound so good.!!!!

My first visit to the doctor's office was in late November 2010. Weight was 270

Weight day of the surgery was 253

Today ( June 1 ) 242

[oldiebutgoodie2 11]

surgery on may 26th, first post-op appointment is tomorrow. I am having a lot of problems with the hunger, but I was told to expect it. I did have a bit of a breakdown, ok I admit it, a HUGE breakdown on Saturday night. I am still dealing with a lot of emotions which I know will continue for a long time, but this is all new and crying and breaking down is just part of my journey. It may not be for everyone, but I know we all find our own path with our bands. Good luck on yours!

You poor thing. I hope your appointment today helped with a lot of your questions, and I hope you left there feeling more hopeful and positive.

I have my first post-op appt tomorrow! I haven't been hungry, but I have kept track of all the liquid and Protein I drank, and am staying at 6-8 glasses of liquid and 60-80 grams Protein every day. Maybe you aren't "eating" enough?

Anyway, super good luck to you!

[H Forcier 0]

Hi everyone. I was Banded May 27th. Never really had any pain. I just find that no matter what I drink I am always belching. Even ice chips!! Anyone else having this problem? Down almost 10lbs since surgery! 71 more to go.

[amp56 0]

Had my surgery on Wednesday, May 25th. Can't believe it's been over a week now. I have to confess, those first few days were rough for me. The air trapped under my shoulders and in my back made it impossible for me to feel comfortable and I felt constantly nausous. My stomach also "gurgled" quite a bit, but I can't say I felt hungry - mostly due to the nausea. I also am a big baby about Protein shakes. I cannot stand them and my poor husband must have made 3 or 4 trips to find one that I could tolerate (somewhat - still hate them).

Anyway, after feeling like an absolute train-wreck for a few days, I woke up Sunday feeling fine. The pain from the surgical incisions was never an issue for me - it was mostly the back pain and nausea which kept me from sleeping and feeling comfortable that were the problems - and when those were gone I felt 100% better. Went back to work on Tuesday without any issues.

Can't say I'm loving the liquid diet, but not really finding it terribly difficult. I'm a little afraid of what is to come, so I'm glad I found this forum. There is something nice about being able to share.

Good luck to us all!

[oldiebutgoodie2 11]

Had my surgery on Wednesday, May 25th. Can't believe it's been over a week now. I have to confess, those first few days were rough for me. The air trapped under my shoulders and in my back made it impossible for me to feel comfortable and I felt constantly nausous. My stomach also "gurgled" quite a bit, but I can't say I felt hungry - mostly due to the nausea. I also am a big baby about Protein shakes. I cannot stand them and my poor husband must have made 3 or 4 trips to find one that I could tolerate (somewhat - still hate them).

Anyway, after feeling like an absolute train-wreck for a few days, I woke up Sunday feeling fine. The pain from the surgical incisions was never an issue for me - it was mostly the back pain and nausea which kept me from sleeping and feeling comfortable that were the problems - and when those were gone I felt 100% better. Went back to work on Tuesday without any issues.

Can't say I'm loving the liquid diet, but not really finding it terribly difficult. I'm a little afraid of what is to come, so I'm glad I found this forum. There is something nice about being able to share.

Good luck to us all!

I have found that the Premier chocolate Protein shake at costco is the best. Tastes like chocolate pudding. It's 11 oz and 30 grams protein!

I've made up some yummy "dreamcycles" with non-fat milk (1 1/2 C), 2 scoops of vanilla Protein Powder (20 grams protein per scoop), and 1/2 tsp unsweetened Koolaid. Mix it all together and put in three 1/2-cup containers and freeze. They end up being 18 grams protein each. Take it out of the freezer about 1/2 hour before eating, to let it get a little slushy.

I've also made yummy pudding!... 1 package sugar free instant pudding, 4 scoops unflavored protein powder (20 grams each), and 2 cups non fat milk (9 0z protein each cup!). Makes five 1/2 C-servings-- 20 grams protein each! I put those in the fridge and let set overnight, but the directions say it can be ready in 5 minutes!

How long is the dr. having you stay on a liquid diet? I'm going to my dr today for my 1-week check up. I'm super hoping I get to change to the puree phase!

Good luck to you!