My Lap Band Surgery Day Story and Status Two Days Out

[Allison0927 329]

Well, I've finally joined the ranks of all my fellow bandsters. My surgery was July 5. As much obsessive reading and research I did prior to surgery - somehow, someway, I confused the start of my surgery. I thought my surgery was at 7:30 am (with hospital arrival at 5:30 am). While on the way to the hospital I discovered that my surgery was at 7:15 with arrival at 5:15. A little panic set in knowing that we were already going to be 10 minutes late for the 5:30 arrival (my husband, last minute, tells me he has to drop some paperwork off at his office on the way to hospital since he would be gone a lot of this week taking care of me).

We arrived at the surgery center (Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, Ohio) at 5:40. Thankfully, they never said a word about my being about 25 minutes late. They gave us a beeper and the waiting room was already pretty full for being that early. By the way, I've never been to that part of the hospital - the waiting room was the best, nicest and newest I've ever seen. There were tons of big comfy seats, a lunch room with lots of tables and several vending machines, and plenty of TVs with various programs going. They even had "patient status" tvs where loved ones can track the patient by his or her assigned number. The screen is constantly updated - so that my husband knew when they were taking me into OR, when I was having the operation, and then when I was being taken out of the OR. It was pretty cool - and I imagine a great comfort to all those waiting in the waiting room.

About 10 minutes later we got the beep and the nicest nurse escorted me back to the surgery holding rooms so they could prep me. They politiely told my hubby to wait in the waiting area and they would come get him when I was ready to go and waiting to go into the OR. The nurse took all my vitals, asked me lots of questions then had me completely undress (including underwear) and put on the hospital gowns and hair cover and thick socks/booties. She put an anti-nause sticker behind my ear. She then hooked up my IV - which did not hurt at all. Another nurse then came in and hooked up my massage boots (to help ward off blood clots). Those felt good as many posters on here have also noted.

Next came the surgeon who as usual was very calm, focused and friendly. He spoke to my husband and I for a few minutes. After he left, in came the anasthesiologist. She was so young and beautiful but the nurses all assured me she was the best. (I am 37) She had two male anastheis (sp?) nurses with her that were so nice to me. At that point, it was a kiss and I love you to my husband and they began to transport me to the OR.

They must have started some twilight or relaxation agent in my IV before we got to the operating room. I was so relaxed on that bed ride. Overall, I would say I was not nearly as nervous as I thought I would be the entire morning from start to finish. In any event, they wheeled my bed up next to the operating table/bed and I must say that thing was very tiny and very NARROW. I only weighed 264.4 that morning - and I'm pretty short (5'4"). I cannot imagine how people much larger and taller than me (and I'm guessing many are that are getting barriatric surgery) could possibly fit their entire bodies on that table. There is no way! In any event, as soon as I got onto the table they put an "oxygen" mask on me and told me to take deep breaths. I am not sure what was really in that mask or my IV for that matter - but the last thing I remember was taking 3 or 4 breaths then suddenly knowing that I was on a bed traveling down a hall as they kept saying "Allison, Allison" wake up honey it's all over.

I was in some kind of post-surgery holding area. For a while I was alone with just me and a nurse that watched me the entire time. Soon out of the corner of my eye, I saw another bed arrive on the other side of the nurse sitting in the middle of us at what looked like a small computer station. The nurse immediately asked if I was in pain and I said yes - she said ok, honey I'm giving you pain reliever in your IV. I then could barely choke out what my immediate problem was: my mouth was as dry as the desert. Seriously, I have never been that dry mouthed in my life. I was begging (in a choked, barely audible voice I'm sure) for Water. The nurse kept saying she couldn't give me anything yet, but she would bring me ice chips soon. I just laid there so drowsy - falling in and out of sleep for the next hour or so.

Next they took me to a "discharge" area (or the last step before discharge). They brought my husband back and the two of us sat in that room for about 2 hours because it hurt to drink the little bit of Water they gave me and I could not pee (had not since my urine/pregnancy test at 6:30 that morning). I got up and walked with a nurse to the bathroom and still couldn't go - it was weird. They told me they pumped 3 full bags of saline in me so I was plenty hydrated for the surgery day. They kept warning me to walk and drink plenty of water when I got home. At about 2, I told the nurse I was ready to go and they discharged me and wheeled me to my husband's waiting car. I don't think I could have walked it on my own at that point.

Since being home, now 48 hours later, the thing I'm most surprised about is how I have absolutely no desire for food or water at all. It has been a major struggle to get 1 or 2 glasses of water down. During the 14 day pre-op diet I drank water and crystal light like it was going out of style - more than the recommended 64 ounces per day.

I am sore but I cannot tell if it's all gas or what. The gas never went to my shoulders as I have read so many times on here. It's all concentrated around my heart area. My 5 small incisions do not hurt at all - so no problem there. I have been walking and taking the gas x strips - I guess it's all a matter of time. I am hopeful that I will soon be back to my usual self as each day is getting better.

One other thing - I'm one of those people that weighs every single day. On the morning of the surgery I weighed 264.4. On the day after the surgery (I basically slept in the 24 hours since the surgery and ate nothing other than 2 sugar free popsicles) I weighed 268.8. I could not believe this - I about fell off the scale. I know they pumped me full of gas and saline - I thought gas would not weigh anything so the gain must be all water from the saline. In any event, when i weighed again this morning it was back down to 264.4. Just letting everyone know that something crazy like that can happen on the scale just from all the fluids they pump into you - and that such weight quickly disappears. By the way, whatever little medicine patch/sticker they put behind my ear really worked because I was never nauseous andd never threw up through this day.

Best of luck to all my fellow July bandsters. I hope my story helps you!!!

[vickyd 24]

I'm glad you had such a good experience. The next few days can be a bit tough...just remember to walk as much as you can and use a heating pad and/or gas-x to help relieve the gas pains.

Good luck!

[Allison0927 329]

I'm glad you had such a good experience. The next few days can be a bit tough...just remember to walk as much as you can and use a heating pad and/or gas-x to help relieve the gas pains.

Good luck!

Thanks - I cannot believe the bandsters on here talking about walking around Walmart the day of or after the surgery. I cannot fathom doing that - i've been walking all around my house. i just took my first shower since surgery this morning so i never would have left the house anyway without that LOL. I will be so happy when the gas goes away.

[Jenn1214 120]

Glad to hear you had a good experience! Keep us posted on your progress, and definitely don't worry about not being able to walk around Walmart right now. I could hardly get in and out of bed by myself because I was so bruised!

[hopetolose 192]

congrats! yup everyday will get a little better. You still may get the gas in your shoulder. That happens about 5days out or so (did with me anyway). But the good news is that means its in its way out of your body

good luck! and follow you doc orders on food stuff no matter what!

[ButterflyM 2]

Congrats to u! its nice to hear positive stories! I will b a BANDIT in 20 days!

[marymcd54 10]

Thanks for sharing! I know what will happen to me now on July 25!! I am so excited and ready to join the July Banders!

[ND and OSU 0]

Thanks for sharing your story...it gives me some comfort that everything will be ok with mine--Surgery set for July 29th in west Chester Ohio. Good luck on your journey!

[winifred76 1]

So It's July 11th. How are you doing now 10 days later? Feeling ok to get out and about?

Any issues?

Very interested in hearing how things are going......

[Allison0927 329]

So It's July 11th. How are you doing now 10 days later? Feeling ok to get out and about?

Any issues?

Very interested in hearing how things are going......

I'd be wonderful with no pain if it weren't for the dreaded gas pain from the CO2 that they pump into you during surgery. Honestly I was not prepared for that level of pain for this many days. The surgery itself was a BREEZE compared to the gas pains - and gasx or similar products do not work - the gas is in the torso not in the intestines - pain meds only constipate so they are no good for it either. They say the only cure is to MOVE as much as possible. I've been trying -the pain is easing up slightly each day. I have hope it will eventually go away all together. I have only today and tomorrow left on liquids - that part has been easier than I thought since I have little to no appetite - even a bowl of Tomato Soup makes me uncomfortably stuffed. I'm looking forward to the soft food stage only to be able to eat something different than what I've been eating since the 14 day pre-op diet. On the bright side - down 20+ pounds all together and I know that never would have happened without this band and process. Not everyone gets the gas and some do not get it that bad so don't worry about that part - I am just venting a little. Best of luck!!!!!!

[Mocha-Berry 0]

Thanks for sharing your experience! I have not been banded yet. Hopefully, it will be next month.

[Allison0927 329]

UPDATE: I am now 11 days out and the gas is GONE! I am soooooo happy about that! That was the worst part of the whole experience. But it's over. The appetite is back in a way. Because I've now been dieting for so long I think the stomach is just used to less food and I'm not nearly as hungry as I would be normally. But, at least on the surface, I feel fully healed and as if I never had the surgery. I suppose the changes will hit me when I start getting fills. But for now, I feel like my normal self on a diet. That's ok though since I know there is light at the end of the tunnel (i.e., fills are coming). I started walking on the treadmill the other day. I plan to do it at least 5 days a week - 30-60 minutes each time.

One other unpleasant but not entirely unexpected development: I have not eaten one bad thing or gone over my calories at all since starting the pre-op diet through today. I even started walking. BUT, my weight loss has basically frozen. I have not gained but I have not lost in the last week. I have basically hovered between 256.2 and 256.8. Back and forth for the last 5-7 days. I know this is "normal" and I did go from liquid to mushies (but the calories have stayed the same). Just letting everyone know that this truly happens (the no loss or plateau early on even though we are strictly adhering to the diet/physician instructions). I will be much more smiley when the scale starts moving again to reward me for being the perfect little bandster (sigh), But, again, the bright side is I am completely back to normal 11 days out of surgery so there's hope for anyone suffering the short-term effects of surgery. BEST OF LUCK TO US ALL!!!!!!

[sjkduke 6]

Thank you for sharing your story and experience! I had my gallbladder out in January and this was my experience almost exactly!