Newly Banded and only one big problem...

[stinaNYC 0]

Just got banded on Feb 11th...proceedure went smoothly and was actually released later that day w/no overnight stay necessary! Day three from the hospital and I feel fantastic!

Except...

I am terribly constipated. I am drinking liquids as instructed: Water, juices, tea, but I haven't had a BM since the Friday night before the surgery. I am afraid of taking anything like Pepto Bismal or Metamucel...the nurse told me to just keep hydrated and everything will be okay.

Problem is that I feel incredibly gassy now, and it's affecting my ability to take in liquids. Even though I've barely had anything today (one Slim fast shake and a 1/4 c. of V8 Splash), I feel completely full, and I fear taking in water or coffee (hoping it'll jump start my intestines) will make me feel nauseous.:cry

Anyone have any advice on this?:help:

[dishdiva 5]

I'd let your surgeon know in case he wants to prescribe a stool softener or something to help... What your experiencing is fairly typical. Good luck!

[Gwinky 0]

Same thing happened to me I had surgery in April 2005, take a liquid stole softener, you will be fine, however if you don't take a softener u are going to fill miserable. Once you go you will fill so much better. Trust me. And Congrats on the banding. I have lost 70 pounds since April 13th 2005, want to lose about 20 more.

good luck.

gwinky

Don't mind my tickerfactory I can't figure out how to update it.

[stinaNYC 0]

Thanks for the advice...but it seems that maybe something else is wrong. I ate a popscicle and immediately got sick to my stomach...lots of saliva production, but no vomiting.

SHortly after, I took a small Gas X gel pill to help alleviate the gas and got sick to my stomach again...dry heaved hard a couple times but nothing came up. I feel sick to my stomach now, especially when I lay down, in addition to the feeling of being full. I've taken pills without problems since I got back from the hospital on Saturday night, so why *now* am I getting sick? Also have a slight pain right below my rib cage, to the left of one of my incisions (the incisions themselves are fine and not infected).

Of course, none of these problems happened *while the MD's office was open*. I am going to call them tomorrow AM...I'll feel really stupid if this is all gas related, but if this sounds like something else that might be serious, I'd appreciate the insight. :sick

[3loves 0]

I haven't been banded yet, but I do know that my surgeon's office has a 24 hr number to call for emergencies. Instead of suffering all night, I would call the office to get the emergency number and at least talk to someone. I know I would feel much better at least hearing their opinion of what your experiencing....it sounds very painful.

Also, I do know that some pain meds tend to constipate me. Perhaps that would be an issue to discuss with your surgeon.

Good luck to you and I will pray that you find a quick resolution! :Banane40:

[I'llsucceed 1]

Very common what your going through. I suggest a 1/2 cup of coffee. Also an enema may be in order. Don't wait to long. Also walk as much as physically possible.

[the best me 6]

Glycerin Suppositories. Get moving, baby! You'll feel sooo much better. Quit going from the top down...you have a newly placed band in the way. Go from the other end of your digestive tract.

I like the enema idea, too. Also the 1/2 cup of coffee, but if you are having trouble with a sick stomach, it's very acidic and could cause swelling in the band area.

Lay off the pain meds if you can. 3 loves is right about the Constipation they can cause.

Now's the time where you need to slow down your sips for a little while.

Also, maybe lay off the V8 Splash? It might be too acidic. Keep it bland. broth, or try egg drop Soup. Hot. Yummy, easy on the tummy and full of protien. That stuff saved my life.

[emtbaby4 0]

i hope you feel better soon. i am getting my band march 1 at central suffolk hosp. in riverhead. does this happen to everyone

[thistle 0]

Wow. I had the exact opposite problem--mine problem was liquid in, liquid out. All of my stools were...liquid. Eeew.

I'm with the best me glycerine suppositories work well and they're cheap. We call them "magic bullets" in my house.

Good luck.

[babsintx3 0]

Hi,

Please give yourself an enema. You will feel so much better. They work!! I had to give myself one after plastic surgery. I was in huge pain and could not go at all. It worked immediately.

Babs in TX

334/180ish

[stinaNYC 0]

Thank you so much for all of your suggestions everyone. I have an update:

I called the MD's 24 hour line and explained what happened. The doc told me to go to the Emergency Room and that she would call in to let them know I was coming. That was Tuesday night...it's now Thursday afternoon and I have just been released from the hospital.

Bottom line: I had an allergic reaction to the V8 Splash...we think it was the beet juice. It caused havoc for my tummy and bam...insta-vomit. I vomitted about 5 more times after I posted, and I was so scared that my band had slipped.

My surgeon (Dr. Fielding) came by early on Wednesday and we talked...he stated that if it was an acute band slippage that I would be his first one *ever* in his entire LAP Band career, so the odds that the band slipped were slim. An esophogram confirmed that he was right...the band is doing well, and I had an allergic reaction + stomach irritation to the juice. 48 hours of nothing taken orally has done wonders...my stomach is right as rain!

As for the *other* problem...a stool softener suppository helped a little, but not enough, so I'm off to the drug store to purchase an anema and the glycerine suppositories as suggested.

I'm okay now...thanks to everyone for their help!

[skbishop78 0]

Wow...glad to hear you are better....You were starting to worry me about the whole Constipation thing...and PBing. I get banded on the 20th, and I thought Holy Crap.........what am I getting myself into. Congrats on the band!

[HeatherGurl 0]

What a way to find out you are allergic to something.... Hope you are better!

[Iluvharleys 15]

Glad to hear you are better, take it easy now!

[the best me 6]

Oy vey, V8 anything is only good for cooking at our house. But then, I don't cook with it either. There ya go. so sorry this happened, but glad you are back on track! Let us know the results of your trip to the drug store!