Getting banded in Januaray 2014

[desertpixie 76]

Hello everyone,

I was banded on the 4th January and although I have been following the other forums, I noticed this specific 2014 banders thread. Nice to "meet you all" if I haven't already bumped into you on another thread. I was banded here in Dubai, on the 4th and am about to go for my first post-surgery check up today with the surgeon. Am really hoping he says I can move onto soft foods as am starting to go a bit stir crazy on the broths all the time! Not weighed myself at all yet since surgery, I don't own any scales, so I am hoping that I have gone down a couple of pounds this week from having lived on nothing but Water and broth! Fingers crossed!

Need to really work on my Water intake, as I am getting a bit dehydrated. I have upped my small bottle to a 1.5ltr one. I used to drink about 3ltrs a day but not sure how I can fit that in now! Really need to practise as come the summer, all you want here is water and the constant AC dehydrates you at the best of times!

Good luck to everyone and here is to an awesome 2014!

[MzEboni912 177]

Best wishes for tomorrow!

I was banded on Dec. 18th. It had a great experience, the staff were friendly. I got to the hospital and registered. Then they took me to a room where a couple of nurses got me ready. I had done preop labs and testing the week before so all they did was start my IV, do a pregnancy check, and give me a heparin shot in the belly. None of which were that bad.

After that I got a kiss and hug from the hubby and they took me to a waiting area for the O.R. I met my Nurse Anesthetist (who was awesome) and an RN from the Bariatric Program kept me company. Someone came around and said they were ready for me. The CRNA gave me a shot of Versed and I was high as a kite! lol. Good stuff. They rolled me around to the OR and I was getting sleepy. They had me move over to the table and I felt them put my arms on these arm boards and that was it. I woke up in the post op area.

I generally tend to get sick with narcotics so I was quite a bit nauseated. I stayed there for a while and then went to get a chest xray. Then off to another postop area just for the Bariatric patients. I had discomfort from the gas they pump into your belly. Most people I read about on here did not have the discomfort I did. I didn't really have much incision pain.

I had to drink a couple cups of Water and pee and then they let me go home. It took me about a week to get over the gas pains. It can cause some pretty bad shoulder pain. So take your gas ex! and push yourself to get fluids in.

All in all, it's not too bad. You will do fine. Just don't overdo it. Take it easy.

Congrats on your new band!

Like what you have written I hope mine goes that way. My surgery is

exactly two weeks from today. I am cool about it now we will see as time goes on.

[fullercor 17]

I will be banded tomorrow at 7:30 am. Excited to be on this journey.

[lasal 70]

I returned to work today and it was fine. I really wasn't that hungry but had to take gas x strips because I had a little pain in m shoulder. I didn't tell anyone what I was doing so no one besides my superviser asked how I was doing which worked well for me. Today is one week post op (hard to believe) and I am 14 pounds down. Crazy right? I am excited so far so good. Best wishes for your banding tomorrow I am sure you will be so happy once it is all said and done.

[MzEboni912 177]

I will be banded tomorrow at 7:30 am. Excited to be on this journey.

I wish the best for you. My surgery is on 1/27.

[TravelGirl22 26]

Today I felt better although I overdid it and went to work. I should have stayed home because I was exhausted and feeling miserable when I left work. Now I'm okay and enjoying some red roasted pepper and Tomato Soup. Ah, the joys of finally having something other than those Protein shakes! Don't worry - they're still on my diet for at least another week, but I'm really excited about adding Soup back in.

My coughing is almost gone (yay!), and hopefully the small amount of residual gas will go away soon. I only feel it now when I hiccup. :)f

Oh, the best news is that my weight is 19.2 lbs down from when I first started the liquid diet on December 27th!

Edited January 14, 2014 by TravelGirl22

[memebear 44]

Just wondering why the shoulder hurts..I didn't know you had gas way up there. Love being a memeber of bariatric pal..you are all great and my new "best friends".

[lasal 70]

The way my doc explained it to me is that they fill you with gas to do the surgery. They attempt to "deflate" you best they can but there is some trapped gas and since there is no where for it to go it settles in your left shoulder. That's all I know haha

[SandyM 1,956]

Miralax will help with the Constipation. Stay hydrated and keep moving. You'll do good.

[Leepers 1,195]

I read online that the gas actually stays in the abdominal area but it rises up and sits against your diaphragm. There are a bunch of nerve endings in your diaphragm that the gas irritates and it manifests as shoulder pain.

[MzEboni912 177]

4 days post op and feel almost normal. I am still a little sore in the abdomen area when get up and get down. Otherwise I feel pretty good. I thought it would hurt putting jeans on and what not but it doesn't. That's good news. So it is harder than I thought to get all the liquids down but I am really trying. If I feel too full I get up and walk around. I keep the gas ex strips with me too and they are helpful. All in all everything is great. I weighed myself today and so far I am down 9 pounds! Woo hoo! Of course it is all Water weight weight from the liquid diet but hey! I will take it I return to work on Monday so I stocked up on Soups and different Atkins shakes and slim fast shakes that I am looking forward to trying. I have also been scouring the internet for bariatric friendly recipes so I can start to get an idea of what is out there and what I will cook. So far there is a butternut squash and pear Soup that is good and I saw a recipe for mashed cauliflower I am looking forward to trying. Best of luck to everyone hope I hear some banding stories soon!

I am getting mine in 12 days. I have a question for you. Do you feel any tightness in your stomach or where your band is? I have read some people say that just curious.

[lasal 70]

The first few days a few sips of liquid would make me feel very full. But the past two days I haven't felt that super full/tightness feeling I guess and have just stopped eating before feeling it because I am not a fan of feeling uncomfortable. I find standing and walking to be helpful and I prefer it to sitting now.

[Cat225 93]

I'm on Day 4 of the pre-op diet, and I can't wait for it to be over! I get banded on Jan. 30th. Enjoying reading about everyone's experiences!

[MzEboni912 177]

I'm on Day 4 of the pre-op diet, and I can't wait for it to be over! I get banded on Jan. 30th. Enjoying reading about everyone's experiences!

I understand how you feel. Mine is January 27th one more week. My pre op appt with my surgeon is January 24. I am so ready.

[Cat225 93]

I understand how you feel. Mine is January 27th one more week. My pre op appt with my surgeon is January 24. I am so ready.

You are so lucky! I wish you good luck with your surgery. We're only 3 days apart.