May 2007 Banders

[healthny 0]

Good wishes to all who go in today.... you'll do great!!!

For me its just shy of 72 hours post op. feeling good --

SElaine - there are a number of threads about the AP band on this forum unfortunately at the moment I can't access them without the big boss knowing I'm back on line if you search around abit you'll find them -- the main diffference as I understand it is that the pressure/inflation is a full 360 degrees unlike the other bands and the "selling point" for me is the locking mechanism is eaiser to unlock if in the event of complications or need to reposition -- I was blessed to have my surgeon agree to it -- I am so very greatful!!! Making a real effort to get in 64 oz. of Protein -- it is so very important for healing 1 20 oz. isopure/ 2 20 oz. designer whey shakes, Vitamins and essential oils yesterday -- I am stuffed!!

A couple things I wish I had arranged pre surgery 1) a step for my bed -- its quite high 2) a stool softener -- not constipated but don't want to strain too hard at this point 3) insist on a liquid pain reliever if possible you don't want to be bothered having to crush pills -- so other than that things are great the 11 pounds of Water weight I gain from the night of surgery (Tuesday) is now gone and am starting to fee really good again. Oh well -- back to work -- shoot I wish I had more time to spend on line --

[lodum 0]

Okay, so it's been one week since I was banded and I've been doing great. Then, all of a sudden last night I get this extreme pain and can't hardly stand up straight! It's on my left side, basically right at my furthest left incinsion. I didn't think it was gas because I was taking Gas-X, walking, doing everything possible. Woke up this morning to it being sore in the same place but no sharp pains. Then, about an hour ago, it all kicked in again. Geez already! I called the doctor and the office staff said it's just gas. If that's the case, why can't I do anything to get rid of it, if you know what I mean! I wonder if it's because I'm not taking in enough liquids.< /p>

[ragdollx19 1]

3) insist on a liquid pain reliever if possible you don't want to be bothered having to crush pills --

My doctor told me not to bother crushing pills. He said they will dissolve the same in your new pouch as they did before you had a band.

[Wenjea 1]

hi twinmommy - I'm doing great!! 18 pounds so far and I still have six days to go till surgery. I have been faithfull about walking, though sometimes it's only one mile. Today I'm meeting with a walking group of banders here in the NW and we are doing a 2+ mile walk. Some days I think about food a lot! Yesturday we went to Red Robbin for my girls birthday lunch and I had french onion Soup without the bread and cheese in it and some ice-water with lemon. I was fine and the soup tasted sooooo good after all that broth. I rewarded myself for the first week well done with one little square of Dove dark chocolate. It didn't taste as good as I remember.

I have two different types of Protein right now. My vanilla is called Alpine Vanilla by PRO-RATED (22g protein/scoop) and my chocolate is Cocoa-Mochaccino by CHAMPION NUTRITION (23g protein/scoop). I like to mix my vanilla with different flavors of crystal lite and add ice to make it like a shake. I love my chocolate one hot.

I can't believe we are less then a week away!

[SillyWillyMommy 2]

To buscove24, mommytokk, NicksWife22-

Thinking of you guys today... Hope to hear from you all real soon! Best wishes for a speedy recovery. :-)

[Wenjea 1]

Macysgranny - You're back!! I was soooo woried for you. You sound good now and I hope that from here on out goes great. Did your insurance cover everything? You were in the hospital a while I heard. Hows recovery going now?

[SillyWillyMommy 2]

Dutchgrl.. Please call your primary doctor and let him know about the pain you were feeling.. It could be nothing, BUT it could be something that you don't want to over look. Best of luck with everything!

[SillyWillyMommy 2]

MACYSGRANNY- Glad to see you back!! Hope you're feeling better.

[SillyWillyMommy 2]

Look at all your tickers moving!!! This is soo exciting!! I cannot WAIT to get banded!!!!

[JerseyDori 0]

Ok so I have 2 days post op and I finally am able to sit at the table to get online. I am amazed at the posts where people went in at 8 and went home at 11:30.

Here is how my surgery went down. Arrived at 5:30, took me back a little after 6am. Wheeled into surgery at 7:45 and my mom says the doc told her i was awake in recovery at 9:30. The only thing i remember while I was in recovery was continuously asking for more pain meds because it was Out of control! Then around 12:30 I went into my room and got up to start walking off the gas. I was up walking etc for most of the day and ended up sleeping in the recliner and my mom in my bed because I was visiting the potty every 2 hours from the IV. I was not allowed anything to eat or drink on day 1.

Day 2 was a tid bit better, I was walking fine and went to do my upper GI - now that experience was painful!!! Then at about 3pm I was able to try liquids to I ordered a variety of clear fluids. FInally at 5pm I was released and I have to say its good to be home and good to have a shower - but my pain is still out of control!

Good luck everyone!

[Maya1983 0]

Hello

I am so proud to be a part of the a-MAY-zing bandster, I thought that was so cute! I went to the Doctors today for my post op, I lost 10 lbs. I am so happy!!! I lost 6 lbs before surgery, so my total is 16 lbs that "I LOST" :omg: I am so happy, I have NEVER lost this much weight before. I am glowing today! Everything is good with my healing as well. I pray that everyone is doing good also!

Crabcake and Lodum,

Thanks for the advise, I was able to sleep on my side for a couple of hours, I can not wait to sleep comfortable. About 3:00 am I got in a recliner and slept good that way. How are you doing with the band? Did you have your post op appointment yet?

JerseyDori,

I had a simular experience like you, my Mom helped me too. I was in so much pain and was trying to figure out how come everyone else was able to manage the pain. I had so much pain meds that I slept almost the complete day of my surgery and most of the next. I had to call the hospital where I had surgery and ask them what was going on. I was short of breath and had pressure all over... thats what it felt like and sit down forget about it, did not work with me. To get up and down was so hard and painful. The hospital told me to take Gas X and use a heating pad. Thank GOD for those two. It has helped so much, I know how you feel. I wish I could had been like everyone else. Everyday gets better and its all going to be worth it in the end. I will keep you in my prayers.

[GREATFUL 24]

I was banded 05-04-07 and I'm leaving in about 15 minutes for my post-op exam. I've lost 19 pounds as of this morning. I am on Clear Liquids and if I drink one more cup of chicken broth, I'll puke. I start the pureed diet today and can't wait.

Bullwinkle, I am with you on the chicken broth thing. I am sick of it. You are lucky to get to start the pureed diet today. I have to stay on full liquids for 2 weeks. BUMMER. But heck I am going to do this. It is real interesting how diffrent doctors are about the pre and post op diet. I am counting the days until next Wednesday and I can have pureed food, on that for 2 weeks, then I can have soft food. My tummy is just a growling, I am not hungry but sure is making some angry noises. I thing I have some wild animal in there. (I guess it is my ex-appitite in there raising heck like some crazy beast caged up lol) Have had a few moments of head hunger, but with the support of my DH and my determination to be a winner at this I have gotten through, and they only last a little while. Just got up and found something to do, fold clothes, unload dishwasher etc. Being back at work help some, staying busy.

Good luck to everyone being banded today, and everyone on the mark for Monday, have a great weekend and good luck.

[Maya1983 0]

Lodum,

I just saw your other post about the pain you woke up in!!!

I am so sorry to hear that, you should try using a heating pad :guess if you are not using one. That helped me out a lot!!! Gas can be really painful!

[GREATFUL 24]

didnt mean to post twice, computer messing up and thought I lost the other one.

[crabcake 0]

Well, the day after wasn't bad at all (that was Wednesday) and silly me, I thought I was going to breeze through this! However, yesterday I felt like I'd been kicked in the back, in the kidneys especially. Or as I told my niece, like my liver had been dropped on the floor and the doctor had whacked it on the side of the table to dust it off before he put it back in!!! :angry

Getting up and down was difficult and my DH had gone back to work, so I was on my own. I took pain meds and used the heating pad and that helped a lot. Slept again last night in the recliner. I got up at 7 when the hubbling did and asked him to stay home w/ me. He did and went back to bed. I went in and got in the bed and somehow got comfortable enough to dose for another hour, but then had to wake him to help me get up. The back's not so bad today and I'm not taking near the pain meds, so hopefully I'm on the mend. However, I'm not getting all my fluids in and certainly not all my Protein. I feel bloated, but not gassy, rather like I'm retaining fluids and in general, I just feel like something the cat dragged in!

One of the nurses at the hospital told me today would be my worst day, but so far it's nothing compared to yesterday...so, hopefully I'll continue to improve. I've scheduled my post op for next Wednesday.

I hope all you who were banded today are feeling well and will bounce back quicker than me!