I did it! I have now turned from the darkside!

[UltraGeek 0]

I was banded yesterday. Everything went real smooth. I woke up at 4am and scrubbed with Hebiclens Anti-bacterial soap. My mother-in-law arrived at 5am to watch the kids. By 530am, my wife and I were going through admissions. I was real hungry from being 'clear' the prior 24hours. By 630am we were in the pre-surgery room getting prepped, meeting with my Dr (Dr Naim), the assiting Dr (Dr Nassarian) and Anesthesiologist (Dr Jackson). Dr Naim told me he was going to try to place a 10cc AP band, however as we had discussed previously, men tend to have large fat pads at the placement location. If he could not get it to work he would opt for the 14cc AP band. By 730am I was moved the operating suite and on the table. I started inhaling the gas and then woke up in recovery. When I came to, it was 930am.

While I was on the table, admissions had my wife wait in my room where there was a monitor of my surgery. She watched the whole thing as it was happening.

Dr Naim was right by my side as I awoke. The first thing he said was he was able to fit to 10cc AP band. He also mentioned I might not even need a first adjustment - that my restriction may be good. He said I will stay the night at the hospital overnight to recover and have some tests the following day (today).

The hospital staff brought my wife down the surgical elevator so she could be by my side as I was taken back to my room. There was ice chips and Jello waiting for me. I nibbled on some ice chips.

As far as the pain, coughing and trying to clear my throat hurts the worse. After surgery I had a deep pain below my chest plate. My back and shoulders hurt as well. My wife gave me a little massage which seemed to fix it. I was on Lortab immediately. But by 7pm to something stronger that they injected into my IV line.

The nursing staff when I arrived in my room was the WORSE. At one point I was yelling for a nurse to come (the never responded when I pushed the call button). After the shift change, the nursing staff was a 100% improvement.

Today I had my upper GI series. I swallowed some dye and they took an xray. I have very good restriction. On film it looked like the size of my IV line.

I have had no hunger sensation at all. Today, I noticed my stomach making lots of familiar hunger noise but no urge or sensation to eat. I have to remind myself to 'sip'. I am using a straw to help. Even a small cup of jello is taking me about 30mins to consume (it used to take me about 2 seconds before).

I am at home now and waking. I will be on liquids for 2 weeks before I start mushies.

-UG

[sewenup1 0]

Hey, Great to hear you have come through ok and welcome to the other side. Take it easy for the next few days but you'll soon start to feel better.

Danna

[kyteachjules 0]

YEA!! Glad you had a good experience. I feel like a completely new person 1 week later! Congrats!

[Done 2]

Congratulations on your banding! I hope my experience is as good as yours (well, except for the crappy nurses! ha ha)

[HeavyHeartland 0]

Congrats, man. I found the recovery to be fairly swift. Other than the nagging shoulder pain I had for a week or so, everything else went really fast. I pulled all my bandages off last week and have been scrubbing them vigorously to get all the leftover "dirty glue" off.

[christasha 0]

Welcome to bandster land! That is so cool that your wife could watch the procedure! I haven't heard anyone have that option. (Although I doubt my daughter would have watched if she could!). Hang in there . . . and careful with the straws . . . they are a "no no" from my instructions because of getting more air into your stomach. Happy Holidays! ~ Chris