the good, the bad, the ugly

[kei1170 0]

hi everyone...

i am new to this site and am a week and a half away from getting banned. i have so many questions :confused2:, which i feel would be better answered from actual patients who have gone thru the procedure. oh gosh, where to begin... ok, here goes:

1. how do you all feel about the port? i think my main overall concern is if it's comfortable and can it be seen after weight loss?

2. despite the health results, which is of course our #1 goal, do you feel this is a do-able lifestyle? i think i'm just scared :thumbs_up: that the thought of never being able to do this and that is just well, very scary.

3. what can i honestly expect the first week to be like post surgery? my doctor tells me i'll be home the same day and the dietician claims that i won't really be hungry the first week and will be happy if i can get down 32 plus oz. of Isopure (Protein drink), but then i read many of the post on here and am just very confused because so many have different results and although i know every "body" is different, any insight of what to come is truly appreciated.

thank you and congrats to you all!

kristine

[smgallop 1]

What your doctor and nutritionist have said is true. You will be really sleepy the first day. You will want to rest, but also make sure you get up and walk around. It will help with the CO2 in your body. Do be afraid to take the pain medication. However, don't over do it. It's helpful to have someone with you for the first two or three days if possible.

It doesn't take long to get back to normal. I am going back to work tomorrow. It's been six days since my surgery. I feel really good. I've been off pain medication all together for three days.

[kei1170 0]

Thanks, smgallop! It sounds like so far you have no regrets. I live alone so now I'm concerned about not having anyone with me for the first day or so. My doctor did tell me to expect to be out of work for a week and I'm going in on Monday, the 21st so I'm guessing I'll be back to work on the 28th.

How bad is your incision where the port is? Painful, big, small, hardly noticable?

[emb5126 0]

hellllooo... i've been banded for 5 days now.. and each day gets better. day 1 really isn't bad. you'll definately want some sugar free popsicles with you for your throat. day 2 is also just a lot of grogginess. you'll want to rest but make sure you are walking around AND getting Protein in your body, via Protein Shakes. protein is what's going to help you heal. day 3 was the worst for me. i decided to stop taking pain meds because you don't want your body to get accustomed to them. i'm taking tylenol instead. by now, you want to be drinking your Protein Drinks in full swing, along with the Soup and crystal light. just make sure your walking around.. it'll will get the gas pains moving around. i told my work i'd be going back 5 days later but that definately wasn't long enough. i extended it to 7. just make sure you KNOW you're ready. as far as the port, i really don't feel it yet. i'm still very swollen around my belly and cant get much down. but from what i've heard, even after you lose the weight, the port becomes unnoticeable.

gooood luck with your surgery... hope i've answered a few questions for ya!

[Bunkey1965 2]

I am 7 days post op now. RIght after my surgery I had no gas pains. I got up and walked the halls. My insisions arnt a problem. I had the Dr. put my port about an inch and a half below the navel and 2 inches over. I wear my pants higher and I didnt want the waistband to be rubbing on it. I think my gripe is mostly the CO2. It started about day 3. I still feel bloated and achy in my shoulder and neck. In the evening its worse. My arms and legs wanna go but my tender belly keeps me moving in a slower fashion. Dont know if the pains in my belly are from gas, or the surgery. The doctor had to fix a hiatle(sp?) hernia when he placed my band, so maybe I am more sore than others. I go to work this morning, but if I feel bad, home is where Ill be going!

[cmcallister2 0]

Hi there. I am three weeks postop. The first day I had a friend with me but really wasn't even necessary. I was pretty sore and had a lot of gas pain but it wasn't that bad. I did take pain meds pretty regularly that day. I went back to work the next day. Which for me is at a computer in my home. Three days postop I went on a 14 hour car ride where I ran around non stop with family for a week and then went back home. So basically, It really depends on you and your body. Good luck

[kei1170 0]

Thanks to all who have replied thus far and who may in the future. May we all be healthy and happy like we once were...:thumbs_up:

[juliegeraci 7]

See comments inline.................

hi everyone...

1. how do you all feel about the port? i think my main overall concern is if it's comfortable and can it be seen after weight loss?

I can't feel my port. It is on my left hand side. I am about 30 lbs from goal and I can't see it or feel it unless I lay down and try and find it.

2. despite the health results, which is of course our #1 goal, do you feel this is a do-able lifestyle? i think i'm just scared :frown: that the thought of never being able to do this and that is just well, very scary.

The lifestyle is easy after almost 2 years. I just eat everything in smaller portions.

3. what can i honestly expect the first week to be like post surgery? my doctor tells me i'll be home the same day and the dietician claims that i won't really be hungry the first week and will be happy if i can get down 32 plus oz. of Isopure (Protein drink), but then i read many of the post on here and am just very confused because so many have different results and although i know every "body" is different, any insight of what to come is truly appreciated.

You will be a little bit uncomfortable most likely. You may not be hungry at all. The other soreness I had was at the port site.

thank you and congrats to you all!

kristine

[drod309 0]

So far so good.. I am 5 days post-op..My wife and I had it done at the same time. She left the hospital that day I had to stay overnight because my Oxy. level was low due to me not taking deep breaths (my stomach hurt). At home you will be groggy the 1st maybe even the 2nd day, but you gotta walk around. My belly was distended for about 2-3 days but it has subsided. My port hurts a little, but only if I bump my belly or sleep on it wrong. Just make sure you doctor, or your doctors nurse are open and good with any worry type calls you may make after surgery....They should be good with that...good luck!

[kbinaz 0]

1. The port. Not so much an issue. It is a little freaky at first because you can feel it (from the outside, when you touch your stomach) and it is kind of odd thinking about this strange thing inside you but honestly, 5 months post op, I never even really think about it. I'm not sure if you'll be able to see it after I lose my weight but I don't really care. I'm kind of past the bikini stage anyway, and I doubt it is going to be visible under clothes.

2.I know it is scary when you are facing this, and I had the same feelings and wondered if I was going to be able to "Do this". I was positive I was going to be the one person in the world who could not lose weight with the band. Well, it turns out I CAN do this! There is a learning curve and so the best advice I can give you is to do what you are instructed to do and be patient. At first it all seems kind of overwhelming and you have to think about everything so much (how much Protein, what should I have for Breakfast, what if I PB in public...etc... ) you wonder if you will ever be able to just relax and be you again. I promise, you will be back to normal but it will take a few months.

3. The first day (day of surgery) kind of goes by in a blur. I wasn't really in that much pain. I was very sleepy at first and it was basically just getting to the point where I could pee and stuff so I could go home. The first few nights are rough - it is hard finding a comfortable position to sleep in. I wish someone had warned me about that. I slept in a recliner the first few nights. If you are lucky enough to be a back sleeper, you will be fine! Get creative with pillows and stuff, comfort can be found, it just takes creativity! After day two, I was feeling much better, stopped taking my pain meds and had stopped wondering why I had done this to myself!

BY day 3- I was HUNGRY. I mean really, truly hungry. I was allowed to eat on day 4, so it wasn't too bad to wait until then. I was allowed soft Proteins from day 4 until my 1st fill. So I could have eggs and cottage cheese and refried Beans and I was extremely grateful! Some people aren't hungry for weeks. That's something to get in your head right now! Everyone is different and no two people have the exact same experience after banding. Some lose all kinds of weight right away, some don't. (I lost 12 pounds in the week after surgery, then lost 0 for the next 1 1/2 months - not fun.) Some require several fills to get restriction, some don't need any. Remember that it doesn't make you 'good' or virtuous to not need a fill and it doesn't make you 'bad' or a failure to need them. Get the fills you need to get the restriction you need.

You can do this! Good luck with your upcoming surgery and keep us all posted on your progress!

[StarbuxQueen 0]

It is so hard to say how you will feel. The woman I roomed with didn't need one pain pill however, I am two weeks out and I just had to take one. I had a lot of gas and it was painful, but most don't have that. I feel confident that what ever you experience week one should be over week two. I did start to experience a little hunger between 8-10 days out. Not terrible but a little. Now I am on pureed and not experiencing any hunger. I am eating three small meals. My port site is still healing so I can't answer that question, but I am sure someone will. Good luck!

[Graycie 0]

I am afraid to admit it, but I had a lot of discomfort the first week and a half. I had to use a pillow on each side of me because of the pain. I did use the pain pills, but they make you constipated, so I only took them when I couldn't take the discomfort.

One piece of advice: keep a pillow around for those times you sneeze or laugh very hard. My first sneeze about did me in. Hold the pillow firmly to your stomach when you sneeze or laugh. My co-workers make me laugh a lot...so I'd laugh then ouch, then laugh, then ouch. They got a kick out of it.

My third week my port hurt. That was cause I was sitting too much (my job requires a lot of sitting at computer). When you sit your put a lot of pressure on your stomach area. I now get up every 30 to 60 minutes and walk around. Helped a lot!

I feel I'm eating more than I should, yet I continue to lose! I'm amazed! My dietician put me on a 3 meals a day with two Snacks. So I eat every 3 hours. Still in the mush stage. And if I have something that isn't mushy (tortilla chips - soaked in chicken broth) I chew, chew, chew! Found if I don't chew enough, there's a lot of discomfort, especially around my port and on my left side.

I am definitely eating a lot less than I use to. Today had cottage cheese, salsa and avocado! It was delish. Tomorrow I have french onion Soup....can't wait! I love the Protein shakes and they really really help curb my appetite. I have them for Breakfast and mid morning snack and sometimes my mid afternoon snack. Put in blender, add icecubes and a little fruit and it's wonderful. And if you have it for a meal add a little sugar free low calorie scoop of chocolate icecream. Ymmm! When I'm on regular food again, I'm going to continue with the Protein Shakes. I like them that much!

And I have not exercised much yet....walking a lot more and have lots of yard work (raking, planting, etc.). I'm also actually considering the gym at work - going in real early in morning before the rush.

I think getting banded is one of the best decision I have ever made, second only to me quitting smoking over 15 years ago!

Banded: 3/21/08

[emb5126 0]

mmmmmm.... cottage cheese, salsa and avacado. i cannot wait till i can eat that. i know what i'll be dreaming of tonight... hehehe.

[Cadets71 1]

Gracie,

What Protein shakes are you drinking? You seem very happy with them.

Mary

[kei1170 0]

Yea Gracie... do tell the recipe for the shakes. Your description is making me want one now... lol