Can anyone put my mind at rest?

rockchick · May 10, 2008

Hi to all you fellow banders out there.

All I can say is "Thank goodness for this website"!!

I am 10 days post-band & for the last 5 days I have suffered from a reallly bad tummy upset. I'd not read anything on this subject anywhere else until I found this forum & was really starting to panic. I'm still on liquids (mainly s/f squashes/cordials, jelly & smooth yogurt/fromage frais, with the occasional icecream!) for two weeks (on instructions of my surgeon) then I can start on the mushy stage! Roll on Wednesday!!

I've been lucky so far, no pain since day 3, no meds, no gas pain, no port pain, but my major concern was with the band slipping! The hospital placed sooooo much emphasis on not eating things for the first couple of weeks that would make your stomach muscles contract, so as not to break the stitches keeping the band in place. I'm sure that my stomach must have been moving like a washing machine, the feelings this tummy upset has generated!!

Can anyone put my mind at rest on a couple of other things?

Up until Thursday, I felt a real restriction when taking my liquids, even small sips of liquid seem to stick in my throat, but since yesterday morning, the fluids have gone down ok. Is this just the swelling in my stomach going down & the fluids passing through more easily or is this a sign that something is wrong with the band?

Lastly, my wounds don't seem to be healing at all, not even the hole in the back of my hand from the drip, which is only small. I have changed the dressings & kept them clean & dry, they don't seem to be infected or anything, but I'm worried that the stitches will have dissolved & the wounds aren't closing up. Is this normal & is there anything I can do or take to speed up my bodies healing process?

I've emailed the hospital for their views on the above, but with it being the weekend, I don't expect I'll hear anything till monday, earliest.

Many thanks, in ancticipation!

Suzi :thumbup:

jdelvalle · May 10, 2008

The fact that the Water is going down easier now you are correct that the swelling has just gone down and it is going down. I do not think an upset stomach will cause the band to slip at this point. From what I understand they stitch the stomach around the band. I am thinking the upset stomach is gas from the surgery. Get up and do as much walking as you can. That will help you pass the gas.

bbaby24 · May 10, 2008

For me, I was told to keep the area of my stitches dry. I am 8 days post op, and I am almost back to normal. I do everything normal. I remember my nurse advising me to take pain meds even when i dont feel pain. I take it one a day usually at night, even wen i feel no pain at all. I have been walking alot, and i have even started to drive. I guess age matters as well, am quite young. My advise is to keep the area dry so that it can heal properly and keep on taking ur meds( painkillers at least once a day, Vitamins and minerals), and sleep and rest more. Am now on the both liquid and mushy stage, depending on how i feel.

RAS_STI · May 10, 2008

it's natural to be 'concerned' - but don't take concern to the point of paranoia. the docs have done this thousands and thousands of times before.

you're fine.

rockchick · May 10, 2008

Thanks, guys. I really appreciate you taking the time to reply.

I'm trying not to get paranoid, but I'm the person who, if something is going to go wrong, it'll be with me! I nearly didn't get admitted to hospital, as the receptionist messed up taking the payment off my debit card & then they messed up the order on the surgeons list....so as you can see, I'm jinxed!! It tends to make me panic a bit!!

On a positive note, I order a pair of jeans off Ebay, a size smaller than I usually take & I slipped into them with no problems this morning!! Result!! And, as hubby said "No overhang"!!

Kinda makes it all worthwhile, doesn't it!!

Thanks again,

Suzi ;0)

pennyt · May 12, 2008

Thanks, guys. I really appreciate you taking the time to reply.
I'm trying not to get paranoid, but I'm the person who, if something is going to go wrong, it'll be with me! I nearly didn't get admitted to hospital, as the receptionist messed up taking the payment off my debit card & then they messed up the order on the surgeons list....so as you can see, I'm jinxed!! It tends to make me panic a bit!!

On a positive note, I order a pair of jeans off Ebay, a size smaller than I usually take & I slipped into them with no problems this morning!! Result!! And, as hubby said "No overhang"!!

Kinda makes it all worthwhile, doesn't it!!

Thanks again,

Suzi ;0)

Congrats on the smaller jeans!