Lap Band Surgery Day Stories

[megan1721 0]

Did you have Dr. Joyce or Dr. Lahmann? I am being banded on 2/9/10 and was so happy to read your story. Thanks!

[meandtheboys 8]

Hi Megan- not sure if this post was meant for me, but Dr. Overby was my surgeon.I don't recognize the names of the other docs.Good luck to you on 2/10 -- that's just around the corner!!

[AirForce.Wife 0]

Hey folks. My surgery was yesterday (2.2.10) and I just put up a blog about the experience. You can check it out at lapbandiary.blogspot.com Ty <3

[Sarahd333 1]

Am I the only one who didn't have an xray after surgery before going home? im 7 days post op *had my first post op appt a few days ago* and never got an xray. is this normal?

thanks!

[pennreporter 12]

I didn't either. I had the barium test where they have you drink the yukka stuff while they watch it go down through a machine...I can't remember what the test is called, but that was like a month or so after, maybe on my next appointment after my first fill.

Trisha

[Sarahd333 1]

i didn't have barium either. i was so messed up from the double anesthesia they gave me i was a mess for days.

[untfluter 3]

i didn't have an xray or barium swallow before I was released from the hospital... and I have never had one since my surgery on May 19, 2009

Am I the only one who didn't have an xray after surgery before going home? im 7 days post op *had my first post op appt a few days ago* and never got an xray. is this normal?

thanks!

[Sarahd333 1]

phew! im not the only one. thanks!

[onyah 0]

Hi folks! I was banded yesterday!

I was supposed to spend a night in the hospital, but (another!) huge blizzard descended on DC yesterday, and the doctor said that it would be just fine for me to go home last night and spare us the worry of getting home in today's crappy weather. Looking out my window right now, I'm grateful that we went that route!

So... surgery was supposed to be at 12:50, but we got started a little late (I think they were short-staffed because of the weather). I went back into the little prep room at noon or so, and got changed, got my IV, and got a shot of heparin in my belly. Three nurses, my surgeon, my LPN, and my anesthesiologist all came through in the hour I was there. My mom was with me for that hour, but then I said goodbye to her and was wheeled into the OR!

I remember getting moved onto the operating table and them having to do a bunch of adjustments to the table and my position because I'm so tall. I don't remember the anesthesiologist telling me that he was starting... the next thing I knew I was waking up in recovery! And the first thing out of my mouth was "I never counted backwards from ten!" I think they laughed at me. I was in recovery for an hour or so. I was shivering, so they wrapped me in blankets, and my throat and mouth were SO DRY and they gave me ice chips. A guy came in and gave me a chest x-ray without me even having to move, which was crazy. I know my surgeon came in and talked to me at some point... but I hardly remember it.

Then they wheeled me into a room where I could sit up and drink some Water. They gave me a pain pill (oxycodone) and some anti-nausea medicine, because I felt like I might barf if I stood up. My mom and my fiancé (who had arrived about an hour before) came back and talked to me for a while until I felt like I could stand up and get changed and get ready to go home. Which maybe took an hour or so. The timing was good -- right around the time we got to my house, the roads were starting to get really bad!

Ever since I woke up in the recovery room, I've been in a mild amount of pain. I haven't been experiencing too much shoulder pain, and the gassiness isn't so bad. But my incisions and abdomen are pretty sore. I've been using an ice pack, which helps. And I keep holding/compressing my stomach, which also feels good.

Last night, I was only able to drink about 16 ounces of water and 6 ounces of Soup. Today, I seem to be doing better – I’ve had about 30 ounces of water, half a Protein Shake (made with some Greek yogurt which made it taste SO GOOD!), and ten ounces of soup. Not too shabby!

[megan1721 0]

Hi...I was banded on 2/9/10 by Dr. Joyce at Silver Cross Hospital in Joliet, IL. As luck would have it, we had a huge snowstorm that day, but I arrived in plenty of time for my surgery check-in. I found the hospital staff to be caring and wonderful. I didn't even feel the Lovanox shot to prevent blood clots, and that was something I was worried about! :thumbup:

The next thing I remember is waking up in recovery---very groggy, but also in a lot of pain. My pain centered on my left side, and I think it's because of where they made the biggest incision. I found out after surgery that I had a hiatial hernia that also had to be repaired, so my pain could be from all of that. I thoroughly enjoyed having morphine, and I really needed it. Once I got into my room, I slept most of the afternoon until I was finally woken up and asked to walk the hallway. That really helped me get rid of some of the gas, but I will be honest, 2 days later, I now have the shoulder pain that most talk about. My recovery is slow and steady. I am feeling more comfortable today than yesterday, but I am very slow going. I am still taking my pain medication at regular intervals and also getting up and walking more and more to get rid of the gas. It felt great to take a shower today and get off all the dressings which were covering my wounds. Surprisingly, I am not hungry at all, and am just sipping on broth and drinking Water. I am sure that will change tomorrow when I can start my mushies. All in all, it is just what I expected. I was so glad to spend the night in the hospital. I just really relied on the nurses to help me get up and down and to help me monitor my pain. I am looking forward to all that is to come!

Megan

Starting weight: 251

Weight on Day of Surgery: 231

[prtygirl79 0]

Just got banded yesterday!!

So my in-and-out day surgery became an overnight stay due to the MASSIVE BLIZZARD of 2010 in the Washington DC area. I was due at the hospital at 7am, but my neighbor took us there (me and hubby) at 4am to beat the bulk of the snow. I went straight in to a bed and they told me my Dr. was on her way. Surgery lasted about 1 hour, and I woke up with an elephant sitting on my chest (gas) and a frog in my throat (sore). I was admitted because I couldn't get home in 12 inches of snow and of course for "observation" :thumbup:. I got home about an hour ago, and the elephant has left my chest, the only thing is the minimal pain around my incissions. It only hurts to bend over-so I don't-and to sit up in bed-husband is on the way to purchase more pillows! I'm fortunate to have slept at the hospital (morphine drips!) and hydration, and 24 hour care, etc. so I was able to go home after the frog, and elephant were gone, and by then they were sure there were no complications.

[untfluter 3]

Sounds like you were glad you stayed over night... and you had morphine.. so that made it all good.. LOL I stayed overnight, it was planned that way and I loved my morphine pump too.. LOL I am originally from the DC/MD area, born in DC and raised in MD... I still have a lot of friends there and my oldest friend was ready to get on a plane yesterday if the airports had been open and she is terrified of flying.. LOL

Just got banded yesterday!!

So my in-and-out day surgery became an overnight stay due to the MASSIVE BLIZZARD of 2010 in the Washington DC area. I was due at the hospital at 7am, but my neighbor took us there (me and hubby) at 4am to beat the bulk of the snow. I went straight in to a bed and they told me my Dr. was on her way. Surgery lasted about 1 hour, and I woke up with an elephant sitting on my chest (gas) and a frog in my throat (sore). I was admitted because I couldn't get home in 12 inches of snow and of course for "observation" :thumbup:. I got home about an hour ago, and the elephant has left my chest, the only thing is the minimal pain around my incissions. It only hurts to bend over-so I don't-and to sit up in bed-husband is on the way to purchase more pillows! I'm fortunate to have slept at the hospital (morphine drips!) and hydration, and 24 hour care, etc. so I was able to go home after the frog, and elephant were gone, and by then they were sure there were no complications.

[Geisha 0]

I got banded yesterday :thumbup:

It was the first time I had ever went under an operating table for surgery. I thought I wouldn't be nervous, but I started tearing up when I was on the table prepping for surgery... It was nice having my mother there supporting me, she held my hand and told me she'd be waiting for me when I was done. To hear her say that calmed me down. Then they took me to the operating room. All I remember seeing was a bunch of people, they put a mask on me, and that was it. I woke up with a bad taste in my mouth, and I could barely move. The doctors and nurses were all kind, the surgery took 45 minutes, and I could walk after that. I had 2 insertions on my body. The port was in my bellybutton, and I had another just below my chest. I can't wait to get my new life started Best of luck too the rest of you as well :thumbdown:

[Banded Betsy 0]

Hi Everyone!

I was banded on 2/19/2010. I guess I can say that all went well. I was to be at the hospital in Charleston WV at 7:00a.m. that morning, and surgery was due to start at 9:00a.m. After having to go through registration that took about 45min., they sent me to the surgery waiting room where I only had to wait about 5min. So they took me back to get me ready, changed my clothes to my gown, almost everyone that was going to be in the O.R with me came in to talk to me and really eased my mind. I then got my IV and a does of Versed which really made me not care about what was getting ready to happen. They then told me to say my goodbye's to everyone, and took me straight to the O.R. I remember them asking me to scoot on to the operating table, and asking me to do a bunch of stuff, and the next thing I know, they were trying to wake me up. I was in the recovery room for a little over two hours because I was realllllly sleepy :redface:. Not long after they got me out of bed, they asked me to go to the bathroom, and then said that I could go home if I felt that I was ready. Sooooooo here I sit on the couch in a little more pain that I expected. The gas pains that everyone talks about being in their shoulders, has settled in my back and in the front of my rib cage. Other than that, I feel "ok." I wish everyone luck, and if you have any questions, just send me a note.

Thanks,

Betsy

[atgoalgal 0]

I'm in my 4th year, and loving banded living. You can find my surgery day story at Recovering #001: The Morning After Lap-Band® Surgery – the First Day of the Rest of My Life, August 17, 2006

Hopefully you'll find lots of other useful information on my blog, including things to stock up on before surgery. Let me know if you find it helpful.