5th Day Post Op, Its Been Rough!

[Elyssia 0]

Hello,

I was banded with my sister on Tues. 1/13/09. 3rd day post op was horrible. I woke up at 5:30 am feeling terribly nauseated. Long story short, I couldnt keep ANYTHING down. I threw up 4-5 times that day. My hubby finally called my Dr.'s exchange and Doc called immediately. He said that he would meet me at his office to take out Fluid from my band to give me relief. So we met him in his office at 8:30pm and he took out my fluid and some air. I felt much better! He said I was overly swollen and on top of the cc that was already in my band, I wasn't able to take anything down. So now, here I am 5th day post op and Im feeling kinda hungry. So far I've had broth, Protein Shake, watered down cream of wheat, and crystal light and I've been fine! But I Still feel hungry! Any suggestions????

Thanks for listening,

Elyssia:smile:

[twoheadedgirl 0]

my nurse told me that on the 4-5th day i can start to eat sugar-free ice pops. the chewing of the icepop helped a lot.

curved the hunger a lot too.

hot tea, and ice pops.

[RestlessMonkey 7]

Just hang in there and follow your doc's instructions. It's hard when you're hungry, but only eat the things he tells you it's ok to eat! (they are all different in their instructions so what's ok for one person may not be ok for you) It will get better. The post op diet is the worst part for many, but it's important so that you heal properly.

[IWannaBeSkinny 0]

I was starving at this point too. I am one day ahead of you. Hot tea with honey works well...I thought I wasnt going to make it through the day.

Where in Ca are you from? i am by Modesto

[Realtoronthego 0]

I was banded on 1/14/09. I am really hungry. I have been following the diet religiously, but I am a bitch. My husband has been great about making dinners for the kids, but they smell so good and my stomach is rumbling. I'm doing the protien shakes, Water, liquids, chewing ice pops. I'm also having mini anxiety attacks. Has anyone else experienced this? I had them when I was pregnant 10 years ago, but it stopped when I had my daughter. They started again when I went on the pre op diet, but not terribly. Now they are constant. It is driving me nuts. The pain is getting better, but the hunger is difficult.

[JillBengt 0]

Realtoronthego,

I could be you! I barely recognize myself. I too am having mini anxiety attacks which come in moments of extreme hunger or extreme pain. The gas pain in my shoulder is excruciating at times. As I lie curled in the fetal position crying on the couch, my poor kids either run for the hills or creep toward me timidly in an attempt to console me. It is like one long PMS session. Needless to say, my husband is just happy to be back at work.

On my pre-op diet, I was fine, even making every meal for my cooking-challenged husband and kids. I could sit down to dinner with them and "enjoy" my cup of broth. I even laughed when my teenage son pretended to remove my imaginary plate from the dinner table when he cleared the table.

But now, post-op, I have no such sense of humor! I cannot even be in the same room as my family when they are eating. So hang in there, you definately aren't alone!

Your comrade in crankiness, Jill

[Realtoronthego 0]

Oh Jill - you are too funny. Thanks for your response. I am so glad to know that I am not the only one. I have to hole up in another room while they are eating and cooking. My husband even cleared the kitchen before I came out because I couldn't stand the wonderful smells or the hunger. Of course he did mention that it was one of his better meals and that everyone ate it. Thanks so much Honey!!!!!!!!!! I fell on my knee on the ice this past Sunday just before surgery. It is still swollen and I am supposed to keep it elevated and not walk on it. So I can't even go for a walk to get away. I think that the mini attacks are really worring me and I don't know how to stop them or what to do about them. They come with the hunger pains and the gas pains in the shoulder. I am a mess! Sorry to sit here and feel sorry for myself. I need to vent.

Your Buddy in Hell!

[blackhawkhunnie 0]

yogurt helpped me alot at that point. It will get easier!! The first 7 days are the worst! Hang in there!:huh2:

[JillBengt 0]

Okay you win! Even though we have the same agonizing, anxiety-inducing symtoms, while you are holed up nursing a swollen knee from a slip on the ice, I just turned on the air conditioning!

Do you hate me? HaHa

Maybe this will cheer you up. While putting my 12-year-old son to bed tonight, he asked if I was ever going to be able to eat again. He had such a worried look on his face. I stroked his head and told him that this was only temporary and not to worry. I would be eating again soon. He sighed in great relief and said, "Thank God. I thought we wouldn't have a SuperBowl party this year!"

Ahhh...such sacrifices my children are making!

[miranda robinson 0]

am 5 days into this as well and it is quite a journey. I have palpatations which worry me and part of anxiety attacks. I was given the mildest valium to cope with the anxiety before banding and i am finding that it is helping now too. i am worried because my calorie count is so low. I ate from very small bowls with very small teaspoons brfore the banding and now I dont seem to be able to get enough in. 200-300 calories. there is no restriction but I dont want to get out of control the main source of pain has been where the port has been placed and it really stings.

[Realtoronthego 0]

What would we do without our support systems! My 10 yr old daughter was sitting with me yesterday and I mentioned that her breath smelled like enchalada's that they had for dinner (I hid in my office during that part). She immediately got up and went into the bathroom. When she came back I realized she had brushed her teeth and used mouthwash and asked me if that was better. (Frankly I was happy breathing in the fumes! )

Where are you located that you need AC? I am in NJ and it is so cooooold here. Have to use a heating pad to keep warm. sleeping on the couch because I can't get comfortable in my bed. My husband couldn't sleep with me either because he was so afraid of knocking into me and hitting my stitches. My incision areas itch like crazy and the port area hurts like hell. I'm also black and blue in those areas. I find that it is getting better though. I have to say that I doubted my sanity the first few days in doing this. All I could think about is whether I made a huge mistake and why didn't someone tell me about the pain or at least what to expect when I got home. I'm still getting shoulder pain. Anyone know when that stops?

[Elyssia 0]

Where in Ca are you from? i am by Modesto

I Wanna Be Skinny Too! lol. I live in Temecula, its about an hour from San Diego. I've seen a lot of people my age! I've been so surprised...btw, Im pushing 25.

[deedles916 0]

Yes I am undergoing all those hunger pangs as well... I am on my 7th day. Surgery was last Monday 1/12/09. I have using Special K Protein Water which has helped a little with the un between hunger pains.

3 days after my surgery I had to have the doctor removed some of the liquid in the band as I was not able to get anything down. it was very little at a time and I was getting dehydrated. So they removed the fliud in the band and what a difference. Since Thursday I am drinking and eating the soft foods with no problems...

but yes there are hunger pains... tummy is always growling. Now since the swelling has gone and the gas pains are subsiding and moving through out my body... there is not enough restriction. I find myself taking bigger sips and bigger bites of yogurt & pudding. So when I see my Doctor on my follow up tomorrow, I am going to ask him to put a little back in.

I know its hard... your tummy wants more, but you cannot give it more or anything substantial to wain off the pangs. I have been using sugar free pudding, Promise Yogurt Super Shots, and sugar free popsicles to help.

[JillBengt 0]

I had some pain in my incisions last night and had to take Vicadin for the first time in two days. I think I just did too much this weekend. My husband went back to work Saturday leaving me to get my kids to a total of 6 games this weekend. I was driving all over the county as two of them are on travel basketball teams. When I got home the gas pain in my shoulders was intense. I plan on resting today to see if that helps.

Realtoronthego I live in Ventura County, California (just north of Los Angeles County). The Santa Ana winds have blown in from the desert leaving us in the high 70's, low 80's.

Deedles916 My doctor does not fill any saline in the band until 4-6 weeks after surgery. He wants all the swelling to go down before adding any restriction. So basically it is just a diet on my own for 4 weeks until I can see him and get my first fill. I can't believe how easy it is to get an appointment with your doctor. I had to make a post op appointment a month before surgery just to get in at 4 weeks post-op!

[deedles916 0]

JillBengt... Sorry you have to wait so long to see your Doctor. Because I was not getting in enough fluids, He had me come in first thing the next day and in between getting other patients ready for surgery, he dealt with my issues. He removed alot of Fluid from the band in which the amount surprised him too. He did not expect there to be so much... usually it drains out before they put it in.

My post op visit was pre-scheduled when I met with him for the Pre-op 2 weeks before my surgery. I have to say I am very pleased with their dedication and follow up. I was not even going to complain about my issues, but the Coordinator called to check on me and she is the one who insisted I come in to see Dr. Looser then next morning.

How are you doing now? Have things gotten any easier? The shoulder pain really hit me yesterday and I am dealing with that now. But otherwise, I feel pretty back to normal, just wish I could eat more of something substantial. But only one more week till I can so that's not too bad!