POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

I am at the end of my 6th day post-op. I guess the initial high from having the surgery is wearing off, because man, I've been in the dumps all day. I'm tearful. I'm gloomy. I feel sorry for myself because I am STILL on Clear liquids and it's starting to get to me. I think I might have actually felt hunger today . . . which I hadn't felt yet post-op. I think at some point I even regretted my decision. My brain doesn't regret it . . . but my heart is kind of falling apart right now. I also feel like I *should* be feeling better . . . but, honestly, I am still having some pain from the surgery. some of it's gas and some of it is port pain, but it's pain none…

I had LB on 2-18-08 and I have not thrown up yet. Is that PB'ing? When and why do people PB? I hope you don't think that these are stupid questions.

I was banded last Thurs. June 5th, so today is day 5 for me. I was feeling great, very little pain. However today I feel like I took a step backwards. I feel so weak, dizzy and light headed. Also much discomfort in my back between my shoulder blades. Anyone else have this? I am wondering if the whooziness is from lack of solid food, been on liquids and Clear Liquids at that since 2 days before surgery. I'm getting adequate Protein in from the GNC protein shots, a min. of 42 gms a day. My surgeons office said I could add one serving of either refried Beans, pudding, yogurt or eggs tonight and see how that goes. I do have a post op appt. tomorrow at the dr. offi…

I've heard this term. What does it mean?

Has anybody included crackers in the mushie food stage?

I had surgery on April 16th. So far, I've lost about 17lbs. I'm eating much smaller portions, but hungry again after about 3-4 hours. I have a 10cc or 12cc (cannot remember which) band with 4cc in it; have had one post op fill. How soon after your first fill did you get your second?? I'm

Ok, so here's the story... I was banded in February of this year - immediately after being banded (while still on liquids and mushies) I lost about 20 pounds. Since then I have had a few fills - I'm at 7.4 cc's now, but I'm still not losing weight (I think I've lost 5 pounds in total since but that was while on liquids after the fills). I'm maintaining, but not losing. I do feel food get stuck when I eat too fast or don't chew enough, but if I eat small bites and chew a lot I don't fill up any easier than I did pre-surgery. I have been told that it is because I am a lower BMI bander that this is happening, but does that mean that it just doesn't work for some people? …

I will be having the surgery the first part of next year and was wondering if you could tell me what you CAN'T eat. I am hoping that the band will not let me eat sweet or fried/fast foods. Those are my weaknesses. Thanks so much! Dana Starting 6-month diet on 6/26/08:w00t:

I am on day 6 post op and yesterday and today I am experiencing very painful hiccups. Anyone experience this and know how to prevent them? Thank you in advance for your help.

I was laying down and now, i feel a whole bunch of gassy feeling in my neck! and it is soo sore! is that normal? plus im all gassy in my belly, i just feel like its not getting any better. My surgery was yesterday....maybe yall could give me some advise

I was banded in February, 2008 and my surgeon had told me a "side effect" is hair loss. I am losing hair everyday! And it is not like it is just a little bit, it is many strands at a time. If anyone has this happening, or has had it happen, what are your siggestions? I have been taking my vitamins and I started taking Biotin. HELP!!!!

having a real hard time getting in the Protein and fluids. any advice? i feel full and don't want to drink anything. the Doc gave me codeine with acetaminophen and it doesn't help with any pain. i am thinking it might be disagreeing with my stomach so i am going to lay off it for a while. is this common?

I was banded on April 11th and have lost approximately 22 pounds since surgery, which for my size is not that great. My problem is that in the morning I can eat very little and the same at noon, however at night I am extremely hungry and the last 2 nights I have found myself eating more and more. I go in for my second fill tomorrow but this has been extremely disturbing to me. :thumbs_up:

My friend was banded 6/5 and is in excruitiating pain!! Her left shoulder was hurting due to the gas...but now it's in her neck. She is in some pain!!! PLEASE give me any advice you have!! She knows about walking and gas x...anything other advice will be GREATLY appreciated. :Banane11: I feel so bad for her. :cool2: I was banded the day after her and I have the shoulder pain so I'm praying it doesn't go into my neck as well. :Banane09: We are in this together...she's my BandAid:tongue:...so I've got to find relief for her!!! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!:w00t:

So, I guess I had my first PB yesterday, but it really scared me... i couldn't breath for about 15-20 seconds until I finally threw up. I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this?? I couldn't talk or breathe, it was very scarry!! I ate brocolli which my nurse told me to stay clear of, but I've never had any problems with anything else, so I tried it like a dummy... it was cooked well, but after that I will never do it again!! IS this a normal PB experience, or did I just have bad luck and choked on my PB??

My surgery was on this past Monday, when should I partake on full activity. Right now, I joined a gym, yesterday, and today, I took advantage of the treadmill, I could only do 15 mins, before I started feeling faint and tired. So I stopped. I figured that was all I could do for the day. Im going to try it again tomorrow. Should I be doing more? Or should I follow what my body is telling me? I dont want to over do it. So what should I be doing at this point? What am I able to do? What about riding the bicycle there? What equipment should I stay away from?

I was banded on 6/5 and I feel like I am having a rough go...my newest thing is coughing. It started last night, after my walk, and since this morning I have done nothing but cough. Very irritating when I am working. Anyone else have this? I called the nurse and unless I have a fever they don't think it is a big deal. Any advice?

hello, i was banded March 19, 2008 and am feeling great, have lost roughly 30 lbs and had 3 fills, the most recent one finally resulting in some restriction (although I may have a tiny leak, as I feel less restriction every day). i am thrilled with my weight loss and emotional outlook every day, but the past week or two has presented a unique issue. i miss large meals...i miss gulping Water when i'm thirsty and being able to take a big bite of something and not have to chew it to pulp. there are just certain times where i miss chowing down! i know that huge bites and big meals are what got me into this mess to begin with, i just thought i'd take a poll and see how others…

I went to a class called the ABCs of lap band. The nurse said not only to avoid sugared items but also sugar free items. She said that your body still releases insulin from eating sugar free items because they are sweet and this will cause you to feel hungrier. Have any of you post bandsters ever heard of that? How can you eat and avoid all sugar free stuff? I posted this under food and nutrition and only got 2 responses so I am trying it here. Thanks to all who can help me.

So I had a busy weekend this last weekend for family graduations, didn't eat more than I was supposed to but chose different things, ie: a bite a mom's homemade baked Beans, a bite of potato salad, a couple bites of a hamburger patty. And I gained 3 lbs... I was busy, literally and physically busy busy constantly moving, my muscles were sore -- even. Chasing my small cousins, nieces and nephews, cleaning for the parties, decorating and cleaning up the messes. During this whole time I did not stop my normal exercise routine, either. While three pounds is not much, I was consistently losing 1.2 lbs a day, for my size and with the small amount I am eating, that is consi…

Finally start eating something after lap band? Im a day out, havent been nauseated, and have had sugar free pudding, and I think I cheated I had some grilled cheese, maybe like a quarter of a sandwich, and still it hasnt hurt me. But Im also drinking with it too. So that it wont get stuck. I know I need to not eat solids cause I can hurt myself, but when can you eat solids, and not really hurt yourself?

Hi All: I have a quick question about what you can and cannot lift the day after/week after/month after surgery. My direct question is will I have any trouble if I haul my 7 pound laptop around the house the day of or day after surgery? (I have a friend who thinks she's my mommy and if very concerned about me moving the computer all by my lonesome.:biggrin2:) The more indirect questions are when could you lift groceries? Vacuum the house? Lift a 50 pound child? Finally, when did you feel like there was no restriction on what you could lift and/or participate in full activities? Thank you so much!!!:smile2:

Post-Opt Diet - What is/was yours??? :grouphug: Here is mine: Day of Surgery and day after - Clear liquids First 2 weeks - Full Liquids (High Protein shakes, yogurt, milk, pudding, custard, strained Soup, Cream of wheat, grits, Cream of Rice, tomato juice) Weeks 3 & 4 - Soft foods (cottage cheese, eggs, canned chicken, tuna, or turkey, shaved deli meats, soft Beans, oatmeal, mashed or boiled potatoes with no skins, canned fruit, well-cooked tender vegetables. Week 5 - Solid foods :behindsofa: regular textured introducing one new food at a time and monitor tolerance.

:mad:I'm 2 days post-op and feel like crap! Almost had an anxiety attack last night. Could not get comfortable no matter what I did. Took my painkillers but they did not do much. It just made me feel more 'out of control'. OMG! I had to labor and deliveries, elbow surgery, and laporscopy surgery in the past and this is by far the worst! It's just that I just can't not find a comforable postition to save my like. Finally feel asleep without pain in one postion but I had to stay like that all night. Help! I'm wondering what I've done to myself. I'm trying to think of the good things but not they don't feel so good.:incazzato:

Hello, I thought I might let you all know how my banding went, and it was good. I went about 10:20a m and I was supposed to be there at 10:00....bad girl...he he he he! Well they had me to wait about 3.5 hours so I didn't feel bad about being late. But it gave me time to think about it and I got my nerves all tied up in a knot. The first nurse wasn't the friendliest person so I am sure that had something to do with it. And they forgot to get a urine sample so after not having a thing to drink since 12 am ..... I had to find some yellow lemonade from deep within myself. Well they wheeled me away and when I got to the OP room .... I reallllly got nervous. The only …

Hi everyone, It had been a while since I posted anything related to my surgery. I got banded on May 12th and today (June 3rd) I went in for my Post-Op appointment. Since the surgery I've been doing okay. I did about 18 days of liquid diets and then switched to pureed food. (I normally pureed about 2 oz. of meat with about .5 - 1 cup of boiled veggies from a chicken Soup I made: Carrots, Spinach, pumpkin, Onion.) I bought a hand blender and I'm so in-love with it. After 29 days of liquid, puree tasted so fantastic! Although the majority of my Protein still comes from Protein shake (2 a day/ 17g of protein each). Puree was a nice addition to my daily diet. …

How long did it take for your wounds to heal? Mine hurt less and less everyday, but are still mostly raw.

Hi eveyone- Long time lurker (10 months) First time poster. I am hungry for the first time since being banded. I just started today with non-Clear liquids. I had a little sugar free pudding and 1/2 cup egg drop Soup. I am feeling scared about trying other things. How did you make it through this liquid stage? TIA.

I am 6 days post op and while I'm still in a fair amount of pain at times, I think I might be ready to start working out. I'm thinking cardio, not weights, since doc says no lifting over 10 pounds yet. When did you start?

It's finally over!!! 14 hours after the surgery I'm sitting in my hospital room typing this and watching tv. Haven't had any pain, but feel bloated. Meals have been exciting a eighth of a cup of jello and juice a cup of broth and a decaf coffee, I was surprised it took so long to drink it all. In short everything is going good and looking forward to a bright future.

just wondering if anyone else has had to go through this? I went from having 4 little scars to having 4 little ones and 2 rather large ones I did not expect. I would really like to talk to people who have had to undergo a little bit more healing and how they coped. Me well i think i am doing ok, ups and downs, but i am 10 days post op and feel better than i did the first day! would appreciate your stories thanks all.

I am on the full liquid diet part of my recovery and I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions how to make it more interesting. I'm so sick of the shakes and cream of wheat. If you know of maybe any other protein shakes...I am using Matrix 5.0 cookies and cream and dessert protein banana bread. I am also using crystal light and the south beach diet mix drinks. Any help is much appreciated! ~Ally

I was banded on June 6th and am having trouble with gas!!!! I can hear my stomach growling over the TV, (that is how loud it gets). Any suggestions? Jess:confused::tongue2:

My four small incisions have healed fine. Today the large 2 1/2 inch incision started pouring out the clear melted butter consistency Fluid. I ended up taking off the steri strip 3 days early & it is open with a hole the size of a pencil eraser. This has soaked three shirts, so now I"m continuously replacing paper towels (with betadine soaked over the part touching the incision to sterilize it) Has this happened to anyone else? How long does it keep oozing out? I don't have a fever & I don't think it is infected, but I'm watching it close. Any info would make me feel better!

Hello there, I need help in understanding my situation better: I was banded 5 days back and I am facing following : 1. Sever pain on left side (I believe where the port is), so bad that my husband has to help me in lying down or getting up from bed. If I try myself it is so painful that I literally scream with pain. However I can walk and sit for a while with minimal pain. 2. My incisions ( four - 1" and one 2.75"- 3") are so badly swollen that the whole area around it hurts if I touch it. 3. If I try to walk/ work a bit there is a sudden pain that starts from my tummy goes to my neck/shoulder till my head. 4. Cannot talk for long - my chest starts paining. 5. I…

Hi Everyone, I was banded May 9th. I lost 8 pounds prior to surgery and 7 pounds in the week after. Since then I've gained and lost the same 5 pounds, over and over, again. I'm eating between 800 and 1200 calories, most recently from a low carb diet. I drink 64-80 oz. of water, daily. I know that I should be happy with the 15 pound loss. I know that I don't have a fill, yet. I also know that eventually, the weight will lose the battle and will retreat. That is not my concern, at this point. My question is...WHY is the weight not coming off without a fill? Scientifically, I don't understand. What has happened to the calories in vs. calories out theory? Surely the calori…

I have not had a fill yet. so here is my delema....I feel as if I have something stuck this morning...Last night I had chicken&rice. Felt fine. woke up this morning, drank Water and felt kinda funny like I would imagine water going around rocks. But I did'nt think a whole lot about it. Tried to drink my protien shake and my chest tightened and I started coughing a strange cough and started trying to spit up. I finally spit out water and Protein drink. So I have fixed myself some hot tea. I hope this works. It seems like it is going down alright. anyone else with this? Thanks

my skin around the main incision site plus the mid abdomen area is turning yellow. At first I thought it was left over stain from the operation but no, it would have washed away by now (and doesnt appear anywhere else). Then I thought it was bruising, but everyone else has described their bruising as purple. If you press on the yellow areas with your fingertiips, then draw them away, it will momentarily leave imprints of your fingertips for a sec, then return to yellow. I'm concerned about infection??? Any input would be appreciated. Has this happened to anyone else....

I am 4 days post-op and still on Clear liquids. I'll be on clear liquids for 10 more days (my surgeon has his rules). But today I got a little sick of my typical broth, sugar free Jello, and "Propel" meals . . . So, DH took me to Starbucks for an iced tea. Yum. Then he ordered take-out from On the Border . . . and he ordered just the broth from their tortilla Soup. It's very clear, like a chicken broth, with some spiciness to it that was JUST what I needed to get rid of this splenda-ish fruit flavor in my mouth that I'm sick of. Guess it's time to get creative with the broths! Any suggestions welcome!

My primary care doc assumed that I'd be having regular blood tests as part of my follow-up. I've seen the surgeon once and had two fills since banding 4-09-08, but no one has mentioned doing any labs. Is this usual?

I am talking about the ones covering the insicions Most posts I read said things like "wait till they fall off" Mine were half on and half off and getting caught on my shirts. My doctors office said I could take them off in the shower. I did this morning verrrrry slowly... when did you remove yours?

Hello all, I just received a bill from my hospital where I had my lap band done. When I look at the pre-certification letter that came before my surgery from my insurance company, I now notice that it says I'm approved for Ambulatory surgery - not inpatient surgery. So, someone at the surgeons office didn't request approval for the right thing. This is not making me very happy with my surgeon's office right now. That is because my surgery was originally scheduled for April 7th (Monday) and I was called by my surgeon's secretary on Friday the 4th at 5pm in the evening saying she had to cancel my surgery for Monday because my insurance company never received her fax…

I have had the surgery 5/8. I was on a clear diet for a week. Then was told I can eat reg. soft foods. I think I am eating too much?!?!? Can anyone give me a diet?!?! What did you do after the surgery?!?! I went throught toooo much to stop now! I told my md that I don't feel any restrictions and he said there is none. I won't get any for three more weeks. Please any advice would be great!!:smile::cursing::crying::wub::tongue2::scared2:

Hi There Fellow 'May Flowers': I was banded on May 22nd. I think I am doing quite well, except for the first half of every day, I am still weak. I am eating the way my surgeon's menu states. I am finishing mushies today & start solids tomorrow. I haven't had work the last month or so & I start a new part-time job tomorrow. Is anyone else this far out still weak?

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ds_nwlgQztE&hl=en"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ds_nwlgQztE&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> This was on YouTube.com There are a few others...just type in Lap Band!

Was just wondering if anyone has used Weight Watchers or any other weight loss program to go along with their weight/eating control. I was banded June 11th last year and have lost little to no weight. One time my doctor even let all the fluid out because I was sobbing so much and complaining about how I couldnt eat anything without throwing up yet I hadnt lost any weight. The fluid has been back in for almost 3 weeks now and although I think Im doing ok with portion control and choices I still havent lost any weight. In fact Ive gained 3 pounds! I really would like to just give up at this point but I know that I will gain most if not all my weight back (which has only bee…

I am getting my first fill on Friday. I have plans that night to go out to the movies, dinner and dancing with the girls afterwards. They all know I have had the band. I'm wondering if people tend to feel sick after a fill, and I should bow out of my plans, or if I am careful with my eating should I feel OK. I appreciate the feedback.

Just wondering what type of Vitamins everyone is taking post-op? I know since we are all restricted on some of the good nutrition we get, I am curious as to what everyone is taking. Obviously I don’t want to take vitamins the size of horse pills...ouch!! (they will get stuck VERY easily, as you all know)! I tried pre-natal pills, but......they seem to make me crave things? Could just be me??? Thanks for your reply... :tongue2:

First let me apoloize about the spelling. I was banded on June 3rd, I spent the night in the hospital and I am so thankful for it. In pre-op my doctor was telling me he was going to send me home because I was the first patient of the day (8am was time of surgery) and he said "Oh, we send home 80% of our patients the same day." Thankfully my insurance covered an overnight stay because I couldn't have imagained coming home the same day. Besides there wouldn't have been anyone home with me the first night and to have someone there is a complete nessacity. I can't stress enough how much you need people there. Other things I needed, one of those EZ grabbers. It's got a atta…

Just wanted to update everyone. It is Wednesday at 7:00 pm, and I was banded this morning at 7:30 am in Concord, NC. Things went very well. I was told I was doing well considering what I had done. I don't remember much of course from the time I got my IV to after surgery. I woke up around 10:00 or so, and I was ready to move and get up by 11:00. I had a tiny sore throat when I woke up, and a little pain in my stomach, but not too bad. My cuts are up really high, the 2 inch cut is just under my breasts actually. I have four other small incisions. I had lost about 10 in a week, so he said my liver looked great. I will post some pics of myself & my incisions soon. Af…