POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

Hi everyone!!! I am wondering if anyone has gone back to work while still on liquids??? I am returning to work on Sunday night (8pm to 8am) and I am currently on a diet of 3 protein shakes/day with one "snack". I am thinking of spreading my shakes out during the day before so that I can have one at night. And since I will be sleeping the majority of the day after, I may have one or two after midnight.......does anyone have any advice? Thank you for all replies!!!!

Ugh, I am really struggling with my depression right now. I went off meds last March and have been doing well managing it. Now that food has been taken away, I am so lost. So frustrated. I am so bored. I realize now just how often I ate when bored or blue, and now I am so lost as to what to do. I know I need to get outside and go for a walk, but I just cannot get myself to move. Did anyone else have issues with depression rearing it's ugly head post-op. I am not suicidal, just want to curl into a ball and sleep forever. I do not want to have to go back on my meds. I am not ever sure if I can??? *sigh* I just needed to vent. Find someone who can relate? Not sure. ***UP…

I had my surgery this last friday 2/8 pain wise I am doing great.. the gas wise I am forever burping and I am 3 days out .. when will this go away.. that is more discomfort than the surgery?? also I tried to have pedialite popsicles and it killed when it got to my stomach.. so I am off to get some sugar free otter pops.. anyone else not have a tolerance for sugar??I am great with broths and water and that is all I have had.:cursing: Stacy

Do a Quick Search on: shoulder pain diaphragm for threads offering the explanation.

I was thinking about this today. Because I have to do optifast pre-op, I was wondering if anyones stayed on optifast post-op as their liquid phase after surgery. I'll ask the Dr when I go in next week but if anyone has done this, I'd be grateful for info.

Hi I got my lap band in October 2007 to date I have lost nothing, put it on rather than lost, initially lost a stone, but when swelling went down it went back on. have had two fills, none of which have worked, the port is facing the wrong way and it is absolute agony them trying to find the hole to put the needle in. I am certainly not happy and go back to hospital on Thursday, so wish me luck. I am so disappointed, thought this was the start of the rest of my life.

I am 4 months post-op and the last 2 days have been agony for me. I have had the worst gas I have ever experienced. I've also had diarrhea for the last 24 hours. I've used Gas-X strips, taken Gas-X tabs and taken some Immodium. Tonight I took a hot bath and have been using the heating pad. I made myself take my DD to the park because I know walking helps get the gas out. NOTHING is helping! The last time I had this much discomfort I was in the hospital having a baby! These gas pains have been so bad they've felt like labor! Until now I haven't had any gas issues at all, other than right after banding. Is gas this severe common? It's nuts, I can HEAR and FEEL the gas in…

My surgery was Monday, and I thought I was doing great until yesterday evening, when the soreness and pain set in. I can barely move without excruciating pain in my body - It's not band-specific, but it's an all over soreness fom my pelvic area to my neck. It's nearly impossible for me to get up from a chair or bed without screaming. I stayed overnight in the hospital where they gave me morphine for pain. I was discharged yesterday morning (Tuesday) with liquid tylenol 3 for the pain. Did anyone else experience this? What pain management medication were you given after your surgery? HELP!!

Hello, Did anyone else have something like this? Is it something I need to be concerned with? Since yesterday (worse today) I've had a pain in my left side under below my ribs - the best way to describe it is - you know if you eat or drink something then run that side cramp that you get? it feels like that. I feel it whenever I breathe in and then subsequently at the same time it gives me a small pain at the base of my neck/shoulder on the right side. Is this a gas pain? Do I need to be worried? I would call my doc and ask but he's away for a week. Thoughts?

I am very new to all this posting of messages and just have not been able to find a area that discusses what to wear after the surgery. I did read where one person said to wear comfy clothes and not underwire bras, but have not heard any of this from my doctor. If we are to wear sports bras, can you lift your arms well enough to get them on? I am thinking that those may not be very comfortable either, but wanted to hear what you all might suggest. Thanks so much as I am getting banded on the 13th. We think it is the best Valentines's Day gift that my husband and I will ever receive!:biggrin:

I'm 7 days post-op (surgery on 1/23/08) and I'm still on the "full liquid" diet of apple sauce, protein shakes and soup. I've followed it to the T! If anything, I think I might be getting too few calories. Only in the past day or so have I tried to increase my diet to over 300 calories. The first week I lost 7 lbs but my scale now says that I have gained 2 pounds. Is this possible? Am I eating too few calories? Can I gain weight still eating 600-700 cals? It's a bit discouraging. Please help!

Today I am 6 days post op. I am trying to "eat" what I am allowed and drink however I am having a hard time. Everything is an issue to get it down. Not that it hurts or anything like that. I DON'T want anything. Not even soups,water,protein drinks,the new G2 gatorade,sf puddings...nothing. When I do try to eat or drink I get very little down before I feels like if I go on things will come back up. Does anyone have any advice on this?

Hello, Banded on 1-29, Still feeling very sore. I have been on clear liquides since. I dont think i am getting enough protein or in fact any. Could this be the reason i feel hungry? I am getting lots of liquides but just have that feeling ......like there is something missing. Dose that make any sence. When do i get to take a shower !!!

Go to the thread "I think I figured it out" I don't know what your mystery pain is but a lot of them are related to the CO2 used to inflate the belly for surgery. Read on...and as Benjamin Franklin said, "fart proudly."

I had surgery three days ago. This morning I drank warm decaf tea and wonder if i drank it too fast. It was about a cup and I drank it over maybe 5-7 minutes. I didn't feel anything unusual immediately but about 5 minutes later, I was lying down and felt a sharp tight pain under my left breast, like when you have gas around your heart. Have any of you ever experienced that or know what caused it? Thanks.

I was banded 1/25 and nutritionist has me on a clear liquid diet for 1 week and then on to mushies the next week. I can have Clear liquids including juice, broth, sf Jello, sf popsickles, and Water. My incisions don't feel bad, but I feel so weak and I think I really have hunger pangs instead of surgery pain. I can't see how I'll heal on this kind of diet, I mean that is maybe 100 calories a day. I haven't had much juice it goes right through me. Yesterday I added skim milk and have been tolerating it well. Did anyone drink Protein shakes after or what. I'll be calling this morning when they open to ask what to do. Advice appreciate. Renee

I am 7 days post-op and hoping to be encouragement for those of you waiting to have surgery or just a couple of days post-op. I feel great, no soreness from the incisions and all the gas pain is gone. I did get tired rather quickly while getting ready for my Drs. appt. It was the extra time and strength to blow dry my hair and style it and apply make-up. Haven't done that for 8 days. I am 12lbs down from the morning of surgery, which is 23lbs down total since starting the liquid diet. My first few days were ROUGH but now I know it was so worth it!Good luck to all and I wish you much success!!:biggrin:

I am 4 days post op and having a pretty rough time of it. Not hungry but just a lot of nausea and some dry heaves the 1st 2 days but none since. I am still having lots of abdominal and gas pains. But my real problem is trying to get down any medications. I am on clear liquids and following that religiously. The liquid lortab is terrible tasting and I start heaving when taking small amounts with sips of water. I ended up splitting a Zofran (for nausea) in half and its a really small pill and then taking a small spoon of jelly and mixing it and it went down. Its not SF jelly but I'm not getting in much calories anyway. I may try the same thing tonight with pain pill…

Hi. I was here about a year ago, but was rejected by Empire because my BMI was too high. In May they rescinded their upper limit cut-off, so now I'm heading back into the procedure. I'm waiting for my approval now, but there shouldn't be a problem, so I'm Full Steam Ahead for getting banded in early March by Dr. Fielding in NYC. I have two main concerns: 1. sleep in the early post-op period. I'm a hefty fella, and sleep on my side and propped up because I think I have reflux problems. When can you sleep on your side after surgery? I know you end up with hulking great holes in your sides; when is it practical/convenient to lie on your side during the healing period?…

I was banded on Thursday, Jan 24 and everything seemed fine except that I was very sleepy all the time. But omg today- I feel so sick and weak. Is this normal? I had intended to go back to work today but there's no way. I'm asking myself why on earth I did this to myself? I've tried cutting down on the liquid hyrdrocodone to see if I'd be less sleepy but it hasn't helped. Any advice? Can I take something else like ibuprofen for the pain?

Hello everyone: I have a question I'm hoping someone can help me with. I had my lap band surgery on January 17th and my port site is still very tender and sore which I expected. I took off my guaze bandage to change it where the port site it and near the incision is two small painful blister like welts. I am worried I have some sort of infection. Did this ever happen to anyone? I have been keeping the port site covered since surgery because any rubbing or bumping of the site hurts so I keep putting guaze and the tape they give you on it. I hope it is just some kind of skin irritation that will resolve on it's own but I'm worried. Anyone experience anything like…

Anyone else out there post op experiencing and increase of depression and/or anxiety? I already had issues with the 2 before surgery and while most of the time post op I have been really optimistic and upbeat (mostly due to feeling so much better being 40lbs lighter) sometimes my mood just drops. I've had to increase my anxiety meds (doctor's orders). I know part of my anxiety is that I can no longer eat to soothe my stress. I just seem to be overcome by loneliness sometimes...I'm fairly certain this is just a personal issue but I wanted to check in and see if anyone else has had similar post op experience.:cool::eek:

My surgery was on the 24th (3 days ago) and I am feeling so bloated and uncomfortable. How much longer might this last? I am also unable get fluids in because of this. Has anyone had this experience?

Hi -- I am scheduled for surgery on Friday (2/1), how long after surgery did you all have to wait to take a shower? Thanks. Cynthia

I was just wondering how long you had someone with you after surgery? I'm a stay at home mom to 4 children (3 are in school), I just don't know how much time my dh should take off of work? Thanks! Alyssa 260/248/140?

Hi y'all, I will be off a mushies in a week....wooo hoooo!! I was just curious what y'all ate the first time you could eat real food??? I am looking foward to your answers.

Hi -- I'd appreciate any insight regarding business meals during the pre and post op diet. I am currently only on Clear Liquids and will be traveling as well as entertaining clients. Any tips to make this more managable? I'm planning on packing some boullion cubes, but it is not always easy to find a microwave or hot Water in hotels, airports, etc. Plus, I will need to dine with clients and colleagues, I do not really want to explain the diet. Any hints? I know it will be much easier in few weeks when I hit mushie food, but have several things between now and then. Thanks. Cynthia

Hi all! I know there are guidelines given on what to eat after surgery and I would like to know how many follow that advice? If you don't are you successful? What about a few months after the surgery, what types of food and qty are you eating? I know that the lapband will help restrict my food intake (which I truly need) so I am just curious to hear what successful banders eat. Thanks and God Bless to you all (I go for my consult tomorrow, so I am getting closer and closer to the actual surgery) YIPEE!!!!

Starting day 5 I was banded 1/16/08 and have a bunch of staples in me. Dr said I had an unusally shaped stomach. I asked, "that it was XXL?" He laughed and said, "no, just some blood vessels we had to think about." My surgery lasted quite a bit longer than most. Was in the hospital one night. post-op problems. Low-grade fever, pounding headache, and I feel like I have a cement block in the upper part of my stomach. Was a loooong journey to get insurance to pay for banding and now I'm having mixed feelings. Just haven't had any quality of life yet.

Okay, what's the scoop? Can I color my hair after the surgery? I am premature gray and really cannot go too long without coloring the roots. But the information packet the doctors office gave me said that there should be no treatment of hair for 6 months after surgery

I was banded on Jan. 8th. I've been having terrible gas pains since then. Everytime I belch/burp/hiccup, it is just awful. I'm taking Gas-X strips very often but nothing seems to help. Could I be taking too many of these strips? Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks

I have been on full liguids for 10 days now and start mushies at two weeks. I have several questions. If what I read on here is right I am doing it wrong. My notes said to sip drinks all day long consuming a minimum of 40 oz. I did not relaize until today that it should only be 2-4 oz at a time. I thought liquid just passes through. Anyway how long do you wait after consuming 4oz to start sipping again? I have not even added a time factor to mine. My second question is am I the only one who does NOT feel full and feels hungry at this stage? (Not always, just some of the time) I also get to have 3oz meals 3 times a day but they are liquified too just not one of my…

I was given Keflex to take for 5 days after my surgery. Well, in the midst of everything, my husband and I forgot to refrigerate the antibiotics so, i stopped taking them after day 2. I kind of forgot about them. Well, its now day 6, and I am still in a significant amount of pain and I am wondering if maybe it is because I never finished the antibiotics. I am seeing my doc today, so I will be sure to ask him, but I am wondering if Everyone was prescribed antibiotics after surgery? Has anyone had to deal with any kind of infection besides the port?:smile: EEK

Good evening everyone. I was banded nearly two ago (tomorrow is my two weeks, and my throat is very sore when I swallow. I had an incident on Friday night and vomitted and then on Saturday my throat started hurting. But it hurts low, like where my neck meets my chest? Any ideas? I am terrified that something is wrong. Please tell me one bout of vomitting could not have moved my band. Any info is welcome, thanks!! :welldoneclap::confused::wink:

I have been having abdominal pain three days post OP and have been told it was from the gas they push into your stomach as they operate. Did anyone have the same pain, and how long will this last?

I've been reading a lot of posting where some of you have lost close to 20 pounds in the first 2 weeks after surgery. I'm 3 weeks post-op and have only lost about 8 - 10 pounds and I'm strictly following the full liquid diet. Anyone else experiencing this?

Does anybody have any idea how long it takes for the throat soreness to go away? They said it's from my tube during surgery and I guess I have some rawness or swelling from that. It still hurts quite a bit and my mouth is SO DRY - no amount of liquids is helping that situation at all. Any support, ideas or suggestions to can send my way? :help:

Does anyone know how important it is to crush pills? I have read to do this for two weeks and I have read to do it for a lifetime. If continued crushing is important, does anyone have any suggestions on how to get the powder down??:help: Confused.

Hi gang, its me...today a new symptom of surgery. 2 weeks post op, pain and major discomfort in left side, under arm, chest, rib area when I take a deep breath. Mushies going down fine, cannot eat but about a cup at a time, liquids going down fine. No port soreness or swelling..a lot of gas...both ends (sorry). Any had any such situations? Dr. Lusco on call, said to watch for fever and it was probably soreness. Any comments I am interested. Thanks

I had surgery on 12/31/07 and I am having throat pain. I am so thirsty all the time and when I take a drink, it is like it gets stuck in my throat at the top. I sometimes end up vomiting up what just went in. It is like a stone stuck in my throat and I can't swallow it. Has anyone else had this problem? Could it be swelling from the breathing tube? Will it go away? Please help. I need a light at the end of the tunnel.:help::whoo:

After speaking with my surgeon's office staff I'm somewhat confused. For example, I was told I should begin walking and exercising as soon as I'm physically capable following surgery, but was told to avoid driving a car for at least a week. Seems to me a little odd. So I'll ask the gang here who've been banded: what post-op mobilities and/or exercises were you able to do right "out of the gate," and what things in your life did you find yourself having to ease back into?

I had my band on Friday the 28th. I have severe cramping in my stomach and diaphram area. Is this normal?? What should I be trying to eat other than water? I'm in constant pain. :help:

Merry Christmas everyone. I've gained 5 pounds since being banded on 12/21. Anyone experience this?

<p>Aloha All</p> <p>Thought I would never get to post this, but here I am 100 Lbs. post op. Was banded in July 2007, and what a difference 100 Lbs. can make. I can ride on airplanes without using my seat belt extender, even on the small planes. Can get a good nights sleep, without feeling like I'm going to choke to death. And did I mention how much better the sex is? Christmas Day was the best, decided it was time to get out the "Green Hornet" (my bike) and clean it up and see if I could still ride. Use to ride a lot 10 years ago (6000 miles a year) well after checking everything over it got on and rode around the hood and my DSW said that it would be co…

Hi all! I am now 7 days after surgery & really feel almost back to myself...Port area is still tender, but, otherwise feeeling Fine :whoo:! I am on a 2 week CLEAR liquid post op, broth, Water, decaf tea, Jello,suger free popsicles. Am sip,sip,sipping all through the day & am STARVING! Am going to call my Dr tommorrow, maybe even a Protein shake or something....Otherwise it's the Clear liquids unitl Jan 4 :rolleyes Ilene

Is it normal to have pain in the throat after surgery? It seems to go away when I swallow, but the rest of the time it is thier and very uncomfortable. How long will this last? Thanks.

I am on my 4th day post op and am still experiencing some pain and discomfort. Mainly on my left side of my stomach, right around my belly button, it feels like it is something pulling...it also feels a little numb when i touch it. Getting up and down is still a bit of a problem. Still hurts and feels like I'm gonna tear my stitches out. Did anyone else experience this? How long before it goes away?

Hi everyone. I was banded on 12/21 and am in a lot of pain - I'm assuming from the gas - even though I'm walking, walking, walking. If I take in anything besides water/crushed ice, I feel like I'm going to throw up. Is this normal? I can't imagine being ready to start full liquids tomorrow. Also, did you all have to sleep in a chair for a couple of nights? I tried to get into bed last night and just about died from the pain of getting up. I'm not going to call the doc unless I'm still feeling like this in two days since from what I hear this is pretty normal. Just needed some reassurance. Thanks

I was banded on the 18th and I am still having a horrible time getting anything other than Water down. The pain has gone down considerably and is tamed with just tylenol these days. The nausea is a semi-constant companion and the crying and second guessing has started today. I pray that I wake happier and healthier tomorrow because my holidays have sucked pretty much so far. I have two days of Lovenox blood thinner shots left to take and THEY SUCK SO BAD. The one today had me shrieking and then bursting into a half-hour crying jag. Not something I'm normally known for. My poor husband felt so bad... but they freaking hurt. My legs look like pin cushions! So that's my …

O.K. Gang...I was banded on 12-18. Weight at 446 pre-op, liquid diet day of surgery 430. That week was tough. The first few days I didn't eat much, I couldn't, but yesterday and today I'm just starvin. Has anyone else experienced this? If I had the wilLpower to stay true to diets, I'd have just dieted. Now my question is this, does the size band matter? My doc said he put the large band in me. I don't know if mypouchis holding anything. I've experienced a lot of nausea, and gas. My sister lost 300# and is still loosing from surgery 2 years ago. So why am I hungry? Any comments?