justplaintired

Do they use a monster sized needle and does it hurt? How long does it take to get a fill? I know my first fill will be done in radiology by my surgeon in a few wks. I'm sure this has been asked before so forgive me for being redundant. Thanks.

The worst of the pain is the first 4 days, imho. i'm on day 9 almost 10 and i feel good except for if i move a certain way or try to bend over at the waist from a sittng position. hang in there, everday is 100% better than the day b4.

mushies! thank heavens!

Wow, I was wondering how this was going to be. I was just banded so I don't know yet how I am going to look in the end. I've lost I 15 and I think I will be happy around 65 lbs more. So, My total will be 80 in the end. I keep saying that I wonder what the heck my stomach (in particular) is going to look like when I'm done. I'm 46 so I really worry! I always thought that I would get a tummy tuck if things didn't look good post-op. Now, after having this surgery, I'm not thinking I could handle a tummy tuck operation too well. I had a rough three days, REALLY rough, with the band. I didn't expect it...I have had other surgeries...just one of those things. The part that bums me out is that I am reading that so many of you still feel fat or gross. I have the tendency to be hyper-critical of myself, too. I was BRUTAL about it in my 20s. I'm with the other posters...your husband thinks you are hot, then believe him! Stop inspecting yourself in the mirror! FWIW, you have a very pretty face and I'l bet you will never hear that you're pretty for a fat girl anymore! Or...she'd be so pretty if she lost some weight. OR what a shame...such a pretty face but she is so heavy. You have the pretty face and a small body, too! Your husband thinks you're sexy and I'll bet he is right!! If you are really struggling, get a counselor. I think we all could use some help in the self-loathing department!

You are my hero! I am going to check out your blog tonight when I have a minute. I'm glad you are doing so well! You ROCK Texasmama!

Ok, I think it was the iodine stuff. This was not chalky. It was clear and HORRENDOUS tasting. No chalk; chalk would've been gourmet, for sure! Thanks for the kind words...I'm doing MUCH better now! A new world!

Days 1-3 were hell on earth. Did I mention they were hell on earth? OMG! Day 4 I was starting to feel okay, day 5 even better and day 6...so much better! My complaints today...incision pain (no biggie, always expected that), I'm bruised all over my stomach like I went a few rounds with Mike Tyson, and my one leg is still achy and the toes are numb (not as achy as it was so I assume it is slowly improving). NOW ONTO THE EXCITING (non complaining) NEWS! I had my post op visit yesterday and I am down another 9 from my post op visit for a grand total of....14!!! Woohoo! I'm absolutely thrilled. I decided to treat myself to a new eyeshadow shade at ulta. i'm a make up junkie and I decided to buy Urban Decay "Scratch." Nice... The nutrtionist has moved me onto pureed food so I'm planning on pureeing some delish cream of mushroom soup today AND maybe trying to eat some ricotta cheese or hummus. I'm still amazed by how different a person can feel in a couple of days. I was literally thinking I made a huge mistake in getting the lapband and now that I'm feeling better, I'm PSYCHED I did it!!

Smokey! You are so right. I'm amazed that Texasmama got anything at all. I was like you so...some 36 hours before anything to eat or drink. In hour 32, the barium...OMG, THE BARIUM! I pictured some chalky stuff. This was REPULSIVE. I will never forget looking the other three banders that more... all lined up in wheelchairs, waiting for barium...then the look of nauseaa on each of our faces afterwards. I had to get anti nausea meds in my IV when I got back to my room...it was that repulsive. I wanna go back and be Texasmama...she was typing a few hours after surgery! Texasmama, you don't worry! You will do fine! You still feeling as good as you were? All kidding aside, maybe the growlies are from the surgery and you are confusing them with hunger. Maybe the head hunger is working on you? I'm NOT WORTHY! I was a hot mess for three days. My stomach right now looks like Mike Tyson used it as a punching bag.

Per the roll call list (If you are not on it, we don't know), the following people were banded today or will be within the next two days. Best wishes to: 2/16/11-TexasMama 2/16/11-ThisMumRocks 2/16/11-aocon0630 2/16/11-Bruinfan 2/17/11-Newbranden in Tampa, Florida by Dr. Aguila 2/17/11-wantinghealth 2/18/11-daisy_0729 2/18/11-getitgirl

Bruin, I just saw this post so I'm thinking you were banded by now. If you are not, that is not a big deal. It is your life and your body, and if you don't feel sure that this is the right thing for YOU, so be it! I have to admit that I'm curious about what you decided to do! Best wishes whatever you chose!

I'm not worthy! You were banded and already can type??? I wasn't able to PEE at this point and was clicking on a morphine drip every ten mins! LOL You rock, girl!

So good to see you Big Tom! I had the gas pains until today (yesterday just a little bit). So, the first 3 days were so bad...I was wondering if I had made a big mistake! I hope your gas pains go away soon. Walking seems to help a little bit...I did chew Gas Ex extra strength...helped only a little bit.

I would take off as much as you can! I assume you will be paid during your time off? If so, take a few weeks to relax! The first week you will feel crummy, the second week you will gain back your strength, I'm sure. I was knocked for a loop for three days (this is not my first surgery) by day 4, I became human again but I certainly wasn't ready to go back to work. Today is day 5 and while I'm MUCH better, I couldnt imagine going back in a day or so. Take what you can! How often will time off come around. Now, if it is without pay then you gotta do what you gotta do!

Hi Meagan, Congratulations on your great success so far! I was banded a few days after you. I was in absolute hell for 3 days. I'm planning on working on the 22nd which would be 11 days post op. If I find myself too tired to do it (I'm a sub. teacher), I will cancel the assignment and wait another few days. I am on day 5 today and I could not imagine working full time tomorrow! Nope, still too tired! Harumph! lol P

First of all, I am doing MUCH better today. Every day is better than the one before. The first 3 were very rough for me but day 4 (yesterday) I started feeling more like myself. Day five (today) I even did a little bit of shopping and felt fine. Aside from the incision pain, and some lingering leg pain, I'm pretty damn good! Yeah!! Okay, now on for the exciting news I just HAD to share with my LAPfriends. I lost another 9 lbs since my pre-surg visit last Tuesday. I am down 14 pounds total from 2/4/11 (when I started pre op diet). Woohoo! I swear I can already feel it! YEAH!

You are definitely a candidate from a medical/insurance perspective. They will band you with a 40 BMI with no co-morbidities (and you have a number of them). Co-morbidity is a weight related health problem. If your BMI was 35 with those health probs you would be approved. I was just banded last Friday. I had a 35.9 BMI when I was submitted to insurance (with apnea, high blood pressure, etc.) I was approved. I think what you are thinking is am I big enough that I need this help? Can't I just do it on my own without surgical intervention. I realized that I needed this even though I am considered a low bmi candidate. I can lose the weight, and I lose rather quickly. However, once the novelty wears off, I go right back to my gorging on food. I got the band because I am expecting itt o prvent me from being ABLE to gorge at single sittings. It isn't for everyone. And it IS a surgery. You are right to really think it all through. Good luck to you!

Come on over. Use Smokey's link or scroll down on the main page find 2011 bandsters, click and then click on February 2011. There is a forum set for every month. We all started on this forum and now we are over there. Everyone is welcome! Even if you are not a Feb bandster.

So glad to have you! When you have a chance, add your ID and date to our roll call post.

Banded on the morning of 2/11...felt like death warmed over...until today. I think today is the first day I remotely feel human. As of yesterday, I was still in a lot of pain, had gas pains, shoulder pains, neck pains, pain in legs and numbness in one foot. OMG! Did I mention I was an emotional basket case and pretty much had a melt down two nights ago? Okay, before I go on... The legs were scanned to rule out blood clots. They think it is some sort of pinched nerve. Idk if I agree but I don't know what the hell... Today one leg is 75% better and the other is about 25% better. We are talking Charlie Horse pain in calves. I was barely able to walk, light headed, etc. Back to my saga. I was NOT expecting to feel this crappy. I've had surgeries before so I didn't think this would be that bad. I had my gall bladder removed laproscopically and so I thought this would be the same. NOPE, not this time! I have been an emotional and physical mess since 7:30 Friday morning. Today is the first day I feel like myself, albeit sore, and a human being. I have come to realize that EVERY surgery is different every time you have one. If we all knew what the outcome would be post op, there would never be a case of someone not making it through surgery. All I can say is, I hope in 6mos I will forget it all and this will all have been worth it!

Banded on the morning of 2/11...felt like death warmed over...until today. I think today is the first day I remotely feel human. As of yesterday, I was still in a lot of pain, had gas pains, shoulder pains, neck pains, pain in legs and numbness in one foot. OMG! Did I mention I was an emotional basket case and pretty much had a melt down two nights ago? Okay, before I go on... The legs were scanned to rule out blood clots. They think it is some sort of pinched nerve. Idk if I agree but I don't know what the hell... Today one leg is 75% better and the other is about 25% better. We are talking Charlie Horse pain in calves. I was barely able to walk, light headed, etc. Back to my saga. I was NOT expecting to feel this crappy. I've had surgeries before so I didn't think this would be that bad. I had my gall bladder removed laproscopically and so I thought this would be the same. NOPE, not this time! I have been an emotional and physical mess since 7:30 Friday morning. Today is the first day I feel like myself, albeit sore, and a human being. I have come to realize that EVERY surgery is different every time you have one. If we all knew what the outcome would be post op, there would never be a case of someone not making it through surgery. All I can say is, I hope in 6mos I will forget it all and this will all have been worth it!

You are not alon I was only banded on Friday morning and discharged Saturday at noon but yesterday I was still just awful. IDK how some people say they are up and atem after a couple of days! I have been an emotional mess. I cried so hard the other night that I thought I would hyperventilate. I have felt just terrible until this morning! Don't get me wrong, I couldn't and wouldn't be able to work today but I'm starting to feel like a sore human being instead of a hot mess. I was in horrible pain until today (from gas, horrible pain in legs??, emotionally, etc.) They scanned my legs yesterday to rule out blood clots. I have had 4 other surgiers in my life (three of which involved the abdomin) and I would say that this is the second worse I have felt post op. The worst was my first C section. I did not expect to feel this poorly. I now know that every single surgery is different. I look at it this way...some people go in for a routine procedure and don't wake up. So, there is a huge range between feeling GREAT afterwards and not surviving at all. We just didn't fall close to the GREAT part of the scale. Hang in there... OH, and I would absolutely call doc just in case anything is wrong like the dry lips being a sign of dehydration. Hugs!

Hi All, Looks like I found a good thread... I was banded on 2/11/11 and I'm up right now with bad gas pain. My surgeon keeps his patients overnight (I honestly don't know how some of you left the same day...I'm not worthy). We have to drink the barium the next moring to check for leaks, eat some of a liquid meal and then we are discharged. The gas pain is really bad. It puts pressure on the stomach and therefore, the incisions. My belly looks so distended also due to the gas. I did walk in hospital and I was literally passing my house for hours today. I just woke up from a tyl/codeine induced coma and I noticed that my hips, legs, neck and one arm hurt and/or had pins/needles. Wth? I'm up at this ungodly hour searching the boards for the hips problem. Age: 46.5 yr old female FYI: There is a February bander sub forum on this site. Scroll down the forum list, click on 2011 bandsters and then on the february 2011 to find a lot of us being banded this month. P

...barely... I'm banded now but not up to much of anything. This is day two and I'm still hurting although MUCH better than the first 36 hrs. I didn't realize it would be this rough and yes, I've had several surgeries in my life... I'm also 46 yrs old now and overweight so perhaps that made this worse than I thought.... Or probably it is that we just don't remember pain after it is all gone. This too shall pass... Thanks.

Hi All, I'm here but just checking in to let you all know that I made it. Smokey, how did you type a full report with your humor, post op? I am day two post op and I'm okay, better than yestereday at least... Word of advice to those who are going in...BRING HEADPHONES. The constant beeping will be blocked out with headphones. My roommate had them and I wish I had done the same. That's my word of wisdom... Back when I'm feeling better... and someone keep up the good luck wishes that I used to send based upon the feb roll call! hUGS!

not a creature was stirring except me and my mouse. I have to be at the hospital tomorrow morning at 6:15. Thankfully it is a five minute ride from my house. Surgery is scheduled for 7:30 and I am the first of the day so I guess my surgery should be on time. I've heard that I am lucky to be the first of the day...less starvation time! lol I plan on being very good and dedicated. I sure hope I look and feel better come this summer! I'll be back with my surgery update in a few days... Thanks for your support.