Andytim08

I took it easy yesterday, stayed on top of everything and then around 10pm I noticed that the bruising was starting to show, so I wanted to take a closer look at my incision and make sure everything was ok. Hubby was so helpful- he held a mirror and a flashlight and I looked inside my belly button and Surprise!!!!!!! My incision had split open. So I made the call at 1019 to the on call number and of course, waited 40 minutes and had to call back again. Finally, my surgeon's PA-C called and asked me a few questions. I told him I was and RN in Surgical services, but i don't think he heard me, so I asked if he woukld like me to send pictures, so I did. Then he called back and said "wow, I can see the hole ". I think that he needed proof. After all, it is late on Friday night and no one wants to be bothered on the weekend lol. I asked him what he would like me to do, and he told me to butterfly it and place gauze and tape over it, then come in monday morning for a stitch or two. I guess I must have said something in some sort of medical way because he then said "oh, I didn't know you are in the medical field" I then told him again that I work in same day surgery at the hospital where my suregery was performed..Then it was like a magic lightbulb went off, like "oh you really do know what you are talking about". But like I said, it was late on a friday night, and maybe they get calls about gas pain and minimal stuff that comes along with this surgery. Well, Now I am thinking about calling back and asking about getting an rx for antibiotics since i do have my abdomen open to air..... As far as everything else, still sore, but not bad. Taking my pain meds still on a schedule. Today I upgraded from just Jello, Water, and popsicles to adding Protein shots and bullion........ Once again, surgery may go well, but that is ONLY the beginning. Not scared or nervous. Just wanting my hole closed!!!!!

Sending positive energy your way now! At work this week, one of my coworkers cam up to me and asked if I was nervous... I guess I had been alot more quiet than normal for me lol. I am still nervous, just because it IS a process, but I am glad that there are people out there going thru it with me

Glad you are ok now! I just wrote how great my surgery was and now am reading your post after the fact. That had to be sooooo scary!!!! What a crazy ordeal. I also hope that Woodlass is ok too. I guess that just because surgery went well, isn't a sure sign that we are out of the dark yet when it comes to post op problems... Crap!

So had lap band placed this morning. I have a single incision in my belly button, have had minimal pain, and have been home for almost 8 hours. Even after I asked and received the pre op anti-nausea meds, I had a twinge of nausea after I walked and went to the bathroom. I got another nausea med called Reglan and then I was fine. I have been setting my phoine alarm for when the 4 hour mark is approaching so that am taking the lortab elixir to stay in front of the pain. I had a little bit of gas pain too , but amazingly now it is gone. I ate some jello and have been "sip, sip sipping". I also have walked around a little bit....not bad That's about it........I almost wonder if there really is a band in there I guess I will be on here alot more as I have 12 days off with nothing to do!

I am glad to hear of everyone's experiences on freshly being banded! As I get closer to next friday, I get a little more nervous. It is not because of the surgery itself, but because of the negative stories I have read about the band (about not losing weight); however, I am going to remain positive about it and continue to count down the days! I am happy that I have a group of bandsters to go thru this with!!!!!!!!!!! One week left

April 15th for me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey Kelley- Sorry it took me so long to respond. I am working alot right now so that I can enjoy my time off in 2 weeks. As far as the hernia repair, you may have some mid abdominal discomfort also...or you may not have anything at all if the surgeon puts a local anesthetic in the area. You may want to ask him if he is going to give you something to numb the area ....my experience that some doctors do, and some don't..... with the hernia repair you may want to bring a small throw pillow to put a little weight on your stomach for the ride home.

Super excited to hear about everyone's experiences as we go through this together!!!!!!!!!!!!

shellydaisy86- Thanks for being my first friend on here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am scheduled for Friday, April 15th! I work in the recovery unit at the hospital of where I am getting the surgery done. Majority of my coworkerd know what that I am getting Lap Band. It is sometimes funny because I get lap band patients all the time and I love to tell them that in a few weeks, I will be in their shoes and how excited I am for them and their new journey! I have only had one lap band revision (port flip) patient. He had gone in for his first fill (after already losing 40 pounds) and the Dr. could not fill him. The patient is still in good spirits! I wanted to share what I have seen with you all to give you a rough idea of what to expect right after surgery before you go home. Alot of patients have gas pain and it may hurt around the epigastric region of your chest (middle right below the rib cage). Ask for nuasea medication (they will give it to you in your iv) since all that you are allowed to have is Water in recovery, which, when mixed with anesthesia and pain meds (morphine, lortab elixr, dilaudid) may make you sick. You will have to walk before you go and pee ( if the dr. has ordered it) and getting up and walking is a good thing! It will help you to burp and relieve so of that gas pain. I know you will feel like you want to lay there, but moving usually helps. the quicker you get up to walk, the faster you can get home into your own bed.... Oh big thing before I forget, you may want to ask for an NSAID drug (which they can give you back in the OR) called Toradol. It will definatley help with the incisional pain that you may have........I am absolutely asking for it. I am also getting premedicated for nausea (you may want to say that you have a history of post op nausea and vomiting). As far as everything else, I have been working out alot and trying to be as active as possible so that when I am healing (4 weeks no arc trainer ) my metabolism will continue to run high. I don't have to do a pre op diet, but I have had time to do a complete 180 on my eating habits. I am only doing the clears the day before because the Dr. said he just doesn't want to see a cheeseburger in there. HAHAHA!!! I weigh 225 now and the largest I have been is 228........ I was always active and in shape (had to make weight while in military for 10 years) then i went to nursing school, got married, and gained 50 pounds in 2 years...... so I am ready to lose it! Super Excited!

April 15th for me!

I have mine scheduled for 4/15!

I am a newer nurse and have been working in Outpatient Surgery at a hospital which is a Bariatric Surgey Center of Excellence. I have been on the chubby side my whole life, and even while being in the military for 10 years (not as a nurse), it was very hard for me to make weight every 6 months for weigh-in. I could pass the run portion of the 6 month physical fitness test with flying colors; but my weight, majority of the time, was either right on the line for "max weight" or well over. Now that I am in my mid 30's it is not as easy to lose the weight. Back to the nursing question- I had thought about Lap Band before but it was not until I started working at my current job did I decide to actually get it myself. Every week I have at least 6 or 7 "banders". I also talked to some of the surgeons on a regular basis.I then started doing my research, picked a surgeon, and finished all the pre surgery criteria and got approved. Now I just have to schedule my surgery, which I will do on tuesday. I believe that my knowledge and experience with patients who had the surgery was my deciding factor...........

I am so excited because I am Tricare Standard North and my last appointment was today (ahhhh lovely psych)! I am hoping for a quick turnaround. It would be really nice to get an "APPPROVED" for Christmas!