Syrah

My surgeon (and his assistant surgeon) came to my room about 3 hours after surgery, and then popped his head in again about 10 pm as he was leaving the hospital for the day. He came back again about 8 am and that's when he said I could be discharged. I saw him 6 days later at my first post-op appointment. He is awesome. But I have to say that most of my nutritional info came from a nutritionist. He told me I was his 'favorite patient' so far, because things went so well. LOL. I haven't had any calls from the hospital or surgeon but was given a number to call 24/7 if I had any questions.

My favorite Protein shake: 1 scoop Slimfast 1 cup skim milk 1/2 scoop (about 2 tablespoons) unjury powder (unflavored) That gives me about 22 g protein for about 240 cal. This is usually my Breakfast.

Lately I have found myself chugging vs. sipping. I stop when I catch myself but I hope I've not caused any damage. Can this stretch your pouch and cause problems? I was banded almost 3 weeks ago.

Are you taking narcotic pain killers? They can really lower your BP.

I got one too. I use it for my morning protein shakes, to mix pancake mix for my kids, to ground coffee, etc. I love it! I am going to take my coffee grinder off the counter top. I hate cleaning that thing up after I use it, and it takes up space I could use. I think I am most excited about the coffee grinding than anything.

But you have to admit this was a little bit funny: Oh, how I amuse myself...

Just be sure it's not chest pain. Are you having trouble breathing at all? Keep alert for the possibility of blood clots, though that doesn't sound like what you're describing. It sounds like your band could be too tight. Do you know what kind of band your surgeon used? I should probably let other, more experienced people answer this, but the too-tight band is what comes to my mind. You are probably still a bit swollen but that should be tapering off within the next 3-4 days.

Jackspratswife, I was weighed about 6 days after surgery (at my first pre-op appt) and had lost 6 lbs at that point. I have not weighed since then. I think that I've lost a little more than that by now. My face has slimmed down and I have clavicles again. LOL! But I'm trying really hard not to get obsessive about it. I tend to be a slow loser and I don't want to get discouraged. I will be weighed at my next appt on May 9 (when I have my first fill). Don't fret about it too much - I keep hearing that the weight really starts to melt off after your first fill.

At the risk of being judged by the Bandster Police (LOL!), I had some wine 2 weeks post op. Just make sure you get a LOT of water in that day. I once heard that one glass of wine depletes one glass of water from your body. I don't know if that's true but be careful not to become dehydrated.

Maybe you should act your IQ. PS: :pizza:

I have some occasional pain on my left side right below my rib cage. Usually it means I'm getting a bit constipated (sorry, TMI). I do eat a lot of cheese so that's probably the culprit. Are you getting all your fluids in? Try a stool softener or Milk of Magnesia. I was banded the same day as you.

You are right. And I've even had my gallbladder out. DOH. Nevermind me! Have you tried a gentle stool softener?

I have not experienced this at all (below). Even in the hospital, they gave me a painkiller by mouth at several points, in addition to my blood pressure pill. That said, I ditched the giant prenatal Vitamins post-op, in favor of Flintstone chewables. Small pills are OK for me; I'm not taking a chance with the horse pills though.

Sounds like gall bladder to me. Have yourself checked out.

I have had some compulsive eating phases in my life, on and off. I ate a ton of candy as a kid, and never was able to shake the sweet tooth thing. But this is eye-opening for me. I never realized that people could truly eat 5 pizzas and then still feel hunger. I would think that would be physically impossible, for a stomach to take in that much food without bursting or making you vomit. Once (as a kid, at 204 lbs / age 12) I ate a pound bag of peanut M & Ms. I threw the whole thing up.

I have noticed that people here tend to swing from one extreme to another. For example, extreme (former) over-eaters swing to extreme dieters. This is not a criticism. What works for you (you in general) is great, as long as preachiness and intolerance of other opinions isn't over-bearing.

Five large pizzas among two people? Is that an exaggeration?

Dislexi, why are you sucking down wine and then lecturing others about eating pizza? LOL! You mentioned here somewhere that you were going to have two glasses of wine with dinner. Don't get me wrong, I love me some wine now and then, but it's no healther (especially two glasses) than a slice of pizza. YOu said yourself -- "WTF? I thought the point was to lose weight, not to eat." Or drink.

Edited to remove my question, as it has been answered.

You should definitely ask about having that done. Any time you can avoid two surgeries (when one will get things done) is great.

Collector, my surgeon told me that it's common to retain IV fluids in your system for up to a month. He said people who are on IVs for 3-4 days can retain up to 20 lbs. So take heart!

Mine came out in high school after I'd lost a bunch of weight really fast. Lots of family members have had theirs out. I had mine done so long ago that it was before the era of laparoscopic surgery. I have a giant scar to show for it. Now THAT was a rough recovery, even for an 18 YO!

I went back Monday (banded on Thurs) but was still quite sore and moving slowly. You will probably be sore for a good week. Not unbearably so, but sore. I compared it to other abdominal surgeries I've had (c-section, open gall bladder surgery) and it was a piece of cake. Your friend is probably minimizing her pain.

Dislexi sent me a hateful private message about "a lot" and "alot". OMG. Someone needs a life.

I had pain in that same area. Walking helps a lot. To sleep, I had a backrest propped behind me so I was elevated a bit, and put a heating pad (on low) on top of the area that hurt. Gas X strips also help to some degree. If you still have pain meds, take one before bed. That would get me thru til about 4 am and then the pain would wake me up. Walking around a sitting up a bit would help. I hated that abdominal gas because it was a good week or 10 days before I could lay on my side, which is how I prefer to sleep.