agdunkle

HI guys...im having terrible gas pains in my chest/shoulders....anyone having that problem?

Walk Kelli walk! I know that seems simple, but it helps ALOT! A heating pad helps too but walking will help the gas absorb faster. Walk about 5-10 minutes every hour to two hours.

make yourself walk! Even if you just walk around your living room for about 5 minutes every hour/2 hours it will help TREMENDOUSLY. Walk the gas out, it's not in your guts it's NO2 in your abdomen from the surgery. Walk walk walk walk walk and a heating pad helps! I had no nausea or gas pains: no magic trick just lots of walking.

That's awesome Babe!

doodlebugsmom i'm so happy for you! See not so bad :-) just keep walking!! Walk every hour or two it will help with the NO2 gas that tries to settle in your shoulders. I kept that little patch behind my ear the full 72 hours just in case i was feeling "false" good lol

I had to have pre admission testing which was blood work..maybe it's the same thing?

Doodlebugsmom I was given some throat spray post op and it really helped! I got a nausea patch behind my ear which was good for 72 hours and I left it in the whole time just to be safe

Congratulations to all of those who have been banded!!!!! It sounds like you all are doing awesome :-) just keep walkin'!

On my pre op diet i lost 10lbs and since then I've lost 6.5lbs

I'm trying to figure out If I'm not hungry because my empty band is restriction enough or my stomach is swollen which is causing me not to be hungry. I've already returned to Zumba and work.

my diet was two weeks pre-op and consisted of 800 calories/day of Protein Shakes as well as 64 ounces of Water. that normally got me 5-6 shakes because of what I was drinking.

While going under for my upper endoscopy (midway though diet) apparently i was muttering something about craving salt that my dr then allowed me to add in a cup of broth a day

Thanks so much for you response. Did you have to see the psychologist more than one time? Or just once? I thought that perhaps because the eval was so far ahead of the consult that he may want to see me more than once. I have never been to a psychiatrist before for any reason, so i am nervous on top of being nervous if you know what i mean

I only had 1, and honestly it took forever! We talked for a few hours and then i had to fill out a questionaire. I plan to see the pyschologist again if I start to waiver from his behavior changing advice because he really Enlightened me to what I was dealing with in my mind.

For insurance purposes I had 1 psych visit, 1 nutritionist visit, I attended a seminar on my own accord, and 1 visit with the doctor.

my psych eval was after my initial doctor's visit, but that's just what my surgeon required. It seems like some people on here get their psych eval months before. It just depends on what your doctor usually does.

As far as what to tell them, just be honest. When i had my eval, I was very honest and it actually allowed the dr to see some patterns and habits in my life that may make my lap band unsuccessful if continued. It also let them see that I was really ready for this surgery.

My biggest tip would be to tell the instructor you're new and get in a spot in class where you can see! A lot of people (including me when I started!) hang out in the back because they're really unsure of themselves and what's going on, but when you're in the back you can't see squat. Try and get a spot in class where you can really see the instructor even if you're towards the front.

The BEST thing about Zumba is that you don't have to do exactly what the instructor is doing to do the class! If you look at the people in any class you'll see 4 or 5 things going on at once so don't think you've got to move your hips or jump around like the instructor. As long as you're moving, that's what matters! The rhythms in the class are not what we're used to doing so you'll definitely feel akward and uncoordinated, but it gets better because coordination isn't something that we're born with...it develops. Ever see a baby wobble over when it tries to crawl and then walk?

If you've got bad knees or a bad back..or any other type of restriction...do what you can but don't limit yourself. For example, if you have bad knees then squats would be tough, but try and push yourself a little because you will gain flexability and coordination over time.

There will be times when your upper body and lower body are doing two completely seperate things... try to do it! Those moves are built in to improve coordination and even though you may feel silly at first, they're important so keep trying! If there is absolutely some moves that you are having a tough time with, ask the instructor after class or before class. They will be glad to help you out.

Most important of all: go to class, don't be afraid, and just move!!! Their slogan is "ditch the workout, join the party!" for a reason

Kim you could do it! When I started taking zumba in May 2009 I couldnt even finish a class and I was terrified to go alone. In September, I decided I loved it so much that I had to become a licensed instructor so that I could do it every day! Over two years later I've got 4 classes a week. You could do it :-) don't stop!

I could do cartwheels (If I could bend down without an ache lol) I'm so excited I taught my zumba class tonight 5 days post op! Yay yay yay!

I got a big fat no lol I can add yogurt, but not the fish..it never hurts to ask I guess

Hello all! I am going to consult my DR today, but i wanted to see what you guys have done. I'm 5 days post op and currently on full liquids. For my doctor full liquids consists of: yogurt/milk/water based Protein Shakes that can have fruit blended in them, skim milk, sugar free popcicles/fudgeciscles, yogurt, pudding, Jello, and some cream based Soups. This phase should last 1-2 weeks with my two weeks being up on 3/18. I'm currently able to drink 4 ounces of Water in 15 minutes, and I think i want to call and see if I could start adding some soft foods on Thursday (1 week out). I don't want a full day's worth of soft foods, just maybe to be able to have one meal of soft. Soft foods is the next stage for me and consists of things like: baked fish, tuna, Pasta cut up really small, cereal...

Has anyone else progressed that quickly out of full liquids? Did your doctor let you?

Kelli I'm only 4 days post op, and my belly still looks a little swollen, but when I went to the gym today to walk i was down 3 pounds from my surgery date. I'm having a hard time "drinking' more than 600-800 calories right now, I just feel full! I do try extremely hard to have 60-80 grams of Protein per day and at least 64 ounces of Water per day as instructed by my doctor.

My belly looked pretty swollen until yesterday (3 days out) and it's starting to go down. I did receive two anti imflammatory shots before I was discharged on Friday but I would guess they're all out of my system now? To be honest, I sleep better now than I ever have!

I add 1 or 2 packets of Truvia in my plain greek yogurt. It would be easy to get the flavored yogurt, but that adds carbs and I would rather not have the carbs and eat a little Truvia! If you add a sugar substitute make sure you get it mixed in really well or you'll have a bitter surprise in your snack lol

I've been meaning to post.. I was banded on 3/3 with no problems! I think the procedure took about an hour, and when i woke up I had some slight abdominal pressure, similar to doing an awesome ab workout. I didn't think the pressure was enough to be subdued so I refused pain medicine. Within the first five minutes of arriving to my room I was up and going to the bathroom, and then up to walk around the wing every hour there after.

I had the most soreness in my throat from the breathing tube during surgery, and my nurse was able to get me some spray to help. If I could give any advice it would be: WALK WALK WALK WALK WALK. Walking has helped my intestinal gas pressure as well as my NO2 pressure. I didn't have any soreness from the nitrous oxide. The more you move, the quicker you will start to feel better. I'm 4 days post op, and I'm back to work this morning with my drinks in tow.

Good luck to everyone with their upcoming bandings!

as a licensed Zumba instructor i can ASSURE you that while there may be more than just you in a group class, no one is looking at you. They're all trying to concentrate by looking at the instructor. In my class I have everyone from the 100lb 16 year olds, to the slightly overweight 70 yr old men, and everyone in between. A class would be great way to ensure you have some time to yourself out of your house, and make some new friends with like minded goals. Try the class! It's way easier to follow than the DVDs!

doodlebug you can do it!!! Seriously, when you wake up walk and walk and walk and walk and walk. I was very nervous before my surgery to the point they had to put a sedative in my IV but it all went very well. Don't be scared!

morning of day 3 post op and I feel really good! I slept on both sides last night and my stomach with no problems. I teach Zumba, so this morning instead of teaching my full out class, i'm going to do a very slow class and then walk for 30 minutes. My doctor gave me some great shake recipes and I'm feeling very optimistic!

My biggest advice would be to walk...walk...and walk some more!!! I had no gas pains from the NO2 because I walked and burped so much!

Good morning :-) I'm waiting for my doctor to do his rounds so that I can go home but I was banded yesterday around 11 by doctor Sam Rossi.

I remember taking a deep breath in the OR and the next thing I knew I was in recovery! Pain level was about a 4 at that point, but not enough for me to feel like I needed to utilize my pain pump. When I got to my room, the first time I got up to use the bathroom I was a little wobbly, but there after I was fine.

My instructions were to drink 1 oz every 15 minutes, walk a lap every two hours, and breath into a spirometer every hour. I actually was able to walk 4 laps every hour, drank every 15 minutes and used the spirometer every 30. I've had no pain and haven't had to utilize my pain pump. I slept on my side for half the night and my back the other half with minimal discomfort. Thus far in my room I've eaten 3 servings of Jello, 2 popcicles and a little Protein drink....

All is well and I'm so happy to be in bandland!!!!

3 days away and I'm in the final stretch...I'm starting to get very nervous that I've made the right decision. I guess it's definitely getting real and I'm getting "real" nervous :-(

Pre-admission testing finished this morning!! This time next week I'll be going to sleeep and waking up in band land :-)