B-52

Every Dr.'s plan is a little different. I was Clear Liquids for 3 days post op, then heavier liquids for 4 days to finish out 1 week. Then mushies for 2 weeks, and solids after that.

Cough drops, cough drops and cough drops. I had one in my mouth non-stop for 2 days. It really did help.

My Wife and I are avid cruisers. Will be on Royal Carib this coming June for a 9 nighter. This will be our first cruise since I was banded 1/31 of this year. Should be interesting. I did go ahead and book some specialty rest. for 2 different nights. I don't mind not "Pigging out" A salad and appetizer will be fine if that's the way it is. Fortunately the buffets on cruise ships lost their appeal to me a while back. And I already have a table for 2 reserved in the MDR so as not to be rude with other guests by getting up and leaving early each meal. We'll see.

Got a new phone the other day and I am looking for a good App. I had a Blackberry, and the app I had was excellent. Counted calories, carbs, protien, etc, etc. Also could enter activities to show calories burned. Enter you weight and calculated you BMI. Did about everything. What I have found thus far will do one or 2 things, say count calories, but not keep track of protien, etc.

From what I've read here, everyone is a little different. I was clear Liquids for 3 days, the "heavy" liquids (Shakes, Soup, etc) for 4 days. Started "mushies" on day 8 for 2 weeks. Then reg food for week 4. First fill end of week 4.

I was told mine were waterproof, took a shower very next morning.

Question for you guys out there. Prior to being banded, I was told that the Port is more noticeable on Men than Women. I was Banded last month. Was 85lbs overweight. Had/have what is commonly called a Beer Belly. Large, but rock hard. Right now my port is right under my skin, and looks slightly smaller than 1/2 a golf ball, not to mention the scar. I can see the bump with a t-shirt on. I go to a gym/health club that has showers, steam , sauna and whirlpools in the locker room where all the men walk around naked, and I am very self conscious of this bump. I joked with my Dr. saying that it looks like I will be one of those guys that always wears a "Muscle T-shirt" while at the beach.He said don't worry, as you stomach goes down/flat, it will be less noticeable. I do crunches everyday, meaning when my belly does get flatter, it will still stick out?? What say You????

I had the same problem. With small sips of Water, I can feel it sit, then pass through the band with pain. (sometimes a gurgling sound) I called the Dr. and said I 'm not getting any fluids in at all. He had me come in, day 3 after surgery. Stuck a needle in my port and pulled (vacuum) just in case there was any air in the band. Said sometimes there is a little trapped from the manufacturer. It did not help. Got better the next day, and every day after that. Wrote it up as Post-op inflammation.

I take numerous pills, some pretty large. I was told I would have to crush them, and take chewable Vitamins. However, I've found, only been filled once, that I can still swallow pills, one at a time, with Water. Fortunately, I quit drinking soda years ago for other health reasons.

I have found that there is nothing I can't eat (which is not good thing) as long as I take small bites and small swallows, and take my time chewing. I've been stuck and slimed a few times, but learned that was because I rushed.

Dr. told me one week, I was back at the gym working out, including 30 minutes in the sauna, then 15 in the hot tub. Also was cleared to lift weights, but told me not to over do it. I have to say that this was when I went back to see him one week after my surgery, so he was able to see my incisions, etc.. It was then I asked him the question.

I had started the process and waited 2 years before the day finally came to be banded. A herd of horses could not drag me away from what I had looked forward to for so long. I was also afraid, that if I missed the opportunity, I would regret it for the rest of my life!

Let it go. I experienced almost the same. It felt as though I didn't have the surgery at all. I was always hungry, and could eat just about anything. I did get stuck once or twice from taking too big swallows. But as long as I took small swallows i was eating just fine. I had to force myself to diet, just as before the surgery. I though what a waste of time. Then I had my first fill, not much immediate change, but as I read here it takes few weeks for the fill to start taking effect. I'm coming up on 2 weeks since my first fill. I'm not really hungry. At least not like before. And when I do eat, I find after eating a very little bit, I loose interest, and start to get that "Stuck feeling" which will also make you stop. The weight is coming off. I think after my next fill things will really start kicking in. So hang in there. You got to struggle through this Post-Op phase.

Same here. Although everyone's pain tolerance is different, you have described exactly what I went though.

There are maybe 4-5 people in my life that know I have had the surgery. And that's immediate family. I have told no one! And don't intend to. My health insurance is not connected to my job, and I had time coming to me so I simply took a week off. My hunch was, and I now believe I was right, that most people would not have a clue. Also I did not want people, after learning I had the procedure, to constantly be observing and grading my process. Why should they need to know? I'm on a diet. I have a goal. How am I doing it? Don't eat so much and exercise! Granted, I'm sure there will come a person who obviously could benefit from my experience, and I will share with them confidentially what I am going through. But until then, I don't need to wear a sign on my back.

I take a liquid protien supplement called "Pro-Stat" has 15 gm per dose. Worst tasting stuff I've ever had, need to hold my breath and take a swallow of orange juice as a chaser. But you do get used to it.

Yea, it's good to take it easy the first day or two, and take the pain medicine By day 3 I was stir crazy and had to get out of the house. I took the week off, but ran errands to the mall, etc by day 3.

After 3 days I was allowed to move from clear liquids to heavier liquids. Yes, I relied on shakes from time to time, yogurt, cream soups, etc. This was for 4 days, completing 1 full week. Then for week 2 I was allowed to move on to mushies. As far as "gas pains", there appears to be some confusion, or mix-ups. There are 2 different "gas pains", one of which is from the surgical procedure, the other indigestion. Gas-X will not help the surgical procedure type of trapped gas at all.

It's that feeling when you've got your head over the toilet, just waiting to vomit. The saliva comes and you do a lot of spitting. No, it's not a good thing, unless you remember what brought it on, learn your lesson and swear ...... Never Again. Chew, Chew, Chew.....small swallows. That's what I learned. When I get stuck, it is usually within the first minute or two when I start eating, because I've forget the above lesson.

Don't know your age, or general physical health. I imagine you have been over weight for some time. My point is I would not want to see you drop dead from heart failure, or a stoke due to circulation issues. Over weight people, as myself, have high fat content in their blood (triglycerides, cholesterol) This is the stuff that sticks to the insides of your arteries. Because of being overweight I had it in way of a 70% blockage in one of my heart arteries, requiring a stent. I didn't have a heart attack, but was a walking tine bomb. I'm 59 y/o, and looking forward to running a 5K. I'll get there in due time. Speak with your GP before doing any new exercise programs.

Thanks for that info. here it is 24hrs later and I can guzzle down a large glass of Water like it was nothing.

Had my first fill yesterday. 4cc. Dr does not numb the area. But my band is right up to the surface. They needle only goes through a very thin layer of skin.

I was banded 4 weeks ago. I have 3 small incisions, left, center and right, with a larger center incision where the port was inserted. My port is on the right. Everything is well healed, but the incision on the left, is still sore when I rub my finger on it. Don't know what they did on that side, but it seems as though that wound is deep.

I took a full 7 days off. After 4 days I felt like I was ready to return, but I just enjoyed the time off. I did run around doing errands, etc. after 3 days.

Here is how my Surgeon did it. Banded 1/31. 1st week, 3 days Clear liquids, then 4 days heavier liquids. Able to lift (exercise) and soak after 1 week. 2nd and 3rd week, soft foods (mushies) 4th week, solid foods Filled today, exactly 4 weeks post op. 4cc in a 11cc band. Had me drink Water before I could leave. Liquids again for 24 hrs. Then, 1 cc per month thereafter, if needed. He did emphasize that procedures are vastly different between men and women. So now I feel the post-op is behind me and I am entering a new phase.