NCBanded

I was banded on March 4th... very, very, very sore and swollen for about 5 days after surgery. I experienced very little gas (unlike a lot of posts that I have read) but I also lived on Gas-X chewables because I was afraid I would have horrible gas pains. Really my only bad experience post-op was that I developed a stomach virus and it was HORRIBLE!! I know this is TMI BUT my stools were so soft/watery that I was not able to hold them... ugh!!! I felt like I was going to die from embarassment. I called the dr's office and he was able to call in a prescription... 5 days later I was good as gold . I had my first post-op appt with my dr. 4 days after surgery. I was still soooo swollen that I could hardly sit in the car, let alone wear 'normal' clothes but my dr seemed satisfied. He explained to me that I could move on to mushy foods within the next day or so (which I thought was a little early) and he then said that I could start on 'normal' foods whenever I got to the point that I was eatting buckets and buckets of mashed potatoes and still feeling hungry... I remember thinking to myself... Oh Boy... I can eat buckets and buckets of something I love... well, after about 2 days of eatting potatoes I thought I was going to puke... just the thought of eatting another potato made me want to scream. Needless to say I progressed onto other foods quickly. I am now eatting pretty much whatever I like (just not the quantities I would have pre-banding) and have lost 26 pounds thus far. I go for my first real fill on the 28th (they put in 3.5 cc's during surgery) and am feeling a bit nervous about it... mainly because I am going to have to start watching what I eat a little more cautiously and I am afraid with pollen season right around the corner that I might have some issues... with all that said I am also looking forward to a little fill because I am getting to the point that I am getting hungry more often. The main thing post-op is to listen to your body, take your pain meds, and walk (that helps with the gas)... I was up and making laps around the interior of my house within an hour of coming home after surgery. Good luck on your surgery!!!!!!!

OMG... I was also banded by Dr. Bovard on March 4th in Raleigh... I bet you were the person right after me because when he stopped in after surgery he joked that he was able to practice on me before he operated on the next person. Too cool!!!!!! I've lost a little over 25 pounds but this morning when I got on the scale I had gained 3 lbs since yesterday. I am not all that worried because it is my T.O.M. My pants are fitting loose, even getting baggy so overall I feel great. I had a few complications a couple of days after surgery (I developed a stomach virus) which was NOT pleasant AT ALL but Dr. B prescribed an anitbiotic and everything seems to be cleared up.

Well, the big day is almost here... I get banded tomorrow, March 4 and I have found that the more that I read the more I am pschying myself out, lol... major information overload!! Good luck and best wishes to everyone!!

March 4th is THE day, I'm having surgery on that day as well... my surgery is at 1pm so hopefully by this time on Friday I will be in recovery driving everyone nuts I wish you the best of luck MoTown and to everyone else!!!!!!

My surgery is this Friday, the 4th and I am a nervous wreck. I know this is the best decision for me but it still doesn't calm all the doubts floating in my head. I guess that is only natural. We CAN do this... congrats to everyone!!!

Not having all that fat, carbs etc holding me back I actually gained energy... the hunger pains are still around and I still crave something to chew (I have been on a 2 week Opti-fast liquid only diet). And the fact that I have lost 14 pounds since I started the liquid diet has helped add a bounce in my step As a side note, I get banded this Friday and am getting very, VERY nervous.

Best of luck... I go on Friday for mine.

I am scheduled to be banded on March 4th at 1pm. I too am on a 2 week 800 cal. Opti-Fast diet (and failing horribly), I guess I wasn't as mentally prepared as I thought. Anyway, I have been eatting some broc. and cauli. each evening as a little something extra but had decided last night would be my last time doing this. I've been on the liquid diet since Saturday and have lost 12 pounds so that is a little something positive to keep me chugging in the right direction. I am very excited to get on with this new leash on life and to finally escape this hold that food has on me!! Congrats to everyone for making it this far and good luck!! Let's go March!!!!!!!!