jen120

My post-op was also pretty easy. I was sore at the site of the port incision, but other than that I had no other pain. I was difficult for me to sleep on my side and had to pretty much sleep on my back which is not my favorite. I didnt take any pain medication because all they gave me was liquid vicodin which doesn't work on me. My throat was really sore due to the tube down my throat, but that resolved by the second day. I slept a lot and just took it easy. The whole experience was much easier than I expected. I hope your surgery goes well on Tuesday! Keep us updated.

So glad you are back on track! I wish you much continued success.

I just did a internet search and it is pretty common. It has to do with tube they put down your throat during surgery. It may have been laying on your tongue weird. It also could be a side effect of the anesthesia. According to one site, it could last a few days to a few weeks. Congrats on surgery! I hope your recovery goes well!

Wow! Sounds like you are doing great!! Way to go! So glad things went well for you.

I'm so glad that everything went well! I loved my chicken broth after surgery. It was the only thing that made me feel good.

I am very happy to report that during my appt. with my primary MD on Wednesday, my blood pressure was 104/45. That is definitely low for me as I usually run 130/80 even on 4 different blood pressure meds. I had been experiencing some light headedness (new word) every time I stand up. My doctor concluded that with my weight loss and healthier lifestyle that we could drop one of my meds. I am very excited. It is certainly nice to see the benefits of my surgery and all the hard work I am doing. Doing a happy dance! :Banane02::Banane05::Banane04:

Shirley, You have to have a "Smart Phone" like a Droid or an I-phone, one where you can download applications. A regular phone with a camera will not work. I'm in the same boat as you. I just have a regular phone.

Welcome! Congrats on your amazing progress thus far. Hope to see you around the boards.

Welcome Victor! I am so happy you made this decision and are moving forward with your plan. Be sure to check out all the other message groups on this board. There is a lot of good information and support! If you have any questions, I'll do my best to help.

My BMI is much higher than 50. I did give serious thought to getting bypass vs. the band. But in the end, the band ended up being the right choice for me. Based on some research I did, the amount of weight lost by bypass vs. band patients was about the same after 3 years. The bypass people tend to lose faster, especially in the beginning. I will say that the band is work. You must eat right, exercise. The band is a tool and requires lifestyle changes. I started at 415 and my goal per my doctor is 227 which means I need to lose 188 pounds. I was 364 this morning and have lost 51 pounds since May 9th. I know it is doable because there are lots of people who have lost very large amounts of weight with the band. In fact 6 years ago I lost 125 pounds in a year just with exercise and diet. So I know I can do this. In the end, you need to do what is best for you. You need to be realistic about the amount of work and the expected outcomes of each procedure. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.

So glad everything went well. Wow, I wonder why they put in a catheter? That definitely sucks! And a suppository for nausea? Sounds like they were trying to torture you a little. I truly hope the healing process goes smoothly!

I usually eat my dinner around 8pm or later. I dont usually get home from work until 7 or 7:30. I know some people will say eating late makes you gain weight. I dont believe it. It's all about your total calories and nutrition for the day. Not the time.

I was told no carbonation and no gum after surgery. It was really hard to give up my diet coke. But I did. So I would definitely stop those. Start reducing the amount of carbs you eat now. It will definitely help you when you start the liquids and after surgery which are pretty much all Protein. Start chewing everything really well. It's good practice for when you get to actually eat food. Practice not drinking while you eat and 30 minutes after meals. This is something that is very hard for me. I should have done more practice prior to surgery. Good Luck!

What a doctor bills an insurance company is not what he gets paid. My surgeon charged my insurance $32,000 for my surgery. I know he didn't get paid anywhere near that. I work at a hospital...it all has to with insurance and what gets paid. If a doctor sends in a charge to the insurance for $500, then he would only get paid $50. It's a crazy system but that is how it works.

I've noticed the same thing. Couple of things...how much fat are you eating? I know people with ultra low fat diets can start to get dry skin. Take a look at that. You might want to increase your fat grams. The minimum you should have is 15% of your calories from fat. Also be sure you are drinking lots of Water...minimum of 8 glasses. I aim for 10-12 a day. If you are losing a lot of weight quickly, your skin will start to wrinkle a bit. A lot depends on your size, age, and genetics. Also, what about the weather? Has it been particularly dry in your area? That can also affect your skin. Good Luck!

Congrats on your surgery. Glad to see you are feeling good. Way to go on that pre-op weight loss, 32 pounds is amazing. Glad you will be more active in the forums. Take care!

I would definitely say that stopping the HTCZ could cause the gain. It is impossible to gain 4 pounds of fat in a week unless you are eating massive amounts of food, which you are not. So there must be something else going on. Since HTCZ is a pill that makes you lose Water, I would say that your gain is water. Today my doctor wanted to stop my HTCZ because my BP was low. We ended up deciding to stop a different medication ( I was taking 4 meds for BP). I honestly was afraid of stopping the HTCZ because I didnt want to gain water weight. I think your body just needs time to adjust. Keep drinking water...even increase your water intake a bit if you can. Dont be afraid, you are eating right, exercising. The weight will come off. Good Luck!

You are such a wonderful inspiration! How totally awesome!!!

Good Luck! I am sure everything will be great!!

I've lost 51 pounds since May 9th. With regard to losing weight the old fashioned way...I actually lost 125 pounds back in 2005 and I gained every single pound back. I did Weight Watchers and exercised. There were many reasons why I gained the weight back. A big reason is that I used to binge all the time to help deal with difficult emotions. I've been in therapy for over 3 years to address my eating issues. I got a divorce (the source of much unhappiness) which helped me tremendously. My main reason for getting the band was not really to help me lose weight, but to help me from gaining it back again. Also, even though I have the band...I still have to eat right and exercise. So in some ways I am still doing it the old fashioned way. The band is not a miracle worker. You have to put work into it to make it work.

Congrats on your loss, that is awesome!

I'm so sorry about this disappointment. That must have been really frustrating. I am 5"10 and was about 390 at the time of my surgery. I was on a strict liquid Protein shake diet for 2 weeks prior to surgery that was supposed to reduce fat around the liver and stomach. Did you do something like that? Did the doctor indicate whether this is something that is common? I know the idea of losing 30 more pounds is frustrating. But you can do it and I know you will be successful!

Hardest part for me was definitely the pre-op and post-op liquid diet. 2 weeks before and after my surgery I could only have Protein shakes, Jello and broth. It was hard...the hardest thing I have ever done. I am only 2 months out and dont have a fill, but I have not thrown up at all since my surgery. I also have not had any food get stuck.

Agree the Bariatric Advantage suck. Though I hear they have a new "Orange-vanilla" flavor. Sorry, I dont have any recommendation. I had already bought the BA mix so I had to suffer through them pre and post. I have 2 bags left over...gonna try to sell them for a big discount at my next support group to someone who is pre-surgery.