ukgrad89

Did you have a hiatal hyernia? That can make you extra sensitive. Are you taking anything for nausea? Sounds gross, but my doc gave me a suppository for nausea, and it really worked well, I stopped feeling nausea around day 5 or 6 post op, so yours may stop soon. As others suggest, you may want to call the doc to be on the safe side. Best wishes

I still use Protein drinks, it helps to make sure you get all the protein you need, and it helps with the weight loss too

Lots of good advice on here, and I'll ditto it, you need to walk. Walk outside, whenever you can. Its the best way to get rid of the gas. I had some pretty serious nausea for a few days after surgery, doc said that's normal, and I think you said you had a hiatal hyernia too, like me, and you'll be more sensitive because of that. Gas-X is good, I got the kind you stick on your tongue and it dissolves. Keep on the liquid diet until your doc says its okay to progress. One thing that kind of helped me was I strained hot and sour soup from a Chinese restaurant, just ate/drank the broth, and it was great. Don't forget to drink your Protein drinks, that'll help also, if the doc says they're okay. Your body needs protein to heal after the surgery. Best wishes

Ditto this. I think it really is a very personal issue, how soon you can progress with your post-op diet. I was banded on 7/28, and I find my body does a VERY good job of letting me know what works, and what doesn't. I was on liquids for one week, moved to mushies the next week, and I've been eating solids this week, no problems. But I'm also being very careful, chewing thoroughly, using a baby spoon, and paying attention to when I feel full and stopping. So far, so good. Best wishes

I was able to work at home (flexiplace), so I didn't go back to work for a week. I was banded back on 7/28, and I do think the easier you are on yourself that first week, the happier you'll be later. Keep in mind, this first month is really all about healing. Be good to yourself, don't lift anything heavy, plan on doing a fair amount of walking (helps with gas issues). Best wishes

Muscle Milk Light is okay, but there aren't many flavors, I could only find the chocolate. I mainly drink Atkins, it has more variety, and to me it just tastes better. Best wishes

Sounds great, good work II have my first post-surgery appt with the doc tomorrow, like to know when I can get back in the gym and start burning some cals off instead of just not eating cals. I've never been much of a wine drinker, but I may have to start that, though I still hope I can sip some bourbon on occasion Continued well wishes

I hate to sound like the newbie I am I just got banded on 7/28, but, I thought it was a big no-no to vomit if you're banded. Is it that common that you feel a need to vomit? I don't mean to imply you or anyone is doing anything wrong, I'm wondering how careful I need to be myself in the future with avoiding vomiting. I work in an office, and I wouldn't want to get stuck and need to vomit at work, but, is it that common that you feel a need to vomit after you've been banded for awhile? Any advice greatly appreciated, and thank you all for sharing your stories, they really do help someone like me

That is truly inspirational news, congratulations!

To all you beer making guys, I was wondering, what do you think of the idea of somehow making beer that doesn't have carbonation. Is it even possible? Maybe a dumb question, I know nothing about beer making. I was never a big beer drinker myself, but, on occasion, I'd have one. I've seen some suggest using salt, never tried that before, not sure how it would work. Would using a fruit help? Like orange or lime? Or I guess there's the option of leaving it sit out, but is that realistic? Anyhow, since I seen some of you mention you made beer, thought I'd ask. Thanks in advance Alan

As usual, I'm no doctor, but, I can tell you from my experience, I had hiccups really bad up until yesterday, 8/1. Not anymore though, and I think alot of it has to do with doing the walking. Make sure you do that so you can get the gas out from the surgery. I think once you get that surgery gas out, you won't hiccup as much, or you may lose that feeling of needing to. Anyhow, continued best wishes Alan

I was banded on 7/28/11. My surgery was around noon. I left hospital by around 7:30pm. I had a hiatal hyernia taken care of. I think I'll be on sick leave for 1 week (I took sick leave day before surgery, so from 7/27 to 8/3). However, I can do some work at home, so that helps even things out, just have to remind myself not to pick up any heavy casefiles.

I'm on day 5 myself, and "d" has been the way of life for me since I started pre-diet. I can't wait until I can have a semi-regular meal of grits or oatmeal. I'm still sore and taking painkillers, but it seems better each day. I haven't lost the weight you have, congrats on that

Congrats on your surgery Mine was 7/28. 7/29 wasn't so bad, I definitely started eating jello, Muscle Milk Light, drinking Propel and Crystal Light. Having tried the sugar free popsicles yet, will have to give that a shot. I'm still taking painkillers, I'm more sore around my incisions today, but I think that's normal. Walking, I've done alot of that, walking up and down the street 2 or 3 times a day, trying to avoid the heat in the middle of the day is the challenge. I'm having more nausea this morning (7/30). I've been taking the Gas-X strips, and gas is not as much of a problem, not feeling bloated. I haven't had the pain the shoulders and neck that others talk about. Also consuming broth, it helps. Continued well wishes

Not sure about the wine, that may be an option, have to research that. Thanks for the info on tonic being carbonated, looks like those will be no good also. God, it sounds awful, but I'm wondering, if I left say Coke Zero opened in the frig, so it would lose its carbonation, then mixed it with bourbon, wonder what it would taste like? Not saying I would necessarily do this, just curious.

I had my surgery on 7/28. I've been having some bad nausea this morning, just a real acidic feeling down there, like something wanting to come up, but I know I need to resist that. Okay, that's perhaps too much information I feel more sensitivity from the incisions, I'm still taking the painkiller the doc prescribed for me, I had a hiatal hyernia taken care of at the same time. I have not had the pain in the shoulders that others describe, but I've had a bloated gas feeling. I've been walking alot though. I have no problems drinking Muscle Milk light, Jello, broth, and Propel. I'm a little reluctant to take a shower and remove the bandages, but I think today I better, starting to feel funky, and I guess they've had time to heal. Best wishes to all

I've never been much of a beer drinker. I'm actually slightly allergic to hops, so I couldn't drink much anyhow. Losing beer wasn't a big deal. But, my staple was bourbon and coke. Now, no more coke. So, guess I'll be sipping bourbon slowly, maybe with water. I think vodka and cranberry is possible, though I'm afraid that might be a little girly. Bloody mary's also are on option, low calorie, never really drank those much, guess I will try once I get okay after surgery. I also like gin and tonics, that may be an option. But I will definitely miss my margaritas, hurricanes, daquiris, etc. But, no pain no gain, right? Source: What about beer?

I've never been much of a beer drinker. I'm actually slightly allergic to hops, so I couldn't drink much anyhow. Losing beer wasn't a big deal. But, my staple was bourbon and coke. Now, no more coke. So, guess I'll be sipping bourbon slowly, maybe with Water. I think vodka and cranberry is possible, though I'm afraid that might be a little girly. Bloody mary's also are on option, low calorie, never really drank those much, guess I will try once I get okay after surgery. I also like gin and tonics, that may be an option. But I will definitely miss my margaritas, hurricanes, daquiris, etc. But, no pain no gain, right?

Ditto this, I love the Muscle Milk Light, taste pretty darn good to me. I tried the powders, they just smelled bad and had a chemical aftertaste like crap.

Damn, that's a new one, didn't know of that benefit, its like the ultimate Christmas present, it just keeps getting better and better!

I'll tell you what, dude to dude, don't be scared. Stare it down, believe in yourself, know that you can do it. You'll be much happier afterwards, and the little pain issues, you'll deal with them and be better for it. I'm thinking of getting some tats eventually to disguise whatever scarring there is, no biggie. Best of luck to you, keep us updated

That is AWESOME! I so hope that I can drop my meds. I currently take stuff for HBP and cholesterol and use a CPAP. I could care less about my appearance, that isn't why I got banded on 7/28. My health is my concern, and I want to get off the meds and the CPAP. Your achievement makes this feel all the more worthwhile. Thanks for sharing this, and continued good wishes

I'll tell you what, I hate hospitals generally. If I had a suggestion for someone getting ready for surgery, try to get up and walking whenever you think you can do it. My goal was not to spend the night, and I have sleep apnea and had a hiatal hernia taken care of, still was able to leave about 8pm, surgery was around noon. Working on your deep breathing, start sucking those ice chips so you can urinate, get up and walk around, and you'll be ready to go home. The pain is manageable. Best of luck, and if I can be of any help with questions, let me know

Best of luck on the surgery. I am done some blogs on here about my experiences. Feel free to ask me anything if I can be of help, I'm a total believer in the lap-band, and I haven't even had it for 24 hours LOL! Have faith, pray for God's strength, you will do fine.

Thanks for the well wishes You are right, I see alot of whining on here. Look, I'll complain about the catheter and all that, but you know what? The actual surgery was not that bad, and I had a hiatal hernia taken care of as well. I'm already on record as saying, I would definitely to it again if I had to. Pain is something you deal with, no pain, no gain. Unusual pain, you should get checked, but life is a pain at times too, and being overweight has been a huge pain. I almost feel cleansed, baptized, ready for a new life. I'm not foolish enough to think there won't be challenges, and at times disappointment. But, overall, the benefits of this I'm quite confident will way exceed any costs, even the $4,000 out of pocket after insurance I had to pay. That's a drop in the bucket from avoiding diabetes and other nasty conditions I'd be staring at in the future. So, a little pain? Bring it on, and I'll wear my incision scars with pride once I lose the tire around the middle.