SashaWLS

Thanks for this!! I'm 4 days out and not feeling like drinking as much as I did the first two days. I feel a little nauseous and "funky" inside. Can't put my finger on it. But I will make sure I get the minimum liquid and protein, even if I don't feel like it.

I second what Jen said, you'll be fine and will be able to manage just fine... That said, I haven't liked being in a car yet. Yesterday (day 3 post-op) I took two long taxi rides and all that bumping around hurt. Do you have a babysitter you could hire for the day who can drive? Maybe a young, friendly teacher at the little one's school? Or a friend, or another parent? I agree you should skip the stepdaughter, but you do need to plan an out, in case you don't feel up to it. If that means everyone skips everything, that's your call... But remember, you only recover once!!! Take the time you need and take care of yourself.

OMG and I thought MY life was busy!!!! 4 girls and a puppy? Nuts! :-) What kind of puppy? Puppies are cuuuuute!! I grew up with Yellow Labs, but haven't had one as an adult... I miss that...

Well, I'll tell you, the 1 cup of senna tea I drank 4 hours ago, it did NOTHING. :-)

I'm surprised how emotional I've been. I cried a couple of times during the last 3 days of recovery "for no reason" that I could put my finger on. This is a big deal. I think there is a lot of emotion that will come up. But I would have a talk with your husband about how he can better support you. For the short term, I'd consider asking him not to talk about food in front of you. It sounds like it's a hot button issue for you, and he will hopefully help make things easier, not harder, if you tell him what's going on inside your head... For me, it was alcohol... I made my DH put everything in storage and asked that we keep a dry house for a few months... We usually had a scotch or two (or some other drink) before bed every night, and I knew I'd feel really left out if he were drinking when I couldn't...

I was just banded on 4/18/12 by Dr Fielding... The pre-op diet consisted of the following: - you get 1000 calories max - have to drink 5-6 shakes a day (depending on brand, he gives a list) - 2c raw or cooked veggies a day, not starchy - 30 calories of popsicle or SF-Jello - that's it.

Thanks so much!!! I do feel like I'm more likely to be empty than full, and I haven't walked much this afternoon. Appreciate your response. It's VERY weird not knowing what's going on with my body!!!

Any advice for how to avoid?

I'm day 3 post-op. Am I just full? Is this gas? I feel slightly nauseous. I keep having these hard, painful burps. And it feels sort of uncomfortable, like heartburn but not quite, just above my diaphragm... WTH is going on?? I was totally fine 5 minutes ago, and I haven't had anything to drink for about 1/2 hour. Last thing I drank was a mug of senna tea (for the constipation). I started drinking about an hour ago and it took me about 1/2 hour to finish... Is this normal? Is this what being over-full feels like? yech!

I desperately wanted the sleeve... I have absolutely no intention of having this reversed... I want this to be permanent... But, it really came down to a numbers game for me: -- The mortality rate for the sleeve is 1/200... In the band it's 1/2000. -- 1% of the people who get the sleeve have a leak, and if they do, they're in AGONY in and out of the hospital for possibly 5-6 months at a time -- My doctor said that 1/3 of the people who get bypass or sleeve gain it back with no other option afterwards than to get the band (i.e. carny wilson). But if you have the band and start to gain, you can get filled... IMHO, the sleeve is a fabulous option when it works. But the risk that it could turn out to be a total disaster is way way way too high for me... I have a family that loves me and a 4 year old daughter. I don't have the right to gamble with something that could take me out...

This is the hardest part. The pre-op stuff. Because you CAN eat. And you believe that soon you won't be able to. So you want to even more. But here's the thing, I keep reading this over and over and over again... You WILL be able to eat afterwards. And it's possible that you'll even be able to eat anything you could eat before—only in smaller portions. You're not alone. I was banded 3 days ago and was petrified leading up to it. I'm also a food addict, and it's TERRIFYING knowing that you're about to cut off your "supply" to your drug... But you know what? I'm doing ok. I don't really crave anything right now. I've had a popsicle, I've had a couple of lollypops, and a lot of tea, and a lot of Soup, and I wonder if I'm drinking too much... But I'm really ok. This isn't too much. It doesn't feel overwhelming now that I've done it. Just get through this hard part (anticipation) and get over to the other side. You'll be fine... But you have to get here!! Don't cheat so much that the doctors won't do the surgery! Just try to be a robot for a few more days, do what you're supposed to do, and you'll be fine!!!! And post here if you feel like you can't handle it. We're here for you.

I took 3tsp of liquid Vicodine every 4 hours (dose was 2-4tsp) the day of surgery and the next day... The following day I only took it once in the afternoon and twice at night... Today I think I'm done...

Hi there! I had mine Weds and I know what you mean about eating. I went out with my mom this morning to a coffee shop and realized that I was pretty stuffed after drinking my cup of tea, and wasn't going to get the Soup down. It's very very strange to just stop there and think "Ok, I guess I'm done." I'm not looking forward to feeling hungry though! And I hear that should start soon...

I was banded Weds and I'm day 3 post-op... Here's how it's gone so far: Weds, B-Day -- Outpatient, walked in the hospital. Walked 4 blocks and then got in bed for the rest of the day. Took liquid Vicadin every 4 hours... Night was very hard. Couldn't sleep, couldn't get comfortable. Finally managed to roll over on my side, even though it hurt a bit more, and fell asleep... Thurs, 1st day -- Had lots of visitors, felt pretty good. In some pain, but walked 5 blocks in the morning and 10 in the afternoon. Managed to go #2 (hallelujah!) Took pain meds every 4 hours all day. Was able to sleep finally only on my side. Fri, 2nd day -- Finally had less pain!! Woke up at 8:30am and then went back for a nap at noon. Slept most of the day. Was up for a few hours in the evening, then went to bed at 8:30pm and had a GREAT sleep!!! Sat, 3rd day, today -- Woke up with energy and no pain. A bit stiff, but ready to get out of the house! At 10am took a taxi to midtown to get my watch fixed, and then had a soup at a coffee shop... It felt good to be out, but was a lot. Got home around noon and have been resting on the couch reading all day... HUGELY constipated and incredibly uncomfortable!! Made some "smooth moves" tea, was finally able to go #2, and I feel amazing. Am considering going out to take another walk. But it's weird, I don't have anything to do outside. I would usually go get lunch or dinner or go buy food. What the heck do I do with myself if I don't need anything having to do with food???

Mine was 5 protein shakes a day, and no more than 1000 calls total... Can also have 2cup non-starchy veggies a day...

How much are you guys drinking post-op? Did your doc give you any goals?

I did have 3 glasses of Motzah-ball soup broth which I guess is pretty fatty. Otherwise I'm having tomato soup and protein shakes... And tea...

Hi- Was banded Weds am and feel pretty good... I was wondering how much liquid y'all are drinking... My doc said 6-8 eight oz cups was the goal, but I get that pretty easy. Am I doing something wrong? Should it be harder to drink?

The first 5 days are the worst. Get through that, and you'll be ok. It takes some time for the last stuff you've eaten to make it through your system, but once it's through, your cravings will go down a lot. Additionally, I would recommend doing some meditation. Get one of those guided meditation CDs or something. They're dorky, but it will calm your mind down. I'm the most cynical, cranky New Yorker and I don't like the new-age sh** at all. But I used meditation when I did a cleansing fast a couple of years ago and it was surprisingly helpful. Once I even start crying in the middle of it. No idea why. Good luck to you. You can do this if you decide to do it.

I slept on my side last night (had surgery in the morning) and was ok. It was little more painful than on my back, but so much more comfortable!! I can't wait till I heal a little more so I can do half belly half side again!

In the future we'll have Lap-Band-Filling-Stations on every corner.

My insurance covered it, but self-pay would have been $17,000.

Now that I had a great night sleep, I can share a little more about the surgery and overall experience yesterday. I was the doctor's first patient yesterday at 8:30am and had to be there at 6:30. I wasn't particularly nervous until I left my family and got into the OR. But was oddly comforted when I looked over the resident's shoulder to see her playing Draw Something on her iPhone. We had a good laugh guessing bagpipes, and it made me feel like this wasn't going to be a big deal... Surgery took an hour end to end, and recovery was fine, though they made my mom and husband leave the room and even though I kept asking for my husband, they never got around to letting him back in... I suggest if you want your significant other to be in there with you, urge them to be a little aggressive about it and keep trying to go in... Left the hospital around 5pm. A little sore, but not too bad. Mostly EXHAUSTED! The worst part has been my throat. The breathing tube just destroyed it. I've been using the numbing spray, which helps a lot, and lollypops, which helps a little, but is a little too sticky-sweet... It's weird, before surgery I was all about the sweet. After surgery I'm all about the savory... I was able to get down surprisingly more liquid than I thought I would!! But because of my throat, BY FAR the most helpful thing to drink has been matzoh-ball soup broth. I made my husband go out to the Jewish Deli last night (it felt like a pregnancy craving, HAD to have it!!) and it lived up to every fantasy. There's something amazing about the heat and all those spices like dill and pepper that opens up my throat. I feel like a sponge filling up. As others here have described, my stomach has been achy, but not really painful. It's like I've been kicked in the stomach, or did too many sit-ups. The later it got last night, the worse it got though. And even exhausted, I had a pretty bad night... I just couldn't get comfortable or fall asleep.... And every time I did fall asleep, I'd JOLT awake to one of those dreams where you're afraid you're holding a drink or your computer and are about to drop it... This went on for hours, and I finally started crying I was so tired... The only way I was ultimately able to fall asleep was by laying on my side. It hurt a little more in that position, but since it's my usual position, I think I was asleep in less than a minute... Woke up at 5:30am feeling tight and dry in my stomach. Like a scab feels tight... Took meds, drank some broth, and feeling really good. Very well rested, relaxed, and it's a lot easier to get up and down from the bed and walk around. My shopping list for post-surgery: - GasX strips that melt on your tongue - throat spray - Lollypops - hot drinks with lots of flavor—home-made chicken soup broth, tomato soup, tea, etc - cold with a lot of flavor—V-8 Juice, diet sports drinks, crystal light, etc. - bed tray would have been nice... - and if you wear reading glasses, make sure you don't leave them at work. Anyway, I'm so excited to be feeling better today. I had such a great sleep!!! I'm looking forward to taking a walk around the block later, get some air.

Well, I did it. I'm on the other side!! I was the doctor's first patient yesterday at 8:30am and had to be there at 6:30. I wasn't particularly nervous until I left my family and got into the OR. But was oddly comforted when I looked over the resident's shoulder to see her playing Draw Something on her iPhone. We had a good laugh guessing bagpipes, and it made me feel like this wasn't going to be a big deal... Surgery took an hour end to end, and recovery was fine, though they made my mom and husband leave the room and even though I kept asking for my husband, they never got around to letting him back in... I suggest if you want your significant other to be in there with you, urge them to be a little aggressive about it and keep trying to go in... Left the hospital around 5pm. A little sore, but not too bad. Mostly EXHAUSTED! The worst part has been my throat. The breathing tube just destroyed it. I've been using the numbing spray, which helps a lot, and lollypops, which helps a little, but is a little too sticky-sweet... It's weird, before surgery I was all about the sweet. After surgery I'm all about the savory... I was able to get down surprisingly more liquid than I thought I would!! But because of my throat, BY FAR the most helpful thing to drink has been matzoh-ball Soup broth. I made my husband go out to the Jewish Deli last night (it felt like a pregnancy craving, HAD to have it!!) and it lived up to every fantasy. There's something amazing about the heat and all those spices like dill and pepper that opens up my throat. I feel like a sponge filling up. As others here have described, my stomach has been achy, but not really painful. It's like I've been kicked in the stomach, or did too many sit-ups. The later it got last night, the worse it got though. And even exhausted, I had a pretty bad night... I just couldn't get comfortable or fall asleep.... And every time I did fall asleep, I'd JOLT awake to one of those dreams where you're afraid you're holding a drink or your computer and are about to drop it... This went on for hours, and I finally started crying I was so tired... The only way I was ultimately able to fall asleep was by laying on my side. It hurt a little more in that position, but since it's my usual position, I think I was asleep in less than a minute... Woke up at 5:30am feeling tight and dry in my stomach. Like a scab feels tight... Took meds, drank some broth, and feeling really good. Very well rested, relaxed, and it's a lot easier to get up and down from the bed and walk around. My shopping list for post-surgery: - GasX strips that melt on your tongue - throat spray - Lollypops - Hot Drinks with lots of flavor—home-made chicken soup broth, tomato soup, tea, etc - cold with a lot of flavor—V-8 juice, diet sports drinks, crystal light, etc. - bed tray would have been nice... - and if you wear reading glasses, make sure you don't leave them at work. Anyway, I'm so excited to be feeling better today. I had such a great sleep!!! I'm looking forward to taking a walk around the block later, get some air.

OMG this article is me!!!! I must have had 100 last meals. So many in fact, that the day I started the liquid diet I thought to myself "Thank God THAT's over!!" I just got banded yesterday, so I have no idea how this is going to work over the long stretch, but it's a relief to have the surgery over and done with so I can find out.