sue11

Back at work today, just to put out fires then I'll be back on Friday. It's hard to sit up at a computer, and the sholder pain just hit, so I think I'm going to head home. Those who have been banded awhile... Does the sholder pain eventually go away (how long)? Or does it continue to come with gas pains (in stomach) even after the abdominal gas from surgery has fully absorbed? Seems to come whenever I drink, though it's hard to tell b/c I'm drinking all day long.

Can't say it's been the best of days. I felt pretty good this AM, went for a mini-walk with Wendy, felt great to get out of the house. About mid-afternoon I started to feel like crap. Head-ache, body aches, stomach ache/upset, GAS and more trips to the bathroom than I can count. Working hard just to get water down tonight. I'd be worried, except it seems my husband & son are feeling a bit the same. Just my luck to get a bug 4 days post-op. Oh well, this too shall pass, and I keep telling myself how wonderful I'll feel when it does.

dawneb... Dr Oh has us on clears only for 1 week then add protien shakes. At 4 weeks posop we add mushies. Very restrictive from what I see from other Docs, but seems to be very effective, I certainly don't want to go through all this and not get the best results I can, so I'm glad for the tight restriction, I may not be ashappy about the restrictions in 3 weeks though! I think Dr Shrikanth is a similar, but not quite as restrictive. I think both are safe and effictive. I think the pre-op diet realy get you to that "I can't wait" stage. I really wasn;t nervous, even the morning of surgery, and they take great care of you at St Francis. Wenjea... I'm really ready to get out of here for a bit. Tay & I went for a walk late last night, the fresh air and moon light was wonderful! Maybe the Puppy park?

Day 4 here. Still fairly painful at port site, but moved from the big meds to tylenol, so i would expext to feel it a little more. I figure if it's about the same on tylenol then that's inprovment. i agree with the rumbling tummy. Not hunger, but gas moving around. I described it as "dinosaur night at the WWF" :drum: I'd like to go for a walk down the block, but am a little worried about being that far from the bathroom...water in...water out! I'm just doing laps aroung the house right now.

4th day now. I switched from the big meds to tylenol today, and feel about the same as yesterday. I figure about the same without the heavy drugs is progress. It's the change of possition that causes the most pain. Once I'm up and get loosened up i can stay up for awhile. The intestinal noises sound like dinosaur night at the WWF :drum:

Hi all...third day post-band for me. Port pain is pretty nasty, but gas pains have not hit too hard, hopefully will stay that way. Just had a shower, feeling refreshed, but sleepy.

Hi guys...I'm an official bandster now!!! Just got home from the hospital. If it weren't for the port pain I'm feeling great. The port pain is pretty intence. haven't really has any gas pains...yet. I'm sure there will be some coming. I've been able to be up quite a bit, though I've really got to hang on to that port. I think I'll lay down now...was right next to the nurses station at the hospital...got 1 hour of solid sleep. with pain meds i can hardy hold my eyes open...so i think I'll got close them!

I'm official now!!! Home from the hospital, if the port pain were gone I'd feel great. But, that port pain is reall something! all went very well, but very sleepy at the moment. I'm going to snooze now...will post more later. Sue

Merrillee... sorry I couldn't make it, I had forgotten that my daughter had a band concert at her middleschool tonight. I missed the last one, so I didn't dare miss another. Well...the bag is packed and I'm ready to go, suppose i should go get some sleep now, though I should get plenty tomorrow!

Thanks all for the encouragement!!! Merrillee... I'm tempeted to try to make it to your party tonight, got to make sure everything is calm and ready at home first, so really not sure. I'm interested in your dog clothes, do you have a show coming up soon? Wendy... I found several sources for braclets & charms, I'll show you sometime.

Thanks for your thougts and prayer!!! tomorrow is my day! I figure if I can watch Wendy go through her first week (the worst of it all) and I'm still not scared away, then it must be something I really want. did anybody else "nest" before surgery? I cleaned my office at work yesterday then came home and worked until 11:30 cleaning and re-arranging my spare room/office. It will be my hide-away when I need a quiet spot away from the business of the house. I've got everyting arranged and ready to go! I was still wound up so I watched my TIVO'ed "Dancing With the Stars"...way to go Apolo! Merrillee...so sad we missed you yesterday, that would have been so much fun.

It's tomorrow for me!!! Did anyone else "nest" I've gotten so much done in the last few days. wish I could be that prductive everyday. Yesterday I cleaned my office at work and cleaned and re-arranged my spare room/office...it will be my get away when i need a little peace & quiet. I'm ready now! I have to go in 8:00AM, but I think I'm not scheduled until latter in the day, not looking forward to waiting around at the hospital.

twinmommy... I'm still waitin on my banding (Thursday) but being on clear for awhile I can relate to the emotions. I'm sure recovering from surgery only adds to it all. I was all done in last night and had several things I wanted to get done. My husband and kids are really doing a great job of not reacting to my grumpiness, whish really helps me not to escalate. Sure would make it easier if they could manage to keep the kitchen in one peice (my kis are 12-16-19...certainly old enough).

Wenjea... So great to turn that corner. Give me a call, i can squeeze in a little walk if you want to get out of the house. LJUHT115... That must be really frustrating! Good for you for finding a distraction. For what I've been able to figure I may be in for quite a wait on Thursday...a movie is a great idea.

Yep, Merrillee it's my turn on Thursday. Ready to get on with it. I did go to support group tonight. it was good. Met alot of people, there just over 20 people there. They are very encouraging, friendly, open group. The leader was the nutritionist from my ed class today, Laura. She's lively, friendly and knowledgeable. They had a clothing exchange (this was their 1st one) and I came home with several pairs of pants to shrink into. From my one time experience I think this group can be very helpful. Wendy...I met a gal who live in UP who really wants to walk with us. She was realy nice and we seem to be able to relate in many ways.

Thanks for the history of the local Docs. Seems they are all well trained and have long sucessful track records. I don't think you can go wrong with any of them, just choose one you're comfortable with and go with it.

A few of you were talking about hernias. Do you know if they find and repair one, does that add to the cost?? Maybe it just depends on your dr? Just curious since I'm trying to account for every penny. dawneb... I concure with ljuht115. I am having a hiatal hernia reapired also, Dr Oh says any additional cost for the repair will be billed to my insurance and should be covered even though my band is not covered.

crabdake... I haven't been banded yet, so I can't speak from experience. but, i do know that diaphram pain is felt in the chest and sholder, and the diaphram can feel pressure from gas and possibly a little tramatized from surgery. When I've had bouts with my hiatal hernia (which will be fixed during banding...yipee!) I felt the pain in my chest, wondered if I was having heart problems, but it was the hole in my diaphram.

nbjen... dr Oh is with Franciscan Health Systems. They have meetings at St Francis (Federal way) and St Joes (Tacoma). Anyone is welcome. Are you in auburn? https://www.fhshealth.org/Bariatric/support.asp

Wendy... Glad to see you up and posting. Merrillee... What kind of foods are you having trouble with? I can't tell you how mush I crave Wendy's chili!!! nbjen... What hospital does dr Fox work out of? Is he in a group/clinic? We're going to try to make the support group on monday at St Joes. Nasty headache today, what I wouldn't give for a couple excedrine!!! It's the only thing that helps my monthly headache. A baked potatoe probably wouldn' hurt either!!! Wish i had my pain meds already...I'd give that a go. Oh well, at least I should get through all that by surgery day on Thursday. Would sure hate to have cramps on top of it all.

legster... I am banding at st Francis on the 24th!!! I'm not sure which doctor you are with. Mine is Dr Oh. He says no milk forever, but on the side (by the education person) I've been told that this is more because it will lead to other high sugar high fat foods. The by-pass patients can not eat milk...cause dumping syndrom, but banders can use skim milk, but must be aware of the sugars. My nutritional educator said that soy milk is OK but there was only one brand that she knows of that is low in sugar, she said it tastes like old carpet. She said to use mocha mix in cereal, baking and such. ARe you on liquids or clear liquids. the soy milk would probably make a really good shake, but would not be a clear. I am a milk lover too, and will probably drink skim milk eventually, after I reach my goal weight :mad: , but I think I'll avoid it for now so I don't hinder my weight loss. What I've heard on potatoes is that the volume of the pouch is so small that it's better to fill it with more nutritional food, potatoes are basically sugar, and we tend to add those yummy fatty toppings. Bread can clump in pouch and get stuck, and she said brown & wild rice are better than white. Now that I've recapped my nutrition class... Do you live in the area...I'm in Tacoma I hit 10# this AM too...a great start on greater things...congrats

Hi May bansters, i got bumped up today. I'll be banded on the 24th instead of the 29th (at my request). It's going to work perfectly with the families schedule and the long weekend to recover. I'm really happy to have 5 fewer days to wait...just want to get on with it!!! All you new bandsters take good care of yourselves!

Hi all, just visited Wenjea in the Hospital after 10AM banding. We went for our walk, though it was not the regular 2 miles, just to the end on the hall & back. She's battling nausea from the pain meds, but she's sipping water & eating popcycles just fine. Speedy recovery to all the new banders this week! Sue

Hi all, just visited Wenjea in the hospital after her banding at 10 AM. She's hanging in there, though she's quite bothered by nausea from the pain meds. Congrats to all the other May 17 banders!

nbjen... thanks for the encouragement...nobody knows unless they've been there. Wenjea & i were talking last night about realizing how much our lives have centered around food..that certainly needs to change...look where it's gotten me. I'm looking now for other rewards, it seems shopping fills the gap too easily...boy could that get me in trouble. Are you with Dr Oh also? Evila... My Doc has you do 2 weeks of clear liquid & protien shakes pre-op, then clear liquids only for 1 week post-op, followed by 3 weeks clear liquids & shakes. Then it's mushies for 2 week then on to softs & solids. It's more strict than other Doc that I've seen, but it leads to fewer complications (slippage) and great start in getting the pounds off! Many are down 20 lbs by their surgery date.