mrspopeye

Day 7 post op. Surgeon visit tomorrow. I'm so afraid to step on that scale. I don't want to get discouraged if the scale goes up over swelling.

How did you all do at your post op visit? Did you go up or down on your weight?

Thanks in advance.

Lala

Well, I don't go for an official doctor's follow up unitl 2 weeks post-op, but I still go to Weight Watchers and at 1 week post op I had lost 2.6 lbs. I was ok with that.

THANK YOU so much and i will let everyone know it goes!! i am still so nevous today, and i feel so dumb, im worried about anastsia and im worried about recovery. I was just wondering for the people who went home the same day how long did the whole day take for you. I really am nervous I just want to come home and be with my 7yr old.. I know im a worry wart and i have to keep telling myself that im doing this for my 7yr old and my family, Sorry guys for venting!! One minute i feel good about it then I feel scared, did anyone else feel this way?

I think absolutely everyone here was at least somewhat nervous. You are only human and this is a huge step. Of course you fell uncertainty- you don't know what its like on the other side. But you can read thousands of posts here that show its a good place and at whatever stage you are at in the process, a handful of other people are right there with you, many to the day.

I got to the hospital at 7:30, went into the OR at 10am, and still beat my kids home from school by 3pm. It has been one of the easier surgeries I have ever had. I wishI had done this when my kids were just 7- I missed out on so much fun becasue I was too overweight to play. You will not regret this.

Cute. I like that. I guess I will turn into a chicken now.

Good luck to mollyb67 and Christine2126 tomorrow! Be sure to post about your experience when you feel up to it. There is a lot of good support here.

I'm back home after surgery yesterday. It went really well. I don't remember much after surgery. I was getting some good drugs. So far so good. Just trying to get in enough fluids,that's the hardest part

Glad to hear your doing well! I'm one week out and still have yet to get in my 64oz of fluids per day- I am determined to do it today. I agree that is one of the hardest parts.

I'm not sure if what I feel is restriction or not since my swelling is still going down. I feel tight and gassy after I drink. I have to do liquids for two full weeks. I am not hungry at all, actually have to force myself to eat...that's new! No desire for food at all. I just want to get out of this house. I live alone and it is very hard and depressing to be here all day and night! I also have bad pain in my back and can't seem to figure out what that is from.

I think we were banded the same day- May 14th and I also have this constant nagging pain in my back. It feels like gas but it just wont go away, It is ok when I get up in the morning but by the time I eat or drink, it is there the rest of the day. Right above the bra line in the center. Nothing at all helps! Is this what you are experiencing and does anything help you? I even called the doctor about it- just said hopefully it will pass.

Good Morning,

I am really new to all of this. I have a lot of questions, if anyone out there can assist me with procedure. I have been thinking about this for a very long time. As I have been on just about every diet out there. My problem is the exercising which I know to do it but the problem is my work schedule. I work graveyards and I am trying to make adjustments. I know that is a poor excuse but I need figure out to get this to work for me.

I need some suggestions, if anyone can assist that would be awesome.

My questions are:

1. How many times do you have to get a fill? It is different for everyone, some people have several fills, a very few acutally have no fills and have restriction with the band alone. There won't be a definitive answer to that. Some people get a fill at surgery, my doc will not do it until 4 weeks out.

2. Does anyone get side effects like Nausea etc? I had nausea right after surgery and gas pains, but I dont think it is a common thing in general. You should feel just fine after the recovery phase, except when you over eat or eat foods that are not compatible with the band like soft breads and tougher cuts of meat. You can get stuck and may vomit.

3. How long does the approval take? Cant answer this one- I was self-pay

4. How long is the procedure itself? I was in the OR about 1 hr and in recovery another 2 hrs.

5. Is this outpatient procedure? Or in patient? I think it may depend on the insurance. For me being self-pay, I went home that afternoon and did fine.

6. Do you have to prove you have sleep disorder? I think if you have a lower BMI, like under 40, some insurances may need you to prove that you have an obesity related condition and sleep apnea would be one of these- others may be hight blood pressure, cholesterol, etc.

7. Do most insurances approve the operation? My ins did not cover at all (BCBS of TN)- you will have to call them and ask them.

8. once the operation is done - do you have follow a strict diet? Like shakes? if so what kind? Yes, and the diets vary from surgeon to surgeon. The shakes at very high in Protein. I have to eat 60-80 gm of Protein per day and under 25-50 net carbs (total carbs minus grams of fiber) daily. But as you read on here you will find everyone's diet is very different. All of them will at least agree that high protein is important.

9. Can you go back to work the next day or in my case Nights? once the procedure is done. I have a desk job and I had surgery on a Monday and went back to work on a Thursday and I did ok. Depends on your job.

Any suggestions would be awesome

I paid $12,000 in Nashville, TN. First 60 days of care is free, then $150 for each fill, or I can pay $500 for 1 year of unlimited fills. I went to my credit union and got a great interest rate, put my paid-for vehicle up as collateral, and I pay $350 a month for 36 mo. Best decision I ever made. No new car is gonna be better than this. Heck, I probably blew $350 a month in eating out.

Well, tomorrow is my surgery day. A little nervous but also excited. Reading everyone's comments and such has helped me in asking the right questions to my doctor and feeling a little more comfortable as to what I'm going to be going through. I have been on the liquid diet for six days now and have already lost 8 pounds. Just hope all goes well.

Congrats to all that has been banded and hope things goes well for all of you.

Good luck to you! You will be surprised how well you do.

Thanks- I appreciate the pick-me-up. I lost quite a bit the week before on the pre-op diet (7 lbs), so you are right- I should take the high with the low.

Wow! Great job. Thanks for the inspirational post. Keeps me motivated 1 week out. Did you lose a lot right out of surgery, or did you really start to lose once you had restriction? I only lost 2 pounds this week so I was kind of bummed, but trying to think postive that any loss is a good thing.

I got mine from the vitaminshoppe.com. They have free shipping over $25 and the online prices are cheaper than their stores. They also have a rewards program where you can get points for $$ off future orders, and they give you 20% off your second order. I like the Pure Protein shakes- chocolate, strawberry and Banana- 35 gm protein and 2-4 carbs in each 11 oz can. It was delivered to my door in 2 days both time that I ordered.

Good luck to you today neece1 and daddyof4- check out the huge May Bandsters thread- you will find lots of support and friends there.

Hello Everyone,

I can hardly believe it has been a week since surgery. The time has flown by ! I am feeling pretty good..just a little pain in my left side (??) . I was allowed to progress to soft foods yesterday..but have decided to stay with liquids until I visit the doctor tomorrow.

I am a bit disappointed in the weight loss this week..just about 3 pounds..considering all that I am not eating..lol I wonder if my liquid Lortab was sugar free...???

Best wishes to all the newbies and prayers and good wishes for all those having surgery today and this week !

Nita

I am pretty much in the same boat with you- I was banded 1 week ago today and the gas pains were actually worse for me the last 2 days than any other day so far- especially on the left side. Today is the first day I have not noticed as much bloating. My official Weight Watcher meeting weigh-in is tonight and I think I will have lost about 2 pounds for the week. But any weight loss is a good thing. I hear others say that you don't see the scale go down as much until you have restriction.

I can't believe my day will finally be here tomorrow! I am scared, nervous and hoping I am doing the right thing. I am hoping it all works out fine of course. I so can't wait to be able to buy new clothes, new bathing suit, that will surely be the bonus! Its been tough not being able to eat with friends and family. I spent the weekend away at the beach & almost broke out in tears not being able to eat with everyone else. I will be packing my bag today, anyone have suggestions on anything special I can take with me?

Best wishes to you! Let us know how you are doing as soon as your feel like it. It will be easier than you think!

Great job! Hopefully I will be in your shoes someday.

Tomorrow's my big day. Cant believe its here already. I'm as prepared as I'm ever going to be. I have everything i think i'll need for the first couple of weeks. I still have to pack my overnight bag for the hospital and put some laundry away. Have to be at the hospital at 6am.

Good luck to you! It will be easier than you think.

Ok I was starting to question myself, but it seems like a lot of people progressed to soft foods around the same time, if not quicker than me, lol. Such a variety.

I was just thinking the same thing. The conflicting info can be confusing. The best thing is to follow our individual doctors instructions of course. I'm glad it wasn't just me that had an issue w/ Beans. I don't think I'll try them again for a while. How do you know you're full? I always used to eat to the point of being stuffed, lol, so this is new to me! But when I feel some pressure in my chest or side I stop. I got an example meal plan from my Dr and I actually can't even eat that much yet. For Breakfast it said 1/2 cup yogurt and 1/4 cup smashed banana.. I couldn't even finish the yogurt before I felt stuffed.

I know I'm full because it is uncomfortable- like Thanksgiving dinner full. I am still battling gas pains which occur after I eat still. I probably could not eat what's on my meal plan either. Pressure is a good way to describe it- so it sounds like you are right on track.

I know someone who had a gastric bypass several years ago who did this. She had been overweight all her life, had a husband who loved her unconditionally, 2 beautiful little girls and a great life. She lost 150lbs and it was like she relived her teenage years all over again- she started dressing provocatively, hanging out in bars, sleeping with younger men, all of which eventually caused her to lose her marriage and her children. Her husband got full custody, although the oldest one stayed with mom from about age 16 on and followed many of her patterns. That girl is now in jail and I 100% believe this would not have occurred had she not acted like that after her bypass. Her husband told me that his lawyer brought up some statistical information during their divorce hearing and he said the the divorce rate for gastric bypass patients is 70%, as opposed to 50% for the general population.

It's crazy how every doctor differs. I wasn't allowed shredded meats, fruits or veggies at the puréed stage. I can start having that as of tomorrow. I bought strawberry yogurt, turkey patties, garlic tilapia, deli meat, sweet potato, canned green Beans, oatmeal, diced peaches (lite syrup) and some berries. I may try chili too.

The binder my nutritionist gave me says I can have up to 1 cup in a sitting, once on soft foods. I also verified that w/ her in person. But considering i had a miserable evening after doing close to 3/4 cup of Beans, im gonna take it 1/4 cup at a time. I REALLY do not want to overeat and hurt myself.

Lala - With puréed, everything has to be applesauce consistency in a blender. Soft foods are things that are moist, or mashed, and easy to chew down.

It is interesting how each doctor is different. I wonder if they have ever done any research to see which post-op diet is most effective? I would think that would be hard to measure because so much of the success is dependant on our use of the band as a tool. Some may want the band to do the work for them and lose less, whereas others work with the band and lose more and then there is the exercise factor.

I was allowed to eat soft foods from day 3 on and regular consistancy on day 5, but I am heavily carb restricted for the first year- only 25-50 net carbs per day. So, no mashed potatoes for me.

Beans did not sit well with me either. I had 1/2 cup of pinto beans Friday and I had gas pains the rest of the day. I do think I will try them again in a week or two. Seems like most everything gives me gas pains though. The most amt of food I have been able to get down at any one sitting is about 3/4 cup- and I was very full. I'm like you- I don't want to do anything to mess this up or stretch my pouch.

did you actually vomit from it?? ive had so many near misses lately with vomiting. im just realizing now that it was just about to happen each time but i narrowly missed going through it. How bad was the experience? im having some issues right now. i may need to get some fill removed. Ive found that roast pork, at least until i had this fill, was a meat i could eat and tolerate well. Im baking roast pork now for the family. it will be interesting to see how i go with a mouthful tonight.

No, I did not vomit, although I thought I might. I got an intense pain in the center of my chest and I started salivating like I would vomit and my nose started running. Leaning over seems to help some, then I drank a few sips of Water and it went down. But I had gas pains the rest of the day. Never again. I am 6 days post-op and I do not have any fills. I thought the tenderloin would have been ok. It is juicy and you can cut it with a fork. Oh well. Did your roast pork go down?

bread is totally my weakness! I am actually glad that the Lap Band is goin to help me with that. I learned the same painful lesson regarding my husband's very best grilled pork tenderloin which I dearly love. Off the list for sure- got stuck, thought I was going to die- luckily it passed on.

I will be having surgery May 22nd on Pre-op diet now shakes only

Welcome! It will be here before you know it!

I did it! I'm officially banded! I have major cotton mouth!

Congratulations! That is awesome!

Yay! very exciting! It will go by quickly.