Pebbagirl

I own my business and am fortunate to take 9 WEEKS off after surgery (way overkill, but that's just how it worked out). I was miserable for the first four or five days after surgery but I could have gone back to most any job after ten days.

Is there such a thing? I'd like to be able to add some to my soups and other foods.

You get hungry and eventually your hair can fall out. I'm 13 days post op and don't get anywhere near enough either.

Does unjury have to be ordered? Can I buy it at a store?

I will call my doc but wanted to see if anyone has thoughts on this. I'm 9 days post op and my port incision has become a bit painful. I don't think it's red and it's not oozing. But about two days ago I noticed it felt hard underneath.

I know! It SO makes things look worse than they are!

I'm on Day 11, too. Up to about 600-700 calories a day now. I woke up starving last night and ate a little container of applesauce. I'm hungry (and maybe you are too) because I'm not getting enough calories in the day. The applesauce worked but a wiser choice would have been yogurt since it has protein.

Days 3,4, and 5 were nearly unbearable for me. I started feeling normal around Day 9; then today (Day 11) I actually felt good, had energy, etc.

Hey, Rhonda. I realize you're probably using your phone (like me) when you post, but it would be really great if you could use some punctuation. Sometimes it's very difficult to understand your posts because all the words run together. Also, I'm not sure who said it, but it really is important to clarify a couple of details each time you start a new thread because people sometimes miss threads. For example, each time I post, I remind whoever is reading that I was banded X days ago. That way, they know how to respond. The advice to a just-banded patient is different than the advice to someone who is a few months down the road. Hang in there, keep your chin up, and ask good questions. Soon, you'll be The one offering help to those less experienced than you!

Candy, have you removed your steri-strips yet? I was told to do so on Day 5, at which point it became obvious where my port incision was.

Straight off my surgeon's instructions: "if you are on good solid foods like a Subway sandwich and are hungry a couple of hours later, well, then you just need a fill! Keeping your band tight is so very critical to your success!"

Showers get me clean but I need a relaxing bath. 9 days post op and incisions are scanned.

Thanks to you both. I had 4 weeks in my mind but thought like you, CG: can't hurt if I don't get incisions wet. I'm headed that way now! Yay!!!

"Bandster Hell"

I am 7 days post op and on full liquids which include blended soups. I know we are not supposed to drink with our meals and for an hour after. But how do you combat the major thirst that comes with food???

Floridays, thanks. I think that was the answer I was looking for. (thanks everyone else who responded too!). :-)

No way! I was given oxycodone to take every 4 hours. I'm not a big fan of pain pills, but if ya need them, ya need them! I think I took 2 pills the day after surgery and then I took one at bedtime for the next 3 nights. Didn't need anymore after that. tell your surgeon you'd like to have some just in case.

I can totally help with this one. I'm 9 days post op and had trouble urinating the first few days. It's because it takes your urinary muscles a few days to "wake up" after having anesthesia. You can probably push a tiny bit (I did) without really straining. The first 24-48 hours after surgery, I was in the bathroom dribbling drops about every 15-30 minutes. It was hard for me to drink and I only got in about 20 oz a day at most. But after 24 hours or so post surgery, the urine started coming in more and more of a stream. I'd say it was normal after 3 or 4 days.

If this happened to me, I would first contact my band surgeon and get his advice. My surgeon is VERY involved in aftercare, so much so that he says to call at any hour of the day or night for any concern. My surgeon is affiliated with two hospitals in our area and he has instructed us specifically which ER we should go to. My point is that if someone is reading this and has not been banded yet, you should choose your surgeon carefully. And either way, anytime you have medical care, you should inform the care provider(s) that you have a band.

Aren't most ports on the left? Why? Mine is on right. It's just my surgeon's preference.

Hey December Bandsters! Come on in and tell us about yourself. Let's all support each other as we approach our days, which are all coming up VERY quickly. I'm December 6th.

Day 6 and it finally doesn't hurt to yawn! Sneezing, however, is still very painful, even if I hold a pillow on my belly. I live alone so (and this is gross) I've learned if I just let the sneeze go, it doesn't hurt nearly as much. It probably sprays enough to infect a whole airplane full of people but I'm safe in my own house. Or should i say the world is safe from me! Coughing still hurts and hiccups are terrible but I've only had them for a few minutes.

This isn't a suggestion but something my nurse said to me. If you're in ketosis (when your body uses your fat stores for energy), you are not hungry. And people who are not hungry, she said, are also not thirsty. I'm really struggling with this at 6 days post op. I'm consuming 100-150 calories a day which makes me not feel thirsty. I'm challenged to consume 20 oz of liquid a day right now. And I'm trying so hard! We just have to find tricks that help!

Spanx from lane Bryant?

Also, lovely, if you previously used food to cope with your emotions, you have now lost that coping mechanism.