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I have been hearing and reading that the instructions are not the same accross the board, so I am curious. What phases did you have post-op for your diet and how long did each phase last?

Thanks everyone! I am up to 3x a day at .5-.75 miles each trip. I am also getting faster each time without even trying. I use mapmywalk to keep track.

I know how you feel. I came home Wednesday from surgery and Thursday my kids both had the stomach bug. My husband had me stay in my room and the kids in theirs. He went back and forth helping all of us and washing his hands religiously in between. My doctors office said wear a mask if I need to go into the common areas of the house and wash my hands a lot. I was told to have my husband spray bleach/water spray to clean surface areas and use lysol to help kill the germs. I was told to stay on top of my nausea meds as well just in case. Luckily, I made it through. They are no longer sick and I did not get sick either. Thank GOD for my husband and the advice of my doctor's office.

I was told to put a pillow over my stomach and take deep breaths. It helps it not be as painful when you need to take that deep breath. I was told it was gas pain as well. The shoulder and neck are gas and nerve pain if you have that. Walking, gas-x, the pillow trick, sitting up rather than laying down are all things that help, but none of them have cured it. I was banded on the 3rd and still have the pains on and off. However, those things help control it and it does slowly get better. I've also found slowly sipping on warm tea, especially ginger, helps release some of the gas pressure as well. I'm walking 3x a day in hopes of geting rid of the remaining gas build up. I had the gerd/hernia repair during the band as well. I hope that helps some.

This is a personal preference question, but including the doctor's advice is always helpful. How much did you start walking the week after surgery? How fast and how far was a smart pace for you? Did it help you heal faster or prolong healing because you pushed yourself too far? In my situation, we had to drive 2 hours, so the day of surgery, there was no walking for me. Then my kids got a stomach bug, so I had to be quaranteened to avoid picking that up (as in they were sick the day after I got home!) I am not on day 3 and can go walk. I did half a mile. Before surgery, I did not walk very much unless I was going on a nature walk/hike. Anyway, my head was hurting and so was my chest, so we came back to the house after half a mile to be safe, but I am thinking I should get back out there again. However, I do not want to over do it or get burnt out too earlier.

I was told not to pick at it, peel it, etc. However, i was told if there is a loose piece hanging that is getting stuck on clothing, to take clean scissors and cut the part that is hanging and nothing more. They stressed the need to leave the clue alone. I actually don't scrub my cuts at all. I use a mild soap over them and that is it.

Thanks everyone. I am keeping up with the gas-x tabs and doing the deep breathing for the CO2 and nerve issues. I was told a pillow over the belly when deep breathing helps the lungs expand without hurting my stomach. It helps! However, I am not quite sure that the rumbling is gas or digestive stuff. Either way, it is comforting to know it is normal. My poor hubby is having to take care of me and the kids so that we aren't mingly our germies and spreading the stomach bug more. My stomach is still really tender, especially when twisting (not on purpose but to get something, like my drink) or drinking a lot (like at the end of the day when i'm finishing off my 64oz minimum). I also think I am sipping too quickly which may be helping the gurgling and gas issues. I use to be a gulper, so sipping is something I'm doing pretty good at, but it seems at times that I'm taking too much air in between sips or taking too many back to back. I'm just happy to be officially banded. I am staying on Clear Liquids until my doctors appointment Monday since they say 3-5 days and nutritionist recommended 5-7 days. 5 seems to be a happy medium... although yogurt would be wonderful!

Thanks, Jim. I am relieve to know it is normal and not a sign that I am getting sick. They have me on quite a bit of antinausea medicine right now though, so I cannot go by nausea too much. I called my nurse earlier and she told me to make sure everything is santized and to stay away as much as possible to keep from getting sick and to keep on top of the nausea meds just in case.

Hello everyone. I had surgery two days ago on Wednesday. I'm in the middle of my clear liquid diet and suddenly my stomach is rumbling non-stop. I'm sipping on liquids a lot, but my stomach hurts if I drink too much. I'm using Gas-X. I lost my voice after surgery and I was told it is because I'm a little dry to keep on top of the drinking. My fear is that my children have the stomach bug and are throwing up a lot. Is the rumbling normal or is it me getting sick? I cannot afford to throw up, but at least I'm still on the nausea patch, bracelet, and pills (I get sick after anesthesia). Thanks for any input you may have and it feels good to officially be a bandster.

I was banded on Wednesday. It is not as bad as I expected, but I have shoulder, chest, and neck pain that is caused by both the release of gas and the aggrivation of a nerve. I know some said they do not need the pain medicine. I do. For the most part, I am able to get up and walk around and stuff as long as I am taking the pain medicine. If I push it off, it feels like I'm been punched in the stomach a few times. Anyway, overall, it has not been bad at all. Having my gallbladder out previously, this was no where near as painful. Also, I had the hernia/gerd surgery at the same time and am still doing better than I did with my gallbladder and every day, I'm feeling better and better. I plan on going for a short walk with my husband later if the rain lets up. BTW, the liquids so far have not been bad and although I see food everywhere and my husband has been making dinner for everyone... food hasn't bothered me yet.

I am tomorrow too! We are going to be band twins. I have no clue how I am going to get any sleep tonight and I have quite a drive first thing in the morning. What time do you have to be at the hospital? I have to be there at 9:30am. :wub:

It will be April 2 here very soon (just over an hour away) so I wanted to wish you a successful surgery and a quick recovery!

Congratulations to everyone that is officially a bandster today! :wub:

Today is the day! I just wanted you to know that you were in my thoughts today!

Thanks everyone! I had pre-op appointment and phone call today and will find out what time to be there over the phone tomorrow. I was nervous a few days ago, but now I'm just antsy and excited. I got my post-op stuff previously, but bought a few more things, like G2 gatorade. I have found two walking buddies as well... so I have no excuse to get up and move. Plus, my job requires a lot of walking too. :-)