mrsto

I would love to reignite this forum & see how all of the banded plication people are doing. I just had mine done on Monday, and I'd love to hear how the previous posters are doing

Sashabanded - didn't your doctor give you TONS of instructions? Between the pre-op and post-op trainings, I've been saturated with "rules of the band".

Yeah - doesn't make much sense. Since I'm newly banded, I'm going to follow their instructions to the T, but I'm sure in time I'll alter some things that work better for me :-) As long as I keep losing weight, I'm good

My doctor allowed us to have tomato soup pre-op, but not immediately post-op. They want us to avoid anything with a lot of acid. Which is too bad, because Campbells has a cream of tomato soup that is great! It's one of the only soups that doesn't gross me out.

Liquids will push solid food through the band quicker. Avoiding liquids 30 minutes prior, and 60 minutes after, will keep you satiated for a long time when you eat.

I'm SO with ya! I'm so sick of liquids, and even though I'm able to have cream Soups, I'm completely grossed out already. Come Thursday, I too will feast on eggs & cottage cheese!! WooHoo! Who would have ever thought that we would be thrilled about fricken eggs and cottage cheese!! - LOL

My surgery was done at 3:30pm on Monday, and I was in bed most of the day on Tuesday. I walked the halls a little bit, but was in so much pain. Possibly because I had a few things done; lap band with plication, repair of hiatal hernia, and gallbladder removal. When I got home from the hospital, I spent most of Wednesday in bed, but I think the liquid Vicodin had a lot to do with that. Now I'm up and around, but rest when I feel tired. Everyone is different, so it's difficult to know how you will respond. At five days out, I feel like I turned a corner today. I caught up on work for a few hours this morning, then got really tired. But every day is better and better.

That's what mine said, too.

I didn't realize that Gas-X had strips. How do those work? I bought the chewable Gas-X, but it didn't seem to do much. But then on days 3-4, it started to come out. It takes some time, and even when you think it's all gone, then a shooting pain may come through your shoulder. The gas seems to be the biggest complaint of everyone immediately after surgery. You'd think there would be a way they could remove it when they're done in there! One woman posted that her surgeon did that, but that's the only time I've heard it being done.

Do they have you on clear or full liquids?

Congrats! It's a bumpy ride the first few days, but it starts to get better. I had my surgery on Monday, and when my husband drove me home Tuesday evening, every bump felt like an assault to my innards Like you, I have a lot of bruising; not only from the incisions, but from the Heparin shots and other black & blue marks that I'm not sure how they got there. YES - do your spirometer. I haven't been great because it hurts so bad. But it's gotten better, and I really do feel better opening up my lungs. Take it EZ!

i drank some prune juice yesterday, and today I got some relief :-) This is my 4th day post-op. I'm sure it's different for everyone. Some at my post-op meeting are having the reverse problem.

I'm so bored with the post-op liquid, I decided to drink a bottle of this Isopure clear protein drink I bought before surgery. It's the apple flavor, and I have to tell you, the gas is coming out of me like crazy. The dog is looking at me like WTF is that!!! I'm laughing hysterically as I'm writing this (what other forum can we be so graphic?). I don't know if it's coincidence, or if it's the drink, but here is a link to it. I bought it at the Vitamin Shoppe, but I'm sure other health food stores carry it. I'm praying that I'm over the gas part of this by morning. I really do think it's the drink http://www.gnc.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2612796

Good luck! I'm day three post-op, and it's already an adventure

Miralax takes a couple of days to work. You have to drink it daily. It's slow acting, but it's cramp free and doesn't have any chemical effect on your body. If you want a sure thing, have some liquid Milk of Mag. Take it at night with 8 oz Water, and morning should be a happy time

I was really worried about the nausea and vomiting, but knock on wood....haven't had either. I should keep my mouth shut, though.....cuz as SOON as I say something!!!

Geez - I might have to bust out the liquid Milk of Magnesia! The though of it grosses me out, but (usually) it works pretty well. With all the straight liquids for so many days, what's really there to come out, anyway?

I haven't done a laxative yet, but I drank some prune juice today. I may start drinking Miralax as well. It's hard, though, because we have to drink so slowly. With Miralax, you mix it in 8oz of water and chug it. Well....I think chugging is a thing of the past for us

I tried laying on my left side (I heard that works with gas), but it's too painful cuz of the surgery. How long do "they" say it takes for the gas to relieve completely?

Thanks Rosie. I'm a little frustrated, but I know it's ridiculous to think that I'd be up and around three days after surgery. I didn't want to take anymore liquid Vicodin, but ended up taking a dose a couple of hours ago. I SO know what you mean on the gas; shoulder pain, chest.... It seems to have resolved a bit, but then I'll feel the dagger. Like you, I feel best when laying down. Luckily, we have an ergo adjustable bed, so I can raise my head and feet to different levels. Since the surgery, I sleep with the remote in my hand Yes, the breathing thing is a big issue. Sometimes, when I walk up the stairs, I damn near hyperventilate. I don't even realize that I'm breathing very shallow breaths, so the exertion really brings me to my knees. But again, when reclining or laying down, I'm okay. Thanks for your post.....you're a doll!

Yeah - I agree, the gas pain is ridiculous. I think I've FINALLY gotten rid of most of mine, but it was nuts. The problem is, the pain meds didn't really touch the gas pain. But they made me not care as much, and I was able to sleep. Now I just feel like I was kicked in the stomach. I'm sure that part is the surgery & not gas.

I'm also at day three, and finding that the liquid Vicodin is making my dizzy. Was great the first couple of days, but today I'm switching to extra strength Tylenol. How long did it take everyone to have their energy back? This tired feeling is such a drag. I suspect that once the Vicodin is out of my system, I'll feel much better.

Nicole, I'm going through the same thing. I had my surgery on Monday afternoon. I'm able to take very small sips of things, but I do feel the liquid going down. I think the pain is mostly where my stomach was plicated, but I don't really know. One thing helps for me, is to eat/drink things that aren't ice cold. That cold really sends a surge, and room temp or warm seems to work best. Good luck! Thanks to all these posts by others who have been through this, I trust things will improve each day.

Good for you! I have that weighted down feeling as well. My stomach was so distended and hard as a rock for a couple of days. It still is a bit, but it's better than before. Getting rid of the gas helps.

So many people seem to be in better shape than me after a couple of days. I'm better than I was yesterday, but still have a hard time breathing. I feel like I was hit in the stomach with an anvil, so deep breaths are painful. Maybe it's because of the extras I had done on top of the band, but I do feel better today, and trust that each day will improve.