Isailalu

Today is my 4 year band anniversary. .still rocking it:))

I did it! I'm a bandit! I was done on Saturday the 14th at about two in the afternoon. It's been four days and it's been an intense experience. Physically, I'm found well. My doctor is very conservative so I was in the hospital until Sunday afternoons I was in the ICU step-down unit with all his other patients so I had sequential
Compression devices that would squeeze my legs, a blood pressure cuff that went off every hour,an IV, cardiac leads all over my chest and the wonderful nurses that got me up every three hours to walk. It was not the restful night I had hoped! And if I can say what everyone else has- walk! Walk! Walk! I went to the doctor yesterday and I have been advanced to full liquids (yogurt, pudding, farina, etc) I have the port right next to my belly button and that's the spot that hurts. The doc thinks I had some reaction to something because the area is swollen and red. Doesn't think it's an infection but were keeping an eye on it. One of the nurses in the hospital told me that for the first week or so I should sip everything as of it were hot tea, slowly. That advice has worked very well I've never felt nauseated or anything. The gas pain even four days out is Horrible! It's constant and it hurts when I take a deep breath, when I get up, walking around. It kills. It doesn't help that I'm home alone with my two and a half year old and one year old today so I still have to lift them occasionally even though I shouldn't. I'm passing gas but I still feel this huge bubble right in my chest. It's making me tired and a little discouraged. The diet is going well though and I was nervous I'd be hungry all the time. I guess because of the surgery soreness and the gas my abdomen is pretty full. I'm passing gas as even went to the bathroom once (hey friends were all about sharing right?) but it's still exhausting. I'm feeling positive overall about the weight loss, but my body is pooped!
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I did it! I'm a bandit! I was done on Saturday the 14th at about two in the afternoon. It's been four days and it's been an intense experience. Physically, I'm found well. My doctor is very conservative so I was in the hospital until Sunday afternoons I was in the ICU step-down unit with all his other patients so I had sequential
Compression devices that would squeeze my legs, a blood pressure cuff that went off every hour,an IV, cardiac leads all over my chest and the wonderful nurses that got me up every three hours to walk. It was not the restful night I had hoped! And if I can say what everyone else has- walk! Walk! Walk! I went to the doctor yesterday and I have been advanced to full liquids (yogurt, pudding, farina, etc) I have the port right next to my belly button and that's the spot that hurts. The doc thinks I had some reaction to something because the area is swollen and red. Doesn't think it's an infection but were keeping an eye on it. One of the nurses in the hospital told me that for the first week or so I should sip everything as of it were hot tea, slowly. That advice has worked very well I've never felt nauseated or anything. The gas pain even four days out is Horrible! It's constant and it hurts when I take a deep breath, when I get up, walking around. It kills. It doesn't help that I'm home alone with my two and a half year old and one year old today so I still have to lift them occasionally even though I shouldn't. I'm passing gas but I still feel this huge bubble right in my chest. It's making me tired and a little discouraged. The diet is going well though and I was nervous I'd be hungry all the time. I guess because of the surgery soreness and the gas my abdomen is pretty full. I'm passing gas as even went to the bathroom once (hey friends were all about sharing right?) but it's still exhausting. I'm feeling positive overall about the weight loss, but my body is pooped!
Sent from my iPhone using LapBandTalk

I did it! I'm a bandit! I was done on Saturday the 14th at about two in the afternoon. It's been four days and it's been an intense experience. Physically, I'm found well. My doctor is very conservative so I was in the hospital until Sunday afternoons I was in the ICU step-down unit with all his other patients so I had sequential
Compression devices that would squeeze my legs, a blood pressure cuff that went off every hour,an IV, cardiac leads all over my chest and the wonderful nurses that got me up every three hours to walk. It was not the restful night I had hoped! And if I can say what everyone else has- walk! Walk! Walk! I went to the doctor yesterday and I have been advanced to full liquids (yogurt, pudding, farina, etc) I have the port right next to my belly button and that's the spot that hurts. The doc thinks I had some reaction to something because the area is swollen and red. Doesn't think it's an infection but were keeping an eye on it. One of the nurses in the hospital told me that for the first week or so I should sip everything as of it were hot tea, slowly. That advice has worked very well I've never felt nauseated or anything. The gas pain even four days out is Horrible! It's constant and it hurts when I take a deep breath, when I get up, walking around. It kills. It doesn't help that I'm home alone with my two and a half year old and one year old today so I still have to lift them occasionally even though I shouldn't. I'm passing gas but I still feel this huge bubble right in my chest. It's making me tired and a little discouraged. The diet is going well though and I was nervous I'd be hungry all the time. I guess because of the surgery soreness and the gas my abdomen is pretty full. I'm passing gas as even went to the bathroom once (hey friends were all about sharing right?) but it's still exhausting. I'm feeling positive overall about the weight loss, but my body is pooped!
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I'm being banded Sept 13th. Has anyone started the preop diet? I'm not sure about choosing between pre made shakes and mixing my own, which brand to drink. My nutritionist gave me a list of brands but I have a friend who uses Carnation Instant Breskfast sugar free. A lot of decisions and I'm excited and nervous at the same time!

Lsail, good luck! Please be well and let us know how it goes!

Thank you all so much! It means a lot. I have to stay just overnight, but I'd hate to be thinking "oh I should've packed...". I really love the support in this forum and thanks again!
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Slippers, a robe and chapstick.

PILLOW for the ride home (to splint your abdomen, esp w/ bumps in the road).
If you live a few hours away I would suggest bringing a cooler with a couple of drinks (gator aid was nice).
Make sure your PAIN MEDS are filled PRIOR to leaving the hospital (I did not do this and suffered until the next night before we could get it filled)(also some pharmacies do not carry the liquid pain meds in regular stock).
Dress for comfort and make sure you wear something that is easy to maneuver for potty breaks (nothing tight on abdomen).
Stock up your panty prior to surgery and make sure you have enough post-op food to make it at least a week.
Gas-ex for gas pain... some claim it works... some not... but if your having lots of gas pain it just may make you feel better to take it (comes in ready melt strips).
Be prepared to walk walk walk (to reduces gas pain) have a path mapped out in the back yard or house that is free if objects because you will not want to trip, fall or pick things up out of your path.
--good luck--

loose pants and top. other than your personal toiletries..everything else i brought was wasted! i walked a lot and had no problems with gas.

I went in at 530 am and left at 11am the same day that was from being admitted to being discharged so I didn't have to stay there long at all but I would recommend t-shirt and sweat pants or some kind of stretchy pants/shorts.

Loose comfy clothes to wear home. A house dress would be perfect or sweat pants.
A robe, because they'll get you up walking very soon after surgery. Hospitals gown are notorious for exposing your bottom so a robe will come in handy so no one gets a free show

It's 5:23 the morning of September 10th and I am headed to the hospital to have my surgery. I am excited and scared at the same time. I just found this group and am looking forward to getting to know people as we go through this journey. I will see you in the post op forum.

How did it go?
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Two things:
1. This morning I got my pre-op supply of Protein shake from the doctor's office. Ready to go!
2. This evening I had my final hurrah. I saved all my carbs all day for Japanese hibachi shrimp and scallops. I could only eat about half because my stomach has shrunk a lot in the last month on the low carb diet. I feel stupid for having a last hurrah, but I think if I didn't I would stray sometime else down the road. ...then hubby suggested ice cream (which actually i have been dreaming of for a month) so I had a small. Now that I am home, I am going to have a bunch of Water (to ease some of the salt) and maybe I should start my pre-op diet 2 days early to compensate for the damage? I have to be on 3 weeks of shakes with one salad/protein a day plus 2 fruits (apple/pear/orange). I know I can recover from this meal. I think it's not the worst I've ever done. LOL And, I have been kicking up the exercise this week too. (I never knew I actually liked certain exercise, like biking and classes at the gym!).
Good luck to those who are getting banded in recent/upcoming days. Please let's keep up this thread and stay together for support.

I got my insurance approval for my Sept 13th ( yea I know it's Friday the 13th) surgery! I started my preop yesterday and I have the worst headache/ and I'm not a violent person but I would kill someone for a chips Ahoy. I'm worried about slipping up and I'm feeling some feelings if ...mourning. Like I'm parting with an old friend by saying goodbye to some foods that always were there for me. I'm just letting myself be sad and then it will pass , especially once I start losing!
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I'm being banded Sept 13th. Has anyone started the preop diet? I'm not sure about choosing between pre made shakes and mixing my own, which brand to drink. My nutritionist gave me a list of brands but I have a friend who uses Carnation Instant Breskfast sugar free. A lot of decisions and I'm excited and nervous at the same time!

My doctor does the EGD on everyone to check for hiatal hernia. I had mine this morning. I know every surgeon is different though..
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Update.......Thank you all for the encouraging words and tips. I'm happy to say I'm finally getting back on track and I've lost 4 pounds so far. I've been exercising more and I have an appointment next week for another fill....Hope everyone is having a great day

I just past my 7th year mark.
I can eat anything except rice and apple skins. They go down... they just feel strange so I avoid them. Everything else is fine, all carbs and meats... I don't eat a lot of cooked veggies... never have but I love raw veggies and low cal dip. I alway make sure I take tiny bites the size of my finger nail and make sure I finish what I have in my mouth before I take my second or third bite.
I also don't drink carbonated beverages beer/pop. Doctor said "NO"... over the past 7 years I tried pop on 2 different occasions and thought I was going to die... never had a heart attach but had major chest pain and it felt like what a heart attack would feel like... pain lasted for over an hour. Stupid me tired pop 2 times... about 2 apart... then i decided to try half a beer about 4 years ago... WOW... same thing... pain in the chest... NEVER again.
I say to new bandsters don't go into the journey saying "I'll never be able to eat this or that ever again"... each person is different. Don't compare yourself to other bandsters. For example if you try and eat an orange and it gets stuck think about why it got stuck... were you eating too fast... how big the piece was it, etc. Don't be afraid to try the orange again (or whatever food you an issue with) in a few days. Most importantly try not and get stressed out when your about to sit down for your meal.
Remember, the band is for "life". You should be able to eat a well balance meal and ENJOY all foods in moderation. I love my band because I don't feel like I missing out on certain foods because I can still have them but in smaller portions. I got the band for Portion Control and for me it's a great tool. For me it also helped to be organized with my meals. I planned (and still do) my meals for the week and freeze them in "band-size" portions. Many people have read my muffin tin tricks and so many people have found them helpful.
Tom, Toronto
Banded July 6 06
Wt. Loss: 160 lbs

I got my insurance approval for my Sept 13th ( yea I know it's Friday the 13th) surgery! I started my preop yesterday and I have the worst headache/ and I'm not a violent person but I would kill someone for a chips Ahoy. I'm worried about slipping up and I'm feeling some feelings if ...mourning. Like I'm parting with an old friend by saying goodbye to some foods that always were there for me. I'm just letting myself be sad and then it will pass , especially once I start losing!
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How ya doing? Hang in there we only have 12 more days.

Well, this hasn't been a FUN post, but perhaps it is therapeutic for us to get some of these things off of our chest. Let's use this as an opportunity to say goodbye to those painful memories and move forward with our new and improved outer shells!

Let me begin by saying I am sorry for the years of pain that YOU have experienced and truly hope that your revision surgery is a POSTIVE experience for you....

I revisited my surgeon after the last thread that was posted similar to this and we had an in-depth and lengthy conversation with the multitude of questions I had from that thread and questions from my own research.

I have one of THE best surgeons around and had each and every one of my questions answered. And as an educated and responsible person I DO UNDERSTAND there may or may not be complications with this WLS. But I also understand that my doctor has the best and most complete aftercare program in place for his patients and I will NOT be allowed to go years with problems and in pain, as apparently you have. Hopefully your new doctor will not allow problems to go as long with your sleeve as your previous doctor did with your band!!

And please, I am NOT arguing or debating with you about your complications and YES, you are very much allowed to share YOUR EXPERIENCES but let me just quote you "I am writing this post in the hopes that I help others really understand what life with the band is like." When someone reads that sentence that tells people that you have all the answers as to life with the band...and while your experience obviously was horrible there are many people who've had success...and not just people with 1 or 2 or 3 years experience...people with well over 5 years.
As someone who is yet to be banded reading posts like yours do scare and send people running...especially newcomers who are looking for information (good AND bad).

And since this will be my ONLY post on this thread since I will not allow this negativity to continue from my end...perhaps you need to see someone to discuss the effects that all of this has had on you...both physically and obviously emotionally....you are an educated person as you once stated on the other thread....but in my very humble opinion, an educated person DOES NOT ALLOW THE COMPLICATIONS YOU HAD TO GO ON FOR 8 YEARS.

Wishing you all the best and in 10 years time I hope to come back on here and we can BOTH be boasting about how great our experiences have been and how lucky we were to make the choices we did and be able to share great pictures of successful LONG TERM weight loss!

Be well and good luck Megan!

It's hard to give advice when we don't know what exactly about Protein Shakes is a problem for you. I just want to say that you should not stray from your post-op eating plan without permission from your surgeon and/or dietitian. Failure to follow the post-op eating progression is a common cause of band slips. Most of us don't think about what's actually happening inside when we eat any kind of food, but your stomach has to expand and contract to break even soft food down and transport it south, to your intestines. That movement can disturb your sutures, interfere with healing, and prevent your band from seating itself into proper position against your stomach. Hang in there!