angelnurse

I'm feeling pretty good if I take my pain meds every 4 hours. I'm hoping to feel better once the swelling goes down some. It'll be nice to get rid of the drains too! I'm going to the Dentist today, because over the weekend I broke-off part of one of my molars and need to see about getting it fixed. Luckily, my Dentist, was able to squeeze me in today. Hope you have a great party, I'll be ringing in the New Year with my boys.

I was encouraged by Kareyquilts to start this thread. I had my LBL on 12/20/07 in Post Falls, Idaho by Dr. Mark Owsley. One other person in my weekly support group had this same surgery in April this year. I asked her a few questions and of course asked the Surgeon but nothing totally prepares you for this surgery. My Surgeon compared my lapband surgery as a "mosquito bite" and the LBL as a "alligator bite", I told him after the surgery that he should of said "shark bite". The surgery took about 5 hours. My Surgeon doesn't weigh what he takes off, he says that it's a matter or body sculpting and uses his eyes and hands to get the best results. He did tell me that he took off over a foot on my abdomen and that he was very pleased with the results. The evening after my surgery it was time for me to get up for the first time. I can tell you it wasn't fun. I almost passed out from the pain and only took 4 steps. It was at this point that I thought to myself "what had I done?" Thankfully the second time I got out of bed was much easier and less painful, I actually made to the room door. Each time it got easier. The next hurdle to overcome would be peeing after the catheter was removed. No problem with this thank goodness. I was discharged the next afternoon. A good friend of mine, who is also a Nurse, was staying with me for 4 or 5 days and nights. She was an Angel. Took care of my boys and did everything for me. Well, this is enough of a post for now, don't want anyone falling asleep from boredom. I don't know if I'm brave enough to post pictures yet, but.... I go back to the Surgeon's on Jan. 2nd to get my 2 drains removed, so I'll have more to post after that visit. Thanks for letting me ramble on. JulieNYC, the Ghost and enterprise you have been an inspiration to me and I've followed your stories and look forward to hearing from others who are going down the PS Road.

jm-good luck with the party and congrats on the one pound.! What are you serving or is it pot-luck?

enterprise-you might not have to get a port scar revision, they took my scar when they took off the skin in my LBL, I was looking the other day when I had my compression garment off for a dressing change around the drain tubes and noticed that it was gone. It depends where your Doctor put your port, mine was right and just a smidge higher than my belly button. Hopefully they'll remove it!

Karey-wasn't sure what forum to start a thread on. The PS one, Life near/or at goal or? I was also waiting on some pictures from my Doctor's office. The surgery went well, thanks for asking. I've been posting on the Dec exercise thread that I started, as far as my PS journey goes. Don't know if I'm brave enough to post pics of that but would love to post before/after pics in that forum. I just got the pictures from my Doctor's office in the mail today and haven't figured out how to post them yet as I need to scan them as they aren't on a media card. I'm hoping to figure it out but I'm also trying to do what the Doctor ordered and rest from this surgery.

I just had a lower body lift and they didn't touch my band. No problems with nausea, I just take my meds with a little food.

I see the Surgeon next Wed., Jan. 2nd. The output from the drains has slowed down but needs to be less than 30cc in a 24 hour period for 2 consecutive days. I also get to wear this lovely compression garment 24/7 for 6 full weeks then only during the day for 2 more weeks.

Thank you Dr. jm. I'm just not the most patient of people, dang it I want it now!

jm-I was so afraid that I had gain about 10 pounds with all the swelling from the surgery and the IV's that I didn't want to step on the scale for several weeks, but I'm glad I did. I'm hoping that I've got about 10 pounds of swelling so after that is gone I'll be at goal. I'm having 2 protein shakes a day with one "real" meal a day. I add extra protein powder to the shakes to increase the protein, I've been getting 130-150 grams of protein a day, so that may be what's making the difference. Whatever it is, I'm going to continue with it. I just wish I could start decreasing the pain meds as I still am taking them every 4 hours around the clock. I feel like such a "drug addict" but my surgeon says "Remember, I cut you in half, you're going to be sore for a while."

jm & whos-no problem with the questions, I check out the plastic surgery thread every time I'm online. I finally got brave enough and got on the scale last night. I weigh the same as I did on the day of surgery, so with all the swelling I didn't think that it was so bad. Hopefully after the swelling is gone I'll be real close to goal and only have to tweek it a little.

jm-actually it's the old belly button in a new spot!

jm-they didn't touch my band. I had to have the compression garment changed again today because of drainage around the drains and I did notice that I no longer have my port scar. It must of been removed with the excess skin, I guess that was just a bonus! I can still feel my port, but once the swelling is down I don't think it will stick out. It's just right and a little up from my new belly button.

dibaby-thanks, it was a killer surgery but I'm hoping the results will be worth all the pain. stefanie-I'm trying to keep very busy with my hands, I actually went out to brunch with my niece this morning. She's in the Navy and was on her way to the coast to report on base after visiting my brother in Southern Idaho for Christmas. I was getting "Cabin Fever", so it was nice to get out as I'm not allowed to drive for 2 weeks. I had 1/2 of an ham and cheese omelet and she had the 2 pancakes that came with my meal. We had a very nice visit but I was tired and needed to come home to rest. I am so envious of all of you that can go to the gym, as it's driving me nuts not being able to workout. I know, in time...I never thought that I'd miss the gym, it's amazing how you can replace a bad habit with a good habit in such a little time. Well, everyone enjoy the gym and I'll be back at it soon!

jm & whosyourdaddy-thanks for the words of encouragement. I'm trying to take it easy and rest, but am so bored that I find myself wanting to eat when I'm not hungry. That's a slippery slope I don't want to find myself on. I guess it's time to bring on the DVD's, books and craft stuff to keep me busy. Just looking forward to the time when I can start back at the gym at least walking on the treadmill. When I see the Doctor on Jan. 2nd, I'm going to see if he'll release me to at least doing that much. Getting on LBT Forum helps some. Well, it's early and I just took some good drugs, so I guess I'll go back to bed and try to catch a few zzzzzzzz's. Keep up the good work!

Just got back from my first Post-Op visit with my Surgeon. He took off the dressing on the incision in back, milked the drain tubes and put a new dressing around the drains. He said that everything looked great and to keep walking every 2 hours and rest between. I need to get 110 grams of Protein per day minimum during this healing process. I go back on Jan. 2nd for possible removal of the 2 drains. I was worried about the amount of swelling that I have, but he said everyone is different and that it wasn't abnormal, that gave me some peace of mind and I felt so much better. He showed me pictures of my surgery that he'd taken during the operation, pretty graphic with my backside filleted open(spelling). I just can't wait to see the end results. Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and will be having a Happy New Year!

jm-I had to have a dressing change around my drains early this morning, so I got a sneak peak at the results. I'm still very swollen, but what I can see is going to be great. It seemed really strange not seeing my big pannus or "apron", just a flat stomach. I can hardly wait for all the swelling to go down and all the healing to take place. I'm looking forward to shopping for some new clothes. I never thought that I would say this but I miss the gym and can't wait to get back and lose the last few pounds as well as maintain my weightloss for the rest of my life. Take care everyone!

jm-I made it home yesterday. My surgeon compared the lapband to a mosquito bite and the lower body lift to an alligator bite, I say a shark bite! I almost passed out my first time standing up and only took 4 steps. The second time up was better, but only made it to the door. I think if we truly knew what it was going to be like, no one would willingly do this. The surgeon said that he took more than a foot of of my stomach, he doesn't weigh and I don't dare weigh yet as I am VERY swollen. He said that he was real pleased how everything turned out but it'll be a few months 'til I see the final results. I think the first 2 weeks are going to be the hardest. I'm taking Lortab 7.5 and Soma every 4 hours, it doesn't take away all the pain, but makes it tolerable. I'm getting up every 2 hours to walk around. My first Post-Op visit is this Wednesday. Thanks again for all your thoughts and prayers and hopefully I won't have any complications, I'm trying to do everything that the Doctor tells me to do, but Nurses and Doctors make the worst patients. I'll keep you updated on my progress.

jm-thanks for asking about me. I still have my cold, but I'm not running a fever or coughing up anything, it's mainly in my nose. I took last week off from the gym and haven't posted since then. I'm scheduled to arrive at the Hospital at 7:30 a.m. tomorrow. I don't know if I'll get much sleep due to being nervous and everything, but I guess I'll sleep during the surgery, seeing as it's supposed to take 5 hours. I'll spend the night and get discharged on Friday. I'll post and let you know how it went when I'm feeling up to it. Happy exercising everyone and thanks for all your well wishes, prayers and thoughts, I appreciate it very much.

Stefanie & whosyadaddy-Thanks for the prayers! I've got the Zicam, Vit-C, chicken noodle soup, the works, hope something works. Decided to skip the gym again, I need to take care of myself. Hope things are well with you both!

No exercise for me this morning, I woke up with a head cold, you know the sore throat, stuffy nose and the "cotton-head" feeling. I'm scared to death that this won't be gone before my surgery next week. I decided that I needed to slow-down the exercise and take care of myself today. I'm getting some Zicam as soon as I get to the store today and try to get rid of this a.s.a.p. I feel very guilty not going to the gym today. I plan on making it to the gym tomorrow cause I can't afford to miss 2 days in a row. Say a few prayers for me that I can get rid of this before the 20th! :help:

jm-Thanks! I'll post after I get home from the hospital, if I'm feeling up to it. I spend one night in the hospital and then home if no complications. I have a friend staying to help me for a couple of days. I already have my 1st Post-Op appointment for the 26th. I'll have 2 drains and they stay in a minimum of 10 days, then out after 2 days of less than 30 cc output. I'm taking 6 weeks off of work and may take more if needed. I know, it's pretty bad that I have to have surgery to get a vacation!

Whos-The day after my surgery, the 21st, is my 2-Year Bandiversary. I picked that day for just that reason. I'm able to take off time around Christmas because the boy I take care of is on break from school and one of the Nurses that I work with is also on break from school and can fill-in for me, she did that with my Band surgery 2 years ago. The only bummer about having surgery at this time of the year, is that you miss out on all the Holiday festivities.

I was diagnosed with FMS in 1994. My symptoms are much better with my weight loss but I still have "sleep pattern disturbances", as in I wake every couple of hours. Part of the problem is that I work nights, on my nights off, I sometimes can sleep 4 hours straight without waking. After my PS this month and the 6 week recovery period, I'm going to start looking for a different job, as in a day job. I guess I'm pretty lucky as my PMS has been moderate, the strongest meds I've had to take for pain was Ultram, then I switched to Ibuprofen and now I don't take anything. I know that there are a lot of people that really suffer with FMS and have terrible pain and end up disabled. Hope you don't suffer too much with your newly diagnosed FMS. Good Luck to everyone that has FMS!

Can anyone join in? I have 10 to go & am hoping the PS will put me there!

jm-yes, the surgery is 10 days away. I saw my surgeon on the 3rd and paid the $ and signed the Op permit, they also took those lovely pictures with the paper underwear. I'm getting very nervous but also very excited!