Bejeweled

<p>On Day 3. We were told to take off the gauze bandages on Day 3 and that you were able to shower on Day 3. The steri-strips and sutures still covered the incisions. We were told to remove the steri-strips by Day 7 - 10, if they didn't fall off in the shower before then.</p>

Consafo, we were banded on the same day at the same place. All I can say is Wow! I am so sorry that you are going through this rough period so soon after being banded. I haven't had any of the issues that you have (no pain, no hunger) so it must be tough for you. My sympathies. My advice is to try to remember why you chose to have the band installed. There must have been something inside of you that trusted that this tool, that this time, things will be different than all of the other times in the past that have failed. You have to know that you are totally worth it and that you deserve to be happy and loved and slim and healthy. Try not to think so much of the present but try to think of yourself in a year from now and what you would say to yourself today. Do you think a year from now you would advise your old you to just hang in there and have trust in yourself and in your decision to be banded? I would hope so. I know exactly what you mean about the foreign object inside yourself feeling. I thought that exact same thing and even mentioned it during my consultation. The response that I got from Kathy which helped me is that she mentioned people getting pacemakers for their heart, and people getting shunts/stents to help them. Those medical devices stay inside other people's bodies because they need them. We need the band to help us become/remain at a healthy weight. It's a tool like any other medical device (i.e. I wear contacts and glasses and have insoles for my shoes to help me see and walk). Also, I do remember reading on this forum a threat exactly like yours when people got very depressed right after being banded (did a search and couldn't find it), but it is a common response to the anesthesia that remains in your body for a while. Don't think that it's all in your head or that you are alone in this. Give it time and hang in there.

That's fantastic, Doddie, that you are getting on the treadmill now. I have yet to do any exercise since I got banded two weeks ago. You're an inspiration to us all!

Thanks, Donna for bringing up this subject. I had never even thought of what would happen if I was in an emergency and would the doctors need to know that I have a band? I'm still debating. The bracelet seems kind of expensive and I'm not sure that I want to be all of a sudden wearing one all the time. I already wear a bracelet on one wrist and a watch on the other wrist every day. BUT, this looks interesting: The MedicAlert® E-HealthKEY MedicTag Canada - Medic Information and Alert It's a USB key that can hold all your medical information on it. I'm going to check at Shoppers to see if they sell them. The site says that they are available at retail pharmacies and healthcare stores.

I did a Google search and it came up with several methods of removing the tape glue: how to remove bandages glue - Google Search Hope this helps!

Thanks, Donna, I'll remember that! :-)

Yes, it is all very encouraging. I'm newly banded and after losing about a pound a day after surgery (13 days ago), have really slooowwwed down the weight loss. I keep remembering that this is the time to heal and not lose weight. At least I haven't gained anything and know that the weight will eventually come off. Last summer that I will be fat. Can't wait for next year! :-) I, too, am happy with my decision to be banded.

Doddie, you're right. It's once every 2 - 3 days now. I was so regular - every single morning and after each meal. It's something else to get used to. Thanks all for the suggestion of Benefibre. I will pick some up, just in case :-)

I have to laugh at all this concern regarding my BMs. :-) After my first BM after the surgery, I used a Tucks to soothe my bum. No big deal. I just thought I would pass it along as a tip to others. Take the advice or ignore it, whatever. Everything is going okay on this end. I went back to work yesterday (I had 7 business days off and loved being off work). I'm not back to 100% yet as I feel kind of weak still and the heat/humidity of Toronto is not helping me. But, I have A/C at the office and at home, so it's only the walk to/from home and work that I have to deal with. I have noticed that I am not 100% back to breathing normally. Anyone else have that? I'm not really out of breath, but just find that I'm not myself and tire very easily. Maybe it's because I'm still on full fluids until Friday. Other than that, all is good on this end. I'm not at all hungry, am in no pain, and the scars are healing wonderfully. I am using a Scar Therapy cream and also using NeoSporin with Antibiotics, if anyone is interested. They really work!

Sorry that you guys are having a hard time with the nail polish remover. This is what I used: Life brand (from Shoppers) "Acetone free nail polish remover" with a cotton pad. It removed all the stuff left after I took off the gauze bandages (the residual tape glue). Plus, it took off the glue left by the steri-strips. Not sure about "super glue", as I didn't have that. The stuff came off super easy so not sure why you guys are having problems. Has anyone else experienced anything that worked? Or is everyone just waiting for it to come off with time. I did a Google search and they suggested nail polish remover, which worked for me. Also, I had a bandaid where they put the IV in, and it removed the residual glue from that just as well. Btw, Tucks are not just for hemmoroids. The box I bought says "Feminine personal cleansing pads" and they are also used for "conditions of vaginal hygiene and itch".

Hi Donna, Uhm, I decided my goal weight when I created the ticker. You had to put a start and end weight for the ticker. I would be happy at 150 though, too! The ticker can always be changed if I find out at the clinic that my goal weight is more/less. It's something to shoot for. I can't remember the last time I weighed 150 or 130. Must be at least 15 years ago!

Thanks, Doddie63 and DonnaD! It was nice meeting you the day of my surgery, too. Doddie63 - am really glad that your port has not flipped and that you can still get your fills. Donna - since we are pretty similar in weight, I'm really interested in how you will be progressing. My first fill will be on July 30th and the second one on August 14th. Today is one week since I had the surgery and I am not hungry at all and have no cravings. I'm having my coffee in the mornings. I drink 1/3 the can of the Protein drink at a sitting, I have popsicles twice a day, and I have the Jello. I have bottles and bottles of Propel that I refill with Crystal Light. I bought the jello single containers and have those. I haven't felt like having any Soup or anything else. I'm expecting this to change. There are so many food commercials on TV that I have to change the channel when they come on. Don't want to be tempted. I also picked up a chewable multi-Vitamin that I'm taking in the morning. It tastes awful. My next trip to the drugstore I'm definitly picking up one of those Gelatin ones (or one of the Flintstones chewables maybe).

Yes, the contraption was something, eh? I was "lucky" I got to keep my panties on (TOM). Apparently, that happens quite a bit - you can't predict Mother Nature. Also, the nurse mentioned that the anesthesia can bring it on right after surgery. I thought I would have major cramps and just feel awful the entire time, but I guess the pain killer that they give you takes away everything since I didn't have any cramps at all. Didn't it the stuff burn going up your arm, eh? Good thing it knocks you out seconds later.

Yes, one of my fears was the scars. I worried for nothing! They are almost as if a cat scratched my stomach (almost). I asked Dr. Yau before the surgery if he was going to use staples and he said he doesn't do that and I am so glad! The scars are really nothing. I have 2 scars that are half the size of a thumbnail. I have 1 scar that is the size of a thumbnail. 1 have 2 scars the size of a thumbnail and a half (the port scar and the one near the belly button). I also asked Dr. Yau if he goes through the belly button for one of the incisions as I've seen people on this board say that their doctor did that and they only had 3 incisions. Dr. Yau doesn't do that, it is too dirty to go through there. I am really shocked that the scars are nothing. Especially if you have stretch marks on your stomach (they are nothing compared to those). Stupid to be scared of what amounts to scratches, after all. I am kicking myself that I didn't do this earlier.

Hi DonnaD, Yes, that was me. All that trouble to get the Demerol prescription filled before my surgery and I didn't even end up taking one pill! Oh, well, I guess they are good to have on hand, just in case.

ConSafo, We were banded on the same day, June 14th at TLBC, and I know what you are talking about regarding the port bruise and feeling the port. I was able to feel the port if I lightly touched the area and that was only 5 days out. I took off the steristrips today and the incision is fine, but there is a big bruise right under it where the port is. I've had no pain, gas or otherwise during my entire first week. Am feeling really lucky so far that I haven't taken any medication and have no problems sleeping on my side (since the second night even!). Hope you feel better.

You guys might be interested to know that you can drink coffee/tea during the full fluids stage. I was dying for a coffee and Maral confirmed it. Also, you can have SlimFast Optima instead of the Boost, like the brochures mentioned. I got that confirmed, too. I am loving my coffee in the mornings, now

I took off the bandages on Day 3, like the brochure advised. My steristrips didn't fall off in the shower, so I took them off on Day 7. They are healing wonderfully. I was expecting 4 incisions, but I have 5. I remember Dr. Yau specifically mentioning 4 scars right before my surgery so I was a little shocked that I had 5 incisions when I was looking at them the next day. Also, I was told there would be no blood! There was blood on all of my incisions and I actually had the night nurse change my port area bandages before I left since the bandages were all bloody.

Hi DonnaD and Doddie63, We met on June 14th - the day of my surgery. Everything went really well. I stayed the night and have had no gas pains or otherwise. I took off the steristrips today and the incisions are healing wonderfully. I was terrified to have scars but they are really quite small (except the port scar). Donna, we talked about the port site when we met. I asked Dr. Yau right before my surgery about a preference to have the port in the bikini area instead of the sternum area (btw, he said it is free to move the port but that no one has ever asked him to move it). What he said was that he places it there instead of on the side because of the ribs and movement on your sides, that the chances of it flipping increase when it's on your side. Since there is hardly any movement of the sternum (the center of your body), that he feels that's the safest place. Also, remember me mentioning that I had a preference for the AP band and that I would talk to him? We discussed it and after he told me he's only placed 6 AP bands, I decided to go with the Midband. He doesn't do Lapband (the original) anymore. He did mention that there is not enough statistics on the AP band and that he recommended the Midband, so I went with his recommendation. Donna, just like you, I can feel my port already and I'm only 6 days out. I think the Dr. places it there and near the skin to help with the fills. I'm really happy so far and I hope the rest of the people on June 14th at TLBC are doing okay, too.