Jobstud

ME TOO! I was amazed that I could return to my comfortable position so quickly. I agree it was weird to feel like things were shifting although I thought maybe that was in my head. I still roll over slowly and try not to put full weight on my abdomen even though its been a month since the surgery.:notagree

Mine was also about 30 minutes. Standard questions about what made me fat. Simply put I love food. I liked the taste. I liked to plan and prepare meals. At one time I thought of going to culinary school. I didn't hate Mom or Dad. Work is not that stressful. My wife and I have a good relationship and I am fortunate my 17 year old son is a pretty good kid. Oh and I don't binge/purge or want to commit suicide by eating myself to death. I am guessing that some people do have emotional problems and need to be screened for it. But I guess I am sort of miffed by the stereotype that all of us got big because we used food as a drug. If that were the case I would be locked up right now since I have been without real food for nearly a month.

I asked my surgeon about getting on the bow flex and he started shaking his head almost immediately. He said to wait a couple of months for anything heavy duty. He, like others have said, encouraged me to walk as my primary exercise. He said start out slow and build to at least 30 minutes a day. I also feel like so many of you that even walking right now is a chore with my energy level so low with this liquids only phase. As I get ready for my mushy food phase, I am hoping the energy boosts.

I agree. Just before my surgery I was talking to as many people as I could about their lap band experience. Invariably the ones I spoke to who were having problems were not following what I was told by my surgeon and nutritionist. One said she sits at night and watches TV and Snacks plus she drinks while she eats. WHOA! Another said she struggles to eat her daily bagel and cream cheese without getting sick. :faint: I was given lots of "do's and don'ts" which said bagels and breads are likely to cause a blockage. PLUS if you know that a bagel makes you sick why continue trying to force it? DUH!

Did you have a barium swallow? I noted that the stuff I swallowed (besides being awful tasting) was orange. Maybe that attributed to a more orange tint. For the first couple of times right after surgery I noted a darker color but attributed it to not having enough Water and the medications as many here have already suggested. Let me tell you that since I have gotten into the habit of monitoring my fluids and making sure I get my 64 ounces each day, urine is no longer dark and bowel movements are more normal / regular.

As for the sore throat and phlegm this was due to the anethesia. You probably had a tube in your throat that irritated it. I did too. This goes away in a few days. I was told by my nurse in recovery to make sure to use my sprirometer. A device that you inhale into and it lifts a little ball. At first you do it and its hard. The more you do it the better it is. Also she said to hug a pillow and COUGH. At first this was painful but its necessary to prevent pneumonia. You can cough up a lot of that stuff and get rid of it. Deep breathing is the key to open up those deep recesses of your lungs and get rid of any bacteria and left over anesthesia. If not call the Doctor!! Hang in there!

I also had those pains although not as severe as you describe. It was from the gas used to inflate your abdominal cavity to give the surgeon room to work. It does go away. Its common to all laparoscopic surgery not just WLS. I also can relate to the nausea. It will also go away. It is from the swelling of your stomach combined with not eating anything. I found if I could burp it helped. Also sipping Water. I am nearly 4 weeks post op and have gotten into a routine now. No more nausea at all as long as I keep up with water, juice, Protein shakes, thin Soups, etc. I am sure once I am able to eat solids life will get even more "normal" feeling. I look forward to the day I eat the same meals as my skinny wife and son just in much smaller portions. I know I can do it with their help and support! :clap2:

At my 2 week post op check up, the Dr said he would see me in 6 weeks and likely get my first fill. I asked if this is an automatic thing and if not what determines if I get a fill or not. He said about 75% of patients get their first fill about 8 weeks post op. However he said if weight loss continues to be OK then he might consider not filling at all. By the way since I began this "journey" in June I have lost 42 lbs; 20 lbs in the 2 weeks post op. When did you get your first fill?:ranger:

PBing? I had wondered that too and learned from other posts that PB stands for "productive burp" and can involve mild throwing up particularly if something gets stuck.

Up to now I have taken it very slowly and "by the book" following the Dr's guidelines. Although I don't feel the need for PBing, I ate some thinned oatmeal a bit fast once and felt some pain under my ribs that told me I have to slow down and let the funnel drain. I think with that REMINDER I can do OK and hope not to get a very drastic fill if I get one at all if I am losing weight.

I am coming up on a month since banding and ready to graduate from the liquids only phase to my mushy solid foods stage. I have a list of recommended foods from the nutritionist, but was wondering what other lapbanders (is that what we are now?) ate when you transitioned? Just a hint of how I may go. I have been craving egg salad finely chopped with low fat mayo. Do I dare try it with crackers or just stick with it plain?

<p>We love Disney World. This year surgery took priority over vacation. But next year look out! </p> <p> </p> <p>I was wondering how many of you out there have gone do Disney and how to you deal with meals. My skinny wife and son love to eat and in particular the all you can eat buffets. That fine except its a total waste of money ($25) for me to eat 4 ounces of something. How do you deal with it?</p> <p> </p> <p>Also would any of the rides effect the band? My son is anxious to drag me on Tower of Terror and the roller coasters but I am wondering if something that pulls so hard on your stomach might hurt the lap band. A question I will ask the Dr for sure, but I wonder if anyone has experience with it.</p>

I have poked around and found out that it seems like as many surgeons do this procedure, there are just as many Post Op Diet "guidelines". Some let you get onto solid food in a matter of a few days while I was told 4 weeks. Very confusing. It is something I didn't know about or consider pre op but will certainly be asking about at my appointment next week. My Dr has a 3 phase approach. Phase 1 is all liquids with Protein shakes being added after 48 hours. Phase 2 begins 1 week later and essentially adds thin hot cereals, thin cream Soups, puddings and whipped cottage cheese. Better but 4 weeks of this? Phase 3 is adding different solid foods a little at a time starting with mushies (soft eggs, egg salad, tuna salad, etc) then progressing to meat like chicken cooked very moist and mixed with broth or fat free gravy. How many fellow "bandsters" were told to stay off solids for a month like I am?

Thats pure acid! OUCH. Did that bother your stomach?

I had surgery on 7/11. For about a week I had that nauseous feeling in the morning and also at various times during the day. I attributed it to HUNGER PAINS since I was also just on clear liquids. I am sure it also had to do with some residual stomach irritation/swelling due to the trauma of surgery. Every day it seemed to get a little better. I found sitting up and trying to burp seemed to help a little. Also after a BM, that helped ease the feeling. When I was finally allowed to have stuff like lowfat whipped cottage cheese, applesauce, thinned oatmeal, that pretty much went away.

I note self payers often have fast turn around times. I am fortunate that I have good insurance that has a history of support for WLS. Anyway, I went to a seminar in Mid April 2007. Had first consult with surgeon on May 3, 2007. I was told to lose 20-30 lbs. In the meantime I had lots of hoops. Cardiac clearance that required full battery of tests including echo and 2 day stress test. Pulomonary including function testing, sleep apnea evaluation and sleep study, and obtain CPAP machine. Tons of lab work (blood, urine, chest x-rays, etc). All of which was to be signed off by primary Dr. who was considering sending me for a colonoscopy only because I was 50 and had not had one (all tests were fine). I respectfully asked to forego this until afterward and she agreed it was not necessary for clearance. In between there were office visits to review tests, followups with surgeon on weight loss, etc. Then 2 weeks prior a whole new round of preop testing at the hospital. Finally had surgery July 11, 2007. Not bad considering all I had to do. It just seemed like my life was consumed with Dr's appointments for 2 months straight as each one spawned another and another.

When I went to the hospital's seminar in April and started this process, we met actual patients who shared before photos and their personal stories. Let me tell you I met a guy who was older (already retired) and when he started was probably as heavy as me. He had at least 3 heart bypass operations, was diabetic on insulin and taking tons of medications. In a year post op he was off almost all meds, was riding a bike for the first time since he was a kid and was close to his ideal weight. His motivation? He was blessed with grandchildren and wanted to be around as long as possible to enjoy and play with them. It can be done! YOU HAVE TO DO IT NOT THE DOCTOR! He or she simply implant the tool to get r done then its up to you.

Your explanation makes perfect sense! Had the Dr. and Nut. explained it so distinctly I would never had questioned it. I can stick to this liquid phase for sure. Especially now that I can have cottage cheese, thinned hot cereals, thin cream soups etc. My problem is I was never a sweet eater so sweet shakes and such are not my most favorite things as far as getting the NUTRITION and Protein required. At least the little bit of whipped cottage cheese gives some small chew sensation and a salty flavor along with good protein. Heck even V8 juice is a thrill! I agree that 4 weeks from the rest of my life is not much. However I am going to ask more questions on 7/25 (when I see the Dr and later go to the support group run by the nutritionist) now that I know what to ask.

Same day. Went to hospital 8:00 am and got home by 5:00 pm. Checked in, was moved pre op waiting area (strip and put on gown, vitals taken, heparin shot), into anesthesia room by 10. Then operating room. Had 2 procedures. First had vascular surgeon implant "Tulip" filter through jugular into my vena cava to prevent any blood clots that might form to be filtered and prevent from going to lungs, heart or brain. I was awake for that little process. :cry Then as soon as tulip was placed, the anethesiologist hit me with the gas and I was :notagree until I woke up in recovery. They let my wife in for about a minute after I was somewhat awake then off to Xray being pushed by some young female volunteer (she worked hard that trip) for the barium swallow YUCK Then back to post recovery where they finally let me have a sip of Water :clap2: and had me walk a bit. They made it clear I could go home only after a pee. Pee? I asked. No food or water for 24 hours and all the drugs how can I do that. But after walking around and sipping, the urge came and I did what I had to. :rain: (not that they verified it. I just told them when I went to the restroom and they said OK) After a few more vital sign checks and one last visit from surgeon and the nutritionist, they let the wife sign me out.

DITTO on the gout history. I am thinking the twinges in my knee (10 days post op) might be gout. I have always kept my emergency supply of little green wonders (indocin) around just in case. Geez now what? I am wondering if liquifying the powder inside the capsule will dilute it enough to slide into the main stomach so the pouch won't be damaged? Question for the Dr I am guessing.