honestitriedtofindaname

Thanks, everyone. If it doesn't seem to loosen up in a day or two, I'll call the doc. For now, I am liking the fact that I actually know it's there and will wait to see what it's like by the end of the week. Thanks so much for your feedback. :-)

Hi, everyone. After 3 fills over about 5 1/2 months and NO feeling of restriction, I was ready for more. I called and they agreed to do a bit more several weeks before my next regularly scheduled appointment. I'm now at 7.5 cc in a 10 cc band. They asked me to do 48 hours of liquid which I did. I couldn't drink anything thicker than Water in the early part of the day but could manage broth and a thin Protein shake later on. The fill was done on Friday and it is now the following Tuesday. The band feels tightest in the morning. Eating much of anything causes real pain big time so I am going to go back to broth, plain Soups, etc. My bigger concern is that drinking water too quickly is causing that same type of pain. That is concerning mostly because I spend a lot of time at the barn with a horse and am working like crazy in 90+ heat so drinking lots of fluids is important. So...long story short...I've always heard that it takes about 2 weeks for the fill to 'settle' - any swelling to subside, etc. I am more than willing to wait that long and see how I am then, with the hope that eating a little more is acceptable. I really don't want to rush back in and get anything taken out. Any advice or similar experience?

Thank you all for your feedback. It helps to know how it works for others. Sometimes I am so caught between thinking I'm eating too little and too much that I get overwhelmed and don't know which way is the right way to go. I am hoping I'll feel something in the next week as you suggest!

Hi all. Had my surgery at the end of January and my first fill a week ago: 4.5cc in a 10cc band. I've done well with everything up until now when I find myself hungrier and perhaps gaining. I have lost a total of 38 pounds since I started my supervised diet in July 2013 but now I swear I see the scale creeping up just a bit - maybe a pound or two. I know that can just be normal fluctuation but why in the world am I suddenly not satisfied with what I had been eating before? This seems to have started right after I got the fill!!

Hi everyone. My doc recommends getting 60 - 80 grams of protein per day. Is it a problem to go higher than that (100 - 115ish) so long as my calories stay below 1000? If it matters, I am only 3 weeks post-op for lap band. Thanks for your help!

LOL, Bandista! Thank you.

Anyone else go into a deep depression following use of Vicodin? I've avoided that drug for years but needed it post-op. Now I'm in such a sad place. I know I'll shake it off in a day or two but if anyone wants to jump in here and post something funny, I'd welcome the laugh! I'll start by saying that when I was waiting to go back to the OR, I was quietly telling myself over and over to please not come out of anesthesia crowing that the IV bag holder looked like a penis...

Hi desertpixie! Grits are the food of the gods to a Southern girl! They are made from a type of ground corn (hominy) and I guess the most similar thing I can think of is polenta. I love them with just a little hot sauce and salt.

Hi everyone. I'm 5 days past surgery! Woot! Everything went very well. IMHO, pain is nearly always worth it as long as you get what you want on the other side - and pain with this has really not been very bad at all. The day of surgery was a long one only because everything ran late (my surgery started some 2.5 or 3 hours later than planned) but after that, we were off to the races. In no time, I was in Recovery and then back to a post-op area where my hubby could see me. Maybe 3.5 hours after surgery started, we were heading home. I was (and am) sore but it is nothing unmanageable. High points so far: Post-surgery Water is the best water ever! Grits...grits...seriously, people. I'm eating grits. I love grits. Removal of the pain med pump. Losing 29 pounds ahead of surgery on the 6 month diet required by my insurance. Going back to the barn today to see my horse (but not having to do any of the work because of the lifting restrictions. ) Struggles so far: Pretty minor pain (primarily gas pains in my upper left shoulder and a sore belly button). And I am pathologically incapable of burping in a public setting of any kind, even in front of my spouse. Blame my mother... Realizing I should have bought work-appropriate stretchy pants ahead of time (will need to buy some tomorrow before going back to the office on Monday). High heart rate that is making me a little crazy but which I am sure will calm down soon. Thanks to everyone here for the warm welcome. I am looking forward to following in your footsteps to success!

Thank you for your reply, Bandista. I am very glad to have joined the club! And look at all you've already achieved! Go you!

Thank you, mrsto! Who the heck knows. It could possibly be anxiety. And then maybe I compound the problem every time I see that it's still high. Right now I have been told that if it goes into the 120 range and stays there, I need to go to the ER. So far, so good.The highest it's been is 104. I see your numbers. What great progress you have made. Congratulations!!

Thank you for such great support. I really appreciate it! The pain med pump came out last night which was nice. I was feeling a bit like a St Bernard ready to head out into the snow (okay, I live in Florida but still...) to take brandy to those fallen in an avalanche. My only significant remaining problem seems to be a fast heart rate. It is consistently at about 100. My surgeon is aware and is checking in with me but since I have no chest or leg pain, they are not overly concerned, however, I am a tad freaked out about it as this i well above my norm. They recommended that I drink at least 60 ounces of Water per day which I am now doing (was probably doing more like 48 ounces per day before). I am also taking extra care to use the spirometer regularly (deep breaths are still quite uncomfortable). Neither of these changes have made a difference. Anyone experience anything similar?

Hello, everyone. I am just two days post-op.My surgery ended up being mid-afternoon on Monday, January 27th and right now it's early Wednesday, January 29th. Everything seems to have gone really well so far although I am, of course, pretty darn sore. The only real problem I am having is that sitting up from a lying down position is very, very uncomfortable. That's normal, right? I know that some people press a pillow against their abdomen when they move like that and they say it hurts a lot less. I haven't found that to make any difference at all. Any recommendations on what has worked for you (beyond never, ever, ever lying down again? ) I am looking forward to moving ahead with exercise and all of that. My horse misses me! :-) It's going to be very hard to not lift more than 20 pounds for a whole month though.