Junebug36

I had pretty bad gas pains for about 9 days...and was most swollen throat wise on days 4 & 5. Have your meds and a heating pad ready...and walk every hour. The liquid phase is the worst, because I ended up getting my hunger back towards day 6..once I was on mushies, my energy came back and I felt less like a zombie. Now, I feel fine..still a little tender 2 weeks out, but feeling energetic!

@@The Icy One Wow, sounds like we have the same surgeon... Mine primed my band with 5cc's in surgery. And had the same post op diet...I feel like I'm in the green right out of the gate with this thing. I wonder why surgeons are so different? All you can do is make a list of questions you want answered by your surgeon about the process he uses and why.

Hmm...never had an issue with the pain meds. They numbed the hunger pains and the icky feelings. I was on protien shakes on day 2, though...so maybe that helped? I was also allowed sugar free pudding, which helped calm the hungry stomach. I ended up feeling more ill by all the sugar free crap...including the shakes. My last day of liquids, all I drank was water and juice because I could not handle the sugar free shakes any more. Mushies were a godsend! Prepare to be constipated, though. Milk of Magnesia really helps. You may find gas pains return with mushies for the first couple days...start walking...I'm doing C25K, but speed walking during the run sections...it works!

Looking for fellow June bandsters!

I felt like a zombie on the shakes by the second week...plus my hunger was coming back...mushies gave me back my energy! Be wary of days 4, 5 and 6. I was very swollen on day 5, and essentially choked on one of my shakes..it was painful! I asked my surgeon about it, and he said it was normal to be the most swollen on those days. So just a heads up! Glad you are doing so well! Walk those gas pains away :-) They stuck with me till day 9 or so.

I just complete day 1 of C25K...speed walking instead of running...felt good!

How long do the post-op gas pains typically last? They are pretty bad 2 days out. I have been walking for 15 minutes every hour...taking Gas-X and pain meds. I feel like I cant take a deep breath because of it. I know this is all normal, but am curious how long it lasts?

I'm not sure what I should or shouldn't do 2 weeks out...I'm still tender in the stomach area...but my energy levels are returning, so I feel the need to workout and take advantage of it :-)

I'm lopsided too! I used to have to use those cutlet things in one side, otherwise bras never fit. I wear sports bras mostly because I cannot find a bra that fits me.

I just started the soft food/mushy stage...and I can honestly say, I now crave proteins...not sweets. Maybe all the jello and sweet protein shakes have turned me off sweets. But, so far, I have eaten things like refried beans, cottage cheese and am satisfied for about four hours after just 1cup of food. I have energy, and feel really good right now! I was offered cookies and other old trigger foods by people who don't know I had surgery....and to my surprise, I have no desire for any of it. Things like chips, cookies and cakes don't even look appetizing. Really strange experience. I am, for once in my life, actually satisfied. The surgeon put 5 cc in my band during surgery...and I'm starting to wonder if I even need a fill. We will see as time goes. Point is, I was grieving over food I thought I would miss prior to the band...and now I am satisfied with a small protein meal. I am very surprised and excited to think this is actually working! It also makes me wonder why I could never get this feeling prior to the band. I was always hungry...I could always eat. Everyone is different...but this has been my experience so far...hope it helps!

I am on mushies now...and I can say its worth it! I feel so much better. Just letting you know, there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Just curious how much you all lost on pre-op. I am down 10 pounds so far...makes it more bearable. :-) Kinda thinking it is all Water weight right now, though. I pee a lot on this diet!

Wow! You guys are rocking the pre op diet. Good luck tomorrow!

I think the main reason for pre-op diets is to shrink the liver and make it easier to move it out of the way. The whole thought of the surgeon not being able to easily work around it made me stay on the diet...I was worried about my organs! Lol!

The pre-op is rough. Just hang in there. Have you lost any weight so far?

I was recently banded a week ago...a few days ago I got Protein shake sips "stuck".. I started sliming, and had pain that came and went over 20 minutes...it was radiating from my upper center chest/back then out. Had I not know what it was I would have thought it was cardiac related. I could feel I was swollen and the shake sips were just sitting in my lower throat...I had to look at the ceiling..open my mouth, and I could feel the Protein Shake eventually go down. Needless to say, I stayed on Clear Liquids for the next 12 hours. scared the crap out of me. I'm not swollen anymore, thank goodness..but now I know what will happen later on if I don't eat slowly and take small bites.

You guys will do great! Only a couple more days, Banded2behealthy!! :-)

Oh...I was scared most as I was laying in the hospital waiting. And then wondering what the heck I did to myself when I woke up! Lol. It was painful at first, but that does go away. (Walk a lot, like that say...and get a heating pad). First, my hunger was non existent....Now, I'm afraid to say, I'm back to being hungry...Of course, I am on liquids still! I get mushies in a couples days from now, and honestly can't wait!! I have lost 20 pounds since start of pre-diet till now. Which is really good, I think! It's early yet, but I feel it is worth it! I'll keep you posted on how the mushy stage is....I'm literally having dreams about refried beans, and grits! Hubby says he can tell I've lost weight already...awe.

I have bariatric advantage. Not my fave.

You guys have to take chewable vitamins? My surgeon insisted on these chewable ones that make me so freaking nauseated. They are pretty bad. I can't imagine taking these for life. There must be something better...what are you all taking?

Awesome...makes me feel better already :-). Grits sound sooo good, being a southern girl. I have to admit I'm so scared of food getting stuck. I had a moment yesterday when I took a couple sips of my protein shake..and I felt it get stuck...I was apparently too swollen for it, plus had a big gas bubble pushing against it. It was painful! After 20 minutes, it went down and the gas came out. I just drank water or clear juices for the next 12 hours. I can drink a shake fine today...I just can't imagine how horrible it must be to get actual solids stuck...I will be a chewing machine when that time comes!

How long after surgery did you feel normal? (i.e. no aches or pains, energy, able to exercise like you did prior)

Way to go, girl! That's awesome, you should be proud of yourself!