Longhorn

I had my one-week pre-op today. I'm doing fine except for a bit of redness around my port incision. I'm to keep an eye on it for signs of infection and if that happens, I'll take antibiotics. While I've lost weight, I'm not getting too excited about it because I know this can fluctuate over the next few weeks and even months until I get restriction. But it's encouraging because I haven't been able to lose weight the last few times I tried and certainly not 6.5 pounds in ten days.

What an inspiration! Congratulations on your hard work! It has truly paid off!

Yes, but not until after the surgery. I was a little sore but not what I would call pain. I've had a couple of pains since then but nothing that lasted for very long and I could always get comfortable and relief from the pain meds.

I think some of that stuff is to have when you get home but it isn't always made clear on the list. I would not take a heating pad to the hospital, for example, unless I was spending the night. But wouldn't they have heating pads there? I took the clothes I wore and a pillow.

If you can easily call in sick if you don't feel up to it, I wouldn't worry about it. But if you have the kind of job where it is better to make arrangements in advance, then I think you will need at least one more day, if not two. It's hard to predict and it doesn't seem to depend on age. I know I could not have gone back any sooner than I did (surgery Thursday, went back Tuesday) but I'm a teacher. It was tiring just to get dressed and drive there!

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That's great! Once you have the date, everything else seems to fall into place. I was kept busy with all of the other appointments leading up to surgery so the time seemed to pass quickly. Glad to hear you're not a "hard" case. I just got back from my one-week post-op appointment. I have a little redness around my port incision that my doctor wants me to keep an eye on to make sure it's not infected. He told me to watch for a widening of the band of redness and to call him if that happens -- he'll prescribe antibiotics and drain it, if he has to, which he said is no big deal. One more week of Clear Liquids and I get to expand to full liquids! I had some chicken broth with powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury when I got home and it tasted so good! I had been avoiding the Unjury for awhile in case it caused the bloating I had after surgery but I think that was just due to the surgery. It's good to get off the sweet stuff now and then! Thanks for asking and good luck getting all your ducks in a row! :clap2:

LAP BAND SURGERY SHOPPING LIST NON-food ITEMS: BBQ or Toilet tongs, for a good reach in the r.r. 4.98 Heating pad(12inx24in) 16.88 Flexible ice pack (hot/cold 12inx16in) 14.44 A few books or movies(your choice, I spent about 70.00us) xx.xx Squishy pillow for car ride for seatbelt (shoulder pad) 16.88 Make sure you have a good blender 19.97 Kitchen timer (first few days, sip every 15 mins)(analog) 2.88 Kitchen timer (digital – better for travelling) 3.47 Pedo-meter(depending on the one you get – don’t forget to adjust to your stride) 4.88 PHARMACEUTICALS: Liquid Tylenol/Motrin (Check early in case pharmacy needs to order in advance) 4.98 Chewable or liquid gas-x(I got strips, you will pay more than shown here) 3.60 Gauze Pads 4x4 6.57 Paper/bandage tape 2.57 Wet Wipes 2.64 Pill crusher 3.89 Chewable Vitamins 8.97 Hospital Medicine cups (I got 3oz/88ml cups – 100ct) 1.48 Cough Drops(Halls big box) 6.88 Stool Softener (Dr. asked me not to get this, if needed talk to him) xx.xx Moist and nice tasting Lip Balm(got chapstick – cherry – 2for deal) 0.88 FOOD ITEMS: Protein shakes(these vary from 22 – 55 dollars depending on quality and quantity) xx.xx Plenty of water(bottled Water for me 3cases 16oz. bottles 10.00) 10.00 broth or stuff to make broth(several flavors but all about the same cost) 2.98 Sugar free popsicles 2.66 Sugar free Jello 0.50 Sugar free breath mints (chewable) 1.33 Crystal Light "On the GO" assorted flavors(I don’t like CL so I got store brand/price per box) 2.50 Bouillon(several flavors but all about the same cost) 2.07 Cream of Wheat 2.92 Creamy Soups 0.66 Applesauce 1.82 FAT FREE yogurt 1.76 Soup-at-Hand - soups - for creamy stage(on sale) 1.25 pudding cups (SF/FF) - helps w/ taking meds(got instant, more flavors, price per box) 0.50 Sugar free hot cocoa 1.87 Decaf tea(got regular, decaf is a little more in cost) 2.12 CLOTHES POST-OP: Loose fitting, easily removable(one size larger than I wear, sweats, top and bottom) 15.88 Buttons downs or pullover(sale rack found $5.00 per, one size larger) 5.00 Thong shoes/slip-on so no bending and tying(make sure they are a good pair) 12.88 Sports Bra! Sutures will be hurt by under wires(I have a daughter and wife that helped here) 6.88 All these prices are from Wal-mart and I used my receipt for 4Oct07 to get most of the prices. I did try to give explanations where I could and those are in braces, i.e. - (). Good luck and remember, your positive attitude and positive resolve got you this far. You can get through this, be positive.

Do I detect a pattern here? During my drive home from class tonight, I had the most excruciating pain I've had since surgery! I had the pain in my shoulder, my port area was sore, and I got the "stinger" that I often get in the back of my shoulder, the same shoulder as the other pain! I couldn't get in bed fast enough! But I'm feeling better now and I see the doctor tomorrow for my one week post-op. I have plenty of work to do at home this weekend but it can be done from the comfort of my La-Z-Boy!

I hope everything goes like clockwork, Kristin! Let us know how you're doing as soon as you can!

You might also try looking at this forum: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f85/ It's the support forum for UK bandsters. Good luck!

It has gone by so quickly! And one more week and I'll be able to add blended and creamy liquids! I could live on sugar-free pudding! How are y'all doing?

Thanks, sumz! How are you doing? Feeling better every day, I hope? Kendra

Sitting isn't too bad, actually, though reclining would be a little better and we all know those airline seats don't recline much! Be sure to bring a fluffy pillow to hold over your belly and then you can rest your arms on top. At least for me, that was the most comfortable position in the car and at home. Have a safe trip and let us know how you're doing when you get back!

It's on the FAQ forum, a sticky at the top. (They're all stickies on that forum.)

Just a bit more information: some clinics do everything "in-house" so that you could possibly take a day pre-op and get in all of your consultations and lab work. That could speed things up. In my case, I had the initial consultation and then lucked into seeing the nutritionist the same day, on Friday the 19th. Then I saw the psychologist on Tuesday, the 23rd, and my GP on Friday, the 26th for the lab work. I went to the hospital for preregistration on Monday, the 29th and saw my doctor for pre-op appointment on Tuesday, the 30th. I have a tight schedule so I was amazed that I was able to get all of these appointments in and only missed about two hours of work until the day of surgery.

Hi, Stevie: Yesterday was much better! There were a couple of times I felt a tad weak or the pain in my shoulder was bothersome but most of the time I felt normal and almost forgot I had had the surgery! I actually felt better as the day went on. Thanks for asking! Kendra

I'm self-pay. I consulted on October 19 and was banded on November 1 -- that's 13 days!

lindsayann: I know what you mean about everything tasting too sweet. I usually love Propel but the taste has been bothering me the last few days. I'm drinking Water from my Pur filter that has just a bit of raspberry flavoring added but no sweetness. It tastes similar to when you squeeze a wedge of lemon into water, only raspberry. You'll be fine tomorrow. Just take it easy and let yourself get used to being up and around again. Good luck!

Welcome and good luck! I'm sure you're finding all kinds of information and sharing on this board. It's the place to be for lap-banders!

Well, I had it last Thursday morning. When I woke up, I was sore but not too bad. I took the prescription pain medication regularly. I slept in my bed that night with a pillow to support my belly. The next day, I was a little more sore and started to get bloated. My belly was very tight. As the day went on, the bloating started to go away. I slept better the second night. The third day, I woke up the most sore and started feeling a little down that I seemed to be getting worse instead of better. However, as the day went on, I improved immensely, so that day was the turning point for me. The fourth day, I was hardly sore at all but still felt a little tired. The fifth day, I went back to work and had moments of feeling flushed and sweaty and a little dizzy, but just took it easy. Today was the sixth day. I started out feeling a little weak but actually got stronger as the day went on and now I feel almost normal!

My husband picked mine up for me at H.E.B. -- a grocery chain in Texas.

The only things I took to the hospital with me were the clothes I wore (a loose dress, a leisure bra, panties and slip-on shoes) and a pillow to cushion my belly on the ride home. I came home the same day.

Well, I haven't done it yet -- just the first week -- but my doctor's schedule is: 2 weeks -- clear liquids 4 weeks -- full/blended liquids 3-1/2 months -- soft foods After 5 months, THEN I can have solid foods!

My surgery was on Thursday and I went back on Tuesday. It was a little tough but doable. It would have been easier if I could sit at a desk and take a break now and then but I was tutoring for five hours, then scheduled to teach a class. However, I locked my keys in my car and had to cancel the class. Today I have taught two classes but mostly remained seated and used a remote for the presentation of my lecture on PowerPoint. I think that helped, as well as the long breaks between classes. I have one more class to teach and then I can go home and rest until I am due to tutor again at 11:30 tomorrow. Then I have Friday and the weekend off! Yesterday, the pain didn't bother me but I felt weak and tired. Today I have more strength but the pain in my shoulder is more intense. It's always sumpin'! :confused: