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Choose the path that fits today. We’ll take you to the most useful discussions.
- GLP-1 medication Zepbound, Wegovy, access, side effects, progress, and support.
- Before surgery Compare procedures, plan ahead, and get honest pre-op answers.
- Post-op Recovery, food stages, symptoms, and support.
- Long-term Regain, labs, habits, and life after the honeymoon.
- Revision Explore revision options, complications, and next steps.
Everything posted by gentylwind
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looking for a cheaper lap band surgery
I agree completely. You can't say the band doesn't work when not taking advantage of the options available out there to make it work. There's definitely a reason the person you are getting fills from is cheaper from the sound of it. Go to someone more reputable before you start writing off the band.
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To much protien a to little protien???
My doc also said to get a minimum of 60 grams per day. So far, that's just not possible!
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needing some kind of.. reassurance
We had fun making homemade stock during my liquid phases. Just this weekend we made and strained homemade Scottish oxtail soup! SERIOUS yum, no sense of deprivation there at ALL. Get on recipezaar, make some homemade chicken stock or beef or vegetable. It tastes WAY better than anything in a can!
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I stink need shower
Yep, baths are NOT allowed until fully healed. Shower is okay after 24 hours. My surgeon suggested drying the incision lines with a hair dryer to make sure they don't retain any moisture. Other than that, showering is totally necessary to help prevent infection, so do it!
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Why am I so terrified?
You get all of that and more with the RNY, so if you are afraid of it with LB, be aware it all happens with bypass too. Bypass has a far higher mortality rate as well. Have you gone to a seminar yet to find out more about the band? Keep in mind, much of what happens in terms of erosion, slippage, PB, vomiting, etc has a lot to do with YOU and whether you eat the way you are supposed to after the band is in place. For the vast majority of people it is controllable.
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Sushi Anyone?
Yeah, anyone who thinks sushi is fattening doesn't know sushi! I don't know yet if I will be able to tolerate it (just 2 days postop here) but I sure hope so!
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Where is everyones port? i can feel something hard
One inch up from my navel and about two, two and a half inches to my right. Definitely the most sore spot and pretty much the only one of my incisions that I have pain from.
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How long is your post-op diet?
Clear liquids for 24 hours postop, then full liquids for two weeks, mushies for two weeks, soft foods for two weeks, then normal diet. I get my first fill four weeks from surgery, so right before christmas.
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how are the post ops doing?
Two days postop here, doing okay. I just got back from a little shopping trip to Target and ToysRUs for a little Christmas shopping. That went pretty good, though I feel pretty tired now. Even clear fluids are making me full and I am very thirsty. Not at all hungry. I have had mostly broth and diet V8. Had a little bit of thinned cream of chicken this morning. Kind of had to make myself eat it more than wanted it. I should probably try to get in a couple of Protein shakes too if I can today, but I doubt it. Just not hungry. I can see things on TV and think they look good, but the idea of eating is just unappealing. My belly area is rumbling like mad and I am passing gas like a champ. No gas pains today and the incision pain is not bad. I have only needed one dose of the Lortab today so far. I am doing good.
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Not following the post-op diet.
I guess I am really baffled why anyone would pay this much for a surgery this invasive and then not do what is known to cause success. It makes no sense. A few days of suffering for a lifetime of health is NOTHING.
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Nausea and diarrhea on pre-op diet - help!
Most people get sick from taking Vitamins on an empty stomach and this is likely what caused the heaving. I had diarrhea on the pre-op diet too. Liquid in, liquid out as they say. You will be fine. Just save your vitamins until after one of your Protein shakes.
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What do you wish you knew before?
Sadly, yes, there are people who go into this surgery thinking it will be a quick fix. We see them all the time on this board in fact. It is great that you are getting your head around it now rather than after. You will do fine.
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For those who have taken Lap Band...
I was at the surgery center for four hours from arrival to discharge, so no overnight in the hospital at all. I have not returnd to work yet but plan to by Wednesday. I am two days postop now.
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I Got My Surgery Date...Where Are The November Bandsters?
Yeah, they moved me to one of the last surgery slots of the day due to being young and having no comorbidities. I was NOT happy about that, but it turned out okay in the end. I just really didn't want to sit around dreading it all morning. I was very anxious. So I went Christmas shopping until it was time to go to the surgery center. I can't imagine having to fly after surgery! My drive home was 30 minutes and I almost up-chucked from that. You poor thing! He will call in Phenargan for you if you want it. I had him do it, only needed it once or twice, but now am glad to have it in case I get a stomach flu this winter or spring. I am feeling pretty good this morning. The port pain is much less upon waking today and my bruising has improved a LOT just overnight. I am going to take my first shower since surgery in a minute here. Still not interested in any kind of food. I tried a couple of bites of SF Jello this morning and bleh. Didn't want it. My tummy is making all kinds of funky noises this morning and I am passing gas like a champ. lol! The bloating of my belly is noticably less. I hope to get Joe to take me out to the store to walk and Christmas shop a little bit if I feel up to it later on.
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Post -op - How long until you feel like yourself again?
I am two days postop and am amazed at how good I feel. I have some pain, some gas pressure, but nothing like what I read others are having here on LBT. I feel pretty lucky. I am not 100%, but I am not miserable either.
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Bandsters Nov 17-21
ER, that is GREAT about your meds! I am still doing okay, but in more pain tonight than I was this morning. More gas pain, more port pain. Still nothing awful though. Pain meds help as does walking and resting in alternating pattern. I have been sipping broth all day and Gatorade. I can move to full liquids now but have no desire to. I made some FF pudding and SF jello to have later if I want. I did have one SF popsicle earlier today. Its weird to not want any food.
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What do you get at starbucks?
Me too. They usually put in four squirts of their syrup. That's why I only have them do one. I like my coffee to taste like coffee!
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What do you wish you knew before?
Yes I did. Thank you!
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Pre-Op Liquid Diet Recipes
Look on www.recipezaar.com. I made a lot of broths from there before my surgery and have had fantastic oxtail broth today (the day after my surgery). I am sure you will find good creamy soups there that you can make with either skim milk or fat free evaporated milk.
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I Got My Surgery Date...Where Are The November Bandsters?
See, my port is way down low, not far from my belly button, on my right side. Just above and to the right of it by 2-3 inches. And yes, very swollen, very bruised and SORE. Its the most painful part on me. In fact, the other four incisions I can't even feel. I have kept ice on it a lot of the day today, which has helped some. I love my Lortab though! Dr. Castro and the whole surgery center/team were fantastic. I got there right before you left it sounds like. We probably passed in the pre-post op room. How are you feeling today? I am doing okay...this morning was definitely better than this evening. I have sipped broth in small amounts all day along with Gatorade but I am positive I didn't get the 48-64 oz they say we should in fluids. I think I have only peed once and that was not much.
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I Got My Surgery Date...Where Are The November Bandsters?
Joe is here taking care of me, but honestly, getting up and getting my own needs met gets me walking, which helps with the gas pain a LOT. I let him do some for me, but mostly am doing for myself. It helps get me moving.
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What do you get at starbucks?
Decaf nonfat pumpkin spice latte with only one squirt of the pumpkin spice syrup and no whipped cream. Its a nice treat.
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What do you wish you knew before?
I wish I had known the surgery would not be nearly as bad as I thought!
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I Got My Surgery Date...Where Are The November Bandsters?
Hi all! Banded yesterday, all went very very well. I was banded and back home in a four hour time period and I feel really quite good. If this is the worst it gets, I have gotten off lucky. I have a little tightness in my chest from gas pain, but very little in my shoulder and it feels much better when I walk. I am taking small sips of Gatorade and homemade chicken broth. Joe is making me homemade oxtail Soup. which we will strain some for me and freeze the rest for when I progress to mushies. It smells wonderful! But its weird...I have NO desire right now to eat, so I am really savoring just the smell and the feeling of comfort and home. That's a first for me. Good smells always make me hungry, but not today! I didn't realize how fearful I was of the surgery until now. Today is the first day I have gotten excited about having this done. I am down two pounds from when they weighed me at the surgery center yesterday, so no gain here. I hope I continue to feel this good. I have incision pain that requires the liquid Lortab, but its bearable. I got SUPER nauseated from the car ride home yesterday, but the doc called me in liquid Phenargan and that kept me from actually hurling. I have not needed it but for two doses yesterday. I am glad to have it on hand now in case I get a stomach bug any time during the winter/spring. I am SO GLAD the surgery itself is over with and SO excited to embark on this new journey. I will be on mushies in a couple of weeks, full fluids tomorrow. And my first fill will be in four weeks!
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Bandsters Nov 17-21
I am wondering, is this the worst it gets? If so, I have gotten off pretty easy from the sound of it *knocks wood*. Of course, its not even been 24 hours since my surgery yet, but right now, I am happy, content, excited and not at all miserable. I have some pain, some gas pressure, fatigue and weakness, but nothing unmanageable or horrific. What day after surgery is usually the worst? I have no frame of reference. I have never had surgery before.