mrsgriffin2u

Hey there... I was just banded 7/2 and have not had any fills yet. I can answer your question though... YES! My band already reacts to stress. I'm going thru some personal issues and when I get upset I can barely do liquids. As silly as it is (I'm an emotional person)- even emotional t.v. shows makes my band tighter. I guess it's because I become emotional so easily, even if it's not noticable on the outside. Sorry if I sound crazy, but I thought I'd let you know that it's very possible. Congrats on meeting your goal and your tremendous weight loss. I can only hope to be so successful! :wink2: Amanda

It's very true about being knocked out so quickly. Everyone's different, but I didn't even get to a number. I was expecting them to ask me to count, but as soon as that mask touched my face I was out like a light! :biggrin: They didn't even give me a chance to get nervous. I also don't remember getting moved from the operating table to the gurny. That was done prior to me waking up. They woke me up while I was still in the OR and then as soon as I opened my eyes they began rolling me to recovery. NO nausea was awesome. I explaiend that was one of my biggest fears (vomitting) and they put so much anti-nausea medicine in me it was rediculous. They also gave me a presciption for some for a whole week after surgery. GREAT STUFF! Good luck to all! :biggrin:

Everyone's Dr.'s instructions are very different. I am like you and could have cream based Soups on Day 2 going forward. I'm not a tomato soup fan, but what you may want to do is cook it w/more liquid than normal, put it in a shot glass (if you have one) and sip on it very slowly. For 5 days after surgery I couldn't get anything more than one shot glass full at a time. I'm by NO means telling you to take a shot the old fashioned way. LOL! Just sip on it. It's a small portion and that helped me control it very well. It will get better and I graduated from the shot glass method after about one week. I was banded 7/2. Hope this helps and best wishes for a speedy recovery! :biggrin:

Thank you all so much for your support. Since my post I have managed to get in all of my required Protein and do not feel near as dehydrated. I started my period and I feel SUPER tight (no fills) so I've decreased everything for a few days. It's all just a learning curve and now that I know how to get my protein in - even without the shakes, I feel a lot better. Again, thank you all SO much for your support through this difficult, yet rewarding, journey.

Do any of you feel tighter while on your period? I was banded on 7/2 and have had no fills to date. My first fill is 8/15. I started my period two days ago and today I have felt extremely tight. I've had some restriction during the entire recovery process, but today I can barely get down mushies. There's no PB'ing or sliming, because I'm not letting myself get that far, but it does feel weird (not bad or painful, just weird). Is this what true restriction feels like? Just curious! Thanks. :wink2:

A lot of people are allowed to have Saltine crackers during mushies because they break down really well. You may want to ask your doctor first, but if you have some saltines w/soup or with the light Laughing Cow cheese that come in really small wedges that may help. I find them VERY yummy and they take all of my cravings away. Publix carries whole graine saltines that are a little more healthy as well. The cheese will add a little Protein to your diet and and it's extremely soft. Hope this helps! I have two more days until I go to solids and I can't wait! Good luck! :glare:

Hi there! I'm in Murfreesboro and I also had my surgery July 2nd by Dr. George Eckles. Hope all is going well for you! :biggrin:

Well, I have to say that I was trimming my yard with a light weedeater (less than 7 lbs) and now my rib cage hurts even worse. I didn't even get 5 minutes in. I definitely have to call the surgeon tomorrow because I'm worried. To me, I shouldn't be hurting. I can't even think about exercising because of the pain. I also stopped losing weight. I lost 10 lbs in the first week and have stopped all together. UGH!

I'm not quite sure, but my surgeon specifically told me to take them (preferrably in liquid form). I'd call and atleast ask. I highly recommend SPANX. They sell them at Lane Bryant (highly recommended by Oprah) and they're comfortable. Just make sure, whatever you get, that it comes up under your breasts. That way it's not putting pressure from the waistband right on your incisions. That may cause even more pain. :seeya:

Oh boy! I definitely know what you're referring to and I have had it since my surgery on 7/2. My surgeon has said it is completely normal b/c that's where they went in the "deepest" during surgery. Some people are bothered by it and some aren't. Unfortunately, it seems like we're in that group. It can be very painful, but wearing a girdle or compression garment helps. Mine definitely has gotten better, but I've been told I can feel it for months. Mine has kind of traveled to under my left breast/ribcage. It's a burning/pulling sensation. IB Profen/Motrin helps a lot with the pain, so I highly recommend that. Hope this helps! :seeya:

If it's the pain, I can tell you that everyone is different. The pain will soon go away and you begin to forget what you experienced. I experienced more pain than most and now I'm up doing almost everything that I did prior to surgery. Luckily, I have a great job and have taken 5 weeks off with Short Term Disability, paid. It's great because sitting at a computer for more than 30 mins begins to hurt and that's pretty much my job. The one thing I would recommend doing, if you are an emotional eater, is to really address that prior to surgery. I thought I had, but I can tell you that's been more difficult than the pain for me. It's hard to see everyone around me eat good food. I just have to remember it's not good for them and I'm trying to get healthy. My life has revolved around food since day one and I'm just having to re-learn how to deal with food. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask! :ohmy:

You definitely are right, however, it doesn't make it much easier. I completely understand that we have done this to lose weight and get healthty. I did this to end the cycle of overweight people in my family and start changing the diet in my household. My husband has almost done a 180 since my surgery and is going back to his old habits we've worked so hard to break in the last 6 months. He is also very overweight. It's almost as if he is rebelling against what I'm doing. And while it's difficult to see him do that to himself, it's also difficult for me to see/smell what he is eating. It's like an alcoholic going into a bar who has quit drinking. It's a good thing that they have stopped drinking, but it doesn't take that pain away when they're around other people who drink. The hardest part is an alcoholic can usually distance themselves from alcohol, but we have to be around food for the rest of our life. For some of us, our willpower is still not at 100% and that's something we will struggle with, but conquer! I guess my point is, we don't expect others to not eat around us. That's not what she was getting at, she was just expressing a feeling of what a lot of us are going thru - getting over the emotional tie we have to the food that got us this way. You are right though and made very valid points. Thanks! :ohmy:

Thanks, the potassium thing is definitely a great point. Lapbandmexico - I am happy with my band, but I have to admit, I'm still in that healing stage and still am not 100% about it. Everyone tells me that will go away and that the "What the heck did I just do to myself" feeling will subside soon. What about you?

I had my surgery July 2nd and everything has gone fairly well. I had a lot more pain than expected and my appetite was pretty much null and void until about 4-5 days ago. I struggled to even drink Water. I know this is bad, but I haven't been able to even get in a fraction of the Protein I should. Protein shakes do not sit well on my stomach (didn't even before surgery) and I've been scared to get sick. My supplements upset my stomach as well. I know this is all because of the lack of food I have sitting on my stomach. My mom (who has come into town to help me recover) is trying to get me to eat (soft icecream - yes I caved for a spoonful, cream of wheat, a little mashed potato) all foods I know I shouldn't have. I've also been eating thin Soup, pureed chili b/c I'm on mushies, and some Protein drinks. I'm eating maybe 1/4 of a cup at a time and get scared to go any further. I hiccup and to me that's a sign to stop. I don't have "pressure" or a full feeling. I'm just struggling really hard with a set "diet" that the surgeon has given me. It's wrong - I know. I need advice and help, maybe even strength to get thru this. I've lost 10 lbs post op, totaling 44 lbs since I started my 6 month pre-op program with my PCP. Please - any suggestions, support, or even criticism would be helpful. Thanks! :ohmy:

I feel the exact same way right now. This has been so hard emotionally! Right after my surgery, my mom was in town to help, so my husband and mom made nice dinners every night. Then I went to Illinois with family to recover and they had a family gathering every night, which centered around food. I explained to them, as I teared up out of jealousy, that this proves why I needed this surgery. Our family focuses so much on food (we're all overweight) and I wanted to be the first to break that cycle. Good luck. I can tell you that each day gets easier, but I still battle with my addiction to food. I don't know if that will ever change, but I sure hope so! :ohmy:

I have the same exact issue and I'm in week 3 of recovery. Mine has set me back a lot because my job is to sit at a computer all day at a call center. People think that's easy because it's not physical, but it's worse that standing around with this burning sensation. I was really worried about it (I was not warned about this feeling from the Dr.) and they said it was completely normal. Mine has gotten a little better each day, unless I over-do it, but I still feel it several times a day. Wearing a girdle or some type of compression garment helps a lot. SPANX are a God-send for me and they really help. Somehow it gives you more support. Good luck!

Ya know... I started having small spasms in my right calf muscle... Only started happening after surgery. Everyone around me thinks I'm crazy because I keep saying "I hope it's not a blood clot." It's not swollen and it doesn't hurt. It just keeps spasming. Is this what you're referring to?

I have the exact same pain. Did you ever find out what this is? If so, please let me know. Thanks!

This shows how everyone is different. I had surgery July 2nd and I did have difficulty with getting up/down from the toilet as well as wiping. I wiped myself, but it was painful. I actually tried to keep motrin in me prior to gonig to bathroom, because that seemed to help. At times, it took me several minutes and some tears. My mom and husband helped me get up/down (same with in/out of the shower). The difficult part was this tremendous pain in my left abdomen area, which some people don't even experience. Everyone is so different though. Hopefully this will not be the case. I went to recover at my grandparents house and it was much better. My grandfather is in a wheelchair so he has the high toilets with a bar to help for support. MUCH BETTER! Hope this helps! Good luck.

I just had my surgery July 2nd and I've had that problem since day 3! I have it with Water, Protein, and now any mushies that I eat. Trust me, I eat/drink real slow and it doesn't seem to help. I also have one big hiccup and then I feel all better... weird! My mom (who came into town to help me recover) makes fun of me and says it's just like having to burp a baby. Makes sense I guess... I'm eating like a baby! Hope it gets better for you, but it seems like this may be sticking with me for awhile!

Hey all, Just wanted to let you know that the pain is getting a little better. Today was a little rougher than the last few days, but it's tolerable. Now I can say it's not "pain" as much as discomfort. I wanted to let you all know because last week the pain was so bad I asked my mom to shoot me! Still needed my mommy! LOL! She laughed and I looked her dead in the eye and told her I wasn't kidding. It gets better. I promise. It is still there, but more tolerable. I've only taken 2 IB Profen in the last 3 days. :embaressed_smile: That's an accomplishment in my opinion. My 2 week check-up was yesterday and the surgeon said everything I'm experiencing is NORMAL, fortunately for some, they just don't experience this pain. I feel for you all, trust me! Good luck in your new life! :huh2:

Hi Amy! Thanks for your response. I can tell you that the pain is slowly but surely getting a little better each day. Some days are worse than others. There's still no way I can go to work yet (I've been approved for 4-6 weeks for recovery), but I can atleast walk now. It seems to now be worse when I sit down for an extended amount of time. How are you feeling now? Amanda

Let me tell ya! I came to tears when I read this thread because I had my surgery on 7/2 and I felt like such a loser. My left abdomen/belly button area pulls/burns when I walk. I'm trying to push through it but it HURTS. It's really the only problem I've had. I had gas pains, but since I fully expected those I could handle them. I walked and took lots of Gas X strips and it helps. I occasionally have gas pains in my left shoulder and under my left rib cage, but it's bearable. What's not bearable is my stomach. I have a large indention on my left incision where the port is. It hurts so bad it puts me to tears. I called my surgeons office and spoke with the nurse, while crying, and the Dr. refused to give me any more pain meds. I was so offended; they treated me like a drug addict. I've only taken pain meds one other time in my life for kidney stones. UGH... Motrin and Tylenol it is. Thanks for letting me know that other people have this pain. I felt like everyone else has bounced back and are back to their normal lives. It'll be awhile for me.

Hey Barbara! I'm doing a lot better than I was a couple of days ago. My liquid diet has failed horribily. My willpower amounts to nothing! I've honestly tried, but to me, it's like asking an alcoholic to stop drinking cold turkey! Oh well... not much I can do now until post-op. I am being strong now... I lost 3 lbs last week on the diet so I'm down 36 lbs total for pre-op. My husband has come around a little bit. After our big blow up and after these wonderful responses, we've talked about it a little/I've gotten over it. I do realize that he thinks completely differently than I do - that doesn't mean I'll ever appreciate it! LOL How are you? You'll get through this - we'll get through this. I'll definitely message you and tell you the TRUTH about everything once I can get my sliced and diced self awake enough to post something on here! :biggrin: My mom's coming up today to help take care of me for the next few weeks and Ryan (my husband) took the day off. He even went grocery shopping yesterday for my mom and bought foods for him and her to eat - all LOW CALORIE! Who would have thought! LOL Best of luck to ya! :eek:

Thank you all so much for your replies... I've calmed down a little this morning after sleeping on it and reading all of your comments. I think the hard part is still being a newlywed and having to get use to the "guys" way of thinking. We're still quite young and trying to figure this all out. He grew up in a household in which you DO NOT display emotion and I grew up in the complete opposite. We yelled, cried, whatever, to display the emotion and then we got over it. My dad is a very emotional person and he is the only male, so I guess that's just what I expect. Thanks again for all of your support! :embaressed_smile: