liannatx

Vitamin Water Zero goes down much easier than plain water for me. I can easily drink 3 a day (60oz). The other thing I found at Walmart is the tubes of New whey Protein. The have 42g protein, and I pour half of one in each VitaminWater I drink. For the gas pains the more you walk and move around the faster the trapped air will work its way out. The Gas X strips are recommended by many many people post op. I have found that they help. Are you taking an acid blocker? Stomach acid can also cause rumbling and discomfort.

I was given acid blockers to take the first week, and recommended to take Prilosec or similar OTC ppi for the first 2-3 months. Try that, and try taking very tiny sips and spacing them a minute or two apart. I also discovered that VitaminWater Zero was much easier for me to drink than Water. I found the New whey Protein tubes in fruit punch (42 g protein) and pour half one into a bottle of Vitamin Water and sip, sip, sip. I have been drinking 3 of these daily since day 3 and really feel like the protein and fluids have helped me feel better much faster. As to Full liquids, I was told that they should be thin enough to go through a straw (don't actually use a straw!). So on soups they should be thinned, pureed, and strained of any solid or chunks. I cant have full liquids until day 7. Crazy how different all of our plans are.

I was on IV and not given anything to drink the first day. The second morning I was given ice chips, and they were very painful. The gave me foamies. The nurse said that most patients do better by pacing it out and sucking on one ice chip every 5 minutes. That did the trick for me. It also helped train me when I started on actual Water to take very tiny sips and pace them several minutes apart. I probably didn't have more than 12 oz of fluid that second day, but by day 3 and 4 the swelling was down and I have been getting 60+ ounces in daily since. The walking really helps to move the trapped air out. A heating pad is great too. I really wondered what the heck I had done to myself on the second day.... I had acid, gas pains, surgery pain. By day 4 I turned the corner and started feeling much much better. Trust everyone that says it gets better everyday, the miserable parts really do get better fast.

I went for a revision in October 2014. My doctor was planning on revising at the same time as band removal, but once he got in there he just did band removal. Scar tissue and adhesions were very bad, I had the old 4cc band put in in 2005. Surgeon said he "trenched out a trough" of scar tissue from my stomach in preparation for the Sleeve. I let my stomach and esophagus heal and was just Sleeved on Monday March 9. I would have preferred to have it done in one surgery, but I trust that my doctor knows best. Sleeved for 4 days, lol, So far so good.

I wish I had never had the band at all. Years of puking and sliming and feeling like a golfball was lodged in my esophagus. I lost to goal, but it was miserable, and as soon as my band went bad I started regaining.

I have a Bullet. It is easy and convenient.

I swear I know them,,,,,just remind me and everyone else....... No liquid 30-hour(oops, 30min) before meal small bites, chew chew chew protien first, veggies, starch NO liquids for hour post meal Please add anything that has helped your sucess........

I said I had a surgery to remove fibroids. It is a laproscopic surgery and has a very similiar recovery. It was great because while I was doing full liquids back at work I said that the anesthesia left me very sick for days and I was afraid to eat too heavy yet. I found that people ask "what kind of surgery" out of a desire to show concern, but no one really questions a vague response like "female related".

I posted that my first fill was 1 cc. I had my second fill yesterday morning that put at 1.5 ccs. I can barely get sips of protien drink down today. I think I just have a lot of swelling, but I feel like this will leave me with some restriction. It is strange how different we all respond.

The only complication I had was severe swelling after surgery. My stoma (my little stomach opening) swole completely shut for 2 days. It took rounds of anti-inflamatory shots, but after 2 days I was fine and was able to get enough liquids down to get off the I.V. and go home. It was more of a pain in the A$$ than actually painful. However, I am a very happy camper now and have felt great since about the 5th day post op. I didnt even have much gas pain.

I went to Monterrey after talking to several people that used the surgeon I was looking into. It was very reassuring to actually talk to someone who had been to Monterrey and been banded by the doctor I was considering. I also made sure that my surgeon, Dr. Sanchez, prearranged aftercare for me with a doctor less than an hour from my front door! Like someone else posted above, I had wonderful care and the Santa Engracia hospital is American owned and super clean and state of the art. I have no complaints so far. Just do your reasearch and do what feels comfortable for you.

Wow, I really dont know what to say that hasnt already been said. You are a testament to the fact that sometimes we "just know" when something isnt right with our bodies. It's very sad, and seems unfair, that you are having to go through this. As far as someone accusing you of scare tactics...it is scary, the erosions and unbandings that have occured recently. You have no option but to tell it like it is, and hopefully I and others will be aware that problems can occur with this procedure. I just find it particularly disturbing that most of you were banded by the same doctors, and banded in TJ. What is up with that? Is it the way they place the band, the positioning, the band itself....who were these surgeons trained under? Scares the shit out of me, I will be asking for routine tests on schedule. I want the endo at one year and if I ever have the slightest (serious) doubt something is wrong. I hope you feel better and get that unbanding scheduled for as soon as you feel up to going through it. Keep your fiesty spirits up!

Thanks for sharing!!! I'd also buy a book!

I didnt do any kind of cleanse, just nothing to eat or drink from midnight the day before surgery. I was up and walking within 2 hours and I never had much problem with the gas pains. They were definitely there, just not too painful. I did look like I was about 6 months pregnant from the air still trapped, and think the walks probably spared me the really bad gas pains.

The Unjury protien powder was my source of protien also. I did the strawberry sorbet mixed with some crystal light lemonaid. The taste is much better than the protien drinks I tried, and it was well worth the price. You can order it on their website and they ship right away.

You look incredible! I hope you also posted those to the before & after section!!!

Woo Hoo!!! I am doing a happy dance for you!!

I also had 1cc and feel like I am still wide open. I can eat anything.....bread, steak, eggs. I am ready to schedule another fill also.

If you are having problems keeping liquids down try limiting the amounts you drink at one time. I found I did great with just an ounce or two at a time. Sip Sip Sip. Dont try to get the whole glass of anything down in one sitting. It is less stressful if you still have some swelling. Also, the canned protien drinks I had were too thick at first and I found they went down much more comfortably if I thinned them slightly with some water.

Were you looking for erosions? I just voted yes, that i am banded......

bump.........donali's thread is invaluable for newbies, and all

Didnt his band slip back into place?

Donali, that is the most comprehensive compilation of bandster rules that I have seen. I will copy that so that I can refer to it. It should be made into a sticky!

I took out a personal loan. I figure the interest is lower than putting it on my cc. But I would have done credit cards if that was the only option.

Yep, I was loving the refried beans also. Top them with a little cheese and some salsa, yummy. I loved the Cambells brocolli cheese and the bean & bacon pureed. It is nice to get off that liquid stage!!!