deneicy

It's gas from the CO2 used to pump up the thorax to do the surgery. It passes 2 days-2 weeks, I read. I feel it in my shoulders. Ws told to walk as much as I can and take gas x strips for relief. It's in discussion in a thread under pre and post op called "I finally figured it out."

I talked to my doctor before surgery. He was one of the first in the world to do lapband surgery, teaches all over the world, etc. He was recruited to Univ. of CA, San Diego to do additional research with robotics.

He said the two bands are both good, that he's used them both. I asked why he has essentially switched to this one-- he said the Realize band is easier to see on the screens. So I went with it. It's manufactured by Johnson & Johnson.

If anything went wrong, they have a very deep pocket.

The other one is by Allergan.

Oooooh, Izzy, tell your doc thanks for solving the mystery pain in my clavical and rhomboids. LOL I really wondered what the heck they did to my shoulders during surgery! Guess gas goes aaaaall over the body. I started using the Gas X strips and walking around the house (need to be near the potty). Read somewhere in here that it takes anywhere from 2 days-2 weeks for the gas to escape from our bodies back to the Universe.

Sociologists say one of the major qualities of successful groups of people is that they have learned to "defer gratification." They see The Big Picture and choose and conduct themselves toward long-term goals.

That said, I believe it is also important when we feel frustrated with slow results to write down all our mini-accomplishments....and if that doesn't work, make a blessings list.

And if we're still stuck, do something nice for someone else.

First, I love ILUVMYCAT. Thanks for the uplifting reply to the intial post. And hooray for you! I was banded Wednesday and feel like I'm healing nicely, and, yes, dealing with the usual side effects of surgery, anesthesia, and liquids. Slosh, slosh. Would love to get out today but need to stay near the potty.

Re the original post of frustratton--one of the main comments from my pre-op psychologist was that I'd need to get counseling regarding the addiction, using food to salve emotions. She said once you decide to no longer eat to calm down, to solve boredom and restlessness, to feel joy, or to blanket pain, anger, resentment, etc....you/we have an opportunity to

I guess the question for us all is what we have been using food for?

Best to you all!

There were only a few hard and fast ABSOLUTE RESTRICTIONS-- two as I recall--and no carbonation was one. No soda pop. No champagne. and I was told I could drink my AIRBORNE after it was flat, by the surgical practice nurse.

You need to google carbonation and lapband and it will explain why this is absolutely critical. It can really mess up the band and your stomach. Heck, tell your doctor who said you could have no carb soda pop to google it for you an the rest of his patients.

I am amazed.

When I breathe deeply, it hurts on the tops and front of my shoulders/clavical. I wonder if that's gas, too??? maybe from the CO2 used to pump up the torso??

Congrats on your decision!

I was banded Wednesday and you will be amazed how quickly you feel better. Yeah, you'll have some post-surgery stuff, but I've had 6 surgeries and this was by far the easiest for me.

Best to you!

D:mellow:

I assume this is a blockage. How do you unblock?

I'm crushing even tiny hrt pills and spreading over the day. Using Jello for the time-release Effexor with instructions to not chew the tiny globules inside the capsule. Tums for Calcium and Bugs Bunny Vitamins.

I'll take the effexor on applesauce when I get that, per mfr instructions

I've had some "reflux" sensations, too, during these early days after surgery. even had feeling of gas around heart. I suspect we're still experiencing the CO2 they blew into our bellies. Reminds me--time to use that inhaler thingie....and walk walk walk to reduce the bloating.

I was also banded by Dr. Horgan at UCSD, but I believe some, if not all of us, are part of scientific study, ie clinical trials with the robotic procedure. I would not be surprised that they do not fill persons who are not part of their study groups, since they are not a private business.

On the other hand, I believe UCSD is a Medicaid hospital and may have a "community" orientation.

It's worth a phone call.

My surgery was Jan. 30 and I feel pretty good. I wanted a surgeon I could trust to give me the best chance for this to succeed. I liked the ability to have easy, ready, professional follow-up. I liked having a LOT of doctors and staff to work with.

It cost more. I had to pay on my own, but I'm paying for a new life.

Best to you.

The main problem I've seen with pot is that it completely destroys the personal initiative and discipline of SOME users. Just as I would not want to be the 1 in 10,000 who has surgical problems, I wouldn't want to be the person who becomes a sluggish, do-nuttin' pothead.

Granted, not everyone smokes enough to get that lazy about LIVING, but I know 3 men who have already wasted decades of their lives to pot. Men who lost respectable careers, stable families, home ownership. They rent rooms, live on welfare of temporary-part-time jobs, basically earning enough to buy more pot.

Tragic.

Banding offers us a New Life--why not make wise choices that build on that big but single step.

I had surgery 1-30 and know what you're thinking. I shifted to apple juice today from crystal light and popsicles. Felt like I was living on Splenda.

I sip 1 ounce of clear liquid every 15 minutes. If I get behind schedule, I can definitely tell. My stomach growls or cramps. This morning I awoke nauseous ....from hunger. As soon as I drank Water, I was fine.

We can survive for much longer than we think without food actually. We REQUIRE Water. You're on the cusp of getting your Protein. I'm right behind you. I even saw some tempting Soup recipes in here for the full liquid stage.:eek:~

Hang in there!

I'm feeling pretty good. Can't run a foot race yet but I am hustling to the toilet better. I had mild discomfort at the larger incision site but it is going away. The tylenol with codeine was great help. I have been working to sip an ounce of liquid every 15 minutes and inhaling on that apparatus every hour to get the CO2 out of my system. They inflate your torso during surgery. I had a little blister on a lip afterwards, probably from the intubation tube. I had a moderate sore throat the first day only and lozenges helped.

No problem walking after the general anesthesia wore down. A little trouble changing postures, like standing from bed, sitting and rising, anything that required core muscles. That is passing day by day and I can move easily now without the muscle tension. Still some tightness in my shoulders and neck from the operation, being in the same posture for an hour. My surgery only lasted 44 minutes. I came in at 7 for prep, surgery at 9, over before 10, awoke easily at 1130sh, left around 1 after I dribbled a few drops of urine and had the post-op swallow procedure. Much easier than the barium--it tasted like a liquer, kinda licorice like Jaegermeister.

The most painful, uncomfortable experience for me was the Manometry. The doc shoved it up my right nostil which we discovered was deviated, ie had been broken sometime in my life. Then when I got the first drops of Water to swallow, they went down my windpipe into my lungs.

Going under was such a snap. I recall three nice breaths of oxygen thinking it smelled kinda like faint flowers. Nice. Then I awoke and was just slightly sore... I told them 6 on the 10 scale for the sore throat, as I recall. Then they gave me something for pain and I soon told them 2 when I left.

I had a bit of bloating and gas but didn't take gas x. Maybe I will try that if it returns.

Enjoyed some sips of apple juice. I'd been living on crystal light, Water, popsicles....and Jello for my meds that require "food." My stomach has been pretty hungry for about a week now, ie growling very loudly. But I'm doing okay mentally not having food. I occasinally remember "cheese enchiladas" but don't feel anxious.

Best to you! You'll do great!

I had surgery three days ago. This morning I drank warm Decaf tea and wonder if i drank it too fast. It was about a cup and I drank it over maybe 5-7 minutes. I didn't feel anything unusual immediately but about 5 minutes later, I was lying down and felt a sharp tight pain under my left breast, like when you have gas around your heart. Have any of you ever experienced that or know what caused it? Thanks.

I had surgery two days ago....and finally went to the potty today...and I'm in, as you described, that awful "liquids in-liquids out" stage. Hmmm, I sent my sweetie to the grocery store for TUCKS thinking it something to STOP the problem. He came back with wipies. As Peggy Lee sang, is that all there is? Can't take milk of magnesia, I suppose? Did you also recommend GasX strips? Do they help right after surgery with the puffiness in the lower gut?

I'm baaaaaack. Surgery went well Wednesday. I came back to do a little research regarding, well, hmmm, what happens when you live on liquids for over two weeks. :smile:~

The pre-op diet is to shrink your liver, which sits right next to the stomach. If it is swollen, it can be cut and you can hemmorrhage. A surgeon who doesn't put their patients on a pre-op diet to reduce this risk better have excellent malpractice insurance. I would not trust them to put a band aid on my blister.

I had my surgery Wednesday and feel pretty darn good. Just came on to find some tips about lose BM, which is certainly expected living on liquids for over 2 weeks.

...until AFTER my surgery.

I'm going in next Wednesday and despite the amazing advice in here, which I intend to digest later... I've decided to stop reading about all the problems, challenges, and, gulp, agonizing pain from infected ports, food stuck in throats, puking, Constipation, diarrhea, weight not falling fast enough, tiresome liquid diets, etc.

I want to have a smile on my face when I walk into the hospital and a feeling of gratitude for the possibility of a virtual miracle in my life...

Imagine.

I can finally be a healthy weight again.

WOW

Thank you, God.

; )

One of the reasons we have weight challenges is that we want IMMEDIATE GRATIFICATION. The same impulse that made us grab that cake or pull into the fast food drive-thru makes us want to see pounds OFF FAST. We need to think about lifestyle changes..which take time. But all good things take time. Even God took 7 whole days to create the Universe. lol And some say a little...well...longer than that even. :smile:~

My doc said to take my effexor time-released capsules, opened, with Jello after surgery.

good luck, tink. Mine is next wednesday. :smile:

Thanks. My surgery is next Wednesday Tick tock

Great posting, Miss... !

I only have one slight difference of opinion on whether food is LIKE a drug for some of us.

I believe that food IS the drug of choice for MOST of us, maybe even ALL of us.

I use it to calm down when I'm stressed.

I use it to feel happy when I'm sad.

I use it to Celebrate when I'm happy.

I use it to feel SOMethiNG when I'm bored and feeling nothing.

Sounds like a drug to me.

So I need counseling to find a non-eating way to handle my emotions, don't I/we? :smile:

Great posting, Miss... !

I only have one slight difference of opinion on whether food is LIKE a drug for some of us.

I believe that food IS the drug of choice for MOST of us, maybe even ALL of us.

I use it to calm down when I'm stressed.

I use it to feel happy when I'm sad.

I use it to Celebrate when I'm happy.

I use it to feel SOMethiNG when I'm bored and feeling nothing.

Sounds like a drug to me.

So I need counseling to find a non-eating way to handle my emotions, don't I/we? :smile: