katie78

I'm newly banded, and have yet to be filled. (I'm guessing this understanding comes with time) What i don't understand is once at good restriction, how do you get in all your calories, in 3 meals? And sometimes, if you are well restricted, maybe you couldn't eat a cup? Sometimes that could be too much? Didn't most of you that lose/lost well, eat about 1,200 calories a day? How do you get that all in just 3 meals? Also, how long after you eat can you drink? Is it 30min. or 1hour?

I had no feeling to drink coffee untial about a week post op, my doc said go for it, but it really should be decaf, b/c caffeine dehydrates you, and we all know how hard it is to get in that 64oz, without somethiing else draining it. I'm only a ccup a day drinker, so it really hasn't been much of an adjustment. I just like the taste in the AM.

It's prob. the gas, like a feeling of a big belch that feels like it's making it's way up, and then won't come out? I was banded 4-23, and JUST now have begun to burp like a truck driver, and I LOVE IT! It feels so much better! The gas below the band just can't get past the swollen stoma, but within a few days, the swelling goes down, and you will begin to burp, and PRAISE THE LORD! This was the most painful part for me, I was like OH S*** what did I just do to myself, panicking this would not go away, but it did, I'm just super impatient! Gas-X chewables worked ok, but like they say getting up and moving is the best part! Good luck!

dear Dad~ YOU ARE NOT ALONE! I'm day 5 post op, and just now has that feeling started to subside a little. Does it feel like a burp building, and you can feel it trying to squeeze out, and the pressure builds and then nothing HAPPENS????????????? OMG! It is painful, i can feel my heartbeating with it the whole time, and it takes my breath away. Another bandster said that if air it trapped below the band, and our tummys are swollen right now, it's hard for the air to push past the swollen. I have just today started to burp a bit today, but it has still happened. It mostly happens when I'm laying down and go to sit up, it ALWAYS happens right now, just like a burp would do if you were laying down and got up. I'm pretty sure this is what I have, I'm thinking it's what you might be experiencing too. Time, time and time my friend, and lots of getting up. I did try the chewable gas-X tabs and they seemed to help a bit. Hope this helps you, I FEEL YOUR PAIN!!! It will (hopefully) get better!:biggrin:

I've just been banded so I have no idea, but does it hurt? Will it come up right away? I thought I"ve read that someone said it took like two hours of feeling like crap for it to pass or come up? What if this happens at work or something? Can some of you give me your experiences?

5 days post op here, and i can relate. it's like my rib cage got smaller. I was kinda of protecting my breathing b/c it hurt so bad to take in a nice cleansing breath, but yesterday i started to force myself to do so all day, and by the end of the day it seemed to loosen up a bit, I'm still having an issue with gas though, i want that out NOW! Good luck 2 you!

I might be calling the doctor later if things don't improve. I KNOW I"m not gettiing in the recomm. amount of fluids or protein, I'm lucky to get in 2 bottles of water, and maybe 20g of protein. It's not like I know i shouldn't, I CAN"T. I get too full, and it still feels like theres an air pocket in my stomach, so it's like trying to eat a meal, when you feel like the biggest belch needs to come up and won't. Last night I felt feverish and my temp in my ear was 100.1? Now no fever, my incisions have started to bleed a little yesterday under the sterie strips, i might have done too much? I don't feel like the docs office is that concerned with aftercare, and i feel like I'll just be bothering them once again. I feel so weak today, it's har to take in a deep breath, it hurts in my whole back so bad, I can't stop crying b/c I just wanna feel normal and I'm so weak and tired, I don't know how to get the calories/protein I need. WHat do i do? I called the dietician once already and she was so not helpful it wasn't even funny, so she's no help...someone please help me...

I'm trying to be patient taking it one day if not one hour at a time here, had surgery Wed. AM, I KNOW I'm still healing and will be for a long time. But i can't get in the required amount of food/protein therefore I"m tired, weak, lethargic. I don't know how some went back to work in a few days?? I'm shocked, I think I'm doing well, up and about the whole day, and in a recliner if I sit. I just feel like how am i going to get my strength back if i can't eat? Will my pouch always limit me to eat this little, or is it just really swollen and tight? I feel like I'll never feel back to normal..... I know I am having a bit of a pity party here, I"ll get over it soon!

Never thought it would be this bad! OMG! the gas pain and the rumbles! I hope in a few weeks i'll look back and this will all be a blur. Did any of you get the feeling days postop that you had to burp real bad but it won't come out? I hope it's the gas working it's way out and not the band itself. I have to keep reminding myself that everything is swollen and not to push it. Oh i can't wait to feel normal again!

I was banded yesterday and don't really feel like eating but I feel like I need fuel, so i don't get weak. I'm sipping a protein shake, and going to call my doc, but did you all eat broth, and crystal light and what not for the first few days? My instrc. say CLEAR/FULL Liquids after sugery, but no specific days to start....hmmmmm

OK I"m gagging myself, and my tongue is all white and nasty. What can I do to help the breath? I don't wanna do gum, what helps? And when does this go away? I'm like a fanatic about fresh breath and this is driving me nuts, even my 4 yr old. was like MOM seriously!

I thought it was off to one side, mine is practically in the middle of my stomach and a tad off to my right side. I thought it would me more on the side, it is the biggest incision and I'm sure it's where the port is. Anyone else have a weird port site?

Holy crap! You look great! Keep up the good work! So proud of you!

I just wish i could eat/drink more, I get full REALLY fast, i know I'm not getting in the amount of calories/protein I should be. Is this a concern a few days post op, or mainly to keep hydrated? I've had cream soup, yogurt feels very heavy going down and so does jello, I did some protein drink w/ milk and got full quick. Any sugg.?

I was banded too 4-23, and feeling like theres an elephant on my chest! Everytime I drink, or tried jello, big mistake! I could feel it the whole way down, I can't take in a deep breath, I'm def. in the OMG what the hell did I do? I'm sure it gets better, but I'm miserable! I didn't think the gas would be this bad!

I only have to do a two day liquid diet before sugery tomorrow, and I feel AWEFUL! Today is my second day, but after surgery this will continue for two weeks on full liquids. I feel tired, sloshy, like I could roll away in a river, headaches, weak, and irritable. I feel like I'm not eating enough maybe? I got protein shakes yesterday and have yet to have one this morning, I had carnation instant breakfast so far. Is this normal? I'm STARVING on top of all this! I know after surgery when maybe you don't feel 100%, it's easier to not wanna eat, but I have two little ones, and feel like if this weakness and blah feeling last until I start mushies, I'm going to need a lot more help that I thought with my kids. All I wanna do is sleep right now, I'm so tired.....I really need some help, if this is normal fine, but damn I feel terrible!

OK, I'm officially a bandster! I'm going to make this short, b/c I'm sleepy:wink2:, as I know you all will understand. Surgery went off w/out a hitch, pain was bad when i woke up, but they finially gave me something stronger than vicodin, I was better. I'm up and around, I'm pushing myself to walk around every two hours b/c I've had laproscopic done before and know how important it it to get the gas out. OK, here are my questions: 1. I'm on Clear liquids, everything liquid goes down ok, Jello however, doesn't. I'm keeping it my mouth until liquid consistency, and when i swallow, I get a real heavy and I must say really uncomfortable feeling right in the middle of my chest, and I feel it going the whole way down, and once it's in the belly, the pain subsides. Is this normal? Maybe the gas? 2. I'm sure it's also normal to not be able to take in a deep breath? Heavy feeling...? 3. I didn't get to talk to my surgeon before I went home, so i will call tomorrow, but when do I start needind to get in all the Protein and all that? After clear liquids? During FULL liquids phase? Ok I can't type anymore, no more energy, I appreciate all the reponses, as i will be up tonight b/c pain meds do the opposite to me....they wake me up!!!!! SUCKS! Oh well, they help! Thanks everyone for you feedback and support, i can't wait to start this journey will you all!

ME TOO! Being banded in Chicago tomorrow morning! Excited and nervous! I had to do two days of a liquid diet, and I'm STARVING! But I HOPE that after the surgery when I'm sore and not feeling 100%, the urge to eat won't be so strong...we can only hope! Good luck to everyone tomorrow:thumbs_up:, make sure one of us starts a new thread after we are up to it, so we can support each other!:glare:

One week from today we start our new lives!!!!! Any of you wanna PM me, and we can keep up with one another, since we'll be going through the same stuff! Katie

I have a job at a salon where i work at the desk, it is some getting up and down but mostly sitting, and i can get others to do stuff for me, I took a week off, how much did you all take and did you find that it was too much, too little, or just enough? I just saw another post, sorry no need to reply!

4-23 is the date for me! Anyone else share the date?:scared2:

I think it might be b/c you are retired, it's a bit diff. for beneficiaries of active duty, also if you go to a network provider, it's a 15% cost share, but you aren't limited to going to in-network, you'll just pay more out of pocket if you do.

Why are you paying so much out of pocket? With Standard it's a 300 deductable, (for family) and then your cost shares which should be around 15% of each visit, granted you are going to someone who accepts assignment for tricare , are you no where near reaching your catast. cap? Between me and my DD's, we've met the cap for the year already, so I don't expect to pay ANYTHING out of pocket for my surgery 4-23, so I wonder about what you said?

You don't need a referral with standard right? I just researched a surgeon and went to him straight away. I'm 100+ overweight and have severe arthritis and I'm 29. I'm being banded 4-23, everything has gone through fine far, but I'm going to call Tricare today and just check to make sure they have everything and that it was approved. I'm so thankful they don't require much, THANK GOD!