AZnikki

I got a lot of relief from a heating pad and walking--especially with my arms in the air or making wide circles with my arms. I also found comfort with hot tea. Walk, walk, walk!!! Best advice ever though!!!

No doctor here, but my unofficial diagnosis would be gas pains also...I agree about the walking and the arms above the head. I also found a lot of relief from sugar free tums and heating pads and hot tea. Hang in there...if it doesn't get better, ask your doc...that's what you're payin him for :biggrin: Don't hesitate to call him/her with even the simplest questions!

Hope, you're lucky..my discharge papers said 2 weeks, but I had to start after about 10 days...couldn't do it anymore...my busy life just couldn't handle not driving!

I used a heating pad and drank lots of hot tea. The heating pad was wonderful...didn't help me pass gas, but it helped break up the air bubbles.

I'm 3 weeks out, so needless to say, I'm well past the gas and bloating (thank GOD)..but I can tell you...I didn't find ANY relief from any gas meds--every now and then sugar free tums helped...but a heating pad worked very well, walking worked even better, and of course time. Also, hot tea was very soothing. Hope this help?!?!:biggrin: hang in there...it won't actually last FOREVER!

Indio, I couldn't agree more...it sounds like we are at about the same stage...I was banded on 3/21 and i'm eating everything I'm NOT supposed to :biggrin: I do fine during the day, but at night, I lose ALL self control. I've lost 14 pounds, but I know I could be losing more and I know that I could be damaging myself. I think once I realized that with no restriction there really wasn't much point to eating just liquids and mushies, I quit that whole game...but WOW Indio, you really put it into perspective for me and I'm totally inspired to start doing it right again. I get my fill this Wednesday. I am really hoping that that too will help my confidence. Thanks for this new post on this topic...we need to be reminded every now and then of this!

Man I wish I woulda waited until YOU replied!!!

Ok Amsderb-you know me too well already--I'm all about the tranferance of my addictions! hahaha!!! I already bought some of the other containers that I replied on earlier and I bid on the ebay little wonders--and dang it if I didn't win some of the auctions! I might be savin money on the food, but not on what to put these thick liquids in! LOL!

These are great!!! I like these even better than my cups...and the little wonders that I got on ebay...dang it...may have to shop some more!!!

Thanks...bought some little wonders--got some of the midgets too...the 2 oz ones...those are pretty cool too!

Very cool about the little wonders! Yes, dancinglamb--as for the lines on the cups dreamsize8, i poured 2 oz of water into a cup and marked it and then marked a whole bunch of the cups...and yes, dancing you are right too about eyeballing it--I can tell now about what it is...they are just pretty durable...but they are disposable so I don't have to take dirty dishes home from work which is WONDERFUL for me!!! I always end up forgetting them in my car, etc....hate that! BUT...may have to check out the little wonders for at home and on occasion. Dreamsize, I use them for my protein drinks too so that I can be sure to get my 2 oz of protein drinks in about every 2 hours or so too...it helps me keep track...I just keep em stacked on my desk or keep a tally of them if I'm reusing the cup, etc.

LOL--they are at WalMart if you can go there. Yeah, they are like Dixie cups but they are plastic. I can even put warm broth in them. I wouldn't bother with ebay since you'd have shipping. :sneaky: Here are pictures!

I use them so that I don't have to measure out 2 oz. each time i go to eat something. I can just fill it to the line. Does that make sense? It's just quicker and easier.

Okay, apparently this wasn't a big hit thread...but...for what it's worth...I said I'd post it when I found it...I found a good deal on the little spoons if anyone is interested: Misc. Supplies - BayouSome.com, Inc.

Okay, so in line with Liseinseattle's comment--and girl, I'm right there with ya...I had bites from brownie today that I coulda mashed the whole thing with a fork and called it good--but...while I was in the store tonight, looking for some way to "spice" up my full liquids--i.e: new flavors of pudding and jello--my eyes were suddenly drawn to a tub of the same consistency--i thought to myself, "Self, this would be the same texture as pudding...it's made the same way...hmmm....should be fine!" One problem--wasn't sugar free--it was Philadelphia Cream Cheese Cheesecake Filling! Does anyone else see my logic here???

I USED to be able to do that BEFORE surgery---I'm only 4 days Post, so I REALLY hope that I am able to do that AGAIN!!! It would feel SOOOOO good!!!!!! My husband gets "mad" at my daughter and I cuz we sit around and burp...hehehe...what can I say, I'm a guy's gal! Hey TEX--down south, huh? From San Antonio originally! :biggrin: Miss it!

ha! just watched that show last night for the first time!!! WOW!!!! how ironic!

Lots of good advice on this thread: What are the pains from? Gas, fullness, or surgery? Also, be sure to walk, walk, walk!!! Even if only for short distances! After I started the above thread and got everyone's advice, the best thing that has helped was the heating pad and walking!

What are the pains from? Gas, fullness, or surgery? (in post-op forum) Re-Coop Time (in pre-op forum) are some good threads to look at...personally, I think you will be fine!!! But, I'm no doctor...but I had mine done on Thursday, coulda been back today, but decided to wait until tomorrow...was at WalMart on Saturday...there are others though that need 2 or 3 weeks...all depends...but as for sitting in class, etc...I think you'll be fine!

I've been told all the same--it's the full thing--drinking will trick you into thinking you're full when you're really not. I hate it too...actually I'm having trouble not drinking during my "meals" (which right now are only yogurt, pudding or malt o meal) but then I forget to drink water at other times!! Hang in there...it will all become clear. Keep asking questions!!!

If you are on the 2 oz at a time deal, I found these great cups at WalMart--they are 3 oz. plastic cups and come in a count of 100. I poured 2 oz. of water in one and marked it with a sharpie, then I marked the whole pack so that it's easy to fill up and my kids can fix my meals and snacks and all for me. Plus...it's easier to use than the medicine cups and I feel a little more human and not quite so much like an idiot! I wasn't even embarrassed to use them yesterday at a family gathering. Think I'll have to share this on a message board! Also, those little spoons from baskin robbins for tasting ice cream--haven't shopped for em yet, but I'm gonna find em cuz that's what they want us to use. My nurse at the hospital was able to get me a bunch from the cafeteria before I left, so I keep re-using them. Gonna look on Ebay and at Michaels and Sysco and stuff for the plastic spoons--I'll post if I find the spoons soon...don't know how much longer I'll need them, but I like em...makes me stay disciplined!

LOL---no please tell her that you will NOT be out of it after you get out of the hospital--not unless you are on some totally different drugs than the rest of us!!! :0) Check on craigs list for a recliner or on LBT.com--maybe someone on here might be in your area...I know I've found people blocks away from me!

I have a 2-story and I do fine--I've been up and down the stairs since the day after surgery--faster every day As for the recliner thing--you could check craigs list too--or maybe even on here--on craigs list you may be able to find one cheap enough to buy--doesn't have to be something pretty to look at, just comfortable to sit on--on here, maybe you'd find someone willing to let ya borrow?!? If you are in the Phoenix area, I'd be happy to :eek:

OKay.....back the truck up!!!! NOW I KNOW what everyone's been talking about with the flippin' shoulder pain.....YEP....I'VE GOT IT!!!! HOLY COW!!!!That's a freakin' nightmare!!!!!! It's like a heartattack--just well, not in your heart! GEEZE!!!!!! My shoulder actually hurts from me massaging it trying to get the gas bubble to break up!!!! OUCH!!!!! Glad you guys had mentioned it or I would have thought I was gonna die!!!:crying:

I think everyone's got some good points...I'm going to wait and go back on Tuesday instead of Monday. I feel perfectly fine to go back tomorrow OTHER than the gas pains! If it weren't for those terrible shooting pains that go up into my shoulder (I AM NOW GETTING THOSE), then I'd feel like I never even had surgery. Every now and then I have a little twinge at the incision sites...but for the most part, listen to your body--it will tell you when. I am usually a pretty big whimp and usually milk illnesses for all they are worth, but honestly, the more I am up and doing things, the better I feel. I am by no means an athletic or active type person--I am SO lazy, it's not even funny--but my gas pains feel better when I'm moving around...plus, my incisions get sore when I've been sitting/laying too long. Suggestion: if you have a recliner-sleep and sit on that for a while rather than on a bed or couch--it helps to get from the lying/sitting position to standing position...it's nice in the hospital when you have the bed to help, but at home, the recliner is a good substitute.