moonshadow2468

Hi, I had a meter too, no big deal, first two days were hard cause I had a catheter, but then it was easier. Each day was better. I'm 11 days post op and great. But starting to feel the hunger... First fill in 2 weeks. Hang in there, your beginning your new life.

I will pray for you. I'm 9 days post op, all is well. Also... it is not another diet, as Lise said "it is a way of life"

Hi, good luck on your banding. For me, I went back to work in a week with not much problem. I didn't have to take any pain meds other than some liquid tylanol. I was concerned about taking anything stronger. If I had to I would have but didn't have to. I'm 9 days post op and doing great. First fill is set for 4/18. Have lost 35 pds. Didn't cheat on the pre op diet and really shrunk the old liver, had a 12 min. surgery, the quickest I have ever heard of, in large part do to a very good Dr. and a very small liver.

Hi Ogie, For me.... Water on a baby spoon and gas ex strips. Hope it works.

My doc said 3 to 4 weeks.

Hi, Yup it was real fast. That is the fastest I have heard of. The two weeks of opti fast was the reason. Shrinks the liver. Opti fast is a prescription Protein Shake The surgery was easy. I had a problem post op, rare but it happens, I couldn't urinate. They put me on a catheter and flow max for 2 days. Being a guy this was the worst part. After the catheter was taken out, recovery was easy. Now I'm a week post op and went to work today, Tummy is a little sore but other than that all is great. I'm down 30 pds since starting! Good luck.

Hi, me too, I took 4 days and the weekend, had no problems..........

Hi, Good for you. I'm one week post op. I was on only opti fast for 2 weeks, I hated it!!!!!!!!! but my surgery was only 12 mins! The Dr said my liver was real small and he didn't have to retract my liver. Quick surgery equals quick recovery. It is worth it

I was on opti fast for two weeks pre op. Never cheated at all. The Dr. said the operation was only 12mins!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The recovering was easy. The Dr. said my liver was very small and he didn't have to retract it. Not going to lie the pre op diet was very hard, but for me it was worth it.

Hi,

I was banded on Tuesday 3/25... so I'm 5 days Post op. I'll be going back to work on Monday. I little sore but doable. Wish I had done this in my 20's rather than now in my 50's. The day before and the day after the questions and the doubts may hit. If you don't have a strong support system, than be your own. Write yourself a letter explaining why you have made this big decision and all the benefits that will come from it. Then read the letter when and if you need it.

Hi, I was just banded on 3/25. Sips of water.... or put the Water on a teaspoon. Then walk, start with a few feet if need be, but walking was the only thing that helped me. Walking was really helpful for me and I didn't think it would work, but it did.

Gas ex may not help, but then again it might, so try if your dr. says OK. Hang in there.

Hi,

I found the only way to stop a life time of "wolfing" it down was to use a baby spoon and put it down after each bite. I'm a big guy, must look kinda funny seeing me with a baby spoon. But not as funny as seeing me in an extra large casket!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi, I was banded on Tuesday, so I'm 4 days post op. I go back to work (as a Chaplain for Hospice) so the work doesn't require any heavy lifting. I'm glad I don't have to work today or tomorrow. Monday will be hard but doable. Good luck to you.

BIG Time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I went home and couldn't pee. My PCG put in a catheter and put me on Flowmax. Two days later all was working again. Now recovery is easy, but that catheter was the pits.

Hi all,

The no urination problem is gone (2 days of a catheter and flow max) I've moved from clear liquids to unclear liquids, so far so good. Sore but not in pain. I'm taking no pain meds at all. Don't want to "test" the band so I'm being very good about not eating anything I'm not supposed to or eating to quickly. The baby spoon helps remind me. I'm walking alot, it helps with the soreness.

If you haven't been banded yet, understand you may very well question your decision the day before and the day after the banding. Suggestion.... write yourself a letter to read when the doubts hit, be clear as to why you are doing this. It's OK to sign the letter "Love"..... you need to love yourself.

Wow, my surgery was almost 45mins, not 15mins. and as for peeing they only asked me if I peed, plus they had to help me the first time I wanted to go.

I am glad you are doing better, but I am worried that your surgery took 15mins and you went home same day. Just doesn't sound right to me. Just my opinion, I don't mean to worry you

I had to stay overnight at the hospital. Was this done in a hospital or clinic? Are they a Center of Excellence?

What do fellow banders feel about this? Is it just me???

Hi,

Thanks for the concern, no objection taken. Yes it was a center for excellence, the Dr said about 80% of band patients go home that day. Part of the reason for the quick surgery was I was on two weeks of opti fast only as a pre op. That supposidly shrinks the liver and makes the operation faster. Less time under general is quicker recovery time.

Yup I'm fine, the catheter came out this morning and five tense hours later.... all systems go. Now just some minor tummy pain, walking helps, didn't take any pain meds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok, update..... Two days with the catheter and it came out this morning, started functioning ok 5 hours later, now it's just healing from the banding surgery which is easy compared to the catheter. Walking is really the best way to deal with any discomfort. Thanks for your support.

Back home, no drugs, just tylenol. The only problem is I can't pee and am on a cathater.

HI, Was banded yesterday, 12 min. surgery, no problems, no pain, home earliy, took the dog for a walk, no pain killers needed, just great. but one problem.... I couldn't urinate. As the day went on I kept trying but no go. So I called my surgeon (2 hours away) and my PCG. My PCG had me come right in an explained that the bladder can stretch and even rupture if not emptied. So he decided to put a catheter in at the office. Well being a male this was no fun. Put still no urine. Turns out they used a folley catheter during the surgery and it had irritated the urinary system and it had bleed, then clotted causing an obstruction. So the Doc had to use the catheter like a "roto router" and clear out the urinary track to the bladder. Very painful!!!! Then finally relief, a huge amount of urine came out. He sent me home with a catheter and a bag, very uncomfortable and awkward. so the surgery site is fine, I'm sipping Water, no problem, could have gone back to work today, but with this bag and problems... no way.:sneaky:

Hi, Got banded today, the DR. said from start to finish it was 12 mins. All is well a little sore, no urinating yet which has the Dr a bit concerned. He said I had a foley during the proceedure and this sometimes causes problems. He said to keep taking little sips of Water.< /p>

You need to have confidence in your DR. Most everyone here says to contact your Dr. and that's good advice. That way you will build confidence in him/her. With that said this is what I wrote before.

I don't want to get anyone with a different opinion mad. I've never heard of a Doc, saying it is BAD to be on a low fat diet prior to Surgery. Some require (like mine) to be on a low fat, all liquid diet.

Mostly, it seems to be an issue of the size of the liver. The operation can be done with a large liver. The issue is the ease and time of the operation. If the liver is small, the operation is easier.

Now, it seems to me that to some degree the Drs, want to say they have the skill and can do the operation either way... but if it can be easier, less time under general, why not?

So is a low fat diet necessary? no. Is it a good idea...... Up to you.

I was just banded today! I had a 12 min. surgery!! I'm up and around. Would it have been as easy on me without the pre op liquid diet?????

Well, I'm a bandster. The surgery was this morning, The dr. said it took 12 mins. from start to finish. Home by 12:30 (with a 2 hour drive) took the dog for a walk. I'm feeling a little discomfort but tylonal is doing fine.

I woke up with alot of pain. but the recovery team gave me pain killers right away. When that wore off no problems.

If I sip too fast my chest hurts so I need to be careful.

Dr. says first fill is in 4 weeks but will move it to 3 weeks if I'm feeling hungry. He also said the ease of the operation was because of the small liver and me sticking to my pre op diet. I lost 20 pds during the 2 weeks of Optifast only pre op.

My DW and I are staying at a really nice hotel in Miami the night before (it is a 2 hour ride from the Keys) and I saw the computer in the lobby. (A good sign) I think I would have backed out if not for all of you. I have to be at the hospital at 5:30 am. So here I go. Thanks for all the support and great answers to my questions.

This morning in church a nurse from my work came up to me. I had told her my plans on being banded, she had been supportive. But today she came up and said she had to talk to me prior to my surgery (which is Tuesday) Don't know why but I asked if she was going to try and "talk me out of it". She said yes, so I said I'd rather not. She walked away.

I'm sure she had the best of intentions and had heard about someone that had a bad band experience, but, two days out , I didn't need the negativity.