Great2BThin

Thanks Cathy. Tonight it has gone up a little bit, the top number is almost in the 100's now and my pulse has gone up to the 60s. I'm anxious to see what it does tomorrow my first day RX free! I just feel so relieved to have a reason as to why I would just hit a brick wall every afternoon and get so faint. I guess I was one of the lucky ones as I never got much gas pain, just a little between my shoulder blades, and not often. My surgeon did say he tries to remove it all before closing up.

My post op went great! Lost 9 lbs in 6 days! Incisions look great as well. I then went to the 2 nutrition class my hospital offers post op, one for soft foods, and one for solid. I'm gradually adding a few more things. Then 3 weeks get solids. Also my b/p is way too low and am going off b/p meds! I couldn't be happier!! Overall I am down almost 30 (10 of which was before I even had my consult but I'm counting it!!).

Wow, we must be about half way through the June bandsters already! The time seemed so far off when we got our dates, and look at all those on the couch now!! I'm one week post op and doing good. Had some serious issues with low blood pressure 80/50 with a pulse of 46. Called my primary care doc and am off b/p meds for now!! I have to monitor it closely and if it creeps up maybe get a lower dose med, but I am praying for no meds. Had no idea it could happen this fast!!

I was banded last Thurs. June 5th, so today is day 5 for me. I was feeling great, very little pain. However today I feel like I took a step backwards. I feel so weak, dizzy and light headed. Also much discomfort in my back between my shoulder blades. Anyone else have this? I am wondering if the whooziness is from lack of solid food, been on liquids and Clear Liquids at that since 2 days before surgery. I'm getting adequate Protein in from the GNC protein shots, a min. of 42 gms a day. My surgeons office said I could add one serving of either refried Beans, pudding, yogurt or eggs tonight and see how that goes. I do have a post op appt. tomorrow at the dr. office, but thought I'd check here and see if this normal first. Thanks for any input.

So today is my one week post op 'anniversary'. One of my main complaints the last few days is this lightheaded, dizzy, feeling like I am going to pass out feeling. It's happened the past 3 days and seems to be getting worse. Well today I was home when it happened and I took my blood pressure, it was 80/50!!! My pulse was 46. I promptly called my surgeons office and they referred me to my primary care to ask about dropping my blood pressure meds some. THEY TOOK ME OFF OF THEM!!!! ONE WEEK POST OP AND I AM ALREADY GOING OFF B/P MEDS!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am thrilled with that. Of course, I have to monitor it closely at home to be sure it doesn't spike back up, but she said that was way way too low. And if it does go up, I may need a weaker RX!!! I was hoping to get off them eventually but never dreamt at one week!!!!!!!!!

Well I found out the reason for my 'whoozieness'! Today I was home when it happened and I took my blood pressure, it was 80/50!!! My pulse was 46. I promptly called my surgeons office and they referred me to my primary care to ask about dropping my blood pressure meds some. THEY TOOK ME OFF OF THEM!!!! ONE WEEK POST OP AND I AM ALREADY GOING OFF B/P MEDS!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am thrilled with that. Of course, I have to monitor it closely at home to be sure it doesn't spike back up, but she said that was way way too low. And if it does go up, I may need a weaker RX!!! I was hoping to get off them eventually but never dreamt at one week!!!!!!!!!

So today as I posted before is my one week post op 'anniversary'. One of my main complaints the last few days is this lightheaded, dizzy, feeling like I am going to pass out feeling. It's happened the past 3 days and seems to be getting worse. Well today I was home when it happened and I took my blood pressure, it was 80/50!!! My pulse was 46. I promptly called my surgeons office and they referred me to my primary care to ask about dropping my blood pressure meds some. THEY TOOK ME OFF OF THEM!!!! ONE WEEK POST OP AND I AM ALREADY GOING OFF B/P MEDS!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am thrilled with that. Of course, I have to monitor it closely at home to be sure it doesn't spike back up, but she said that was way way too low. And if it does go up, I may need a weaker RX!!! I was hoping to get off them eventually but never dreamt at one week!!!!!!!!!

I've added scrambled eggs and refried beans. Will have some pudding lately. It tasted so good to get a little flavor. I had my post op yesterday and lost 9 lbs since surgery!! But I feel rather dizzy at least once a day.

Today was originally supposed to be my surgery date, instead I am one week post op. I'm doing pretty good except for a few minor issues. It seems I get a really dizzy nauseous spell about once a day. I just tried some scrambled eggs but only ate about half an egg. I got a discomfort in my back a while after I finished. I'm wondering if this is my full feeling? Or is it still the gas? Also the thrush in my mouth is beginning to go away. If I do okay on my scrambled eggs, refried beans, or s/f pudding today, tomorrow I get to add some more soft foods. My only complaint is this whoozy feeling. I am wondering if maybe it's my b/p going to low? I take an RX for it. Glad all the JuneBugs are reporting in, it's been great to read!

Phoenix, Check out the Post Op check in thread here in the Junes, you'll find lots of post surgery posts and week out, etc.

What a positive and encouraging thread to come to this morning. I have so enjoyed reading everyone's input about 'the tool'. Just what I need to read as I am still recovering some. My surgery was originally scheduled for today, I am much happier being one week post op!! And what's extra exciting to be reading is all this success of others in their 50's. It's supposed to be so much harder for us to lose and I see how possible it is by reading this message board. The person who posted about the long2bthin on a South Beach message board, that wasn't me. I posted at Dotti's weight loss zone a lot a while back while doing WW, and my name there was Lobster.

I just had to post my excitement. I went in for my post op visit and I lost 9 more lbs in 6 days!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm getting darn close to the 30 lb. mark already!!!!!! :thumbs_up::frown:

Greetings, Well today was only day 6 for me, but I still had my post op appt today. Evidently there's a big conference next week in Washington DC on bariatric surgery and my dr. and his office are going so they wanted to see us that were banded last week early rather than later. I've lost 9 lbs in 6 days! Add that to the loss from the time I had my consult appt. and it's 19 and then add the 10 I lost while researching lap band and I am down almost 30 already!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so excited. I also went to the bariatric nutrition classes my dr. offices and got more info on what to eat and when etc. I had a couple ounces of refried beans tonight and they never tasted so good. I was a little concerned as I was getting so light headed and faint. The nurse thought I was dehydrated (wasn't peeing) and gave me 12 hours to go. I've been drinking as much as I can tolerate and things seem to be correcting in that dept. BeckyO - sure the bypass folks do lose more at first, but after 2 to 3 yrs the losses are pretty equal with band vs bypass. I feel very confident this was the procedure for me. Good luck!

Hey Wanda, we are almost twins. I turned 50 on May 17 and had my band surgery on Jun 5th! I'm hoping for some 'nifty 50's' as I get to feeling better and better!

Cathy, Something similar happened to me. Days 1-4 post op were going fairly well. However yesterday, day 5, it was like I hit a wall. I felt awful, backache and so tired and whoozey, plus I got a yeast infection in my mouth (thrush) which made trying to drink something feel weird. I called the nurse she got me an RX for the thrush and that started helping by the 2nd dose. She also gave me the ok to have some scrambled eggs last night. I never knew eggs could taste so good after 8 days of clears. Today is like a new day. And I have a busy one. Knee dr. this morning, then post op with my surgeon this afternoon and 2 nutrition classes on how to eat with my band at the hospital after that. My daughter is going with me in case I gt to feeling yucky and she can drive and be a 2nd set of ears.

Janet, Sorry to hear about the drama. But glad to hear it is possible to work around it without food! I do have a question for you today: I got to add a few mushy foods to my liquids today. I had scrambled eggs last night. This is a really stupid question, but how do I know when I am full? I am so afraid of over doing it. After barely an ounce of the eggs I got a odd feeling in my chest like I needed to burp so I stopped and felt like I couldn't eat no more. However, it is a different full feeling from before and I thought I couldn't possibly be full on that little bit. I think my head is behind my stomach in judging what I should be having. I am trying the eggs again this morning and only cooked 1 oz of egg beaters and I can barely eat half before that feeling comes back. However the burp never seems to come and an hour or so later it was gone. My husband thinks I am going to be a cheap date now. LOL I go for my one week post op already today!!!

Thanks so much for the answers!! I was really getting concerned. I never had any of the gas pains from the gas they pump in during surgery. That very well could be it. It's better tonight. And oh those scrambled eggs tasted so good!! I only ate about an ounce. I got a funny feeling like I needed to belch really bad and thought I better stop now. And soon it went away. I also found out the funny feeling in my mouth is Thrush. I got an RX for that today and mouth is feeling better and drinking is a little easier. Tomorrow I have my post op and will feel better when all checks out fine. I really appreciate the input!!

I was self pay and from the time of my first seminar until surgery was about 5 weeks. My seminar was 4/26, which was a Sat. I called first thing Monday morning for an appt with the surgeon, couldn't get in til the 14th. While I waited I got the psych and pulmonary screenings done. At my consult appt. my dr. went over the procedure, wanted a cardiac stress test because I was 50. I was then introduced to the finance lady about those details. I couldn't get my stress test until May 29th as I was on a 10 day vacation so that held me up a little. Once I got the stress test I had sugery the next week. My BMI was 42 and I have high blood pressure. Will they do the surgery on a BMI or only 32?? Good luck!!

TXDiva, the shoulder pain was my biggest worry post op as well. I never had it at all, I did ask the surgeon and he said he tries to extract as much as he can. I have had a little uncomfortableness between my shoulder blades, not sure if that is gas or not. I bought all these Gas X strips and they sit unopened. Kindda wish I hadn't gotten them now, but I threw out the receipt. Today is day 4 and I am feeling pretty good. Tomorrow I may add some mushies. They said I could at day 5-7. Though I'm not feeling a lot of hunger. It's been fun stepping on the scale after the initial shock of an 8 lb gain the day of surgery. But after 2 days that was gone and I'm down about 5 more.

Cathy, while it seems all dr.s have a different opinion on pre op diets, post op diets, etc. I can tell you what my dr. allows after the liquids. Starting at days 5, 6 or 7 you can choose amongst these 5 things: Scrambled egg, s/f pudding, yogurt, refried beans. You have those for 2 days and then proceed to more choices. Tomorrow is day 5 for me and I am thinking of trying one of those items and see what happens. I have my post op appt the next day and I thought it would be good to know if I was having issues with those foods at my appt. Glad you are feeling better. I am just one day ahead of you and what a difference a day makes. As I mentioned, this is day 4, and I feel like a new person. Still groggy, maybe it takes this 50 yr old body longer to recover than a youngster.

Good morning! Well today is day 4 and I feel so much better! Only pain is in the port area, the other incisions don't hurt at all, except when I bumped into the shopping cart at Walmart. I went to Walmart and walked the entire square around the store, and got some Imodium to help with my stomach issues. Also just called my dr.'s office, they had said if my tongue turned white I had an oral yeast infection and they'd call in an RX for me. That's probably part of the reason my mouth feels so funny. I keep having panicky feelings that my port flipped or something. I guess because that's my biggest fear. And it's a weird sensation at that spot. But in reality I just think I'm feeling something that didn't use to be there. Thanks so much for all the well wishes!! Janet, I've seen you mention a WW meal plan a few times. I am assuming you follow the Core plan. Do you still attend WW? I went up until last Monday and didn't go today as I figured they'd yell at me for losing too much, I lost 6 last week and then about 8 more this week.

Charlene, You will find that people's preferences for protien vary widely. The best thing to do would be to go to GNC or some place similar and get a variety and start tasting them now. So that after surgery you can have plenty on hand that you like. I've not found a shake I like yet, and I don't like chocolate so for me the best bets have been the Isopure protein drinks, they are 40 grams in a 20 oz bottle. I've also heard folks refer to Isopure as Iso-puke, so not everyone likes it. Also I discovered at GNC protein shots. They are 3 oz test tube looking containers, come in a variety of flavors but have 42 gms per 3 oz. That's pretty good. Yesterday I had 1oz of it in the morning, one at noon, and one in the evening and I met my goal for protein. The minimum the dr. office told me to get was 40gm a day, but they recommend 60+ and on liquids only for 5 days after surgery for me it's hard to get that much in.

Day 3 of the band for me. I haven't taken any pain pills today yet at all. It feels funny by my port though. Maybe it's just a new sensation that I'm not used to? It feels like it sticks out, but when I look in the mirror I don't see it much but can tell it's there. Question for those a little further along than me: Did you experience a real growly stomach and diarrhea? I guess that should be expected considering I've had nothing but liquids now for almost a week. I go for my post op visit on WEd. which is only 6 days out from surgery, usually it's 2 weeks at my surgeon's. But they are going to be closed and all going to some seminar in Washington DC.

Happy Birthday LynLyn!! I too just turned the big 5-0 on May 17th and then got banded a couple weeks later on Jun 4th. Maybe when we get all our weight off, we'll feel like the new 30!!

Linda13, My 'guess' is the reason they asked you for all that is they know your insurance. Many insurances want documented weight loss attempts by a dr. before they will approve you for surgery. And some will make you do a 6 month diet before hand as well. At least that is what I have gathered from reading the message boards here. If you are going the insurance route it just might take you awhile to get approval. I'm not too familiar with it, because I did do self pay. My insurance didn't cover any bariatric surgery. Good luck to you!