TDRinCHATT

I was banded in May and still have gas all the time. I think it just comes with the territory.

The cool thing about a c/s recovery is that you have a little person to enjoy it with. All those hormones raging and endorphines flying, help quell some of the physical pain. And, you have a job. You have this little one that loves you who expects that you will take care of him/her. I found the recovery from the band to be more difficult for the first 2-3 days, but after that I was feeling great. So, more intense but doesn't last as long. And, there's none of that feeling "OMG, my guts are going to fall out" like with the section. I did use the pillow pressure technique I learned with the c/s for my band recovery. Firm pressure on the port site especially when moving, laughing, etc. The biggest difference that made the band recovery harder, is that you lay around all day, hurting and unable to eat. It's a bit shocking and somewhat depressing. Most people go through a stage when they say to themselves "what have I done?" I believe that this inactive period (physically and mentally) puts some of us in a negative frame of mind for recovery. I would recommend to poeple to view recovery as if they did just have a baby. A baby band placed around their stomach and it's friend the baby port. TWINS! If we thought about recovery as a time to get to know our band and all it's new feelings. And a time to get up off our sendentary butts and take hold of our new lives. Maybe, just maybe we would hear more about good recoveries and less about people's difficulties. As a caviat, I laid around in pain for 2 days miserable. My doctors RN thought I was abusing my Lortab, then I got thrush, migraines and a productive cough that required an inhaler so I could breathe at night. I did not have a hunky dory recovery, but I went at it like I was an invalid. It took some time for me and my band to get aquainted. I only wish I had been more positive during those days, but at least now I'm better and I feel great.

I haven't had a fill yet, but I'm scheduled for the 3rd of July. I'm concerned b/c I'm not sure where my port is exactly. Is it supposed to be directly under the largest incision? Do they put the needle through the incision for the fill? When I lay down the port incision is above my rib cage and I can't seem to palpate the port easily? Someone out there who has had a fill and can explain how it goes the first time?

Learned just this evening that ribs are off the menu for me. Gave me terrible CP and epigastric pain for 2 hours. And, I only eat two small well chewed bites.:thumbup:

MDgarica I copied it from another user then uploaded it to a photoshare site. Then you can past the URL on your signature.

I followed a similar course preop. Started with a cough but I didn't feel sick. I self treated with Amoxil preop just to make sure and ended up with thrush post op. I think the combination of the oral antibiotics and the hospital IV antibiotics that everyone gets during surgery caused the thrush. Not a huge deal, but an aggrivation and somewhat painful.

Waddy Had my fill done at GBI on gunbarrell. That's the office I did all my band related things out of.

Happy to say I got my first fill today and it really didn't hurt. The nurse told me that she does not usually numb the site as most pt's report the numbing medicine hurts worse than the actual stick. She did a good job and but for a small pinch, it did not hurt. She accessed the port while I was lying down. It ended up about 2-3 inches below my largest incision. Just a small stick and it was in. She told me I would feel some pressure as she advanced the needle all the way into the port. It stung a little, not bad. Then she said, "stand up." Wow, it's weird to stand up with a needle sticking out of your abdomen, but it didn't hurt. I walking in front of the fluro machine and drank barium. Just a sip and I could watch it go through. Facinating! She said my band was in the perfect place and looked good. She gave me some fill and I drank again. She gave me a little more and I drank again! Then I drank some Water and watched it go down on the fluro machine. All was well, she asked about chest pain or discomfort. I had non! So, that was it. She took the needle out and off I went! She told me that at this office they gradually fill your band and expect to be at an optimal fill at about the third fill, three months post op. The only thing I was disappointed about was that she would not tell me how much Fluid she put in the band. She said that she didn't want her pt's comparing fill levels, so they didn't tell me. I'll be requesting my medical records before my next visit so I can see what she wrote. Silly nurse, doesn't she know I'm entitled to that information! Anyway, I have certainly noticed a difference. I can't drink as fast. I'm gonna have to slow down the intake for sure. I'm no longer so worried about the fill process. It was quick and easy. Hope this helps all who are wondering.

I get a fill on wednesday. My doc said clears x1day, full liquids x1 day and then to soft/regular food on day three.

I don't have any problem with shrimp. In fact, they go down and stay down better than most other proteins for me. But I'm due to be filled tomorrow, that could all change! I hope not though, shrimp are my favorite.

My doctor told me NO anti-inflammatories at all. After being banded, Tylenol is your pain medicine of choice. But if you are stiff from exercise, the most helpful things will be water and stretching.

What do you feel when you are full? What do you feel when you are hungry? I've had to really think about the feelings the band has given me because they are so different than pre-band. For example, When I am too full, I get a pain in my left side. It feels like a cramp or a stitch that won't go away. It feel like my stomach is going to burst! But, I don't get any indigestion or vomiting. I sometimes feel a little pain in my belly when I am hungry. This is improving with healing. I haven't lost any weight in about a week, but I'm trying not to be discouraged! Today I'm to 3 meals a day with no drinking. I also added exercise! I'm hoping that all these new feelings click and I can start dropping the pounds.

I had heard that a lot of poeple had trouble with rice, but I ate it for dinner one evening and had no trouble with it. A week later, my mom made sushi rolls and fried rice for lunch and invited me over. I took one bit of that sushi and knew instantly that it was NOT a good idea. I kept it down but I just "knew" that I should not have anymore rice that day. So much of the banding depends on you and your circumstances. I believe that it didn't go down so well, because my band is tighter at lunch and because the rice on the sushi was cold. I seem to do better in the evening and with warm foods. Best of luck to ya.

Sometimes it's the things that people don't say that kill me. Today, for example, I took my son to Chick-Fil-A with a friend and her kids. We were sitting in the play area when her son asked her and I to climb up in the kid's gym with him. (I've actually climbed up it before to get my child) She responded, "No, honey, we're too b......tall to get it that." This is a great friend, so I know she was just trying to be sensitive, but I knew what she wanted to say.

SO HAPPY FOR YOU! I share the same dream, but was always terrified of being weighed at the jump site. I can't wait to fulfill my dream. GOOD FOR YOU!

Me too! I lost 17 lbs but then it stopped. Have you added exercise yet? I'm exercising 6 days a week, but I can nearly eat like I don't have a band at all. I really wanted to loose more before returning to work, but it looks like I'm waiting on that fill to get going again. Best of luck to you.

Wow, sorry to hear that. Hope you get this resolved. Good luck.

I still weigh everyday. Before the band I avoided the scales at all cost. But now, b/c i'm looking for that number to fall, I can't help but look. My husband says I'm obsessing. OK maybe, but I have weighed myself everyday while dieting my whole life. Old habits are hard to break. This should make you laugh. I bought a new scale yesterday and it weighs me about 5 pounds heavier than the old one. So now I have 2 scales that I weigh on each one every morning. OMG! Ridiculous. I'm going to try to let up a bit and go to once a week, maybe twice a week.

I did not have to do the liquid diet pre-op, but I took a pre-op class with a woman whose best friend was banded on a Thursday. She was to do the 2 week liquid diet. She told me that the Tuesday before her surgery they celebrated with dinner at Applebees. She said her surgery went fine and implied that she was noncompliant with much of the two week liquid diet.

My MD told me NO caffeine because it is irritating to the stomach, and if you develop an ulcer or an erotion around the band it would have to be removed. Also, caffeine is an appetite stimulant. As far as beer goes, my MD said it was a double NO NO! It's carbonated (risk of stetch your new small stomach) and it's full of calories. I was told never to drink anything with more than 10 calories per serving. That advice is for optimal weight loss of course. Nobody is perfect!:ohmy:

Thanks bandfan, have you felt some restiction since the fill? I'm excited about my first fill on 7/1.

I am also a nurse. My doctor's office required me to take a month off due to the lifting restrictions. I go back in 8 days. I've been off so long now, I'm looking forward to it.

Great idea Roy....I'm gonna do that!!!

I don't know what "Zumba" is, but I do Turbo Jam which is also a high intensity workout. I started back at it 2 weeks post op, but I did a modified version and started with 10 minutes. I'm 3 weeks post op now and can complete the 45 min class.

I am totally a boredom eater, so I have been getting off my duff and moving more in order to not eat between meals. I find that I actually get hungry sometimes when I'm sitting around, but if I'm busy I don't have time to feel hungry or eat just because. I have a 2 and a 5 year old, so I use them as my lead. They are always active. So I do stuff with them and they love it! Meanwhile, I'm not eating. I struggle with mid afternoon and late night hunger/cravings. In the afternoon, I exercise. That motivates me not to eat because I want to see the benefits of my hard work. Late night, that's a tough time. I used to watch TV with my hubby everynight and pig out on something. Now, we still watch some TV, but I'm not eat and he is. OMG, tough! Lately, if I get hungry in the evening I eat a yogurt or I go to bed. I'm looking for good nighttime ideas too!