Mrs Husker

Had surgery 3/20 and was told to take a shower the next day and remove the outer bandaids and leave the steri-strips. Was also told to lightly wash the area with soap and my hand and use a clean towel to pat dry with.

I feel like crap today. Part of it is gas pain but its not that bad. To tell the truth, everything related to surgery seems to be getting better and better. But now I have a cold and sneezing and coughing sucks. Mother nature also decided to rear her ugly red head today so I have cramps. I also get "hot flashes" this time of the month. I know I haven't drank enough of anything today as I just as soon stay on the couch with my heating pad. I had an important busness phone call set for 10am so I decided to wait to take any pain meds until after the phone call. Guess what? The SOB was two hours late. By that time the pain in my left shoulder was pretty bad. Does anyone know if I can have pulp free orange juice yet? I am 3 days post op and on clear liquids until April 3. I really, really, really want orange juice.

I am walking about 10 to 20 minutes every 1 1/2 to 2 hours. I am finding that I get really gassy after my walk. I feel it in my lower chest area. The gas x seems to do a good job getting rid of it. Anyone else have this problem after walking.

Grits!!!! I would kill for some REAL grits. All I find here in Nebraska is quick grits. I used to live in Albany Ga and could eat grits 3 times a day. Love the stuff.

Heating pad and gas x are a must. When I start to feel uncomfortable, I take a gax x and sit with the heating pad. I do get up and walk for 10 to 20 minutes every 2 hours or more. I was banded on Tuesday and am feeling better already.

All Done!!! Banded yesterday. Not as bad as I thourgh I was going to feel. Bad some true trailor trash b***h and her daughter in my room so I didn't get a lot of sleep. Still sore but seem to be getting better. Going back to my nap now....z.z.z.z.z.z..

I leave in one hour. Don't really feel anything right now. Not scared, maybe somewhat excited. Just want to get it over with. Husband did "before" photos of me last night, all I can say is "UGH"!! Can't wait to "BE" the after photos. To everyone being banded today, I'll be praying for speedy recoveries.

I thought I would have more time to post, but my husband just came home and wants to put the counter top on in our new kitchen. I have 18 hours until suregery!!! Still scared to death about wakeing up, but very excited. I will post as soon as I get home (or as soon as I can) after surgery!!!

Congrats Buckwheat!! Glad to hear that you are doing great. I go in tomorrow and hope to have a great recovery too.

My problem is waking DURING surgery. :think

Thanks for your encourgement. I am felling better right now. Maybe it was the lack of sleep and worrying about everything that needs to get done before Tuesday (almost done with remodleing our kitche), that I let the stress get to me. Even with the possiblity of waking, I plan on doing it. I will talk to the anesthesiologist and explain my concerns. Thanks again.

I have had numerous surgeries in my life. At 19, I had my wisdom teeth pulled and I woke up during surgery. About 23 I had an exploratory lap surgery (checking for endometriosis), I didn’t wake up but had the gas pains in my shoulder and neck area, hurt like hell. At 24 I had to have my left index finger reattached, I woke up during surgery. At 28, an emergency c-section, wasn’t asleep when they started and woke up while they were stapling me up gagging on the tube, hurt like hell. I have had 3 surgeries for kidney stones and didn’t wake up for any of them. I have had 2 colonoscopies, and woke up during the last one in November, hurt like hell. I am scared to death that I am going to wake up during lap band. I am scared to death of the gas pain. I know the pain and fear of being awake while someone is in your abdominal cavity and not being able to move to let them know that you are are not out. I had nightmares for while after my c-section, they started up again Thuresday night. I know that I am going to have the surgery and that it is going to be alright. I know that I can survive the recovery, but it still doesn’t make it any easier. I am sitting here at work (have to work all weekend) trying not to cry I am so scared. I am having surgery on March 20 at 9:30am. Only 2 days and a wake up away. Please, please pray for me that I will not wake up during this surgery and that God will give me peace in my heart and remove my fears while waiting for Tuesday to get here.

Glad to here you are doing well Brandi. I just did my pre-registration. Found out that I have to be at the hospital at 8am with surgery at 9:30. I feel like crying and I don't know if it is relief or if I am just scared.

Thanks Char, I wanted to make sure I found the P6 spot so I looked it up on line to get a good idea where it is. I plan on useing it if needed. But how hard do you need to push? Also, glad to hear that you are doing better. Hope you continue on with a speedy recovery.

Thank you all for sharing your experiences. I am to be banded on 3/20 and am trying to learn everything I can. Without LBT, I wouldn’t know where to turn. Each and everyone of you have helped so many of us "newbies" grain valuable information. I know I would have lost it already if it wasn’t for LBT. Knowing what I might expect (even the not so fun parts) keeps my mind at ease. Thank you again for sharing ALL of your experiences.

Magnolia, From what I have read, it seems that mushies are anything you put into the blender. One of the ladies in my support group had tuna or egg salad. I have read that most soups are pretty good blended. Look on the recipe thread. I went through and printed off all of the ones that looked good to me. I found this one when I googled "mushy food recipe". I would add Protein powder to it. I love spinach so this sounds really good. Great Veggies recipe 3 medium potatoes 8 ounces spinach 2 large cloves garlic Peel and cube potatoes. Crush and peel garlic. Cook potatoes, spinach, and garlic with about 1/2 cup Water for about 15 minutes and boil, or until potatoes are soft. Process all in a blender or food processor until very mushy. Freeze in ice cube trays overnight, then pop out cubes and store in another container in the freezer. Yields 20 servings.

Way to go!! You should be patting yourself on the back for all your hard work!!

I'm on for Tuesday also. I will say a prayer for you also when I go in. I found someone from my support group who will also be banded on Tuesday. I hope we can walk the halls together after surgery.

Tammy, Talk about dedication!! Up at 4am to give a welcome to the our new March band buddies. Been thinking about you all day. Hopeing for a speedy recovery.

Tammy Could you switch my date to March 20. I was on March 21, but was bumped up a day.

Thanks Sophie. I plan on going to GNC tomorrow to return some liquid vits. that I can't stand and will replace it with the unflavored protein.

Can anyone recommend a good unflavored protein mix that I can get at GNC or somewhere that I don't have to order it on-line? I have been on cholcolate Slim-Fast and chocolate protein shacks for just 2 days and decided that even though chocolate is my fav., I want to add something to my broths, tea or even to water (the broths I found have only between 3-8 gms of protein) Don't think I can make it on chocolate everything for two weeks post op. I just want to hit the 60 grams per day.

Praying for you to have a speedy recovery Tammy. Want to thank you again for keeping the March thread updated and also for all of your encouragement.

Did all my pre-op testing yesterday. If I would have known about the A.B.G., I might have backed out. I hate, hate, hate needles. I started at 8am with an upper GI and ended the day at 3:20 talking to the anisteologist (sp?). I have to be at the hospital at 6am on March 20 and surgery is for 7:30am. Was told that I would be staying the night, but am fine with that. I did find out that I have a heart murmmer but since they were not concerned with it, I decided that I wouldn't be either. I am doing the "should I do this" thing right now. I know that it is the best thing for me and I know that I will do it. Just very afraid of the "gas" pains. Still don't have the kitchen completed. But should be done by this weekend. The nurse put me on liquids until surgery, UGH!!!!!! Good luck to everyone.

Still working on the kitchen (up till 5:30am this morning putting in tile) and just wanted to check in and see how everyone is doing. Can not believe that I only have 10 days left. March 20 is just around the corner. Congrats to everyone who has been banded and best wishes to those of us who will be. Hope everyone has a speedy recovery.