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tammyj

LAP-BAND Patients
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Posts posted by tammyj

  4. Posted

    Ok, I am now home from the hospital. It hurts! I know, I know, not a huge shocker. But it does hurt more than I was expecting. We got there nice and early and it was still dark out. We checked in. Then we sat in the waiting room. I nodded off. Then I was sent to a room where I only sort of nodded off- you know the staring into space type thing not really there sort of nodding off. Then a nurse came in and asked me what meds I had taken when. Then she took my temp and bloodpressure and so forth. And then she got started on my IV and was asking about my conditions like how did get I get an entrapped nerve ending how was it diagnosed. I gave her the abrevated version- cyst ruptures. Many tests. Surgery even. Surgeon tells me its all in my Head :( So I go up to mayo. Mayo figures it out :) She asks how did they figure it out. So I said well, they have this one test where you see if the pain gets worse or better or same by some pressing on the spot as you sort of do a sit up. I couldn't remember the name of the test. Carnett's sign is what is it called. If it is positive you know the source of the pain is the abdominal wall. Its such a simple test... And then of course you also have to know what that would mean, etc. So I explained that with that and everything else not being the problem it was the entrapped nerve ending-- the one little spot and that it gets treated with injections into it with an anesthetic and a steroid. And that a large portion of the time such treatment is usually sucessfull to make the person better permanently but I was one of the unlucky ones whose pain kept comming back and more quickly too after injections. So thats why I now used the lidoderm Patches and they were great at keeping the pain level usually quite low.

    And then The IV was in! The Surgeon had to be found so I could sign the consent form yet. So the nurse went and found him right off in the hall and he came in and I brought up what side my port would be on-- since that gets put in the abdominal wall speaking of abdominal walls-- And he agreeded to put in on my right side since I have the nerve ending issues on my left side. So that made me less anxious about that. He said he had to go give a breif presenation and then after that I would be his first surgery of the day. I had an injection in my belly of a blood thinner- apparently those are always given in the belly due to the pressence of fatty tissue there because that is something that needs to be absorbed really slowly. I then got a shot of a benzo- I don't remember the name- but it wasn't valium and I expressed my relief at that. At that point DH was in there sitting with me and stuff. Then I feel asleep until it was time for them to wheel me off for surgery and DH had to go to the upstairs waiting room. So I got wheeled in to the OR.

    In the OR there were several nurses. One also had red hair. But we all had hair things- sort of like face mask material only they were like shower caps. And then anesthiologist was there. And then he put me under. And the next thing I really remember is being back in the room and the nurse putting a warm blanket over the incissions and telling me I had five of them and everything was routine and asking how I was. Thats the part where I gasped out that it HURT! And I felt like a bit of wimp for doing that. But then I got an injection of toredol and then I got an injection of fentanyl an the fentanyl really helped some- it was just a small injection (all injections were into the IV) but it made it so I could rest and nodd off. Then DH got to come in and sit with me and he held my hand and stuff and talked to me when I was awake. At first and for quite a while I had oxygen on because I guess my pulse ox was rather low. DH said it took me a really long time to come out of anesethia-- I said well I think thats normal for a narcoleptic who didn't get to take her wakefullness meds and was already sleepy today.

    Then I was given my first dose of liquid vicodin and they said they had some called in for me at Walgreens. At first I was confused because when they said Lortab I thought they were telling me that they had called in liquid clairitin. And I wondered why since I take zyrtec now and it isn't that big of a pill. Then they explained. I was also encouraged to take my hydroxyzine along with my pain meds-- this is because it boosts the effects of the pain meds plus it helps with nausea. I originally "discovered hydroxyzine" when I was first prescribed to take with my pain meds for those reasons but I like how well it helped clear my sinuses so I kept taking it for my allergies. It now does double duty i suppose. Then they had me sit up on the edge of the bed. Ouch! Oh my! Why I wondered, why. They explained it would be the worst part. They asked if I needed more pain meds after I sat up. I nodded. I was given more fentanyl. The pain was again tolerable. I was a little surprised they used fentanyl since that is a very very strong medication. But it was just small doses. I guess they figured small doses of a strong drug better than larger doses of one not so strong?

    So a little after one I got to go home. I got wheeled on down to the car. Getting dressed was difficult- I had DH help me! Then we got home and he set up a spot for me on the chase lounge. I was going to try playing the new SIM game I bought at Game Stop from a friend who works there. But I went to open the container- no skrink wrap-- and the CD was gone! Someone must have stollen it from the store! So I'll be returning that...

    DH is taking good care of me. He even set an alarm so I knew exactly when to take my vicodin and he got me ice Water and everything else I asked for near me. I am allowed to drink one ounce of water every 15 mins. But I might take a nap again soon... getting sleepy again...

    Hey At Least for once I am not Hungry!....

    Congratulations Kyethra! I am glad everything went well and that you are home and resting. Take it easy and I hope you have a fast recovery.

  5. Posted

    somehow I got off the list. I was banded on Monday 2/12..feeling pretty good. just trying to get a handle on how much liquid I should have. I went out for a prety long walk today..felt good but tired me out. I am sooo swollen, but all in all this is much less painful than I expected. I was lucky enough n ot to have any gas pains.

    Mags

    You're right magnolia, I added your name on the day of your surgery to wish you good luck, but I never added it to the permanent list. It's there now.

  7. Posted

    <HR style="COLOR: #d1d1e1" SIZE=1><!-- / icon and title --><!-- message -->

    March Bandster Babes!

    This is the list that I will be keeping up to date for us.. PM me if you want to be added or just post a message on the end of this thread....

    HERE WE GO........... Current as of 03/17

    CarolynB - 03/01

    dec0578 - 03/01

    Pam~bander 2/22 - 03/01

    bikergirl360 - 03/01

    Tea Time - 03/02

    hlayne - 03/02

    Mommakitty3 - 03/02

    wilma - 03/02

    analee - 03/02

    laralynn86 - 03/03

    Sophie248 - 03/05

    GloGirl - 03/05

    Fur Ellie - 03/05

    ThickChickTexas - 03/05

    Band STAR - 03/05

    Char - 03/06

    anniegs- 03/06

    Sugarbear - 03/07

    gailannr - 03/07

    Sue in Russia - 03/07

    planoltxgirl - 03/08

    HeatherPA - 03/08

    bronnie70 - 03/09

    lokiluvr - 03/09

    GC53 - 03/11

    Mommy202 - 03/12

    Sharon67 - 03/12

    Hazelbunny - 03/12

    nurseamy - 03/12

    magnolia - 03/12

    pianoplayer - 03/12

    Hotpink Bubbles - 03/13

    Tabithan - 03/13

    Kyethra - 03/14

    Charlif761 - 03/14

    x-ray chic - 03/14

    demsvmejm - 03/14

    CuddleNymph - 03/14

    gret1964 - 03/14

    sharrism - 03/14

    TammyJ - 03/15

    Scarlett - 03/15

    ohiobluegal - 03/15

    Rosi - 03/15

    sushiqwn's DH - 03/15

    Machele - 03/16

    RowdyReptile - 03/16

    countrygirl1404 - 03/16

    mnkbrly - 03/16

    WendyJ - 03/19

    vcarozzolo - 03/19

    ebony868 - 03/19

    SueA - 03/19

    demmemoon - 03/19

    momlambert - 03/19

    ladybug390 - 03/19

    Theresa Ann - 03/19

    berry - 03/19

    deshar - 03/19

    purplemonkey - 03/19

    lindsay - 03/19

    charsweb - 03/19

    kuebel j - 03/20

    TRANAM1955 - 03/20

    GOOD&READY - 03/20

    alaverde - 03/20

    amrdmr - 03/20

    Reesh - 03/20

    Janine - 03/20

    Mrs Husker - 03/20

    CrazyCran - 03/21

    lilnena - 03/21

    blondylocks - 03/21

    Famos - 03/21

    eclipse - 03/21

    dawnie1856 - 03/21

    chatgirl6 - 03/22

    Desiree1970 - 03/23

    Maggief - 03/26

    sushiqwn - 03/27

    slikchik10 - 03/28

    Deb - 03/28

    kssunflower - 03/28

    my5grlz - 03/29

    SGDodge06 - 03/30

    Fenton - pending

    tootsiepop - pending

    ClickerSister - pending

    Sara Mos - Bumped to April 2nd

    ginabobeana - pending

    mdicurn - pending

    Laurend - pending

    SusaninKC - pending (tentative date 03/19)

    TracyinKS - Bumped to April 26, 2007 (insurance approved 1/30!)

  8. Posted

    I will be getting my lap band with Dr. Spivak on March 21st. I'm scared, and just want it to hurry up and get here. Anyone else scheduled for the 21st?

    Eclipse

    :welcomeB: Eclipse!!!!!! Good Luck with your surgery! I'm sure there are others being banded on the 21st. I'll post another list so you can take a look.

  14. Posted

    Pam-just so you know sweetie, i am not criticizing you or anything..I was merely asking what worked for you. i don't want to embarrass you by you telling me anything that you ate. i was asking you because you are alittle ahead of me and I am interested in what worked. Just so you know , in Europe, they get you onto real foods, slowly, starting on day 6.I know you would have stopped if you had pain. Do you eat oatmeal by the way?At any rate, i wish you only the best with your band and i really enjoy your posts and your spirit.

    tammy- if that day here? OH MY WORD- how are you holding up??You are gonna be great- i won't lie that trip to the hospital and getting underway is unnerving!!!!!!! It is sooooooooo exciting.

    how's everone holding up?

    Sue, unnerving?!?!? You mean it may get worse. If I had a choice of having another meal or having a drink right know. I'd probably take the drink...lol!!!

  15. Posted

    Tammy!!!!

    Tomarrow it is all about you Babe!!!! Woohooo!

    You you have been reading these posts long enough and have posted long enough you think you are ready right? During surgery somehow the dr. has the ability to erase everything you think you have learned and you will be full of questions and concerns.

    Let me reassure you that we are hear for you and will help in anyway we can. It is amazing at how when you personally are on the hot seat it is a little different than just saying "it will be okay"!

    But truly you will love the surgery and love the control the band gives to us. Please post ASAP after surgery because the inquiring minds need to know....

    Thanks Pam!!! I am actually having surgery on Thursday. Heck, you had me thinking tomorrow WAS my day there for a minute. I had to stop and ask...Hold on what day is today???? LOL!!! :)

  16. Posted

    Sophie, I am loving those recipies...they sound delicious!!! :hungry:

    Glogirl, thank you so much! You are very sweet!:)

    Pam, I don't have all the answers, but please take it easy. Problems may not happen immediately. They can occur down the line if you don't allow yourself to heal.

    Sharon, It's good to hear that you are out and about and doing just fine! I hope I will be doing the same on Friday! :clap2:

  20. Posted

    Hello all March Banders:

    I had my surgery on Monday 3-5-07, and I am feeling fine. Just a little soreness around the port area. I am back at work - eating my mushies and enjoying every minute of it. I am officially in the worlkd of banders.

    I thought this day would never come. Can anyone give me infomration on how long this swelling persists and what to expect in the near future.

    I really missed my correspondence with you all. :heh:

    ALL RIGHT Heartsmile!!!!!! WOOOOHOOOOOOOO!!!! :clap2:

  21. Posted

    home from being banded........ doing well..... will write more later, going to lie down while i can before kids home from school....etc.........

    sharon

    Conratulations Sharon!!!!!! :eek: It's good to hear that you are home and doing well. Keep us posted!

  22. Posted

    Hello all. Well, enough lurking for me finally. Please add me to the March bandster list, I have a surgery date of March 20, self pay with Dr. Ortiz. I have been following this thread with interest and thank everyone who has been through their surgery for sharing their experiences. My feelings are the same as everyone seems to express, a mixture of excitement, hope, nervousness, etc. LBT is a great forum and has been very helpful and informative for me.

    Blessings, everyone.

    :welcome2: amrdmr!!!!!! Thanks for joining us! Good Luck with your surgery and keep us posted!

  23. Posted

    I just had my lapband put on March 6. My surgery was around 11am and I was released from the hospital same day around 7pm, vomiting. I vomited and had excruciating pain all the way home until nxt day when my surgeon sent me to the ER. The ER didn't seem very busy but I was so sick that I didn't notice to much, but they didn't put me in a rm until 2hrs later. In the meantime, I went out to lay down in the car. Had to get that part off my chest because when someone is so deathly sick they need to find a place to put you the hospital. Anyway, they tried meds to stabilize my nausea enough to do a barium swallow. When they did the swallow my stomach was completely blocked off from swelling and imflammation. My surgeon came in and removed some Fluid from port and I was admitted to the hospital. I was just released from hospital late last nite. It has been a ROUGH journey for me. My surgeon has never had this happen to any of her pts and in fact said her gastric bypass patients don't even stay in this long. Coming along slowly as of now but much better then last wk. I don't want to discourage people but please keep in mind complications can occur with the lapband. Thanks for letting me vent. Hoping to lose 90lbs.........

    Char, I really hope you're feeling better now. I was very worried about you. I wasn't too happy that I have to stay overnight in the hospital, but now I'm thinking it's probably for the best. I wish you all the best!!!

  24. Posted

    HeatherPA, Congratulations on being banded!!! I hope everything is going smoothly!

    Tranam1955, I think you're already on our list. Good Luck to You!!!!!

    Magnolia, Good Luck! I can't wait to hear from you!

    GOOD&READY, Congratulations on getting a surgery date! I had you on our pending list, now MARCH 20th it is!!!!!

    demsvmejm, From what I've read about you, it sounds like you can handle just about anything! Don't worry, you are going to do GREAT!!! :)

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