mmh205

Hi Everyone, I mostly lurk around the forums, but I need some advice because I'm really struggling tonight... I was banded on March 1st and currently have 5.5ccs in a 10cc band. This weekend I came down with a pretty severe sinus & ear infection and my PCP put me on chewable antibiotics. She advised me to eat before I take the antibiotics to avoid stomach irritation. (I've also been taking acidophilus.) This morning I made a smoothie for Breakfast (low fat natural Peanut Butter, sugar free carnation instant breakfast, skim milk, ice, a couple of strawberries) and I'm not sure if it wasn't enough to combat the antibiotic but I didn't feel well. At lunch I PB/slimed a turkey burger after a few (very small, well chewed) bites and when I tried to eat some scallops for dinner, I PB/slimed again. I waited a little while and made myself another smoothie because I figured I'd at least get something in my stomach so that I could take the antibiotic again but even that hurts to swallow at this point. I have been doing so well... I know this is a learning process but I already am not feeling well and having these PB episodes just adds to my misery right now. (And I have to get something in my stomach so that I can take this stupid antibiotic!) Does anyone have any advice?

Well, I went to the doctor and they removed about .5ccs from my band and allowed my stomach to heal from the irritation. Eventually they put .3ccs back in and I hit my sweet spot. Looking back, I think that 5.5 was just too tight for me. Basically, it was a big learning experience. The best advice that I can give is talk to your doctor if you're not feeling okay! There is no reason to suffer if you are really uncomfortable.

Had surgery Monday... felt gas pain Tuesday... felt achy but okay Wednesday... Last night I tried to sleep in a bed instead of a recliner... Not a good idea. Today I am so sore and achy. I also had a hernia repair and I'm feeling a lot of pressure when I breathe deeply. Misery does love company. I'm happy that I'm not alone in this boat. I just hate feeling like I'm regressing!

I was banded yesterday, March 1st, 2010 by Dr. George Fielding at NYU. :thumbup: I was told to be at the admitting department at noon and arrived promptly with my parents! Filled out some admitting paperwork, a nurse took my vitals... Boy was my blood pressure high! (Can you tell I was just a little nervous?) After that, I waited with my parents until I was called in to meet with my OR nurse Noreen, the anesthesiologist and of course Dr. Fielding. After I spoke with the team, I was completely at ease. I was ready! I eventually took the walk down to the OR with Noreen who was absolutely wonderful! I don't really remember anything other than having the oxygen mask on my face and them putting the IV in my hand. Next thing you know, I'm on my way to recovery. I did have a little nausea, but more like a hazy dizziness and some pain which was taken care of with some morphine. The recovery nurse (I cannot remember her name, which is upsetting because she was incredible!) was so accommodating. Some of the OR team came to visit me... turns out that I had a very large para-esophageal hernia which they also repaired during surgery. The residents were very excited to show me my incision... which was covered in gauze with a skull & bones design. :thumbup: I had some ice chips and after a few hours went to my room. Again, the nursing staff was amazing. I cannot say enough about Keylen, my RN up on the floor! My pain was completely managed and she helped me get up and walk around to ease some of this gas pressure. I was given the choice to stay or go home since it was so late in the evening, and I decided to head home. My mom is an RN as well, and I just feel like I'd be more comfortable there. Today, I am feeling sore. I did have some Lortab, but felt a little nauseous, so Dr. Fielding prescribed some Toridol which I'm hoping will kick in soon. I was so impressed with the staff all around... and I feel like because they were so great, my recovery has been easy. I do have some pressure but nothing unbearable. Dr. Fielding spoke with my parents after surgery and said that after performing my surgery, he 100% believes that this banding surgery will be the key to my failed weight loss over the years. (I do too!) I am so relieved that my journey has begun. To anyone reading this and worried about surgery as I was... Please feel free to PM me! I know that I'm new to this world of banding, but any advice I can give, I will!

Hey Guys! I was banded yesterday as well and just wanted to let you all know that it was amazing to me how well I felt after! I apparently also had a large hernia that needed to be repaired so I'm a little sore from that but I've been trying to get up and walk around as much as possible. Good luck to you all! I am so happy that I made this decision.

I'm going tomorrow too! Good luck to you! :biggrin:

I'm going in on March 1st! I can't believe it's this Monday already! I'm definitely getting a little anxious as this is my first surgery ever. Reading everyone else's banding stories has been helpful. As for my pre-op diet, it's 6 sugar free Carnation Instant Breakfast shakes per day. I can have up to two cups of veggies, some low sodium broth, or sugar free Jello if I'm still feeling hungry. (Some days I do, some days I don't.) Is anyone else going in on March 1st?

It's Day 1 for me... I've done an Opti-Fast diet before so I thought that'd I'd be an old pro by now. I remember the first few days being tough but I have to say, my tummy is grumbling. I am on a strictly Protein shake diet. There were options as to which one I could choose, so I went with the easy route and chose the sugar-free Carnation Instant Breakfast. If I'm still hungry, I am permitted to have some cooked or raw veggies and some low sodium broth. I'm thinking that I'll run to the store and get some broth. Other than that I'm drinking a ton of Water and trying to keep myself occupied. (I'm scared to go to the mall for fear that I will buy out the whole place. haha) I know this is going to benefit my health and make the surgery so much easier. Anyway, keep it up! Knowing that there are other people out there going through what I am is making this a little bit easier.

I'm going in on March 1st! I am so excited because I just received the phone call that my insurance company approved the surgery (yay)! I find that I've been doing similar things... like waiting to get a haircut or putting off buying anything new clothing wise. I can't wait to shop in non-plus sized stores but really even more for the physical benefits like less aches in the morning when I get up and more energy! All that's left for me is the pre-surgical consult... I start the pre-op liquid diet on Monday. My coworkers keep joking about how I should make a food "bucket list" but I'm ready to bring it on!