JoiaRox

I'm in Bakersfield, and was just banded on 1/4/10. It'd be neat to meet up with some of you to chat about life after the band! Feel free to private message me!

My thought? DON'T! I had surgery three days ago - and, to be honest, life hasn't been that painful! Everything was smooth as silk in the hospital, I've had no nausea, little pain (both gas and incision), and have been able to run errands and clean my house without problem...of course, I AM gentle and I make sure I'm taking naps and rest time to take care of myself! With only having lost 12 pounds so far, of a very long road ahead, I'd say this was the best decision of my life. The posts you see about gas and incision pain, horror stories, etc...of course, they're true. People use this site to ask question to people who have "been there" and to seek out advice. How many threads do you see, though, about the people who are doing GREAT, need no help, and are loving their lives? Not many...lol. Truth is, when we feel great, we don't often "need" to post about it. I've had two very dear friends of mine have this same surgery - I never heard them complain of this post-op stuff, all I've ever heard are the millions of positives they've gained from doing it. GO FOR IT! You'll only regret not doing it.

I think it depends on a lot of things - your original weight, how you carry it, what type of job you have, etc. Obviously, every one is different. Me? I started weighing 338lbs, but I carry it well...I had my surgery on Thursday and if I HAD to go back to work tomorrow (Monday), I would. Luckily, I had the sick days available, so I took this week off. If I were to go back to work tomorrow, I'd definitely be in some pain, but I'd be able to hack it. I've been running errands, cleaning my house, taking care of myself, etc. since the day after my surgery (Friday). I teach high school for a living and know that if I needed to lecture from my seat, or have the kids have an "educational video" day, that I could make that happen. I did decide to take the week off, though, because (a) I had the sick days to use, (:biggrin: I have a wonderful substitute teacher and © to allow my body to heal as completely as possible. If you don't have the days to use, take a good 3 days to yourself to heal. By 4th day pre-op, if you HAVE to go back, you have to. Just be gentle!

I'm three days post-op and have no restrictions on what I can eat, as long as it's liquid. While my staples are the Water (I have Biggest Loser Protein 2 Go packets to flavor it every now and then!), chicken and beef broth, and my Protein shakes...the absolute *treats* for me are: 1 - Fat Free chocolate Milk - I use it as a chaser after I take my antibiotics. The doctor told me to open the capsule and consume only the powder, but it's NASTY. Knowing I've got a swig (small one!) of FF Chocolate Milk to follow sure makes it easier going down. So what if I'm a kid?! 2 - FF/SF Fruit Popsicles - 25 calories each, this is my treat in the evening. Although, I highly recommend you take only half of the popsicle and put it in a BOWL, eat it with a spoon - SLOWLY. You'd be amazed at how much cold liquids can burn if you eat too fast :biggrin:. Made that mistake on day one! The way I see it? I'm recovering from surgery. If I can find a couple of treats that make this week a little more bearable, I'm all for it! And, since I make sure they're FF/SF...and I only consume a little bit anyway...of course I've been losing weight!

I was also banded on the 7th, but no one told me a certain amount to drink/eat. I am on a full liquid diet, but there was no guidance as to an amount. I'm sipping water or diet juice all day out of my sippy cup, eating broth or protein shakes for meals, and chasing my nasty antibiotics with fat-free chocolate milk!

I'm only 2 days post-op, and I am LOVING broth! I figured broth would get old quickly...but I'm surprised at how yummy I'm finding it to be . Sure makes this liquid diet easier! LOL

I'm feeling a million times better today than yesterday. Day 1 post-op was a lot of incision pain, minimal gas pain...I did get up and walk, got full on half a snack-sized popsicle, and got to the grocery store...so I guess I wasn't TOO bad. Today - Day 2 - I've been to the bank, post office, and just got back from a wonderful pedi/mani! I'm low on energy now, though, so I'm sipping some broth and ready to relax! My incision pain is at a 1 or 2 out of 10...gas pain is very minimal...I'm not gonna go run a marathon, but I'm definitely feeling better than yesterday!

I'm 2 days post-op right now and the gas pain has been bearable...maybe that means it's minimal? I've been talking long walks and using GasX strips, so I'm avoiding it as much as possible. I've been passing gas quite a bit out the back end (doesn't smell!), and burping little burps. All in all, the worst pain I've felt is in my shoulders. For me, it's been the right clavicle, as my port is on the right side of my stomach. Yesterday was a worse day for me - it was the day after surgery, anesthesia was wearing off, couldn't walk much, was in a abdominal pain (although I did venture out to the grocery store on my own)...today is a much better day. I've been to the bank and post office, and just got home from a VERY relaxing two hour deluxe spa pedicure and manicure! Gas pains vary from individual to individual, but my pain has been minimal...I'm guessing the walking, GasX and passing of gas have all contributed to the little pain I've been in. My worst pain has been incision pain, and even most of that's gone today (day 2).

I got banded on January 7th as well :w00t:. Congrats to both of us! :frown:

I also got banded yesterday, at about 2pm, and started feeling the gas pains in the later evening. Are you getting pains in your shoulders at all? I just finally started burping tonight, thank god, and that's helping relieve the gas pain. It's not too severe, but it's noticeable!

I was told to quit smoking pre-op, but was not given a timeline. They said "quit immediately and for at least six weeks post-op." Smoking slows your body's ability to heal. I had surgery yesterday (Thursday) at 2:00pm and had my last cigarette on Wednesday at 4:30pm...and I'm sitting here with a LapBand in my belly, drinking a Protein shake with my antibiotic :tt1:. I wouldn't recommend NOT quitting - I'm quit now and don't want to start again. I'm looking forward to healing quickly, without cigarettes. Just giving you another take on it...

All went well with the surgery today, from leaving the house at 9:30am with bestie in tow to arriving back at home at about 9:30pm, this time with bestie having me in tow! The last twelve hours happened pretty quickly - when we got to the hospital at noon, it wasn't long before I saw the admitting nurse, paid my co-pay, signed paperwork, etc. Then, bestie and I were whisked back to the surgical ward where I immediately gave a urine sample, got dressed in the oh-so-fashionable hospital garb (open to the back - woo baby!), and chilled in a bed while an IV was put in my wrist (side note: I HATE IV'S in my wrist! HATE them!). By 1pm I was chillin' in my bed in the room outside of the operating room - which would later be the recovery room for me. I hung out there for awhile, met with my doctor, anesthesiologist, and nurse, and was wheeled into the operating room at about 2pm. Once there, it wasn't long before I was literally strapped down, arms out to either side of me, and legs strapped down together like I was a prisoner in a mental ward...and, while final tightening and adjustments were being made to my arms and legs, the anesthesiologist threw an oxygen mask on me, told me to take deep breaths... ...and I woke up back in the recovery room at about 4pm (although apparently the nurse had told bestie at 3pm that I was done and on my way out - guess I took awhile to recover!). Doctors said my surgery went perfectly! At that point, my throat was VERY dry and I was feeling pain in my stomach, which I later found out is where the "port" incision for my LapBand is. After taking in more oxygen, because the doctor says I wasn't taking deep enough breaths to fully recover from the anesthesia, I was wheeled to the original room I was in (with a "Hi Bestie!" mid way to grab him from the waiting room) at about 4:30pm. We hung out for about an hour while I continued to wake up, use the restroom, get the IV removed, get my prescriptions, talk with the doctor, got dressed, contacted family...lol. It was an eventful hour :thumbup:. And, with that? I was wheeled out to the front of the hospital and in my car before 6pm, with bestie driving, of course! The trip home was uneventful for me - I was still in pain at the port incision (I had learned that I have 4 incisions in mah belly, and that the two surrounding the port will be the most painful for me, according to the doctor), and the trapped CO2 gas in my stomach was finally trying to escape...leading me to have shoulder pains from trapped gas trying to escape. I know bestie had fun navigating Los Angeles traffic for the first time, but I was in and out of consciousness, so I couldn't tell ya much of what happened! I did have him stop after about an hour so I could get up and walk...I've read too much about developing blood clots in your legs from all of this, and that walking also helps to get rid of the trapped gas in your body. So, we walked around a 76 station (I believe - I was kinda out of it...) in Santa Clarita for a bit, and we hopped back in the car...destination: PHARMACY! Yup, by that time I was ready for drugs. I was drinking water to soothe the VERY dry throat, but was nervous about it - not knowing how much water my now-little belly could hold. But, I wanted to get my post-op drugs so I could start recovering the way I'm supposed to. Luckily, the first store we stopped at once getting back in town had some awesome ladies in the pharmacy - with twenty minutes to closing, they were more than happy to fill my two prescriptions, talk with me and get me on my way. Yay! I also picked up some Gas-X strips, because I've heard they help greatly with all this trapped CO2, and some sugar-free Caramel Coffee Werther's Original candies...omg YUM! The nurse had told me I could suck on cough drops, so I figured this was just as safe - as long I don't chew it up or take any chunks down mah esophagus! Equipped with my Walgreen's bag of goodies, bestie and I headed (finally) for home. I downed 2 Gas-X strips on the way (peppermint-yum!) which seem to be helping with the gas buildup, sucked a Werther's down (omg-yummier!), and got home to greet my kitty cats and take the first round of meds. (1) I've got liquid vicodin/acetaminophen to help with the pain - I'm able to take that every 4 hours, up to 5 times a day. I giggled at the pharmacy lady when she advised me to take it with food - then told her I was on strictly liquids for a week! (2) I've got antibiotics in capsule form, which I get to open and mix the capsule-y powder into a liquid in order to consume four times a day. First time? I dumped the powder on top of the 1/2 ounce of liquid painkiller - lemme tell ya, NEITHER of the meds taste good...all sorts of "ew" went down with those first meds. I believe my quote to bestie was, "This tastes like every sort of ass in the world." But, they're both great for me - antibiotics must be taken for the next seven days, and I'm not about to be a martyr for pain, so I'll be sure to be taking the liquid pain cocktail of goodness often, as permitted :thumbup:. I'd read that a lot of post-op "bandsters" feel that they don't need the pain meds, so they don't take it, then fall asleep and wake up with horrendous pain. No thanks! I have no problem at all downin' some liquid feel good meds! Post-op appointment is next Thursday...bring on the recovery! I'm still stoked I did this, and I'm excited to meet the healthy me!

My 60 year old Grandma had gastric bypass surgery done over a year ago...in talking with her this past weekend (with my surgery only 3 days away) she said, "You won't even know what to do with this new body you'll have." In the background? My Grandpa says, "Maybe not, but your boyfriend will!" That's the giggle in life worth waiting for...and all the motivation I need to stick to this pre-op diet!

I've been on a mostly liquid pre-op diet since December 31st and am getting banded on Thursday, January 7th. I've been tempted to stop at a fast food restaurant and gorge out "one last time." But, the way I see it? I've had enough burgers, fries, nachos, etc. to last a LIFETIME - and I've got the weight to prove it! I know I'll be able to eat all of those foods again, in smaller portions...and I refuse to let my mind win this round!

I was put on a two week pre-op diet and, at that time, that's when the alcohol stops.

I'll say that I'm browsing through and reading many threads, as my surgery is on Thursday. I've been reading this website for a week or so now, learning everything I can from others' questions and stories. Perhaps that's why your thread has a low response count? I agree, the first person answered really well - at least, from what I know!

I bought the store brand of whey protein powder from Trader Joe's - only $10 for 14 servings, and both chocolate and vanilla are really good! I've been mixing the powder with water.

Thanks - and congratulations to my fellow bander! I haven't been on a liquid pre-op diet. My diet regimen was: 2 whey protein shakes (one for breakfast, one for dinner) and a "sensible" lunch (lean meat, veggies, broth). Liquid intake has been restricted to only water, diet juice and the protein shakes. I was supposed to be on it for two weeks pre-op, but wasn't notified of my surgery until last Wednesday. So, I went four days on that diet and lost 8 pounds, and am doing a mostly liquid (broth, water, protein shake...had a little tuna today) diet for these last three days. I'm STOKED and can't wait for Thursday! :smile2:

Hello everyone! I'm a 29 year old workaholic with an amazing boyfriend and no kids. Life's always been GREAT except for this pesky weight I've been dragging with me for my entire life. I'm on the pre-op diet and stoked to finally have my LapBand put in on Thursday! I've been reading the forums here for days, anxious for my own surgery date, and started blogging at www.singinglapbander.blogspot.com How was post-op for you?