toffeesocks

UPDATE: I went for my ultrasound today - I had morphine prior to help with pain. The bariatrician and the technician couldn't find any signs of Fluid, infection or bad scar tissue. They also couldn't get a very clear image of the port and every time they went back to look at it, the image changed meaning the port was very mobile. The bariatrician said she was going to try empty the port (I apparently had 4cc in it) then got a needle and proceeded to do so. I ended up having to breathe through a PENTHROX® Inhaler and have four shots of local anaesthetic in my abdomen, I was crying and groaning in agony and trying not to roll on the table (I am normally brilliant with needles). She bent three needles trying to access the port and in the end gave up - the port moved/jumped quite a bit and I was starting to get really distressed. She's put me on antibiotics and told me to keep going with my pain relief and they're going to try get my surgeon to come back from holiday this week. After hitting my first 20kg milestone, I'm scared of going backwards. :thumbup: BAW! And I thought I'd been lucky and wasn't going to have any problems!

Blood tests didn't show signs of infection. I'm having an ultrasound done in a couple of hours but they think the port being flipped, twisting the tube, combined with being manipulated last week are contributing to the pain. I won't really know 'til then though.

Okay so I posted this at the beginning of last week: On Friday, partway through my shift at work, I started having excruciating stabbing pains around my port area. After unsuccessfully taking some general pain relief, I went to the after hours GP who sent me to the ER where the medical registrar met me with my admitting documents and took me to Acute. I had bloods, x rays and a scan, hooked up to fluids and a morphine niki driver/pump but then was told the bariatric specialist was not in 'til later this week. So I've been kept in hospital for pain relief for the last four days and I was discharged a couple of hours ago with my morphine so that I can go to this second appointment in the morning. Only my surgeon is away so I'll be seeing his replacement and I'm super scared she's going to try the same thing as last week which I'm certain is what aggravated and caused the pain I'm having now. And now I must go sleep 'cause I haven't had any in four days! :smile2:

1 month post op today, was to have my first fill. Only my port has flipped and my surgeon couldn't wriggle it the right way. They'll try flipping it back again next week but otherwise he's going to do it under local and restitch it in place. In the meantime I've got to try ignore the hungry voice in my head!

The first month is a healing time. Your body went under some intense stuff! Most of the weight lost in the pre-op phase is Fluid which is replaced what with your eating/drinking as normal as can be again. It is not uncommon to become hungry after 2-3 weeks and not to feel like this is a failure. What has your exercise been like? The first month is about healing and avoiding heavy work/exercise but that doesn't mean you can't be out walking, doing light cardio and stuff like that. I got a puppy a month or so prior and the next day I was up taking him for his walk. I discussed at my 1 week post appointment about fills and my surgeon (although all are different in opinions) said he recommends to let yourself heal for the first month before attempting any top-ups. Which makes sense. Don't stress, it's early days hey?

I am 1 1/2 months post-op and at my appointment today we discussed scar tissue and bruising and even at 1-3 months there can still be a lot of tenderness. As for uncomfortable places, mine's just under my ribs so I have to kneel right down, I can't bend over without it getting in the way and causing discomfort.

6 months post should be fine! And do, it's fantastic! The best hours of my week. Only a few weeks more to go.. counting down...

SEXXEH. :redface: Speaking of gowns, I felt slightly guilty when I was shown the changing room. There were about 8 [gowns] on the rack, smallest to biggest. I picked up the smallest one and it was huge on me. And I put it on the wrong way. Somehow. There were buttons everywhere. u__u

@ Mel Mel - Wow! That was a bit insensitive. I remember back in January when I had my bloodtests before my initial appointment with the surgeon, the lady who took my bloods asked how long post-op I was 'cause the request form had the clinic info on it. I told her I hadn't had the surgery yet and she gave me such a look (and that was 20-odd kgs ago). D: I think height also has a lot to do with it. 'Cause the taller you are the more weight you can carry before you look your weight. I think. Whee! I think I just felt my first hunger pang. Or maybe it was gas. But I can definitely feel my stomach now! The numbness was eerie. ^___^

Oooh, I had the same thing pre-op. Everyone would look at me like I'm some freak for being stuffed silly on a cup of Fluid. But for some weird reason, it was just very, very fulfilling. I joked with my surgeon that with the fullness and weight-loss on it, I could just go on doing that forever and skip the banding. If only it were that easy! Good luck for Monday! :redface:

OH! OH! Excitement! I just realized my Mum got some of those Special K things from the Expo West organics/natural/food convention she flew over to in March. There were some protein shots in test-tube like packaging too that we're trying to source as well. :redface: NZ is too small, grr!

For a little while, it's mostly Fluid weight, but around 20lbs+ people will notice your face being slimmer and eventually you'll notice clothes being baggier but the face we know too well is the one you see yourself as for ages, and then one day you'll look in the mirror and see the still totally gorgeous but much much slimmer person you are! :redface: A lot of my friends live quite a way from me and we only meet up a couple of times a year so I can't wait to shock them all! :smile2:

I'm not entirely sure, but one of the obs they take regularly is your O2 levels in your blood (even through the surgery, a machine monitors it through the color under a fingernail). It can get quite low during an anesthetic and concentrated oxygen through mask or nasal tube helps to get your O2 levels to a more stable level. I too had to have a nasal tube for a better part of the day out of recovery 'cause mine was quite low. It's no biggy. (:

Horleys Sculpt for Women shakes and Pro Fit shakes are really good. Especially 'cause they aren't too sweet. And they taste like flavored milk. Go Slim is alright too... but America probably has a huuuuuuuuuuuuge range more then what NZ has. ^w^

Baw? I have 5 incisions. O___O

10 days is cutting it short, the aim is to really only be introducing normal foods at a month post op, 'cause it takes a while to let everything heal before stressing it again. But listen to your specialist! :redface:

Biotin? Never heard of it but I'll Google it. ^w^ I've started taking Clinicians Vitamin and Mineral Boost (powder) and it's fantastic. I looked around online to see if it's available elsewhere (my Mum sells it through her business) and the prices are crazy so I won't recommend it for that. But it's a great product. I put it in a little bit of kiwifruit juice. Om nom! :redface:

Zumba :smile2: and for the ticker you can click on anyone's in their sigs if they've left the link on them or go to... Weight Loss - Diet Ticker And thanks guys, I'm definitely going to wait til my 1 month post appt. After reading some of the scary stories about ports I definitely don't want to risk anything! :redface:

Aaah, I fell into a rut at about 5 days too; I looked in the fridge and I just didn't want anything. I had to have alerts on my ipod to keep sipping on water and having the two-three shakes. I also made a fluid balance chart in excel like the ones we use at work with patients to keep track of everything. It was looking pretty bare the last few days but I've manned up. I don't want to lose my hair! ^w^

I've had no zumba for three, going on four weeks and I usually have 2-3 classes a week. I'm going crazy! I don't feel like texting my surgeon about such a non-urgent question in the middle of the night, I was wondering if there are any others who love zumba out there who could tell me how long post-op they avoided or were recommended to stay away from zumba for. :smile2: Aaaah, so need my zumba fix, but I'm not sure I could last a whole class right now. :redface:

Gastric tubing and catheterizing happen for reasons I cannot see being caused directly by infections from the banding. You can get infections anywhere in the world if you don't follow the rules or don't have a strong immune system. I for one have a throat/mouth infection/oral thrush post-op. I had the same thing after getting my tonsils out 12 years ago. I personally think Mexico and Thailand have some of the best medical/dental care and practices. And for way less than the escalated, crazy prices elsewhere. ETA This is about you, not anyone else. Screw what other people say. Good luck!

BIG emphasis on the lip balm. 10 days later and my lips are still cracked and sore. Fermented Papaya ointment is a dream! Loose clothing. You'll be a little swollen and tender so you don't want anything digging in! Unless you're like me and my clothes hung off me prior to the whole pre-op thing. An MP3 definitely helps. I drifted in and out of sleep for the day and had a horrid sleepless night, so reading and watching TV were out of the question for me! Toothbrush/toothpaste/mouthwash - especially an antibacterial mouthwash. That nasty white stuff from the anesthetic makes your mouth feel... just gross. Wheatbag - they seem to be heavier and retain heat longer then hospital heat packs. And they are a god-sent gift for the gas pains! :redface:

We have an organization called MedicAlert here which as a member, I get a complimentary engraved emblem bracelet, a wallet card and a log-in to view my medical history, medication and what-not - as can any medical professional should they need to. It's not just for the band for me. It's better to be safe then sorry. (:

I suppose indulging in some success stories might do the trick. Yelp- hair falling out? I have a love affair with mine. Protein shakes it is! Dx I just got some mouth gargle that numbs everything... aah, bliss! :redface: