dancingnancyva

In recovery they asked how I was feeling and even before I said that my incisions hurt I said that my shoulders hurt, and the recovery nurse told me it was gas. That hurt way worse than the incisions! They had me lay flat to help dissapate the gas, and then walk around as soon as I could to help it go down. When I got home it was still uncomfortable so I got Gas-X dissolving mouth strips, and that helped tremendously. I'm glad you are talking to your doctor or nurse since it could be something else, but I'll keep my fingers crossed for you that they just say it's gas.

I didn't have the nausea as badly, but I had to stay overnight in the hospital and they wouldn't let me have more than a small sponge dipped in water for the first day, just to moisten my mouth. On the morning after surgery (Friday) I had an upper GI to make sure the band was correctly in place and after that they let me drink a few sips of hot tea and beef broth - they said to aim for 1 ounce within 15 minutes. And now that I am home I am on a diet of fat free, sugar free pudding, low fat strained cream Soups, no sugar added carnation instant Breakfast, 100% apple juice, and crystal light. I am eating or drinking about every 60-90 minutes, and no more than 2 oz within a 15-30 minute period. I think sugar free Jello is fine too! I have bandages covering the Steri-strips, and I was told I could take those off after 2 days and then the strips will fall off on their own.

I am 4 days post op and had the same thing for the first couple days. I used the spirometer that the doctors gave me to help expand my lungs, and once the gas started to go down from the surgery the pain/pressure really subsided. I felt like I was having a heart attack though because the pressure just sat on my left shoulder - it was miserable. But I walked a lot and that really helped speed up the process of the gas dissipating.

I had my surgery last Thursday, Feb. 17, and am doing well so far. The part of the surgery that I was really unprepared for was the gas pain afterwards! The incisions were fine - I had morphine about 6 hours after surgery and that was it - I haven't needed any pain meds since. But the gas pain that everyone talks about in your left shoulder is the worst. It is starting to decrease and I think that all the walking I have been doing is really starting to help. The post-op liquid diet is pretty miminal... 4 Tbsps of Soup and 4 Tbsps of pudding twice a day, 8 oz Protein shake twice a day, and 8 oz of Crystal Light twice a day. I do feel hungry, but I think I should ramp up my Protein shakes so I ease that hunger. I am supposed to be on this for two weeks, but do you guys think there is any chance my surgeon will let me start on pureed foods since I am doing well? Or is it more about the band healing in place before I begin anything pureed? And does anyone burp a lot after eating? Am I eating too fast or does everyone experience that? I love this forum - thank you all!!

This is so helpful! I was just banded on Thursday, Feb. 17, and I feel hungry quite a bit. I am on the liquid stage, with strained creamed soups and pudding allowed. I will try drinking more protein shakes and see if those help the hunger. Given what I was instructed to eat, I figure I am getting about 600-700 calories a day and that just doesn't seem like enough.

I have a 7 day preop that consists of two things: Slim Fast and Crystal Light. I am on day 3 and doing well so far, but the first two days were really, really hard. Everyone I talked to said that the first 4 days would be the hardest thing I have to do - it only gets easier from here on out. That remains to be seen, but it got me through the first 2 days so I'll keep thinking that Good luck to you! When is your surgery?

I'm so glad I came across this group! I am scheduled for next Thursday, Feb. 17. I am: nervous, excited, ready to finally do this (started the journey in May 2010), hungry (preop diet is a killer) and really wondering if I'll be able to do this. So excited to find my fellow Feb. 2011 bandsters!

I am thankful that I only have to do this preop diet for 7 days, but all I get are Slim Fasts (6 a day) and Crystal Light - that is it! No broth, no jello. Can this be right? I'm only on day 1 and my head hurts, I feel dizzy, tired. How can I do this for 6 more days???

I haven't cheated but I am only on day one and have thought about cheating nonstop I'm sooo hungry!

My surgery is next week, so tomorrow is my last day of eating - overeating to be exact - before the liquid diet begins. It's almost like when they tell you to smoke until you feel sick and then you'll never want to smoke a cigarette ever again... I have eaten so much this week that I am really ready to not feel so full! It's emotional though... food has been such a comfort to me for so long. But this body is like being in a prison, and I am definitely ready to break free!