Sun Rae

I was banded on Tuesday and last night was the first time that I slept in my bed for a few hours. I tried it the first night and just had this incredible pressure in my chest. I have rested very well in the recliner, but last night I woke up around 3:00 and decided to try the bed again. I slept so good that I actually woke up laying on my stomach this morning - which kind of freaked me out. I'm not in any pain, so I guess I didn't hurt anything. I really think my problem was gas, but I would check with your Dr. just to be sure.

Hi everybody. I was banded on Tuesday, Oct 19th and had been getting along just absolutely great until Thursday evening. It started by not being able to lie down because I felt as though I was going to choke on mucus. Then my throat began to feel restricted and it hurt so bad to swallow that I was having a hard time getting my liquids down. I was beginning to think, "Just my luck - I've got strep or tonsilitis." Friday morning I looked in the mirror and stuck my tongue out and was totally shocked by what I saw. My tongue, jaws and throat were completely covered with white patches. My Dr saw me right away and it was determined that I had a bad case of Thrush. I am so thankful to say that the meds that I am taking are clearing this up so quickly and I am drinking again with no problems. I just wanted to share this just in case somebody else begins to have some of these same symptoms.

I was banded on Tuesday and have also had no pain from the incisions, but have from the gas. Walking around does really help and I agree with Betsy...take the pain meds if you have them. They really do help with the gas pains - or maybe it just made me not care about the gas pains.:w00t: Use them if you have them.

My Dr. doesn't fill until 6 weeks after surgery. He said the first 6 weeks are for my body to heal and that I will have enough restriction with the post op swelling. I was banded on Tuesday and I am really doing great. Good luck with everything!

Thank you SO much for your reply. I felt like it was probably my sinuses and not something coming up from the band. I am on the clear liquid diet phase and I have been eating sugar free Jello, sugar free popsicles, chicken broth, G2 Gatorade and Water. I will have my first fill at 6 weeks. Sometimes those sugar free items seem to cause a film in the back of my throat and then the drainage makes it feel even more yucky and thick. I am so glad to know this will pass. Thanks again.:thumbup:

I know this is pretty gross, but I wanted to know if anybody else has experienced this. I was banded on Tuesday and I seem to constantly have mucus in my throat. I try to cough it up, but nothing comes up. Maybe there is nothing really there and it's just my throat healing from having the tube in it during surgery? Anybody else experience this feeling?:wink2:

Hi LowPSI! I also got the patch behind the ear, as well as the pills for nausea. The band is just something else that they added. My Dr. said it may seem like he is going a little overboard, but he likes to use everything that he can to ensure that I don't get sick. So far, so good. I have been so elated that I am doing so well. God bless!:wink2:

Hi RealAngel! I used Dr. Bagnato in Albany, GA. He told me at my last pre-op appt that they would give me one of these before I left the hospital. I came home and looked it up on the internet and I must say that I was kind of skeptical. As soon as they removed my IV, they put the band around my wrist. I have been very impressed and I am definitely a believer. My surgery was yesterday and so far I am great. This darn gas is the worst thing. Maybe someone will invent a band for that. LOL

Hi there! I will definitely be praying for you. I was banded yesterday and believe me the worry is 10x worse than the surgery. The thoughts you are having are completely normal. I thouht the same thing as I left my house yesterday morning. I have also had a hysterectomy and knee surgery and I had those same thought prior to going in for surgery. Those are just normal feelings. So far, I have no pain at all from my incisions. The only pain that I have experienced is from the gas, which from reading everyone else's posts, is normal. I can't wait to hear from you after surgery. God bless you.

Hi everybody. I was banded yesterday. I had that feeling of, "OMG, what am I doing?" while on the stretcher waiting to go to the OR. So far everything is OK, except for what I'm thinking is the gas. I feel like I have something sitting on my chest. I keep coughing a good bit, but nothing really comes up. Is this from the gas? Is it normal? Last night I slept in the recliner because I felt like I couldn't breathe while laying flat. I am on a clear liquid diet for a week, which consists of chicken or vegetable broth, sugar free popsicles, sugar free jello, water and Gatorade G2. Can't wait to be able to have a protein shake or something a little more substantial.

I'm doing great! The gas pains are the worst part, but I was told at the hospital yesterday that this should last only 2 or 3 days. They told me that the more walking I do, the better it will be. For those of you that haven't been banded yet, the worrying is the worst part. It's really not bad at all. Good luck to everybody!

Hi Virginia! The name of the band is ReliefBand. I am a believer! This link is for Amazon, but it looks like they are out of stock for now. You can at least read some of the reviews Amazon.com: ReliefBand Explorer RB-EL for Motion Sickness: Health & Personal Care: Reviews, Prices & more This link is for their website. Relief Band Explorer;motion sickness relief band,relief band explorer,motion,sickness,relief band bracelet, reliefband remedy, motion sickness cure, patch, motion sickness remedy,drug free

I was banded yesterday, and wanted to share with everybody about a very neat little gadget that I got before leaving the hospital. My Dr. said that they go to great lengths to try to ensure that you are not nauseated, and I now believe it! By the way, I have absolutely loved my Dr. He has been so great! Anyway...You may have heard of it, but I had not, and I just think this is the greatest thing since sliced bread. :cursing: It's a band that looks like a watch. The face of the band is worn on the wrist and when turned on, it releases low level electrical pulses that you feel in the palm of your hand and in your middle fingers. There are two little electrodes that touch the skin and it comes with a tube of conductivity gel that you rub on your skin before putting the band on and then you add more about every 3 - 4 hours while using the band. The band has 5 different settings and this thing really works. I have taken 1 pill for nausea and the rest of the time I have just turned on my band. Love, love, love it! Too bad I didn't have something like this when I was pregnant.

I was banded yesterday, and wanted to share with everybody about a very neat little gadget that I got before leaving the hospital. My Dr. said that they go to great lengths to try to ensure that you are not nauseated, and I now believe it! By the way, I have absolutely loved my Dr. He has been so great! Anyway...You may have heard of it, but I had not, and I just think this is the greatest thing since sliced bread. :cursing: It's a band that looks like a watch. The face of the band is worn on the wrist and when turned on, it releases low level electrical pulses that you feel in the palm of your hand and in your middle fingers. There are two little electrodes that touch the skin and it comes with a tube of conductivity gel that you rub on your skin before putting the band on and then you add more about every 3 - 4 hours while using the band. The band has 5 different settings and this thing really works. I have taken 1 pill for nausea and the rest of the time I have just turned on my band. Love, love, love it! Too bad I didn't have something like this when I was pregnant.

Finally, today I am a bandster! :cursing: Everything went great and I have no pain to speak of, except for the gas pains. I've been walking today, but I was just wondering if you guys could share some tips with me. How long does it usually stay with you?

At the hospital at 7:00 and home at 2:30 - and that was with a 1.5 hr drive. I would not have any pain at all if it were not for these darn gas pains. I also have terrible cotton mouth, but it's all good. They told me to walk as much as I could to help my body get rid of the gas. As soon as I got out of the car from the hospital, I walked 6 laps around the pool and I just did 20 more. I know that doesn't seem like very much, but I thought it was pretty good considering I just had surgery this morning. I'm feeling a little drowsy, so I'll post more later.:cursing:

I'm getting banded in about 7 hours. I'm excited, scared, you name it! Hopefully, I will feel like posting when I get home.:smile:

Saying a prayer for you. Everything will be fine. I've got 5 more sleeps and then I get banded too. We're gonna do great!

:laugh: Wow, you look fabulous! Congratulations! I get banded on 10/19 and I am so excited to start my journey.

My nutritionist has had me "practicing" my post op eating and drinking habits such as no drinking 30 min. before, during or 30 min. after a meal, drinking small sips, taking very small bites (no larger than you would give a 2 yr old), and chewing each bite about 30 times (putting down the fork/spoon) before swallowing and taking at least 20 – 30 min to consume my meal. So far, I’ve done great and felt great after meals and I’ve even lost 23 lbs on my pre-op diet in the last 5 weeks. Today however I learned a good lesson… I didn’t get to take my lunch break because we were so busy in the office and I ended up eating at my desk and eating WAY TOO FAST. About 15 minutes after I ate, my stomach hurt so badly and I have felt so nauseated since. I am so glad I got a little taste of this lesson pre-op! :laugh:

Oh, I am so excited for you both! Mine is the 19th and I can't wait. I'm sure everything will be fine. Keep us posted!:puke:

Be healthy and live again! not have the pain in my knees, legs and back exercise, exercise, exercise not feel out of breath after climbing a flight of stairs feel more comfortable in public get off blood pressure medication Be able to own a piece of clothing that does not include the letter "X" in the size shop with my daughter in law at Banana Republic and all of those other stores that have cute clothes buy lingerie from Victoria's Secret feel comfortable in a swimsuit board an airplane without feeling like everybody is looking at me and thinking "I hope she's not sitting here" cross my legs Wear cute little strappy sandles

I agree with everyone else. Check to see if your PCP even has to be involved. If he/she does, get another one. I started with my PCP because I didn't know where else to start. He thought I would be a great candidate so he did my referral and he has been so supportive. I did the phen-phen years ago and I thought I would jump out of my skin and my heart was constantly racing. If someone even mentions "diet pills or appetite suppressants", I freak! I wish you the best. Keep us posted.

I did forget to mention my pre-op diet in my original post - sorry about that. I had to start the Sugar Busters diet two weeks prior to surgery. It is simply a low carb, high protein diet. He said this diet will help to shrink the liver and get it ready for the surgery. I've seen lots of people post about having to do a liquid diet before surgery, but my doc does not require it. I cut out my sodas about 3 months ago. It was alot easier than I thought, as I do LOVE Mountain Dew! When I met with my nutritionist, she told me that she wanted me to start practicing the eating habits that will help me to keep things from getting stuck when I start back on normal foods after surgery. I cut up everything in pieces no larger than something that you would give a 2 year old, chew each bite at least 25 times (putting down my fork in between bites), eating off of a salad plate to get used to what will be my new portion sizes. The chewing 25 times has really taken some getting used to - I'm used to just gulping it down. Oh yeah, I have already started not drinking 30 min before, during or after a meal. That is also a big adjustment. When you hear them tell you these things, you think "that's easy, I got that", but it really takes some getting used to. Keep posting, everybody! Good luck to everyone!

It took me about 3 months from the date of my first Dr. appointment to get everything together and get approval from my insurance company. My surgery is scheduled for 10/19. Good luck!