April 2010

[hayo0ona 0]

i did the surgery on monday i feel god i am on liquid diet wish me luck

[jillsko1 0]

I was supposed to have my surgery tomorrow but they had to reschedule because I caught a Major cold. I am coughing a ton and they are worried about my band slipping after surgery. I am a little sad... I was hoping to just get it done with but, I am glad that they wouldn't take the risk just to do it. My new date is May 6th so I guess I am no longer an April bandster. Dang it!! good luck to all of you who do have your surgery this month and be sure not to get sick.

[rebmommj 0]

Does everyone in here have to do the pre-op diet? For some reason I don't have to. I was sure I would have to. So I'm kind of suprised that I don't. Not that I am griping.

Yeah, I had to do it for 2 weeks pre-op, mostly Liquid Protein, but could add in a few (3-4 oz) lean Protein w/a few pre-approved steamed veggies. I'll be honest....thought I would STARVE

the 1st few days...but just came off Easter carb-eating...you know that "final last meal syndrome?...day 4...it got better...but 1st 3 days were terrible w/sugar headaches. I'm diabetic so my diet was even more strict. 2 days pre-op went to Clear Liquids only...and same 3 days post-op. GOOD news is I lost 21 lbs. as of surgery day. Whoopee! Got banded on 4/22...last Thursday. Looking back...glad my Dr. required it since I would have hated to go thru post-op soreness w/carb withdrawal all @ the same time. Guess my Doc does know what he's talking about after all, huh?!:thumbup:

[rebmommj 0]

sorry...my pics not showing up...gotta work on that. Any ideas anyone? It's listed in my Bandster Profile.???:thumbup:

[Froggie D 1]

Yeah, I had to do it for 2 weeks pre-op, mostly liquid Protein, but could add in a few (3-4 oz) lean protein w/a few pre-approved steamed veggies. I'll be honest....thought I would STARVE

the 1st few days...but just came off Easter carb-eating...you know that "final last meal syndrome?...day 4...it got better...but 1st 3 days were terrible w/sugar headaches. I'm diabetic so my diet was even more strict. 2 days pre-op went to clear liquids only...and same 3 days post-op. GOOD news is I lost 21 lbs. as of surgery day. Whoopee! Got banded on 4/22...last Thursday. Looking back...glad my Dr. required it since I would have hated to go thru post-op soreness w/carb withdrawal all @ the same time. Guess my Doc does know what he's talking about after all, huh?!:thumbup:

Wow your experience was so much like mine. I did shakes and one meal and had carb withdrawal too. I was so glad I was not doing it at the same time as the surgery. I lost 23 pounds as of my surgery and was banded on 4/7. I have lost another 7 pounds since them. I go in next week to talk about a fill - not sure if I will be ready or not. Everyday is a new adventure with my band!

[rebmommj 0]

Wow your experience was so much like mine. I did shakes and one meal and had carb withdrawal too. I was so glad I was not doing it at the same time as the surgery. I lost 23 pounds as of my surgery and was banded on 4/7. I have lost another 7 pounds since them. I go in next week to talk about a fill - not sure if I will be ready or not. Everyday is a new adventure with my band!

Yeah, I see we have about the same # lbs to lose...although you are already alot smaller than me, also. What are you eating/drinking this week? I got stuck yesterday on a piece of boiled egg & slimed for 1st time...talk about GROSS...so sore now & doing mostly liquids again. My scales haven't moved much since surgery date (4/22) but I have 0cc in my band...surgeon doesn't do a fill until 5/11...so as I understand this forum....I'm in what's referred to as "bandster hell"...til then. I can relate!:thumbup:.

Just trying to heal, get over massive soreness (long story but anesthiologist did NOT get me relaxed & comfortable on OR table!), keep in Water & Protein w/o getting sick again. God Bless us both!

[JMBracker 1]

Hello fellow April Bandsters! I was banded on monday 4/26! I have a lot of gas pains and can barely get a Protein Shake and some yogurt down...hopefully that's a good things...anyways good luck to all...our jounery beginss....

[rebmommj 0]

Hello fellow April Bandsters! I was banded on monday 4/26! I have a lot of gas pains and can barely get a Protein Shake and some yogurt down...hopefully that's a good things...anyways good luck to all...our jounery beginss....

CONGRATS on having the courage to begin this journey with us. Soooo glad my 1st week is over today...7 days ago still in pre-op waiting for my sx. I know you've read it on here...but be patient with yourself. Push the Protein & especially the water....LUV Crystal Light & they have some cool new flavors! Take your Gax-X...I found the melting thin strips...and rest your body! All the other stuff to try will come in the second week! Good job on weight loss so far & welcome to the losers bench!:redface:

[rebmommj 0]

...didn't want to scare off anyone still waiting for the surgeries...but just have to ask this?! Sorry, here goes...

Did anyone else experience OVERALL muscle soreness & lots of pain (NOT in abdomen area...I expected that)...within 1st 24 hours of surgery completion???

My surgery didn't take place til 3pm so spent the night in hospital. Got home around noon next day. Unpacked & hubby & I both decided we needed an hour's nap...when woke up from nap, literally felt like I had been in a bad car wreck & the car had flipped & landed on top of me. Was so sore in odd places...like upper & lower arms, legs, buttocks....plus the expected tenderness in abdomen area. I was really shocked as I:ohmy: had recv'd 3 other lap surgeries...all in abdomen area...and bounced right back. I felt like something was bad wrong...just didn't feel good at all. I'm known in my family for bouncing back...have gone shopping the day after surgery before...so this was totally unexpected for me. Didn't want to bug Dr. since we were into the weekend by then...retrospect, should have called him then...as not calling caused me a very miserable weekend & post-op recovery experience

.

I kept asking myself & everyone "what the heck happened"??? and why am I this sore?!?! I'm a strong southern gal (a tough old broad or a steel magnolia as I'm nicknamed)...who's had lots of health issues & always met them headon without much whining/complaining. But this was something weird! My surgeon allows no NSAIDS, so took my liquid hydrocodone & took to bed on the 2nd day. So glad it was the weekend & my hubby & ex-football son were @ home with me. I was so pitiful, could not have managed to care for myself alone. They literally had to lift me out of bed or off recliner for me to potty...felt like a 2 yr old! I'm fat, I know...and not the specimen of perfect health...but had been daily doing Water aerobics @ home & @ the gym & a chair aerobics class 3x a week...so had strong core muscles & arms/legs. Also, due to diabetic nerve damage in both feet...am on a medical scooter...but can still get up & walk around a little. I had the normal gas pains, tender tummy, tight/swollen feeling around band & port...plus all the other soreness to boot! It was much more than I had bargained for...and I did ? to myself only "what have I done?"

I'm only saying this now to try & prepare another newbie for what "could" happen to them...but praying it won't! Well, to shorten this a little...7 days out today....still sore & achy in weird places...and just this a.m. got an explanation that makes a little sense to me from surgeon. Rarely, patients have this all-over muscle soreness & extreme fatique as an odd side effect from the paraletic (sp?) portion of the anesthia given. When I mentioned had never had this happen before...nurse said it can happen once out of 100 surgeries...and may never happen to me again (we can hope & pray it doesn't!!) :redface:). Due to my discomfort, he will allow me to take 2 200mg ibuprofren for a short while IF I take Pepcid, Nexium, Prilosec, etc...beforehand...and space them out 30 mins. apart. Did this several hours ago...and getting a small amount of relief. The codeine in liquid pain meds came home from hospital with sometimes wires me up instead of makes me sleepy...so try to only take it as a last resort.

Life is about lessons learned...this is mine. SPEAK UP & don't be embarrassed if your recovery/pain/whatever seems out of the ordinary from everyone else. I could have rested more comfortably & had a better post-op experience if I'd "bugged" the Dr. sooner. I really had begun to think anesthiologist had gotten me asleep during surgery but not relaxed/comfortable...and I had fought or resisted the entire surgery...or that's what my body seemed to be telling me. Sorry so long...hoping no one else experiences this...but soooo glad that 1st week is behind me. I still may have to be enduring the mushies & lots of soup/liquids...but at least it doesn't hurt to breathe & move around so much this week. HAS THIS HAPPENED TO ANYONE ELSE OR ANYONE EVER HEARD OF THIS TYPE OF REACTION TO ANESTHESIA???:thumbup:.

God Bless all April 2010 Bandsters! So much more to learn about this new journey we're all on....mj

[Froggie D 1]

Yeah, I see we have about the same # lbs to lose...although you are already alot smaller than me, also. What are you eating/drinking this week? I got stuck yesterday on a piece of boiled egg & slimed for 1st time...talk about GROSS...so sore now & doing mostly liquids again. My scales haven't moved much since surgery date (4/22) but I have 0cc in my band...surgeon doesn't do a fill until 5/11...so as I understand this forum....I'm in what's referred to as "bandster hell"...til then. I can relate!:thumbup:.

Just trying to heal, get over massive soreness (long story but anesthiologist did NOT get me relaxed & comfortable on OR table!), keep in Water & Protein w/o getting sick again. God Bless us both!

Sounds like you are doing the right things. Protein and water are the most important.

I have not gotten stuck yet, thank God. I have eaten too fast a couple of times and had a lot of pressure in my chest which was uncomfortable.

I am having a Protein Shake each day for Breakfast, and meat and low carb veggies most meals. Today I had roasted pork, about 3 oz, about a quarter cup of refried Beans, and four slices of cucumber. For dinner I had 6 small shrimp, a half cup of lentil Soup, and a half cup of cauliflower. I had a second protein shake this afternoon. I am very full all the time and seem to have a lot of restriction. I do not know if they put fill in my band at surgery, but I seem to have restriction.

I go in Tuesday to discuss it. I do not know whether or not I will get a fill. Not sure I need one. I have lost 8.8 pounds in 24 days since surgery.

[rebmommj 0]

That's a FANTASTIC weight loss! I'll be so happy if I have the same result @ 3 week follow-up. I feel some restriction w/0cc in band...but guessing it must be from muscle/tissue swelling? or maybe different surgeons place the band in different places? Don't know the answer but glad I'm feeling it when I really shouldn't be.

I see my endocrinologist tomorrow...his scales are exactly the same as bariatric doc's...so will have a better idea of how much I've lost since the 22nd. My scales show 6.8 down from surgery day...but found out my hubby "adjusted" them without me knowing. Thx alot! I had them set @ -6 lbs. to compensate for them being 6 lbs. lighter than the dr.'s scales...so now I don't have an accurate pic of what's really going on...but I see the loss in my face & neck...and feel it in my clothes....so I know I'm headed in the right direction!!!:thumbdown:.

You are eating more meat & a variety of veggies...more than my doc wants me to try right now...still on soft mushy foods...which is getting old. Did try some of hubby's chili yesterday with most of the meat strained off it. That was a good chance of pace. Have a great day...TTYL. mj

[Froggie D 1]

That's a FANTASTIC weight loss! I'll be so happy if I have the same result @ 3 week follow-up. I feel some restriction w/0cc in band...but guessing it must be from muscle/tissue swelling? or maybe different surgeons place the band in different places? Don't know the answer but glad I'm feeling it when I really shouldn't be.

I see my endocrinologist tomorrow...his scales are exactly the same as bariatric doc's...so will have a better idea of how much I've lost since the 22nd. My scales show 6.8 down from surgery day...but found out my hubby "adjusted" them without me knowing. Thx alot! I had them set @ -6 lbs. to compensate for them being 6 lbs. lighter than the dr.'s scales...so now I don't have an accurate pic of what's really going on...but I see the loss in my face & neck...and feel it in my clothes....so I know I'm headed in the right direction!!!:blushing:.

You are eating more meat & a variety of veggies...more than my doc wants me to try right now...still on soft mushy foods...which is getting old. Did try some of hubby's chili yesterday with most of the meat strained off it. That was a good chance of pace. Have a great day...TTYL. mj

Hang in there - everyone is different. I still am feeling some restriction after almost 4 weeks so I feel really lucky. My dietician said they did not want people to do pureed foods. I was on liquids for a week and "soft" for about two weeks. They said to just chew, chew, chew and I have not had any problems. I was supposed to go in for a fill tomorrow, but I have an ear infection and don't feel very well. The ENT put me on antibiotics (big capsules, 2 at a time) and steroids so I called and postponed until next Wednesday. They agreed I should wait. Since I am still losing, I will just try and eat really good the next week. I am starting to feel some hungery at 2 and a half hours when before I went 5 hours easy with no hunger. I will get through it, though.

You meantioned getting smaller in the face. My 6 year old grandaughter climbed into bed with me the second week and said, "Grandma, your head is getting littler!" I told her I hoped it was my face and not my whole head!

A lot of people report they do not lose weight after the surgery until they have a fill. Sounds like you are losing, so just keep doing what you are doing!:thumbdown:

[teachkdz0507 7]

Greetings Fellow April Bandsters! I hope everyone is doing well as they recover from their surgery and start on this new phase of their life. I was banded on April 23rd and I have to say that a week and a half out, I am back at work full time and I feel great! I have my post-op on Friday so maybe we can schedule a fill SOON!

It is amazing how we are all on this journey and yet we all have different experiences. I am envious at the amount of weight some people have lost since starting their pre-op diet. I am down 17.5 pounds and pretty happy with that, however I know it is strictly because of my food choices. I am not lucky enough to have that full sensation some of you talk about right now and I find that I want to graze for a snack after about 2 hours post-meal. I've been beating down the urge and I just hope it goes away when I finally have my first fill.

Hope all is well with all of us April Bandsters and that we continue to win this battle with food! We CAN do it!

Smiles,

~Tammy:thumbup:

[rebmommj 0]

Saw the NP today. Asked her why some people feel restriction w/o a fill & others don't? She said some are lucky enough to get their band placed right on top of the V_ _ _ _ nerve...can't remember the name, something like vagus? nerve...and that's the nerve that gives us the full sensation. Thought I was one of the lucky ones....but apparently the restriction I was feeling was just swollen tissue...because now I feel hungry in 2 - 2.5 hrs....whereas last week could go 4 or 5 hrs before wanting to eat again. Just gotta tough out this phase...we can & MUST do it!

[Psue 0]

Hi Rebmommj,

Did you get a fill when you saw the NP? I was banded April 5th and get my first fill next Tuesday the 18th.