just got banded yesterday, gee im in some serious pain, seems a little hard to breath also. is this normal?

the surgery center told me to take a shower today, but wouldnt that be a dumb idea, i do not want to get infected

just let me know thatnks in advanced

Hi Bandman and welcome to the banded side. When you say you are having trouble breathing, how severe is it? Does postion help, like sitting up, laying down, etc? Shortness of breath can be a warning sign of real problems, but sometimes it's just that we are too heavy. Are you tking your pain medications as per the perscription? It's very important to keep that pain under control as much as possible. Could you be experiencing gas pain? Do you have anything to take for gas?

I know, I'm asking more questions than answering yours, but there are a lot of reasons why you may be feeling this way. As for showering, what did they use to close you up, super glue, steristrips, stitches, staples? I really wouldn't be too concerned about infection, but do try to use an antibacterial soap to be on the safe side.

One more question, where did you have your surgery done? Here in the US or in Mexico, just curious, no real reason for that question.

Hope you feel better soon, remember to keep walking as much as possible as it will help in your recovery process. Also stay hydrated, lots of Water, but verrrrrrry slowly, no gulping.

Take care and keep us posted as to how things are going. Feel better.

Cindy

Yes - call your surgeon about the breathing problem. Could be you are stressed from the surgery itself.

You should feel better within 3 days or so. I think a shower is fine - might be the thing to calm you down and make you feel a little better.

Welcome and let us know how you are doing. Take care - we will be thinking about you.

Nancy

I took shower day after surgery. No infection. Maybe your breathing is hard because of the residual effects of the general anesthetic. I had kind of a sore throat and raspy cough. At any rate, don't take chances. Call your doctor!

dd

not severe pain just feel pressure and feel like im not getting enough air, position helps on breathing(standing/sitting up), i had my surgery done in us in texas 10 minuts from my house. i took 1 gas-x tofay, having some gas pain in shouders, i have coughed up a little bit of mucus through out the day(is this normal?) my inscisions were stiched from the inside and i have strips on top of them. surgeon said not to take a bath but to shower, i was just wondering if it would be an issue being the next day?

I also have a really bad sore throat

Sounds like the normal swelling and residual effecs of surgery and general anesthetic. The pressure problem is probably the gas and the referred pain from the gas pumped into your abdomen. I guess a lot of people really suffer from that pain especially in the shoulder since it presses on some nerve. I did not have that but it is fairly common.

Check your pulse and respiration, if it gets weird be sure to call the doc.

thanks for the help, i was just checking on here first becuase i didnt know what th difference between normal/weird is.

bandman,

I was banded last week, and yes, I had both of these symptoms. I was told they are very normal, and they have almost completely subsided, and I'm at day 8 now, so here's hoping that happens for you soon.

On the breathing pain, it wasn't that I couldn't breath, but that it was painful in my sternum... that seems to have been due to the gas pain (which was massive for me), and once I started battling that back, the problem subsided.

On showering... I showered the next morning and was a-ok. It actually felt very good and was helpful.

Hope you are feeling better very soon!

angie

oh, one more thing... sore throat MAY be from the breathing tube they put down your throat... or, if for some reason it's something else, take your temp and see if it's normal. it's good to nip anything that might be out of whack, in the bud.

angie

I'm now day 9 after surgery in Richardson Texas. I took a shower the next morning after surgery, it really makes you feel better. Somehow your body can get relaxed a little. Gas pain is just that, mine was all in my back. Pain meds are wonderful and of course, time. Hang in there, it does get better.

i have coughed up a little bit of mucus through out the day(is this normal?)

Yup, totally normal. I hacked up some ugly stuff for several days after. Did they give you that blue thingy to use to breathe into? To keep your lungs clear? Do that...a lot. It really helps the ol' lungs get back into shape.

So far, I have to say, everything you've described so far....you sound *astoundingly* normal! Of course, if you are concerned, check with your doctor.

Welcome to the land of the banded. Oh what an adventure we have in store for you!!!

Bandman-

First...Congrats on your big move...and welcome to LBT! We need some more men here...I'm thinking about taking up scrapbooking and knitting with all the lack of testosterone!

More importantly...I think I'm just chiming in with everybody else here when I tell you that it sounds pretty normal. I was given a "breathing measure" that I had to inhale slow and very deep breaths. It hurt so bad for a few days, but it helps you heal everything, especially your lungs from the general anesthesia. You need those deep breaths of oxygen to recover quickly, and opening up your lungs fully makes you cough out the junk...but it will help you avoid bronchial pnuemonia (spell?)...so little coughs are good right now.

My throat was sore for a few days after the tube was out, too.

So it all sounds normal...but if it doesn't get better...well it always sounds good to get some reassurance from your doctor.

God Bless You. Heal Quickly!

Jon

not severe pain just feel pressure and feel like im not getting enough air, position helps on breathing(standing/sitting up),

i had the same symptoms after my surgery but it was nothin!

all very normal cause of the general anaesthesia..

I think I coughed up about 25 yr. worth of gunk after my heart surgery. Is coughing up this mucus normal if you are not a smoker, or does it just happen with smokers. I know I coughed for 2 weeks, and oh my God did it hurt. I felt like my chest was ripping open again.

I was just banded on Tuesday, Nov 1st. I am feeling some chest pain also, I find the breathing "machine" they sent me home with helps a lot. Try doing that like 5 or 6 times every hour or so and see if that helps. It would be best though to call your doctor, they know your situation best and will be glad to help.