Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

6 weeks Post-Op & Conflicted



Recommended Posts

Banded February 5, 2010

Edited by MsMamaBaby1
Wrong Forum

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

What is the conflict? We'll try to help.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I was banded on Feb. 5th and I'm already unsure if I made the right move. I did the counseling, I did the research but I think I overlooked a very important issue.

I have had a chronic cough for over 20 years, it is usually brought on by allergies so it comes and goes often. I take a very strong cough medicine (Promethazine w/Codeine) and I use Tessalon pearls but still once the coughing begins, it takes the meds 3-5 days to begin to control the episode.

I am six weeks out post-op and about 2 weeks out, I had a 4 day battle with coughing that left me so sore I had to remain in bed on pain meds.

Finally, about a week ago I began to feel better, not as sore and started to feel that 'I can do this' - Then yesterday, the cough started again and now I am as sore as I was post-op and I'm thinking about having the band removed. The pain is only on the port side but it is intense. When I cough, it feels as though someone is stabbing me with an ice pick. All these years the coughing was bad enough, now I've added the pain of the LAP-BAND®®®®. The pain when I cough gets unbearable at times. The swelling makes me unable to bend or fasten my pants or have anything rubbing against the site.

I am conflicted between wanting to have this removed and continuing on. I can't be down because I have elderly parents that rely on me but how can I help them if I am in pain or drunk on pain meds.

I read all of the threads on this site and so many people are excited and happy and I am not, I am feeling regrets and disappointment. I have no idea as to what to do...:frown:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm really sorry to hear about the chronic cough. You've had it for 20 years, so I'm assuming there is nothing that can be done for it?

Did you discuss this with your lap band surgeon? What did he/she think?

Your health is definitely important; as you say, you need to be there for your parents. Weight could be an issue in that area, too.

I'm sorry I can't be of any help, but I would very much like to know what you decide. I'm willing to offer as much support as I can.

Good luck. I'm also hoping you can find a way to keep your band .

Debbie

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I am sorry you are having such trouble.

Is it possible that you haven't totally healed from the port placement?

You might need the help of pain meds until you have fully healed. I know it took several months of the pain of my port area to fully go away.

Have you checked with your surgeon to make sure that you didn't tear something?

Best wishes with your recovery and decision.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm fairly sure that is may have not healed completely since I believe I keep re-injuring it when I cough. I haven't been checked for tearing to the port but I have spoke to my doctor a few times with regards to this. He has tried to encourage me to continue and for the past month I have but the pain is debilitating and sharp. It feels almost as bad as it did when I came out of surgery.

I can estimate that I have probably only had maybe 5 days where I felt well enough to venture out isn't one of them. My doctor is an excellent doctor, very caring and concerned but I feel that I put myself in this situation because I did not fully inform him of the degree and persistence of my cough. In the past, I have coughed so violently that I thought I broke a rib.

Once while I was driving on a San Antonio freeway, I coughed so badly I lost consciousness for a second and ended up driving underneath a truck. Fortunately, no one was injured. This has happened two other times in the past 8 years and I was totally unaware that it occurred until those around me told me. Luckily, I wasn't driving those other times. This is one violent cough I have. Not constant but often it comes and goes.

I should have anticipated this or, better yet, had I informed the doctor fully he could have told me the possible difficulties I would encounter and I could have made a wiser decision. I woke up today very sore and had difficulty getting out of bed, then later, when I spoke to my husband later, he told me that I had had a coughing fit while I was sleeping. I can't keep feeling this way, I would rather be overweight and keep trying to lose it the 'old fashioned' way than to continue to ache like I do. I'm probably, most likely, going to have it removed. :frown:

Edited by MsMamaBaby1
typo

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

May I suggest using an abdominal binder when you're having coughing spells to help support your healing abdomen. It's not a permanent solution, but maybe it will help some.

Good luck to you.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • bellaamey

      https://alluniqueguide.com/java-burn-coffee-reviews/
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×