Hi All !

I will be getting banded tomorrow at noon - Any advice / Hints / Help you can offer. I am on the fast track - from seminar to band within less then a month. ANY and ALL Help or advice is much appreciated.

I have heard things like Gas X strips, sugar free popsickles and Gatorade. Anything else ??? Or words of encouragement or advice ?

THANKS ALL

-Brian

Brian,

Good luck with your surgery. Make sure to get moving right away, even if the hospital doesn't push you to. It will help the gas pain. Sugar free jello is also a wonderful thing!

I would try to get on and off the side of the bed that is opposite of where your port incision is located. In the hospital I had to use the left side of the bed and my port is on the left side. Made it hard to get up and down.

Hi Ashbe925 ! Yeah I forgot about sugar free jello! Another thing to add to my last minute late night list. I will definitely try to get moving as soon as possible / follow my doctor's wishes. Thanks for the reminder.

Hi Honk ! My doctor puts his ports in the belly button / he hides it. HOPEFULLY I won't have to stay overnight in the hospital. My Doc is an Outpatient Lap Band Surgeon. If I have to be overnight or worse it means bad things for me.

THANKS for your replies. Anymore advice ? Hints ?

-Brian

My port is right next to my belly button too.

Don't forget your Protein drinks.

I was more comfortable sleeping in a recliner the first few days. If you can't get comfortable in bed, consider a recliner.

Take your pain medication. No need to be a hero. Take it before the pain starts!

Listen to your doctor's instructions. He/she gives them for a reason. Don't think you are superman just because you may feel better. I learned this the hard way and hurt myself. I was feeling great and decided I could move some furniture. I highly recommend taking it easy!

You will be exhausted the first week. If people offer to help you....take the help! Get as much rest as possible. Your body needs it.

Embrace the opportunity for a wonderful change in every aspect of your life. I have been banded for less than three weeks and I feel like a brand new person physically and mentally.

Don't hesitate to ask questions.

Remember, the glass is always half full...not half empty.

Go to support group meetings.

My best to you tomorrow. You will do just fine. I was so nervous but ended up have very little pain at all.

My process took almost eight months from start to finish with the classes, clearances, diet, etc...This gave me a lot of time to consider all the changes taking place in my life and mentally prepare myself. Your process was much shorter so utilize all the tools you have available to make these wonderful changes.

Take Care!

YAY Brian! Welcome to the wonderful world of lapband!

My advice is this: remember this is a journey ... you will not arrive at your goal weight tomorrow. Let your body heal as your doctor instructs. AND, read this forum. The people here are great, yeah some are naysayers, but you need to hear that too because given the proper restriction they change into YAYsayers ...lol (corny, I know). Anyway, just about everything you will go through or can think of will be mentioned on this forum. Use it in good health.

All the best to you!

Fran

Hi Dar36 ! Well I am about 12 hours away as I write this, Yes I have stocked up on Protein drinks. Currently I have two cases of Costco's Premier Choclate Drink ( pretty good ) and 2 x cases of EAS Myoplex ( Pretty good too ). I unfortunately made the mistake of trying Atkins and let me tell you that sucked !!!

I was actually thinking of being the hero and trying not to take pain meds if I can help it. If I can bear I probably won't. Supposedly I have a high tollerance for pain. I had a burst Appendix in 2004 and it was burst for 5 days before I went to the Hospital - pretty freakin' stupid I almost died and after going to the hospital they did 12 hours of tests on me to finally find out it was a burst appendix. Within 90 minutes I was in emergency surgery and then I spent 10 days in the hospital plus I battled an infection. When it burst I thought I just had the worst stomach ache ever but I took the pain for a few hours and gutted it out. Stupid. Thanks for the reply.

Hi Phranp ! I am finding this to be a great site / forum and I have gotten a lot of information and knowledge here. A lot of support too. Thanks for the reply!

Best of luck with your surgery! You seem to have everything covered. I'd also keep a heating pad handy just in case you have gas pain, etc.