I read a lot about gas pains from he**. I've decided to avoid that at all costs! Did anyone do a bowel prep before surgery? I know that some do a special diet before surgery, but how about a big ol' emptying? Also, I wonder if it would help to start taking Gas X several days before the surgery so your bowel is coated the stuff so the gas doesn't have a chance to make bubbles?

yes my doctor instructed to do a Oral Fleet between 8 am and noon the day before surgery... I'm glad I did, I didn't have to worry about my bowels locking up after surgery as this has happened to me in the past. Also my nurse said it reduce vomiting... just had surgery on 12/15/05

WOW, you guys think of everything. Little notes I am making prior to surgery!!!

PJ

I had to drink a bottle of Magnesium Citrate which cleaned me out pretty good the night before surgery. I still had a lot of gas but I didn't have the shoulder pain. I actually attribute the lack of shoulder pain to all the walking I did. I walked and walked and walked in circles around the hospital floor. The nurses were really happy with how much I walked and I never once had pain in my shoulder. That is my number one advice to anyone getting banded. Force yourself to get up and walk, even after you come home from the hospital. It not only keeps the gas moving, it also helps your incisions from feeling tight.

Nope just no food from midnight the night before. I have had some trouble with constipation but tolerable.

I walked and walked but it did not help with the shouder pain.It was awful.I have had five surgeries and that was the first time I ever had shoulder pain like that.I got a little red pillow at walmart that had a massager in it it did help. I thank God I had it.

Nope, no bowel evacuation ordered prior to my surgery, thank goodness, they're no fun. If instructed to use a Fleet, which is an at home over the counter enema, that's not such a big deal. They rarely cause cramping or discomfort and are easy to use. Make sure if they order that for you to take, to ask if you should get the green box(saline) or the orange box(mineral oil). To the best of my understanding, it would most likely be the green as the oil one is for seriously impacted bowels.

If anesthesia tends to make you nauseous, let the nurse know when they are prepping you just before going in. Twice I did that and they gave me something to drink, small amount of an orange colored liquid and I had zero nausea. Sorry I don't recall the name of the medication, but whatever it is it works really well.

Good luck.

Happy Holidays

Cindy

Because I always suffer from nausea and have since having my gallbladder removed I wear Scopolomine patches behind my ear to keep me from getting nauseated. My dr. tells me I can wear them right into surgery.

I had to take the Fleet's Phospho Soda (green box) the night before. To this day I still get a little heave in my stomach when I think about drinking that nasty stuff. Blech!! I think I'd rather be nautious after surgery, lol.

I had to take Magnesium Citrate the night before to clean everything out. I walked alot(went shopping for 7 hours )the day after surgery and I still had the terrible shoulder pain from gas. Heat pad and good massage worked wonders for me.

Keep in mind there are two gasses...one gas is in the bowels, and I'd imagine a good cleaning out would definately be helpful during recovery. The other gas is the gas they use to blow up your abdomen for the laporoscopic surgery. this is the gas that settles into your shoulders and causes so much discomfort. I have heard, though, that the shoulder pain could be referred pain from the band site, but I have heard too many nurses say that no matter what surgery it is, the abdominal gas causes shoulder pain. This is most helped by walking it off.

Fleets away, my friend!

My biggest concern is the nausea after surgery. I always get sick. They even give me the medicine for chemotherapy patients and I throw that up. Don't want my band to slip right after surgery.

If you want a good bowel cleansing I would recommend Super Colon Cleanse. It REALLY works. It is recommended to take 4 ever 4-6 hours, but I take two a day and it keeps me regular. The recommended dose is for the "evac-u-quick" response so beware... and be near a bathroom if you take that many!

Happy holidays to all!

I didnt do any kind of cleanse, just nothing to eat or drink from midnight the day before surgery. I was up and walking within 2 hours and I never had much problem with the gas pains. They were definitely there, just not too painful. I did look like I was about 6 months pregnant from the air still trapped, and think the walks probably spared me the really bad gas pains.

I've been worried about the gas/shoulder pain that I've been hearing about...you all have given me some good suggestions so hopefully it won't be too bad. Thank you...there's nothing like the voice of experience!

Emily

Hi Emily-

I just had my band put in Tuesday (12/20.) True to the tale, I had an incredible pain in my left shoulder. I walk and walk and walk some more-always feel better afterwards. My nurse gave me an ice pack for this after surgery-which worked wonders, and told me to alternate with heat when I got home. Still walking and pain only comes and goes...now if the pot belly from the gas would go too. lol!

Good Luck!

All_Smiles~

Congratulations on having it done! I'm keeping a list of things to try, so I'll add the ice and ice/heat to the list! Have a wonderful holiday!

Emily