Hello! I am trying to figure out this forum and how it all works so bear with me! I was banded Friday, Dec. 3rd and have about 85 lbs. to lose. Diabetes runs in my family and I felt like a time bomb and have never been able to keep the weight off. It just crept up and up. I am very active and want to be able to exercise without the aches and pains. I am 5' 10" and 55 years old. I would like to stay in touch with those of a similar situation.

I had a great experience so far and had my band done as an out pt. procedure. I was out at SAM's the very next morning and haven't had alot of pain. Today I did laundry and walked at the mall. I plan to return towork for awhile on Monday. I was fortunate to also have had it done laproscopically and had a great surgeon, Dr. David Provost. All I can say is so far so good!

For those of you that have been having trouble sleeping I went and purchased a contour memory foam pillow that has really made a difference trying to get comfortable. Not sure that will help you but I thought I would mention it.

I was banded on Monday, and was having trouble laying flat on my back, and also on either side. Gravity wasn't my friend. I got a "bed wedge" pillow from a hospital supply store that works in two directions. If I want to sit upright in bed the back of it goes vertical against the headboard, but the front is sloped, and I can place a couple of regular pillows in front of it. To lay flat with my torso slightly elevated I flip it over, with the back of it laying flat on the mattress, and I can place a regular pillow on it for my head. This allows me to sit up or lay down for sleep, without stressing my incisions. (I had two hernias repaired during the banding process, and have 13 incision sites.) It's working very well.

Dave

Hello,

I am happy to have found you all! I had been chatting on the pre op site. I was banded on December 2nd and am doing great! I am glad that the majority of us are doing well. I go back to work on Monday, I am a school nurse. I'll work one week then I'll be off for two weeks, Yahoo!

I am eating soft foods, eggs, canned chicken, cooked veggies... I have had a little toast with my eggs and tolerated it just fine. I have lost 7 pounds since surgery for a total of 14 pounds since I started my pre op diet on November 20th. I had surgery at 9:00 AM and was out the door for home at 11:30 AM!

I too was banded on the 8th.. the gas is horrible.. and loud lol. just movin around waiting for it to come out cause i think i would feel a whole lot better if it just came out. I lost 16 lbs from the pre op diet then from the hospital fluids and whatever i was up on the scale... its coming back off now again but darn it. I am on clear liquids also until weds then move to the next stage. Good luck to you!

Have you tried the gas x tablets? They will probably help you out!

Enjoy your weekend,

Joan

I'm glad everyone is doing so well. I am going back to work at the office on Monday (I worked from home this past week). So far, everything is going well for me. The only issue I am having is that my port incision is right at my waist line and it makes wearing pants (other than elastic or tie waist) difficult. Today I am wearing jeans but I have had to leave the button undone in order for the waistband not to rub my incision. I still have steri strips on all of my incisions and I go back to the Dr. on Wednesday. I was supposed to be on liquids until that time (2 weeks post op) but was having some issues with diarreha and my dietician said I could start some mushies to help with that. Right now, I am eating mushies for breakfast and dinner and then having a protein shake for lunch and I will continue that until Wednesday when I see the Dietician.

HI ALL! So, Today is day 5 post op and I have the worst chest and abdomen pressure and gas. I went for a short walk around the park yesterday, and a longer one today. I weaned myself off of the liquid vicodin yesterday. I realized it was giving my runny diarrhea. I still feel very bloated and gassy. It scared me today because it seems to get worse when I go walk. It feels like a crushing stabbing pain in my left shoulder, so bad It brought me to tears. It gets better if I lie down and let the gas dissipate. I hope it gets better because it almost made my husband rush me to the ER. I know it's not a heart attack, but it still is scary. My incisions are healing well, and I have no pain with them. My only pain has been the gas and shoulder pain. I was 218.7 this am which is a 3 lb loss since surgery. I am taking gas x strips to help with my gas and trying to sip slower. It's great to hear that I am not alone Good luck everyone!

Hi,

My banding was just done this past Wednesday (12/8) so I'm not too far behind you. So far I've had no problems and have lost 5 lbs since Wednesday. I'm sore and get tired easily, but I am looking forward to knowing what my new life will be like in a few weeks/months. Best wishes on your continued recovery, and keep me in mind if you need a chat buddy.

Take care,

Nancy

Nancy,

Glad to hear your doing well! I am a week and 1 day out and feel wonderful. I am down 17 lbs from the time I started pre-op liquids. I do get hungry at times, but I am working hard to control the "urges". I start a new job on Wednesday and travel across the state to my daughter's college graduation on Friday.I It will be a busy week! Then Christmas looms!

I need to start walking more and hope to get a 30 min. walk in tomorrow. Are you walking or doing other exercising? How much do you have to lose?

Best,

Garden Gal

Hi Everyone,

I'm feeling great. More human as each day passes

I had my puncture holes cleaned and new dressing applied today. Don't know why I had to go to the Dr's for it. I could have done this at home. I thought my surgeon said the stitch could come out today (Day 6 post op) but I went to a local hospital and not my lapband specialist and they said no- day 10. What's everyone else been told? They also said the steri strips would just fall off??? I don't mind either way.

I'm down 12 lb (5.5 kg) since my surgery date. I'm so excited. However, now that all the swelling has gone down I'm starving!! Lots of chicken and vegetable Soup and Protein shakes and the occasional yoghurt- but still very hungry!

I'm back to work tomorrow which is great as it might keep my mind off food. Although a yummy lunch is being provided at the meeting and I will have to take my soup

Take care everyone

Nancy,

Glad to hear your doing well! I am a week and 1 day out and feel wonderful. I am down 17 lbs from the time I started pre-op liquids. I do get hungry at times, but I am working hard to control the "urges". I start a new job on Wednesday and travel across the state to my daughter's college graduation on Friday.I It will be a busy week! Then Christmas looms!

I need to start walking more and hope to get a 30 min. walk in tomorrow. Are you walking or doing other exercising? How much do you have to lose?

Best,

Garden Gal

I went on the liquid diet the day before Thanksgiving & have lost 17 lbs since then. I've lost 5 since Wednesday's surgery, so that is exciting. I hope to lose about 100 lbs by next Thanksgiving, so we'll see. I'm having a lot of shoulder/gas pain, so I hope that will soon subside. I've got a 14 month old son, so my goal is to get healthy for him and never let him have any memories of having a fat Mommy.

Have a good day,

Nancy

Hi everyone. Just got back last night from being banded in Mexico on Wednesday the 9th. Thank you all so much for sharing your stories, I feel so much better about what's going on in my body now that I know I'm not the only one feeling all the gas pain, loaded toots etc. The gas pain for me hasn't moved to my shoulder, it's all in my chest and belly area. Actually the gas pain is in the chest and I have bubble guts in my belly like when you have upset stomach but without the actual pain. It's kinda hard to tell if I'm hungry which I don't think I have actually felt since surgery. It's more of a hollow feeling. I know this will change when the swelling goes down. Like a lot of you most of my incisions aren't really painful but my port incision is pretty swollen and bruised and painful. Anyone else have this? Anyway thanks for sharing everything guys. This site is really a peace of mind bringer.

Hello all~

I was banded 12/6/10. I had a large hiatal hernia that also contained a large benign cyst! I had to stay overnight and did fairly well, I also had the Left shoulder pain, which is from the anesthesia. I have had my ups and downs, and feel like I'm on the mend. It amazes me when I read that people went shopping after leaving the hospital..lol I was just SO glad to be home!

I drink 64 oz of fluid daily and am also on a liquid diet until Dec 22. I see the dr on Dec 21. My first fill will be in January. I work on being creative with it and have had no problems with the liquid diet at all..

Happy banding all!

Hello,

I hope everyone is well. I think taking the Gas X and moving around (walking) are the best things for the gas pains.

I'm glad everyone is doing so well. I am going back to work at the office on Monday (I worked from home this past week). So far, everything is going well for me. The only issue I am having is that my port incision is right at my waist line and it makes wearing pants (other than elastic or tie waist) difficult. Today I am wearing jeans but I have had to leave the button undone in order for the waistband not to rub my incision. I still have steri strips on all of my incisions and I go back to the Dr. on Wednesday. I was supposed to be on liquids until that time (2 weeks post op) but was having some issues with diarreha and my dietician said I could start some mushies to help with that. Right now, I am eating mushies for Breakfast and dinner and then having a Protein shake for lunch and I will continue that until Wednesday when I see the Dietician.

Hi Vicky! I am glad you are at this new thread, too. Why did your surgeon put the port at your waist?! Hopefully it will feel much better as you continue to heal!

Hi Everyone,

I'm feeling great. More human as each day passes

I had my puncture holes cleaned and new dressing applied today. Don't know why I had to go to the Dr's for it. I could have done this at home. I thought my surgeon said the stitch could come out today (Day 6 post op) but I went to a local hospital and not my lapband specialist and they said no- day 10. What's everyone else been told? They also said the steri strips would just fall off??? I don't mind either way.

I'm down 12 lb (5.5 kg) since my surgery date. I'm so excited. However, now that all the swelling has gone down I'm starving!! Lots of chicken and vegetable soup and Protein shakes and the occasional yoghurt- but still very hungry!

I'm back to work tomorrow which is great as it might keep my mind off food. Although a yummy lunch is being provided at the meeting and I will have to take my soup

Take care everyone

My incision sites were closed inside with dissolving sutures and on the skin I have a plastic (dermabond?) glue that will fall off on it's own. So no dressings or sutures to be removed. I know different surgeons have their own preferences.

Have a good Monday, I am back to work.

Joan

I tried to copy and paste a ticker but it didn't work.

Hi Everybody,

Sounds like there are various degrees of soreness, gas and pain that is unique to each individual. Just take comfort in that you are on the road to recovery and better health.

I didn't have any sutures, just Derma-Bond which my Doc said would slough off. My port is the most bruised, but not sore really unless I push on it. It is about 4 inches and slightly to the left of my navel. None of my small incisions interfere with my clothes and I had no problem, even leaving the hospital. But, That is a good question to ask going into this as to where the doctor places the incisions and his reasoning. My band was done laproscopically and I had no hernias or other complications.

My BIGGEST advise to those considering Lap-Band is the Dr.'s expertise and how many procedures he has done. What is his complication rate, revision rate and infection rate. My hubby is a veterinarian and does surgery and asked those questions flat out.

Also, what type of support, education and follow-up is required. Be a smart consumer, whether you or your insurance is paying. IT'S YOUR BODY and FUTURE!

Ok, gotta go and mix up a trout and brussle sprout Protein shake in my Magic Bullet!. Now doesn't the thought of that make your French vanilla creme or double chocolate Protein Shake sound wonderful! Cheers! Bottoms up!

I went on the liquid diet the day before Thanksgiving & have lost 17 lbs since then. I've lost 5 since Wednesday's surgery, so that is exciting. I hope to lose about 100 lbs by next Thanksgiving, so we'll see. I'm having a lot of shoulder/gas pain, so I hope that will soon subside. I've got a 14 month old son, so my goal is to get healthy for him and never let him have any memories of having a fat Mommy.

Have a good day,

Nancy

Hi Nancy,

That is wonderful on your weight loss! We are about the same on lbs. lost, except you have lsot them faster! Keep up the good work! My oldest is 23 and my "baby" is 16. I hopefully won't be a fat Grandma! I am 5'10" and have alot of surface area to spead the fat over! So, I think I am just now beginning to see a bit of results.

I am 12 days out and I now have no shoulder pain! Yea! You should be seeing some relief soon. Did you try Gas-X?

Take care and hope all continues to go well!

Hello all!! So I was banned on dec 8th.. Here is my 4 day post op update!

Gas pain in my shoulder is gone!! (for the most part) I have been able to get up and walk around. I have gone out to do shopping with no problem BUT I have been taking the liquid pain meds. I have not really been Hungary but I have removed myself from some dinners my family has eaten (crab legs) I can not seem to get 72 oz of liquid in me - which means I am struggling getting 60 - 70 grams of Protein in. I have been tired but I am blaming the pain meds that I have been (enjoying) taking. I am sleeping pretty good. I have a full feeling if I drank to much to fast. I can drink about 6oz of a Protein shake at one time. Today I had about 2 teaspoons full of mashed potatoes and I also had 2 small bites of cheese cake that went down with no problem (it was my mother-in-law's birthday) Over all I feel good. I started out at 258. I was about 240 for surgery. I am going between 234 and 236 right now. The bloating is still there but not bad. Sooooo over all I think I am doing ok. I need to get my liquids down better but I am not doing bad. I go back to the doctor on Wednesday and start mushie food. I have had my moments when I was scared i was going to F**k up.. I was a little pissed at myself for eating ANY cheesecake and mashed potatoes. In my head I was thinking "Oh my god that was like a 1000 calories" but in reality it w.as just a very small amount. So far I am very happy at the choice I have made but a side of me is scared shitless that I will not have the will power to make good choices. I just have to everyday tell myself that i am VERY luck to have this tool to help me loose weight and use the tool the way it was meant to be used..

Thanks for the rant and the vent!!! It felt good!!