September Bandsters

[Marebeth1 2]

Hi everyone,

My name is Marebeth and I had lap band surgery last week on Sept 13th. They kept me in the hospital for 2 nights because my blood counts dropped, pain, dizziness and nausea not controlled. Found out that when they did surgery they found I had a hiatal hernia at my esophagus that they repaired because it would have cause the lap band to slip or erode. So I had two surgeries in one. Guess that was good. The pain was horrendous for me. After being home for two days it lightened up some.

So it's been a week since surgery and I have not had a bowel movement. I took Miralax last night but to no avail. Talk to the doctor's office today and they told me to drink more liquids. They want me to take the pain meds if I am in pain but the meds does cause Constipation. Can anyone give me some advice on this?

I'm having a tough time getting all the Protein Drinks and Water down every day - so today I started early. Problem is that I am exhausted and sleeping about 3-4 hours a day from the pain and surgery (I have Fibromyalgia as well) and of course I can't sleep and sip at the same time:) I would be interested in what I can do right now to get me thru the first few weeks.

I'm also interested in a support group in Sacramento or Roseville, California.

Thanks

Mare

[FFPM Eric 0]

I wish you all could see this huge smile on my face tight now!!!

I just left my docs office for my 1 week post-op check-up... They had me weigh in & I'm down 13.4 pounds in my first week!!!!!

Good luck to everyone getting banded today & the rest of the week! My biggest recommendation - get up & walk as much as you can, as quick as you can after surgery.

[Peps 1]

I wish you all could see this huge smile on my face tight now!!!

I just left my docs office for my 1 week post-op check-up... They had me weigh in & I'm down 13.4 pounds in my first week!!!!!

Good luck to everyone getting banded today & the rest of the week! My biggest recommendation - get up & walk as much as you can, as quick as you can after surgery.

Congrats, Eric! That's wonderful. I hope I'll have as good an experience next Thursday when I get banded. Keep up the good work! Peg

[Marebeth1 2]

That's awesome Eric, congrats!! I have a 2 week post op next week. I've been weighing at home and looks like 7 lbs down, but I have a ton of swelling still. What's your daily diet? Maybe I'm doing something wrong but I'm on low cal, low carb, high Protein. I can't wait to have that awesome feeling next week at my appointment.

[Texasbandit 8]

I too was constipated and miralax did nothing. I tried everything. I hate to admit this but I bought a low carb shake from braums. The malitol makes me poop. I went a week.

[need2lose2 10]

Mine is a little below the biggest incision. Now that the swelling is going down I can feel it when I stand up.

I suspect mine is near the biggest incision above my belly button and a bit to the left. I'm just afraid to touch it now cuz my whole stomach is so raw.

[DawnH 9]

Congrats Eric, that is awesome! Can't wait till my post-op next week to see how I am doing. Did they advance your diet stage?

[need2lose2 10]

I wish you all could see this huge smile on my face tight now!!!

I just left my docs office for my 1 week post-op check-up... They had me weigh in & I'm down 13.4 pounds in my first week!!!!!

Good luck to everyone getting banded today & the rest of the week! My biggest recommendation - get up & walk as much as you can, as quick as you can after surgery.

Good for you!!! That's amazing!

[Sharilo 6]

4 kids? That's tough!! I got one, but he's a little one. It's all normal dawn. Like I said I guess us newbies gotta stick together. I vented and some old timer got all bent outta shape. Jeez. It's a state of limbo when u get banded. Can't eat solids, u have aches and pains and trying to go about your normal routine too. Then a lot of us don't have too much outside support or we haven't told anyone so yeah. This isn't easy. We need a little reassurance and misery loves company!!

Boy, she really DID get bent out of shape didn't she? LOL! And for no good reason. I actually got a kick out of your post because I was feeling the exact same way. In fact, I still am. I can't seem to get rid of my scale and I can't seem to lose even one pound. It's frustrating!! Hopefully I will soon be "healed" and will start losing.

[jillkm 0]

Ok so I'm getting banded in 2 days!! I have been in this program for almost a year and have worked so hard to get where I am. But i'm nervous. Me and my boyfriend of 4 years broke up a week ago today. I have been struggling with heartache and its been terrible. All of my friends and family told me not to cancel my surgery. Its something i've worked so hard for and they are willing to be there for me to help. I just need to figure out a way to mentally focus on myself. Does anyone have any suggestions? I'm so scared of what to do and i'm trying to take one day at a time and its so hard.

[Peps 1]

Ok so I'm getting banded in 2 days!! I have been in this program for almost a year and have worked so hard to get where I am. But i'm nervous. Me and my boyfriend of 4 years broke up a week ago today. I have been struggling with heartache and its been terrible. All of my friends and family told me not to cancel my surgery. Its something i've worked so hard for and they are willing to be there for me to help. I just need to figure out a way to mentally focus on myself. Does anyone have any suggestions? I'm so scared of what to do and i'm trying to take one day at a time and its so hard.

Hi Jill, Sorry for your broken heart right now, but you do have to do this for yourself. If you don't, I think you'll regret it. It's good that you have family and friends near you to help you along, and know that we are all here to, to help as we can. I'll say a prayer for you! Keep us posted. Good luck. Peg

[FFPM Eric 0]

That's awesome Eric, congrats!! I have a 2 week post op next week. I've been weighing at home and looks like 7 lbs down, but I have a ton of swelling still. What's your daily diet? Maybe I'm doing something wrong but I'm on low cal, low carb, high Protein. I can't wait to have that awesome feeling next week at my appointment.

My first week was a liquid diet. Protein Shakes, sugar free Jello & low fat cream Soups.< /p>

I have also been very active, walking about an hour a day, in addition to my being a very high strung, active person.

Don't be the least bit disappointed if you don't lose as much as me - any doctor or employee at weight watchers, jenny craig, etc will tell you that men lose weight much, much quicker than women.

[FFPM Eric 0]

Congrats Eric, that is awesome! Can't wait till my post-op next week to see how I am doing. Did they advance your diet stage?

No, they didn't - I asked if I could & they encouraged me not to as the diet stages are set for healing, not for increasing weight loss

[DawnH 9]

Ok so I'm getting banded in 2 days!! I have been in this program for almost a year and have worked so hard to get where I am. But i'm nervous. Me and my boyfriend of 4 years broke up a week ago today. I have been struggling with heartache and its been terrible. All of my friends and family told me not to cancel my surgery. Its something i've worked so hard for and they are willing to be there for me to help. I just need to figure out a way to mentally focus on myself. Does anyone have any suggestions? I'm so scared of what to do and i'm trying to take one day at a time and its so hard.

So sorry for what you are going through! What crappy timing. I think they are all right that you should not cancel the surgery. Maybe the timing is just how it should be. Time to focus all on you. Hope you can make the decision that is right for you . Take care!

[Marebeth1 2]

Ok so I'm getting banded in 2 days!! I have been in this program for almost a year and have worked so hard to get where I am. But i'm nervous. Me and my boyfriend of 4 years broke up a week ago today. I have been struggling with heartache and its been terrible. All of my friends and family told me not to cancel my surgery. Its something i've worked so hard for and they are willing to be there for me to help. I just need to figure out a way to mentally focus on myself. Does anyone have any suggestions? I'm so scared of what to do and i'm trying to take one day at a time and its so hard.

I want to encourage you to "JUST DO IT". This is about you, putting YOU first and you won't regret it. I was approved for lap band 4 years ago, didn't do it cause I had lost 40 lbs thinking I was doing pretty good. Then almost 3 years ago I broke my back and went through a horrendous rehab after wearing a full body brace for 5 months and a hospital bed for a year. I had already started YO YO dieting again and started gaining weight back....yes, all that hard work down the tubes. So last year I went back again for lap band surgery, got approved in 3 weeks, again. but the timing was wrong. I've been traveling back and forth from CA to Texas on court hearings (high stress) and couldn't figure out a good time for me to stay home for a month to get it. My diet was again going YO YO.....I did this for me......it forces me to change my lifestyle habits on eating. I am committed to doing this, following the rules and exercising. It has been a wake up call for my husband, who is obese as well and he's on a diet with me. He's lost 30 lbs on his own and FINALLY I had to go thru surgery to get his support cause I didn't have it before. You will be so proud of yourself, I am proud of myself, because there is only GREAT things in store for all of us. Does pass this awesome window of opportunity by and dare to open yourself up to a wonderful new life forever!!

And if your boyfriend left, so be it.....he doesn't know what a blessing in you that is about to happen. A better guy will come your way and he will be a person that will support you in your journey.

Marebeth