Banded Friday

AngieO · February 7, 2006

I was banded Friday 2/3 by Dr. Spivak in Houston. I don't know why, but I didn't expect to be so sore. I've never had abdominal surgery before so I guess I just didn't know what to expect. How long does this usually last? I'm back at work today, but it's still not easy getting up and down. I'm a teacher so I have to move some, but I'm trying to sit as much as possible.

Also, when should I expect to start losing weight?

Thanks,

AngieO

Iluvharleys · February 7, 2006

Congrats to you and welcome to bandland!:eek: :grouphug: :pray2:

HeatherGurl · February 7, 2006

You should expect to start losing weight after your first fill, anything before that is just a bonus.

I was sore for almost 4 weeks. I am a baby when it comes to pain.

MyKdsDad · February 7, 2006

Angie, the pain issue is different for everyone. My wife had hardly ANY pain post-op. All she took were a few Tylenols. Some people go through 3 or 4 bottles of the prescription pain med.

As for the weight loss, that will come later. Don't worry about losing OR gaining right now. Just concentrate on healing right now. Don't do or eat anything that might compromise your band. Stay with the liquids and take it easy. The weight loss will come in time.

Good luck!

AngieO · February 7, 2006

Thanks for the info. It's nice to know that I'm not the only sore person out there. I'm surprised about not expecting to lose much weight until after my first fill. Do most people start losing before that? I have sooo many questions. I'm so thankful for this site. Did you start exercising while you were still sore?

HeatherGurl · February 7, 2006

Angie,

I lost about 20 pounds before my fill and that is just a plus. Most people seem to, but not everyone will.

I am 3 months out and just started getting off of my last butt to exercise one month ago. I didn't feel well enough to do it until after 4 weeks when I should have started walking but I didn't.

I think that is the best exercising to start out with, walking. Dr. Spivak wanted us to walk at least 30 minutes a day.

SueNY · February 7, 2006

Hi AngieO it's great that you are feeling well enough to be back at work. :clap2:

I was banded on the same day as you, I too am very sore; I am not returning to work till Monday the 13th of February.

So you are doing a really fantastic job !!! :eek:

AngieO · February 7, 2006

Heather & Sue

Thank you for your response. I was starting to feel abnormal by still being so sore. I felt like a wimp just taking yesterday off of work.

I'm sure I won't start walking for exercise until I get over the soreness. It's hard enough right now just doing day-to-day activities.

I hope I lose weight before my first fill so I'll know this is all worth it.

Thank you for helping me feel normal!!

MyKdsDad · February 7, 2006

Angie, don't let this bring you down, but you know the facts. Right now you have NO restriction. Your band is wide open. You might have a little due to the swelling from surgery, but that too shall pass. At that point was when Joy was thinking of gnawing on my leg. You get REAL hungry. Just stick to the liquids and mushies and you MIGHT lose some. But until then, don't obsess.

AngieO · February 8, 2006

Randy, you make me feel more normal. I'm already feeling hungry and I guess I'm a little surprised by that. I'm staying with the liquids and mushy food, but I feel like I could eat a lot more.

smilo · February 8, 2006

I was sore for about a week after my banding, and I think that was during the worst of the swelling. After a week I was off the pain medication and able to take short walks every day. As soon as I started walking I got hungry. And I do mean *hungry*. I gained two pounds between the time I was banded and when I got my first fill.

I had some lingering tenderness around my largest incision for several weeks. When I went in for my second fill last week the nurse hit a "seroma" near my incision and bloody Fluid started erupting from my belly like a little geyser. It was pretty dramatic. But, several gauze pads later, my tenderness was gone and I now have no pain around my incision. I've since learned that seromas are pretty common whenever you have surgery. So, if after a few months you have continuing pain near one of your incisions, you may want to ask your doctor to check for and drain any seromas you may have.

Keep in mind though that every person's experience is different. As you read more on the board here that will become abundantly clear.

Welcome! :-)