My experience thus far has been surprisingly easy. I just wanted to share it so those that are going to be getting the band soon will have a little insight.

I started my pre op diet on November 11th. After a few days of only drinking the recommended protein drinks and being really sick, I switched to Carnation Instant Breakfast, which is very tasty. I wasn't getting as much protein as with the other drinks, but I was no longer sick so honestly, I didn't care. I still recommend following your doctors instructions, but for me, I just couldn't handle the constant throwing up and nautiousness. The day of surgery I had lost 14 pounds which is a good amount to lose. I even cheated a couple of times (again, not recommended).

I had surgery on November 21st. I had my mom drive me to the hospital and we arrived at 8AM. Everything went pretty quickly. I got into the hospital gown, they started my IV, gave me a shot in my stomach (which I didn't even feel), took some blood, spoke to my nutritionist who told me what to expect, spoke to the anesthesiologist and was eventually wheeled into the surgery room. They had me scoot over to the surgery table, they put out my arms, and that was the last thing I remembered.

I woke up in the recovery room. I didn't feel any pain whatsoever and they kept trying to push the pain meds. I kept telling them that I didn't need it. However, my room was not ready yet so I was stuck there for quite a while. Eventually, I started getting really frustrated. I think someone gave me something to relax me a bit but I'm not sure. I was eventually wheeled into my room. I was fine until I started to get figity again. I started to get upset and regret what I had done. I was painfully aware of the foley catheder and was afraid to move. My mom was in the room with me and told the nurse that I may need some pain meds. Honestly, I don't think I was in any pain, but boy did that medicine help soothe and calm me!

The nurse came in to get up to walk around 10:30 PM. That walk was horrible! Walking with the catheder was extremely uncomfortable and I also became really nautious. When I got back to my room, I sat in the chair which actually felt better than laying in the bed. The chair is where I stayed until they came to get me the next morning for my Upper GI. I honestly thought they had forgotten me the whole night lol. The nurse finally came to take out the catheder (it didn't hurt at all and I was soo ready because honestly, having to deal with that thing was the worst part of it all) I was able to relax for a while after the test before the nurse came to get me up to walk again. That time was a lot better. The nurse then brought in my ounce of water which I sipped throughout the hour with no problem. She got me up to walk again, I relaxed for another hour, and then it was time to go.

My time at home has been fine. I was worried about my liquid consumption at first, as the information they gave me said I was supposed to be taking in a lot more than I was. I stopped taking my pain medication because it wasn't helping anything. Honestly, the only pain I felt was at the incision sites. It hurts when I move sometimes. I was only on clear liquids for two days, and I'll be on full liquids until Tuesday. I haven't been hungry at all and have had very little gas pain. If I start to feel the gurgling in my stomach, I take some Gas X strips and it takes care of it. I've been drinking SF Carnation Instant Breakfast, SF Popcycles, Water, Gatorade (everything that was suggested and I feel fine and full). I made some egg drop soup last night and had a few spoon fulls of that. Oh and the best thing of all??!!! I've lost 22 pounds since I started my pre op diet! It's amazing! That means I've lost 8 pound since the surgery! I didn't expect to lose any weight at first and certainly not this fast, but it is a pleasant surprise.

Okay well that's my experience. Hope this gives a little insight for those of you getting it done. If you have any questions, let me know!

Did you have the band or the by pass because they usually dont put in a catheter for band patients and only do an upper GI for by pass patients. So which did you have????

I was told Tuesday to expect a foley catheter Joy, joy!

Definitely the band. It would be kinda silly for me to be on this message board if I had bypass. But anyways, as far as I know, both actually ARE common. I know some don't have catheders and that's to the preference of the surgeon, but the Upper GI is standard. It's where you have to drink the barium liquid. They are checking for leaks and position of the band. I haven't heard of anyone who HASN'T had this done. :/ It's usually protocol before being released.

I was told Tuesday to expect a foley catheter Joy, joy!

The good thing Melinda is that they put it in while you are sleeping and it doesn't hurt at all being taken out. It didn't HURT having it in, I was just super conscious of it and it was incredibly annoying. Plus, walking with it wasn't easy either.

Good to hear that your experience has been a good one.

It's interesting what each doctor requires. I didn't have an overnight hospital stay and didn't have a catheter. I'm thankful for both.

The barium swallow wasn't bad at all. I was expecting it to taste gross but it was tasteless to me.

I didnt have a catheter and I did have an upper GI 4 hours after they put my band in. Thankfully I didn't have to stay overnight in the hospital.. That may be the reason I didn't get the catheter.

Thanks for sharing your story!

I did stay overnight but I didn't have a foley. I was in post op recovery for 6 hours waiting for a room. When I got to my room, the nurse said that if I didn't go, they would give me a foley because I hadn't gone in over 4 hours. I didn't recall going in recovery at all.

Once she made that threat, I asked her to help me to the restroom so I could go. It wasn't that I couldn't go, I just didn't have to go bad enough to ask for help.