Hey Everyone,

I was banded Nov 30th, 5 days ago. The pain of the incisions isn't so bad anymore, and the soreness is bareble when compared to the day I got back home. But I'm struggling with really bad gas pain. The minute I begin to sip on my drinks the gas in my belly starts and it is so strong. It pushes upward as if it's trying to come out as a burp but it can't and makes me nauseous. Besides that, I'm also beginning to get hungry, and with the hunger comes the feelings of depression. I see my family eating everything I love and it's driving me insane. I know that the whole gas thing is temporary, but I'm just at that early stage where all I see is the discomfort. Please let me know if you felt this way through your journey?

Thanks!

Are you using gas x? I didn't need it but my doctor told me to take it if I had gas. I have also read others who posted that it works;)

Yes I've been taking gas X which helps pass gas, but the gas in my belly seems to never go away. Five days later is no better.

Oh girl if you only knew how depressed i was for a good 2 weeks after surgery you would laugh..lol! I cried every day. Its totally normal and i promise you it will get better. You have to tough these 2 or 3 weeks out and as soon as you can eat regular foods, you will feel sooo much better. As far as the gas goes, walking was the only thing that helped me. Hang in there

My gas pains, particularly in my shoulder, were MUCH worse than I expected and I've had 4 kids by c-section and a laparoscopic cholecystectomy! They lasted a week or maybe a little more. I had to sleep in a recliner for the first couple of weeks. Bottom line - it WILL get better. Keep up with your liquids as they will help a lot with the hunger. Walking was the only thing that helped me forget the gas pain. I took Gas-X, but I don't really think it helped as the gas was not inside my GI tract, rather inside my peritoneal cavity from the surgery. So I walked....and walked....and walked...and then walked some more....

You CAN do this! Hang in there! You are not alone and many people have walked in your same shoes with great results! Chin up!

My gas pains, particularly in my shoulder, were MUCH worse than I expected and I've had 4 kids by c-section and a laparoscopic cholecystectomy! They lasted a week or maybe a little more. I had to sleep in a recliner for the first couple of weeks. Bottom line - it WILL get better. Keep up with your liquids as they will help a lot with the hunger. Walking was the only thing that helped me forget the gas pain. I took Gas-X, but I don't really think it helped as the gas was not inside my GI tract, rather inside my peritoneal cavity from the surgery. So I walked....and walked....and walked...and then walked some more....

You CAN do this! Hang in there! You are not alone and many people have walked in your same shoes with great results! Chin up!

Thank you! I knew all these things prior to surgery but I guess nothing truly prepares you for it until you go through it. I'm starting work tomorrow, so hopefully going back to my regular routine will help me get my mind out of all the food that sorrounds me, and the gas pain. Thanks again

Oh girl if you only knew how depressed i was for a good 2 weeks after surgery you would laugh..lol! I cried every day. Its totally normal and i promise you it will get better. You have to tough these 2 or 3 weeks out and as soon as you can eat regular foods, you will feel sooo much better. As far as the gas goes, walking was the only thing that helped me. Hang in there

Hello, I've done some walking but maybe not as much as I should. I find that it hasn't helped me all that much, but maybe I need to do it more often, I'll take a long 30 minute walk tomorrow during my lunch since there will be no lunch to eat. :/

I am having issues with depression, too. This reminds me very much of having postpartum depression. I am ok one minute, then i nearly collapse in a puddle of tears. And when I used to have depression, I would grab food to feel better. We can't do that now. I know this will pass but this is the hard part. We will get though this. I had mine a day before you so trust me, I know how you feel. Keep in touch. Let's lean on each other. We will overcome!

Hey guys i was banded on the 30th as well, as far as gas goes i have the same problem i feel like a huge burp wants to come out even when i am talking sometimes and it just goes back down and it is painful. The incisions are much better although my belly button and one in the middle of my chest is kinda sore. As far as the gas i lay down and use a heating pad on my chest and behind my shoulders and neck it really help me to relax which helped the gas start moving;) oh the family and food.. well i was having a hard time wondering why i was thinking about food i cant eat i.e. the food we see on commercials.. and i got mad at myself for thinking about it, i was doubting in strength feeling my mind and my band haven't met each other yet, i haven't got sick from anything yet which is good but i was like how do i know i am full from the 3 oz of food i just ate sounds weird but really i dont know what i am supposed to feel like it doesn't feel as though i have a 4 oz stomach and my body is doing new things and so i am pushing this phase and just going with it. I live with my husband and his brother and i envy the fact they can eat what they want and have thought wish i could have 1 day but in reality that is how i got where i am at 2day and even though i have thought that i wouldn't eat their stuff lol also we cant hide from food and it certainly isnt gonna hide from us so for me i chose to defeat the food and eat with the boys just off my menu( not sayin it is easy)but i look at it like this for the first time i know in a month or even a couple of week my clothes will be alittle loser and i will feel so much better and by that time i will have gotten past this stone on to the next i have decided not dwell on what i dont need but to look ahead at what i do need and next thing i know it is tomorrow. Everything is trial and error we are humans. And if you are in doubt call u doctors office they are there for you even if u just need to ask if u measure the cream of wheat 2oz dry before cooking or 2oz cooked.( i had to). I so know the feeling and this is not gonna be the easiest road lots of bumps but try to keep looking at the payoff better health and much more happiness.....

Hi Everyone,I am glad to read this post. I am better with the gas but I my surgery was done 11/27. My only complaint now is hunger! Yesterday was the worst I cried off and on, so mad at myself for not being able to control the hunger pain. I am on liquids for 2 weeks post op and that is the worst. My nutritionist only discussed with me the fact that I should try to get as much protein in as possible, she never spoke about the hunger. I guess i just assumed i would not be hungry. I will get through this as will everyone else it just sucks right now!

I know i feel the same way right now actually lol.. but i try so hard not to think about it but damn it is hard. it is about time for my protein shake so i am going to go ahead and sip on that. We are going to town and my brother in law and husband are hungry i told them dont not eat because of me just pick a place i dont like or doesn't sound good to me lol ha ha....i try to remember mind over matter...and say it will get easier...

Depression after surgery is not at all unusual. Plus pre-op you were psyched about just getting there. Now the work begins. Allow yourself time to heal both mentally and physically. And tell the family to eat in another room or at a different time for a while. Just say hey... I need your help!

I am having issues with depression' date=' too. This reminds me very much of having postpartum depression. I am ok one minute, then i nearly collapse in a puddle of tears. And when I used to have depression, I would grab food to feel better. We can't do that now. I know this will pass but this is the hard part. We will get though this. I had mine a day before you so trust me, I know how you feel. Keep in touch. Let's lean on each other. We will overcome![/quote']

Thank you yes we'll get through it!

I think it's very normal to feel down in the early stages, it's a huge lifestyle adjustment which can be scary and have us question if we did the right thing. I remember one day after my third fill I walked out of my Bariatric centre feeling really happy and on my drive home started to get really teary and by the time I got home I was crying like there was no tomorrow. Took me a few hours to figure it out and it was fear of failing yet again, mourning of my previous way of eating, mourning of food, mourning the fact that I could no longer eat a two course meal and sometimes three course when going out with friends. Food had control of me in so many ways and from that day on I developed an attitude that I would no longer let food control every aspect of my day to day living. I needed food to live not live to eat food.

So feeling down is a normal part of this process and it will get better.