Let me preface this thread by stating that this is not a place to receive or give medical advice. Please do not post here looking for nursing/medical advice. Please call your primary care provider or bariatric care provide with any medical questions that you may have.

With that said, I wanted to start this thread to trade information and support other RNs (NPs, MDs, PAs, LPNs, CNAs, CMAs, Counselors, PT/OT, etc) along our Lap Band journey. As care providers we often think of everyone else before we think of ourselves. We have demanding jobs that can be physically and emotionally draining. We often forget to eat or even go to the bathroom while at work. Many of us turn to food to deal with the stress/grief or even celebrations of our jobs. Not to mention the well meaning patients and families who bring us food to show appreciation for our excellent care .

I'm hoping that we can give each other support and advice on everything from how to answer nosy questions from our co-workers (you're having surgery? what are you having done? I'm working in the OR that day!, who is your surgeon?, OMG I took care of a patient once who had lap band and they had such and such complication, etc.), how soon to go back to work at the hospital/clinic/home health etc., to how in the world can I spend 30 whole minutes eating a meal at work!?

Looking forward to learning from you all!

Will you be there this Wednesday ? I'm the 0730 case !!!

Where are you having your surgery at?

JSMC. I work nights on ICU.

JSMC. I work nights on ICU.

Yes I will be there! I'm the team leader of SDS. I'll see you then!

Yay!!! Can't wait to meet you.

Yes I will be there! I'm the team leader of SDS. I'll see you then!

Also, I'm not aware they do caths! There was a case where an agency nurse thought the surgeon wanted one so she did it but you won't have a Cath. I know what you mean about people being gossipy but since I work in SDS, there was no hiding it. I will check on you in recovery also. The bariatric nurses are great too.

Yay!!! Can't wait to meet you.

Me too! Get you some Popsicles and gas x strips for when you get home. :0)

Lori don't they usually do at least an in and out cath during the surgery? since it is under general anesthesia? the PA at my bariatric office mentioned it. I do hope I'm wrong about having to have a cath!!

I specifically asked about a cath. They said the surgery was so short, I would not need one. They did make me pee before I went home.

As far as eating at work...I always make sure I have a few staples in my bag like yogurt, cheese sticks, Jerky (krave brand is awesome), and Protein shakes. Before I got used to how the new "hungry" feels, I used to forget to eat until I was shaking and dizzy. But I do better now. I bring leftovers from home or smoked salmon, and I heat my food up THEN clock out so I can get a full 30 min to chew and eat slowly. If I can't manage to find 30 min to eat, out come the Protein Bars and shakes!

Lori don't they usually do at least an in and out cath during the surgery? since it is under general anesthesia? the PA at my bariatric office mentioned it. I do hope I'm wrong about having to have a cath!!

No we usually don't do caths for the lapbands

I did not have a cath.

On that note' date=' how soon after lap band were you able to go back to work at a hospital taking care of patients? Our new schedule has been posted and I'm looking to pick up shifts in July, but I'm not sure when I will feel well enough to work and move heavy ICU patients around. I'm having surgery June 26th and my doctor has said I can start exercising 2 weeks after surgery[/quote']

I'm an RN case manager and had surgery on a Friday and was back in my office on the following Tuesday. The walking, along with lots of Water was key for me. At post op day 7.... I am so much more aware of my abdominal, and accessory muscles. I bought an abdominal girdle to remind me not to lift and use good body mechanics. I also started Medifast because I just didn't want to deal with planning. So thankful to give and receive support from this forum. Good luck all!

Lori don't they usually do at least an in and out cath during the surgery? since it is under general anesthesia? the PA at my bariatric office mentioned it. I do hope I'm wrong about having to have a cath!!

No we usually don't do caths for lapbands

I'm an RN case manager and had surgery on a Friday and was back in my office on the following Tuesday. The walking' date=' along with lots of Water was key for me. At post op day 7.... I am so much more aware of my abdominal, and accessory muscles. I bought an abdominal girdle to remind me not to lift and use good body mechanics. I also started Medifast because I just didn't want to deal with planning. So thankful to give and receive support from this forum. Good luck all![/quote']

I also use Medifast. I'm pleased with it.

Wanted to let the other healthcare providers know I was banded on Wednesday at my hospital! I actually didn't know any of the nurses (that I can remember) but I do remember waking up and demanding to know my bp/hr haha. They told me what my vitals were and I said 'oh, ok, good job team, keep up the good work'. lol. I'm sure they thought I was nuts. I also was asking for an incentive spirometer at one point and asking them to make sure I had SCDs on so I didn't get blood clots, like they didn't know that already. I don't remember any of that though. Has anyone else been banded recently? have any good stories of when you were drugged and trying to direct your medical care??

I have a funny story when I got my gallbladder out. My nursing instructor at the time was an OR nurse. She was talking to us about anesthesia and said that in her OR when a patient took very little to get knocked out they would call them a cheap date. When I woke up in the recovery unit, I asked the nurse if I was a cheap date. I don't remember doing it, but the OR staff got a good giggle out of me knowing what that was!