Getting banded next month. Looking for other newbies.

Hi all! I got banded on 8/7 and did great post-op. my surgery was at 8am and I was on my way home by noon that day. Things didn't get rough until my narcotics wore off at about 5pm that evening. My surgeon Rx'd Celebrex (a heavy-duty NSAID/anti-inflammatory) but advised that we probably wouldn't need that bc most of his patients do fine with just Tylenol. I took the Celebrex and got the WORST heartburn/acid reflux EVER (similar to the pain I felt when I had gallbladder attacks). I think it's because at that point I had been on a liquid diet for a week and really didn't eat anything on surgery day so I think I just didn't do well with an NSAID on an empty stomach. Anyway' date=' I couldn't take any more of that Celebrex after that so I stuck to Tylenol PM and liquid gels during the day. I was absolutely MISERABLE!!! It was the worst recovery/most pain post-op I've ever dealt with from a surgery (and I've had 7 abdominal surgeries and a baby sans drugs)! I blame it on the surgeon not prescribing narcotics.

I'm happy to report that today is the first day I have virtually no pain whatsoever. I didn't take the Tylenol for very long so I just dealt with the pain by being laid up in bed for he first few days. I did make myself get up and walk around a lot for fear of blood clots and/or pneumonia.

4 days after my surgery I walked one (very slow) mile at a local park. Every day since I've been increasing my distance and improving my time. That first walk was 28 minutes because I was in so much pain! I'm up to 3.5 miles daily and averaging 16-18 minute miles I've lost 12lbs in the past three weeks which includes my one week pre-op diet. I am still having issues with heartburn but overall feel FANTASTIC!

I'm ready to graduate from my "baby food" diet and am looking forward to eating "real food" again in the next 2 weeks. Reading thru all of your stories and encouraging words helped me get thru the worst post-op recovery of my life!! Thank you all can't wait to see how we all do over the next days/weeks/months/years!

Good luck and Godspeed!!!

Sam [/quote']

Glad you are feeling better and that you are moving quite a bit. Hopefully things will continue to get better. Great job on your success!

You are definitely not alone. I have those moments but am hoping they get better.

Me too me too. Today I won me a spot back in the hospital and I am hurting

Me too me too. Today I won me a spot back in the hospital and I am hurting

Omg what happened? Are you okay?

Omg what happened? Are you okay?

I ate yesterday and idk what did it but I got this tight pain in the middle between my chest and into my back. Had to call my doctor at 130 in the morning and he called and we talked and agreed to get some sleep and he would call me at 8 am and he did and I thought I was fine well I got up around 1230 took my medicine and it was like my juice was just sitting there so I called him back an he decided to admit me. They're gonna do a swallow test tomorrow

B day for me tomorrow! The nerves are starting to kick in xx

B day for me tomorrow! The nerves are starting to kick in xx

It will be over before you know it Emma!... They gave me something to relax me when I got to hospital, I fell asleep, and before I knew it my surgeon was saying hello to me in the operating room. Then I woke up and it was all over!! Pack a chapstick because your lips will feel dry. I was so glad someone had told me that! Good luck

Me too me too. Today I won me a spot back in the hospital and I am hurting

We are all here for you Brittani! Sending big hugs your way

Glad you are feeling better and that you are moving quite a bit. Hopefully things will continue to get better. Great job on your success!

Hi I normally have depression with my bipolar disorder. And I've spent 30 yrs+getting it completely under control due to alot of things but right now meds.

I pray I don't get in a funk that will spiral me down to where I was not even 5 years ago. It's very difficult to make yourself come out of it especially when you have a proneness to depression. So good luck to all of us. This is life changing .... a rebirth of sorts.... a great weight is on our psyche as we do this transformation.

Hi I normally have depression with my bipolar disorder. And I've spent 30 yrs+getting it completely under control due to alot of things but right now meds.

I pray I don't get in a funk that will spiral me down to where I was not even 5 years ago. It's very difficult to make yourself come out of it especially when you have a proneness to depression. So good luck to all of us. This is life changing .... a rebirth of sorts.... a great weight is on our psyche as we do this transformation.

Make sure you take care of yourself!

PoohBear22' date=' can you have protein shakes? My clear liquid diet also allows vitamin water, sobe life water, basically any sugar free non- carbonated drinks. I stay away from crystal light cause of the aspartame and I use the Mio water enhancers. I don't do any artificial sweetners if I can help it. I am also allowed pudding, jello, sugar free of course. Cream soup and yogurt - I get greek it has more protein. Check with your dr or dietitian, but these are what I am doing.[/quote']

My clear liquid diet just allowed me to start having protein shakes. Back to those yucky Optifast shakes by hey, at least it's something. I had wonton soup last night (of course without the actual wontons). I was starving. I had about a half of a bowl and then felt horrible. I think I may have had too much. That's crazy to think that half a bowl of soup may be too much but I felt so horrible the rest of the night. No cream soups or pudding though yet. Can't have that until week 2. Today us the start of Day 4 post-op. My birthday is in 3 days and I think this will he m first birthday without birthday cake. It's kind of sad to think about it (I LOVE birthday cake) but I know it's for the best, so that I have many many more healthy and beautiful birthdays.

So how are you ding doing with your post-op? Is the pain getting better?

I ate yesterday and idk what did it but I got this tight pain in the middle between my chest and into my back. Had to call my doctor at 130 in the morning and he called and we talked and agreed to get some sleep and he would call me at 8 am and he did and I thought I was fine well I got up around 1230 took my medicine and it was like my juice was just sitting there so I called him back an he decided to admit me. They're gonna do a swallow test tomorrow

Awwwww Brittani87, Im so sorry to hear that. Please let us know how the swallow test goes and how you're feeling. We're all here for you my dear. Sending you much bandsters love!!!

How much is everyone who was recently banded eating? My doc said 1 1/2 cups a day but others seem to be eating much more than that!

It will be over before you know it Emma!... They gave me something to relax me when I got to hospital' date=' I fell asleep, and before I knew it my surgeon was saying hello to me in the operating room. Then I woke up and it was all over!! Pack a chapstick because your lips will feel dry. I was so glad someone had told me that! Good luck [/quote']

I think that would've been me to tell u to pack Chapstick.

Awwwww Brittani87' date=' Im so sorry to hear that. Please let us know how the swallow test goes and how you're feeling. We're all here for you my dear. Sending you much bandsters love!!![/quote']

Swallow test is fine but now I'm back tracked now to liquids for 48hrs then soft food for 48hrs then regular food

How much is everyone who was recently banded eating? My doc said 1 1/2 cups a day but others seem to be eating much more than that!

I am eating about 4 oz three times a day. I am having a hard time getting my water in. I'm only drinking about 40 oz a day. I can see how you would be hungry in between where what we are on is all slider food. When do you get to go to mushies? Maybe they can advance you sooner since the swelling is going down.