I wanted to start a thread for those of us who are waiting "with bated breath" for our surgeries in March.

I am supposed to start Optifast on February 26th. I am currently waiting for the shipment, including my surgical package to be delivered. Once I get my package I am supposed to call the clinic.

Ever since committing to this surgery (which I am paying for myself via a personal loan) I have been obsessed with reading everything I can about it and about people who have had it. I am still kind of hoping for some kind of "divine word" about whether or not it is the right thing for me to do.

I am "only" 75 lbs over my ideal weight but am type II diabetic. I am trying to figure out if my reason for doing this is my health or my vanity or a combination of both. The diabetes needs to be gone (when I am 20 lbs lighter it is gone) but I am sure looking forward to losing the weight and actually keeping it off for more than 20 minutes...

Congrats Glogirl

Sounds like your are doing great. You already on thicker liquids - I had to do thin liquids for 1 week, today is my thicker liquids. then next Thursday I start on mushies.

I have a follow up today (not a fill appt).

Keep up the good work.

Ok the 3rd day for me is all about gas release from both ends of the spectrum!!

Oh well I'm done and it went pretty good. Today I even went to a 3 hour teacher meeting. It was very small group and very informal and the facilitator knew I was recovering and was very nice to just say I had surgery. She steered the conversation away from what it was for to how well I looked and how was I doing etc..... That was really great. It just wasn't the place to share the what was it.

Anyway my surgery went fine my doc said with no complications. The staff at the hospital were so enthusiastic about my having the surgery and the patient liason for the hospital had lapband done back in july. He come by right before I went in and was very encouraging. He also went out and spoke to DH and told him I was doing fine. All in all the hospital part was a good experience.

I don't know if anyone else has had this but my dr put in place something called a pain relief ball. It was a constant application of pain medication delivered under the skin by a smal cathater. The little ball with the medication in it had it's own little purse like carry bag. And get this my dr said you can just take it out yourself on day 3!!! So my oldest daughter did it for me today. It was quite easy. I do think it helped because I really didn't take a lot of pain med the first two days.

Well It's done and today I got to have some soup with no chunks and thinned malt o meal. Along with the clear liquids. Feeling pretty good just the port area still stings like I did to many sit ups but other than all the burping etc. I feel pretty good.

When do the gas pains in your rib area stop?

Thanks for listening.

bikergirl good luck at your check up I go for mine onthe 12th. Let us know what they say and how it goes. Glad you are well too. Does look like for the most part everyone is doing fine. :clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

I just got on the scale - today is a week - I'm down 14 pounds -:whoo::whoo::whoo::whoo:

Answer to your question about "when do the gas pains stop"?

Well technically we all call them gas pains, AND they are from the gas used to blow up your tummy but what they REALLY are is the fibrous irritated nerves caused by the gas they used to fill up your tummy with air. Not to say some of us do not have gas pains in our bowels that we can "fart" out. But the shoulder pain and the pain under our rib cages are irritated and inflammed nerve tissues caused by the gas that will subside eventually but sometimes takes a couple weeks. The best resource for pain relief is a heating pad or hot Water bottle (don't burn your skin). Didn't you find it interesting we all end up with them about 24-48 hours after surgery? And they ususally end up in our left chest or under our ribs? Interesting huh....

Every evening when I get home from work I am grumpy and put on the heating pad for about 1 hour and I am good to go. he he he but sometimes I like to get mileage out of my family because I am tired from work so I leave the heating pad on a little longer and moan a few more times that I should.

I "got stuck" last night.

I am 1 week post op and graduated real quick onto regular softer foods.

I was HUNGRY HUNGRY HUNGRY last night, my "lessened" appetite left me yesterday, and I was like a kid in a candy shop trying every food that was not nailed down.

Last night I was REALLY hungry and sample some general chicken (standing up in the kitchen) two whole pieces right in my mouth, and thought to myself "what are they talking about, I have no problem with this) UNTIL I was in excruciating pain and profusely dripping sweat because I did not chew as well as I should have and I was stuck for about 30 minutes and finally I started throwing up. Throwing up was a welcome sensation and relieved the pain after everything was out of my pouch. But I examined how BIG was I really swallowing and I am going to chew chew chew chew chew alot more than that and I thought I was chewing. The pieces were no bigger than cottage cheese size but definately not as soft.

I seriously paniced, could not swallow saliva (because of the pain) you would think sip water but NO WAY builds more pressure, all you can do is lean over the trash can or sink and pray to god you throw up. Walk, take deep breaths (even though they hurt more than child birth) and pray it passes or you PB. Burping felt better (first time I have burped since surg.) but 3-4 seconds after I burped the pain was back.

I have always been one to learn the hard way or test the boundaries, but I usually do not pay such sever consequences.

I don't want sympathy, I just wanted to share the experience, because you all know eventually you will be there just like I did.

I "got stuck" last night.

I am 1 week post op and graduated real quick onto regular softer foods.

I was HUNGRY HUNGRY HUNGRY last night, my "lessened" appetite left me yesterday, and I was like a kid in a candy shop trying every food that was not nailed down.

Last night I was REALLY hungry and sample some general chicken (standing up in the kitchen) two whole pieces right in my mouth, and thought to myself "what are they talking about, I have no problem with this) UNTIL I was in excruciating pain and profusely dripping sweat because I did not chew as well as I should have and I was stuck for about 30 minutes and finally I started throwing up. Throwing up was a welcome sensation and relieved the pain after everything was out of my pouch. But I examined how BIG was I really swallowing and I am going to chew chew chew chew chew alot more than that and I thought I was chewing. The pieces were no bigger than cottage cheese size but definately not as soft.

I seriously paniced, could not swallow saliva (because of the pain) you would think sip water but NO WAY builds more pressure, all you can do is lean over the trash can or sink and pray to god you throw up. Walk, take deep breaths (even though they hurt more than child birth) and pray it passes or you PB. Burping felt better (first time I have burped since surg.) but 3-4 seconds after I burped the pain was back.

I have always been one to learn the hard way or test the boundaries, but I usually do not pay such sever consequences.

I don't want sympathy, I just wanted to share the experience, because you all know eventually you will be there just like I did.

Wow, a little afraid of solid food now...but I get to start full liquids tomorrow IM SO EXCITED!!! No more jello and broth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I "got stuck" last night.

I am 1 week post op and graduated real quick onto regular softer foods.

I was HUNGRY HUNGRY HUNGRY last night, my "lessened" appetite left me yesterday, and I was like a kid in a candy shop trying every food that was not nailed down.

Last night I was REALLY hungry and sample some general chicken (standing up in the kitchen) two whole pieces right in my mouth, and thought to myself "what are they talking about, I have no problem with this) UNTIL I was in excruciating pain and profusely dripping sweat because I did not chew as well as I should have and I was stuck for about 30 minutes and finally I started throwing up. Throwing up was a welcome sensation and relieved the pain after everything was out of my pouch. But I examined how BIG was I really swallowing and I am going to chew chew chew chew chew alot more than that and I thought I was chewing. The pieces were no bigger than cottage cheese size but definately not as soft.

I seriously paniced, could not swallow saliva (because of the pain) you would think sip water but NO WAY builds more pressure, all you can do is lean over the trash can or sink and pray to god you throw up. Walk, take deep breaths (even though they hurt more than child birth) and pray it passes or you PB. Burping felt better (first time I have burped since surg.) but 3-4 seconds after I burped the pain was back.

I have always been one to learn the hard way or test the boundaries, but I usually do not pay such sever consequences.

I don't want sympathy, I just wanted to share the experience, because you all know eventually you will be there just like I did.

:omg: Thanks for the words of warning. I was tempted today to do the same thing, but luckily I am still only on full liquid diet and barely tolerating it. I had the same urge, though, to eat a nice quarter pounder. I am actually tolerating 4-5 ounces of fluids at a time, a big relief from the 1 ounce at a time of post-op. Just a few bites of low-fat frozen yogurt did me in.

I just got on the scale - today is a week - I'm down 14 pounds -:whoo::whoo::whoo::whoo:

:clap2: Way To GO :clap2:

My scale showed that I had lost 11 lbs so far today, but I'm affraid to change my ticker out of fear that it will go back up! Before banding I was always up and down 15 lbs. Hope being banded will be the end to the roller coaster ride I call my "scale!"

I just got on the scale - today is a week - I'm down 14 pounds -:whoo::whoo::whoo::whoo:

You are off to a great start...keep it going!!! :confused:

:clap2: Way To GO :clap2:

My scale showed that I had lost 11 lbs so far today, but I'm affraid to change my ticker out of fear that it will go back up! Before banding I was always up and down 15 lbs. Hope being banded will be the end to the roller coaster ride I call my "scale!"

Those pounds are gone for good!!!!!

Well went to Dr. today - just a follow up to see how I was feeling - answer any questions - advised me to start counting my calories - So I am going to now make me out a schedule and menu - I want to be prepared daily to have what I need so I don't have to look for it.

I go back in 3 weeks for my first fill. 3 weeks from today would be 3/29.

You guys talk about taking in very little liquids at a time, I came home to drinking 23 ounces of liquid out of my bottles.

Were you warned to only drink such little quantities??????

Hmmmmm

They just told me in the hospital to drink slow - when I went to the Dr's today he advised we should be drinking slowly - but as much as we can - not like we use to - gulping and what not. I was told to drink - swallow wait 20 seconds and repeat. I just drink - I haven't had any problems - I do try to get my 64 oz. a day in.

Day after surgery. I am soooooooo sore. Guess all that didn't show up yesterday. Nothing I can't deal with. Be glad when all the air disapates. It is verry unconfortable. I want to breath deep but can't yet. I am walking and not laying around. Just going about my usual without lifting. Wonder how long this lasts? I will just keep walking. Good luck to all you bandsters to be. Even though I am new at this, I will be glad to answer any questions you guys have.

I was the same way sugarbear - my 10 year old read my dischage papers and they say -Do not stay in bed all day - so the next day she said - Momma get up - my 8 year old said leave her alone - she said she told her momma is suppose to be up read this - she read and then they both said momma get up. Needless to say - I wasn't able to stay in bed, they had me up and walking around, which is a good thing - I started washing clothes - making 3-4 trips just to fill the washer (not lifting anything heavy). Just think of it as consuming less calories and burning them up -

I was thinking wow - I'm not hungry if I move around I can burn some fat up - and It worked 14 pounds down.

Day after surgery. I am soooooooo sore. Guess all that didn't show up yesterday. Nothing I can't deal with. Be glad when all the air disapates. It is verry unconfortable. I want to breath deep but can't yet. I am walking and not laying around. Just going about my usual without lifting. Wonder how long this lasts? I will just keep walking. Good luck to all you bandsters to be. Even though I am new at this, I will be glad to answer any questions you guys have.