March '07 Bandsters Union

[alaverde 0]

I had to stay in the hospital the first night due to nausea. Never had vomiting, thanks to some medicine they gave me. Dr. Adams thinks it was just the anesthesia. I am down almost 10 pounds since coming home. I was on Clear Liquids for the first 5 days and now and I can move to phase II which is full liquids. Starting to get a little strength back now and not as sore. I still have the steri-strips on the incisions, 5 of them. They seem to be pretty stuck. He just said to put band-aids on when they come off but I wonder how long it is good for them to be on there. Anyone have any experience with this?

[Mickey_1969 0]

Alaverde,

Mine only stayed on for a few days after returning home. I left them uncovered and mine are pretty much healed. I guess everyone's different. Good luck.

Lisa

[TheCascadian 1]

Day 6 post-op, my steri-strips are still on after multiple hot soapy showers and some good 'ole belly-scratchin.

[Sharon67 0]

those steri strips did not want to come off for nothing!!!!!!!!! i even used adhesive remover that we use on our patients that have sticky stuff on them from iv's.... finally had gotten them off then the sticky would not come off for a few more showers!!!

good luck with that!!!!!!!!

[Gizmonz 0]

Well I have just found this thread. I had my op on March 8th. I am at the stage that I can start my solids - yahoo!!!! Its a great thought but a little scarey. I am in NZ too like Lisa, I live in Canterbury and was the first one to have the op in ChCh. They have only just started doing it down here. Everyone used to fly to Auckland, but no longer. I am No. 1. Really happy with my op. I have now lost 13.6 kg. I started off at 136.1kg and my weight is at 122.3kg, so I am on the right track. Will be really great to hear how everyones journey goes.

Regards

Dale

[LoriPA 4]

those steri strips did not want to come off for nothing!!!!!!!!! i even used adhesive remover that we use on our patients that have sticky stuff on them from iv's.... finally had gotten them off then the sticky would not come off for a few more showers!!!

good luck with that!!!!!!!!

Wow, that is the first I've heard of that...yours must have really been stuck on there! Mine fell off after five or six days after surgery.

[jono201 0]

Why is everybody so concerned about the steri-strips. I have given mine free rein and may even name them. I figure when they are ready to leave the nest they will-I refuse to get rid of them before they are ready.

Gizmonz-welcome-I trolled this site silently for months before I decided to lapband. When it is 3:30 am in NZ what time is it here in the pacific north west (Washington state)? Posting at 3:30 in the morning is so rock and roll. I know I can look up the time difference myself, but I just got home from school and I refuse to look up any more answers to any more questions. Plus I need to do homework now. Cascadian you rock too-cherish your steri-strips, much healthier than chicken strips.

Larend-I visited that other site-you know which one and I thank you for always injecting some sanity into an insane world.

By all-homework now

[bjlang68 1]

I was banded on March 23rd! I lost 11 pounds the first week, on the liquid diet. For the last week, now that I'm on the pureed diet, I have not lost another single pound! My surgeon does not like to adjust any sooner than 8 weeks post-op! Damn. How is everyone else doing with no fill? Anyone else in Bandster Hell with me?

[amrdmr 1]

I was banded on March 23rd! I lost 11 pounds the first week, on the liquid diet. For the last week, now that I'm on the pureed diet, I have not lost another single pound! My surgeon does not like to adjust any sooner than 8 weeks post-op! Damn. How is everyone else doing with no fill? Anyone else in Bandster Hell with me?

Believe me, you are NOT alone. I was banded March 20, had lost 20 pounds prior to surgery, now have gained 3 pounds back. I'm still on mushies, and I try to stay with Protein, veggies and Beans, but nothing beckons me but potatoes. UGH! If it weren't for the kindness and support of those who have already gone through this taking the time to write us newbies messages of "chin up", "you will get through this", I would really being having even more of the "what in the world did I do to myself?" pity party. I wish to issue a widespread THANK YOU to all of you out there who write these helpful responses.

My surgeon says first fill at 6 weeks, which is May 1 for me, I feel for you, having to wait 2 more weeks. Bandster Hell is aptly named and I guess we just have to grit our teeth and get through it the best we can. I have been keeping a food diary, amounts even, and it is just shocking me that I am not losing weight. I mean, how is it possible? It just really confirms my belief that my genetic heritage is going to be one tough monster to vanquish. I started with a "lower" BMI, just below 35, is that the case with you also? They say that is a factor in not getting the amazing weight loss starting right away. Patience, patience, patience, is my mantra now. I know my Irish potato-loving genes are going to fight me every step of the way. Anyway, I hear you and sure do empathisize with this nasty frustating time.

AMRDMR

[lilnena 0]

Its amazing how different bodies react differently to the surgery.

After surgery I ended up gaining about 7lbs due to fluids. After I got home I didn't lose ANY weight that first week. Once I started adding in more calories the weight slowly began to creep off. Now that I'm on mushies I've lost just about 12 lbs! (Before surgery I lost 54lbs)

[LoriPA 4]

As my PCP said (strange as it sounds), we have to eat to lose weight. I guess that is why once we hit the mushy stage we start to lose again...lol. In my case, it really dropped off when I was on liquids...maybe because I spent so much time in the bathroom!

[bjlang68 1]

There are so many different experiences. It's amazing that we all had the same thing done! I despise this "Bandster Hell", but I'm happy for those who haven't gone through it. I wish I had been one of the lucky ones. Maybe if the rest of us force our docs for an early fill at gunpoint......haha! We can be the "LapBand Bandits"! (Should we ride horses?)

[bjlang68 1]

AMRDMR, You are a darling! Thanks for the kudos and support! Nice to know none of us are alone! Has anyone been successful with begging their doc for an early fill? If some will fill after a couple of weeks, should'nt we be able to convince our "8 week fill" docs to come up off a few weeks? Geez.

[babylovestoys 1]

Hey March Bandsters!

Wanted to check in & see how everyones progress has been. My surgery was March 12, 2007 and I feel much better than I did a month ago. I am trying to folow the food rules. Yes, I need to drink more Water and get some walking in. I lost 10 pounds the week after surgery. Over the past month though I have only lost 2 pounds. It seems that my body is holding onto the weight for some reason. this is frustrating!!! It is still a month before I get my first fill so I am trying to go it alone.

My first fill is under flouro. I hope to get good restriction. How is everyone else doing?

[bjlang68 1]

Wow, that is the first I've heard of that...yours must have really been stuck on there! Mine fell off after five or six days after surgery.

My surgeon put the steri strips on under the cloth material band-aids. Today is my 21st day post-op, and the last of my steri strips fell off yesterday. (Yes. I shower at least once daily!) My surgeon stressed that I should let them fall off themselves, so I never touched them. I let the band-aids work their way off, too. Maybe that's how I kept the steri strips on so long. The band-aids were on for awhile!