Hi I'm new to the site and I am wondering if any of you out there have used herbal or other supplements to help after surgery, any stories about therapies or recomendations other than from your operating doctor (supplemental) would be really interesting - thanks!

Do you mean healing from surgery? Other than Vitamin E for the scars, I've never heard of anything being necessary. The surgery is really pretty minor, and time takes care of the healing very efficiently. What are you asking about?

i was thinking more along the lines of herbal supplements to help the system cleanse and heal. Also, maybe supplements to ward off hunger? I still don't understand how hungry people are/arent and for how long. I was also lumping this in with practices like acupuncture, bowel cleansing, massage, hypnotherapy, anything that people have done in conjunction with their surgery and weight loss efforts that has helped or hurt! Thank you for the kind attention to my new thread, I'm still a bit tentative to post but sure love reading what people have posted! Thanks again.

I'm sure there are lots of people who go in for supplements and other "alternative" tactics, and being banded is neither here nor there as far as that's concerned. Banding only changes one thing about us: our capacity to eat. If any other strategy seems helpful along the road of weight loss, go for it! There will no doubt be someone else right there with you.

I did a bowel cleanse the night before surgery because I'd read that it helped prevent some of the left shoulder pain that is associated with residual gas in the system from the laparoscopic technique. My doctor didn't have a preference over whether I did this or not, so I tried it. Honestly, I don't think it helped much. I still had a lot of left shoulder pain. If I had to do it over, I'd probably still do the cleanse though, if for the sole reason that constipation is a side effect of anesthesia and narcotics, so having less in my system pre-op probably alleviated some post-op discomfort.

Other than that, I don't have any thoughts on alternative treatments to aid recovery from banding. Good luck with your research!

thanks for the replies - and wow! you both are doing so well! I am starting to really get excited about being banded, I am scheduling soon. thanks again!

Hi Indahl,

I would be interested in what other people thought on this subject also. I am a firm believer in alternative approaches.

Massage/touch therapy intrigues me. I have this theory that getting a massage at least 2 to 3 times a week and really working that "extra" skin would really help with results. I may decide to try this. It certainly would not hurt.