(in general, i know everyone is different) and how can i tell when its going away? is that why i am starting to feel hungry now? and i am SO freakin thristy, this sip sip sip thing doesnt seem to keep me hydrated. any suggestions on what to try?

Your swelling should be going down now and that is why you are starting to feel hungry.

I only sipped the first week or so. I am just starting my 2nd week out and I don't sip any more. I drink a lot of Water anyway (even before surgery) and I get really thirsty so I do full swallows most of the time I TRY not to gulp but sometimes I'm just so thirsty I can't help myself. Note that I am not advising you to do this, just telling you that I have and it hasn't seemed to cause any problems. Check out this thread I started about sipping. I was having trouble with that too. http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/do-we-have-sip-forever-42280/

I'm still swollen too. I know because my pants are too tight. I'm wearing jeans I wore before I started this journey.....30 lbs ago! I'm uncomfortable. I hope the swelling goes away soon.

Were you referring to internal swelling in your stomach or external belly swelling? Because the external belly swelling lasts awhile. I'm 2 weeks out and still have it. My pants are tighter today than they were before I lost 23 pounds!!!! It's very frustrating. I hope it goes away soon too.

I am on day # 3 with the band.

I am also swollen , not passing gas, no b.m.'s yet either.

I think I would feel better if I wasn't so swollen.

The reason I am replying to this is I emailed my doctors office and ask what to do and will share the answer with the room.

I was banded on 10/9. I suffered with the shoulder pain, the heating pad seemed to work. I still feel very bloated and with gas, despite have several bowel movements(diarrhea) I am walking a lot. Went out today, walking felt good but had to go to bathroom at grocery store. My mom told me to wear a girdle for abdominal support during the bloated phase, seems to help somewhat. I heard of a patient done the same time as me is out golfing already. I am reminding myself, as we all should that each of us is different and will be ok when it's time for us to be ok.. Hang in there, it will be worth it.

I'm day 4 post-op and today I finally feel pretty good.

My BM's started on Day 2, very wattery, light yellow.

Day 3 they are the normal brown color, but again wattery.

The gas pain was pretty intense yesterday I felt like I'd burst like a ballon if you'd stick a pin in me. I thought it may have been my period, but nope, those unmistakable cramps were there this morning. I took two Tylenol and I'm fine... just still very tired.

So far I haven't tried pants. I'm lounging in my house dress and I figured on trying clothes tomorrow. I'm walking in baby steps as my walking wasn't very good before banding -- so I'll know I'll be doing better when that increases.

I think my Internal swelling has reduced, my appetite is increasing a great deal. But I'm still swollen externally. I will this would go away!!!