Hi everyone! Well, I was just banded on Friday! Everything went well, better in fact than the doctors had been hoping for. I needed to stay on aspirin for heart stuff, but the bleeding wasn't too bad. They kept me overnight, just to keep an eye on me, and I came home last night. It's nice to be home, although I miss the hospital bed.

My kids are still gone (we farmed them out for the whole weeked) so it's nice and quiet around here.

My abdomen is pretty sore - I need help sitting up, but the girdle thing helps a ton! I'm also feeling pretty bloated. I had really bad pain in my shoulder from the gas, but that's mosly gone now, too. I'm taking the liquid percoset right now, but I'll start moving to Tylenol pretty soon so I can drive.

Anyway, I don't really have any questions yet, but I just wanted to let everyone know that I did it and it went great!

Thanks!

Hey all you friday banders! I'm officially joining your ranks as I too was banded Friday, 11/16. Surgery went great, so I'm told...gotta love that anesthesia! But I'm having a lot of pain on my left side and the vicoden my doc gave me just aint cuttin the mustard. I think the pain is more gas/bloating pain than anything...anybody got any suggestions on how to get rid of that, or is it more or less a "tough it out" kind of thing? All in all I'm SUPER excited...I know I shouldn't be weighing myself yet but mainly concentrating on healing but I couldn't help myself. Down 3 pounds and feelin hopeful for the first time in a long, long while. Gratz all you newly banded, and chin (or chins, what have you...) up! We'll all feel better soon!

I was feeling really good yesterday, but last night I started feeling icky. I'm quitting the percoset because I was feeling nauseous. I was having a very hard time breathing last night. Plus, I started having diarrhea, too!

I talked to my doc this morning and he told me the breathing might be a reaction to the glue they used to stop my bleeding (I had extra bleeding because I was on aspirin). He also told me to take ibuprofin instead of Tylenol for the pain. I have a bit of a temp, so I'm supposed to let them know how I'm doing over the next couple of days.

I'm still pretty weak. I'm really glad my mom has been able to take my kids every day this week!

Good luck to everyone else!

I take flinstones comple chewables, 1 aday.

... I think the pain is more gas/bloating pain than anything...anybody got any suggestions on how to get rid of that, or is it more or less a "tough it out" kind of thing? ...

SDSurfGirl, I had a very easy recovery from surgery. No pain meds. Some discomfort, but really very little "pain", no nausea, and no shoulder problems. What I did have was the feeling of being a giant hot air balloon, as I was so puffed up from the gas used in the surgery. I got a new heating pad (because so many people said heat helps). It happens to be one that also VIBRATES. OMG, it was fantastic. I sat on the couch and held it on various abdominal and back parts for 20 minutes at a time and it seemed like I could feel it moving the gas around and helping it to get out of my system. Maybe that was why I didn't have any shoulder pain - who knows.

All I know is that the Sunbeam, Health at Home vibrating heating pad is FABULOUS!!! I heartily recommend it to anyone

I am preparing to be banded next Thursday the 29th. A little nervous...not about the decision, mostly about keeping myself fed afterward and what I should be stocking up on at home. Best wishes to you!!!!

4mykidsinVale,

Did you Dr. tell you Clear liquids or full liquids after surgery? My Dr. told me clear for two days post op and then full liquids for 2 weeks. The Hospital told me clear liquids for two weeks. Horribly confusing.

My suggestions are, find on this forum the shopping list. I tried to find it again to give you the link but was having a problem finding it. This list has everything on it and it was extremely helpful.

Find a Protein drink you can live with. I felt this was particularly difficult because there are so many and they can be expensive.

I hope all goes well for you.

Sorry Lauri,

I just realised I'm in Australia, and you are in the US.

I got mine from the drug store (chemist), you will be able to find something simular if not the same, just ask for a good liquid multi vitamin. Hope this helps, Amy

Thanks anyway Amy..Im going to talk to a pharmacist friend of mine. Until then, im getting some flintstones! Take care

Congrats and welcome to the site. Donna

Wow you guys are sooo lucky I FELT HORRIBLE AFTER MY SURGERY TONS OF COMPLICATIONS SO IM SO GLAD TO HEAR ALL WENT WELL FOR THE REST OF YOU!

4mykidsinVale,

I had to see a nutritionist the week before my surgery. I know all doctors have different things they want their patients to drink, but my doc has me on 1/2 cup of fluids every hour with sips of water in btwn.. Fluids included broth, sf popcyiles, sf/ff fudgecicles, diet v-8 splash (i really like that) yoplait smoothies and yogurt, crystal lite, propel, fruit juice (keep it at a minimal).. I like the sf italian ice.. im very lactose intolerant so the lactose is giving me diahreeha (cant spell). As far as protein goes, im using unflavored unjury, but i just purchased "profect" from Protica - Product Catalog . It hopefully will be easier for me to drink and carry to work. I can copy my list if you would like.. Just let me know.. Good luck & just keep in mind, every day gets a little bit better. :-) Lauri

jamietindall19,

Oh no! your not the only one!! I thought i would just slide thru surgery, no problems.... NOT.. my blood pressure was way too low and i kept passing out. I couldnt even get out of bed for the 1st 24hrs... Then the liquid hydrocodone gave me such bad headaches i couldnt even move my neck. Ive been off that now for 3 nites. Just plain old tylenol for me..On top of that i have diahreeah and thats just not fun...Today i got my daughter to take me to walmart & i think the walking started moving the gas so my back is killing me.. I think ive taken about 6 gas x strips.......im going to stop complaining.. I actually do feel better and hope to go back to work by next week. Im going to take my time,and heal, but im not in too big a rush. Hope you are feeling better now.

Congrats on your surgery! Hope you get better very soon!!

HI everyone I was banded November 20th and feel great. I was very surprised to feel no pain or discomfort, my roommate at the hospital told me she envied me for being able to get around with no problem. Currently trying to be creative with the liquid diet but no much to be creative with.

I am preparing to be banded next Thursday the 29th. A little nervous...not about the decision, mostly about keeping myself fed afterward and what I should be stocking up on at home. Best wishes to you!!!!

Here's what I suggest you should have to get you through the first 3 days after surgery for the clear liquid diet. Your doctor should provide you with a list of acceptable foods for the full liquid portion, which you or someone else can buy before the 3 days are up. You should be able to get around easily enough to get to a grocery store. The abdomen pain in the incision area is the most pain you should feel and that is only when you move around and you are using you stomach muscles and then that really isn't bad. Your doctor will give you pain pills for that.

Then have these on hand:

Clear chicken broth in a can (heat and sip like soup)

Tea (hot or cold, if you like it. Avoid coffee during the first 3 days).

Jello (suggest not sugar free at this time, you need some calories)

Isopure Protein drink (you can buy single serving bottles at GNC or similar store. You need protein to keep you from feeling too hungry).

Your favorite, clear fruit juice; I suggest cranberry or pomagranite.

I mix the juice with the Protein Drink 1/2 and 1/2 and it tastes great!

Oh, course keep sipping Water.

Have chewable Gas-X pills (I don't have shoulder pain gas that some people get, but I definitely have gas in the stomach area).

Liquid Adult Tylenol (since you want to avoid swallowing pills at this time, or at least cut all pills down to pea size).

If you have any problems with constipation, go out and get Milk of Magnesa; tip try smallest suggested dose first; works great!

If you have diarrehea, go out and get Imodium AD (cut pills in half to take).

Have plenty of bandaids, guaze pads, and polysporin (not neosporin) to clean and treat the five incisions you have on your belly daily. Guaze pads are used to clean incisions with antibacterial soap and water and to dry incisions.

I tried many bandaids and they gave me a rash.

I suggest Curad Extreme Hold, assorted sizes.

Seems like a lot to think about, but it's not as bad as it seems. If you don't have everything you can always go run out and buy it as needed. No worries. The surgery is fast and you'll be surprised how easy the recovery is!

Best wishes to you! Let us know how you did.