What to expect? Getting banded on 11/26

livelovelaugh · November 18, 2007

Hello,

I am getting banded on 11/26. Can anyone tell me what I should expect in post op? From reading other posts it seems that there is much frustration & hunger in the following weeks. Is anyone having a positive experience? If so, what are you doing to help yourself to have the post- op going so well?

Thank you.

Sades · November 18, 2007

I've been banded just ove 2 weeks and other than the first couple of days in hospital, all has been well. Was off my meds after Day 2... healed pretty quickly. Have been following my dr's orders which really helps. I'm halfway through the mushies stage and have my next dr's appoint on 27 nov... may end up with a fill at that time.

Kristin1031 · November 18, 2007

Hello,
I am getting banded on 11/26. Can anyone tell me what I should expect in post op? From reading other posts it seems that there is much frustration & hunger in the following weeks. Is anyone having a positive experience? If so, what are you doing to help yourself to have the post- op going so well?

Thank you.

I can't speak for others but I can speak for myself. I am 10 days post op and I have yet to feel any hunger. I am following my Bariatric Program that I went through to the letter according to my surgeon and nutritionist. I had a really hard time in the first week to get all of my liquid in, Water did not taste good to me and anything sweet was awful including crystal light.

But I have not had any food issues so far. That seems to be the easy part. I have been incredibly sore near my port sight and today is truly the first time I have not been hurting while sitting. Standing and lying down was more comfortable to me. But I have made myself be active I did not want to just veg on the sofa......I wanted to move. So I would do small things like picking up the kitchen or making the bed and taking a shower getting dressed and then rest. I have found each day I have more energy than the last.

So that has been my experience. There are many types of experiences here. I was scared before surgery as well, and when I would see a post here that talked about the awful times I tried not to read too many of those, instead I wanted to read the positive ones, the ones with hope...LOL

I am glad I did that, because it helped me not to be horribly anxious. There are some terrific folks on this board who are willing to help in any way they can and some have super advice.

Good luck on your surgery I am certain all will go well and you will be on the losing side of band life in no time.

kacee · November 18, 2007

First of all be PREPARED for hunger when you start feeling better. You will still have a capacity to eat quite a bit. Eat to FILL yourself (I ate a LOT of Jello around that time....every time I felt the munchies I headed for a cup of fat free jello. At 10 cal per cup, I could load up). I actually had a really good post-op experience. I knew everything that was happening and what to expect so when it came, no surprises. Understand that you are NOT expected to shed weight like a maniac right after surgery. Your band won't work for you until you get restriction (and that means RESTRICTION, which doesn't necessarily mean "first fill"). The most dreaded thing you can do at this time is get disappointed and feel hopeless. This is a process that may take some MONTHS, so understand this. These are the first few weeks and months of the rest of your life and things will change, sometimes faster, sometimes slower. DO NOT GET DISCOURAGED. Professional dieters are always getting discouraged. This will be different. The changes WILL come.

Longhorn · November 18, 2007

It's been 18 days since my surgery and I still haven't really been hungry, not the way hunger used to feel. I can tell sometimes that I should eat but it's because I begin to feel a little weak. But none of that deep in my pit kind of hunger and not even any head hunger. A couple of times my senses have perked up because my husband made something for himself. The aroma of food has always tempted me more than seeing it.

I have felt completely normal since a week ago, as far as no pain or fatigue. I've been back to work for two weeks and the first week, I was a little tired and it still hurt when I bent over but it was still not really a big deal. My port was infected but the only symptom I could feel was soreness. However, it started getting better almost immediately after I started taking antibiotics.

Just try to give yourself as much time to recuperate as possible and take it easy. You can always do more if you're able! Good luck!

make33 · November 18, 2007

Yep, as Longhorn said, at two weeks and one day I was feeling great! At five weeks and one day, I literally FORGOT I had surgery!!!

The eating--or lack of it--has been so invigorating!!! And I still can't believe that the pounds aren't packing back on (in 5# increments!) like they used to. My scale either stays the same for a long time or like this morning, will suddenly drop 2#!!

Everyone is different in so far as the amount of pain and discomfort you will have--but if you follow your Bariatric Center / Surgeon's orders, you will not go wrong. Sometimes you will think they are going overboard on caution, but truthfully there is no such thing when it comes to your body.

Just be sure to get plenty of Protein (supplements) and this will be a "forever" thing.

The very best to you...

livelovelaugh · November 18, 2007

Thank you! This really helps. I will go for my final wiegh in before surgery with some good questions for my Dr. This is exiting and nerve-racking all at the same time.

cmeyer11 · November 18, 2007

thanks. I'm getting banded on the 28th and your message really helped me put things in perspective. Question: how have diabetics dealt with meds post band?

Cmeyer