This thread will be a sticky so that people can post their surgery day stories so that those who come after can have an idea of what to expect.

my sister and I were banded today by Dr Ortiz in Tijuana (the most amazing doctor in the world, and probably the hottest)

7am, met the driver in the lobby of the very nice Marriott hotel

pre op tests, very easy

laid in the room for a while, very nice, flat screen tv w/ new age music playing, a fountain on the side stand next to the bed. Very calming and NICE

they put some stuff in my IV and a pill under my tongue, got a little stoned

walked into surgery room, said hi to the doctors, laid on the table. The anesthesiologist introduced himself, they strapped my arms, then I remember nothing until I woke up, Dr Ortiz was unstrapping me, there was nice music playing and I said "I love you," he said "I love you too" then next thing I remember they rolled me off the "blow up bed" back onto the regular bed, then rolled me back to the room. Laid there for a while feeling whoozy and fabulous. My sister's surgery was before mine, so she was up and around. Chatted a bit, relaxed a little more, went pee like 3 times, put my clothes on and went back out to the lobby. They fixed a hernia for me and I feel like I can take deep normal breaths for the first time in about 10 years. There is pain at the incisions and I think right where the band is - not bad at all. Took some pain meds and it's almost not even there if I lay still. The gas was getting me but took some chewable gas pills and feeling better. Sore and tired, but I walked around the hotel room a lot and it helped, laying down now. Hurts to sit up and down, but not unmanageable. Here's to a new, healthy, life! I love everyone! I'm stoned...can you tell?

I had a hiatal hernia, too, and had the same sensation of pain in my upper chest, almost feeling like I needed to burp. My doc said that it was a gas bubble. Someone in a support group told me that bay leaf tea would help. I tried it and although it was not immediate relief, it tasted good and I no longer have that feeling. I had my surgery on the 12th. Good luck!

Donna

I was banded on Wednesday. Wow, what an experience. The day started off pretty bad for me. My veins like to "hide" so it took 3 people several tries and finally a ultrasound to get my IV in. Coming out of anesthesia I was in terrible pain, coughing and then threw up several times. It took them several minutes to get me to calm down. Once in my room, things got a little better. The pain meds made me pretty tired, but they had me up and walking about 6 hours after surgery. Walking around made me feel a little better. I did spend one night at the hospital, got very little sleep and was uncomfortable most of the time. I'm home now. I'm trying to not take much pain medicine. I am still sore and my bellly button where my single incision is. I also have been coughing up mucus regularly. I keep getting a sharp pain in my upper chest, almost like I need to burp. Oh and my stomach hasn't stopped growling at me, which hurts as well. So far it has been a rough couple of days. I just keep telling myself that it will be worth it in the long run.

Wow Joyce. Sorry for your loss. I'm sure your brother is shining down on you with love and admiration for taking this giant step to improve your life. Best of luck!

Thank you! I am much better and you are right, I know my brother would have been proud of me to try my hardest to avoid his fate. I am getting my first fill tomorrow. Not much restriction right now.

Thank you! I am much better and you are right, I know my brother would have been proud of me to try my hardest to avoid his fate. I am getting my first fill tomorrow. Not much restriction right now.

I'm so glad you are feeling better. After I got banded(the 12th), my cousin sent me an email that he was sure my mom and my aunt were looking down and smiling. I'm not religious but it just gave me a warm feeling when I was hurting and feeling uncertain.

Good lick with the fill. Let me know how it goes. My appointment for my first fill is 11/11. My appetite is back, but not like it was. I've been keeping my calories around 1000/day and concentrating on getting enough protein.

Arlene

I hit enter twice and got two posts. UGH

I'm so glad you are feeling better. After I got banded(the 12th), my cousin sent me an email that he was sure my mom and my aunt were looking down and smiling. I'm not religious but it just gave me a warm feeling when I was hurting and feeling uncertain.

Good lick with the fill. Let me know how it goes. My appointment for my first fill is 11/11. My appetite is back, but not like it was. I've been keeping my calories around 1000/day and concentrating on getting enough Protein.

Arlene

That is how I feel about my brother, he fought his weight his whole life, and had been really sick for the last 10 years. He would be proud for me, as I am sure your Mom and Auntie would be too!! I am not religious either, but I believe our passed folks are still with us in spirit. I am a little nervous because I have gained 2 pounds. I have been consuming more, but I swear I have been keeping the calories under 1200. I just went back to work yesterday so maybe that will help. Plus a little restriction should help too.

So I was Banded on November 3rd. I woke up around 7:30 in the morning, scheduled to be at the hospital by 9:00am. I got to the hospital around 8:30. They registered me and took me back to the room where I was asked a million one and questions by a million people. It seemed like in no time they were putting that silly little hat on me and wheeling me into the operating room. Once in the room I slid over to the operating table. They put the air cuffs on my legs to prevent clots. About 5 minutes into being in the operating room, I was drifting off to no where land. I woke up in recovery so incredibly itchy! A lovely side effect of the pain medication haha. I will unfortunately openly admit that the pain was a little more then I had expected. I remember asking if the pain was normal, only because I expected to be sore at most. I also had trouble breathing. Apparently because of the anesthesia and the tube down my throat it made my lungs lazy. So I had to be on oxygen. My surgery lasted about an hour, and I was in recovery for about 3 hours. Once I was somewhat awake they wheeled me to do a barium swallow to check the placement of the band and to make sure there was no obstruction. I had to sit up, and that was horribly painful. Around 3:30pm they took me to my room where they gave me some Tylenol with codeine. It did absolutely nothing lol. So the rest of my stay they injected dilauded into my IV. Once I had that the rest of the stay was pretty comfortable. It was tough to get up to use the rest room, and about 7pm the gas pains started setting in. They wouldn't let me take gas x in the hospital, so I had to walk around to get it out. I was discharged the following day around 12:20pm. I couldn't have asked for a better experience. The hospital and staff were amazing, as was my surgeon. So far, so worth it!

So I was Banded on November 3rd. I woke up around 7:30 in the morning, scheduled to be at the hospital by 9:00am. I got to the hospital around 8:30. They registered me and took me back to the room where I was asked a million one and questions by a million people. It seemed like in no time they were putting that silly little hat on me and wheeling me into the operating room. Once in the room I slid over to the operating table. They put the air cuffs on my legs to prevent clots. About 5 minutes into being in the operating room, I was drifting off to no where land. I woke up in recovery so incredibly itchy! A lovely side effect of the pain medication haha. I will unfortunately openly admit that the pain was a little more then I had expected. I remember asking if the pain was normal, only because I expected to be sore at most. I also had trouble breathing. Apparently because of the anesthesia and the tube down my throat it made my lungs lazy. So I had to be on oxygen. My surgery lasted about an hour, and I was in recovery for about 3 hours. Once I was somewhat awake they wheeled me to do a barium swallow to check the placement of the band and to make sure there was no obstruction. I had to sit up, and that was horribly painful. Around 3:30pm they took me to my room where they gave me some Tylenol with codeine. It did absolutely nothing lol. So the rest of my stay they injected dilauded into my IV. Once I had that the rest of the stay was pretty comfortable. It was tough to get up to use the rest room, and about 7pm the gas pains started setting in. They wouldn't let me take gas x in the hospital, so I had to walk around to get it out. I was discharged the following day around 12:20pm. I couldn't have asked for a better experience. The hospital and staff were amazing, as was my surgeon. So far, so worth it!

Congrats!! It was more pain than I thought too, but it was gone in a couple of weeks. I never expected the pain, but I realize that was kind of niave too. I should have known, considering what they have to do to get the band in place. I am glad you had a pretty desent experience!!

I am sitting here waiting to get called in for surgery prep....I am a nervous wreck! I pray everything goes smoothly!

I am sitting here waiting to get called in for surgery prep....I am a nervous wreck! I pray everything goes smoothly!

Welcome to band land ! How did it go?

Hi guys!

I was banded this past Monday. After reading through everyone's blogs for 6 months I didn't expect to feel much pain, silly me! Not only did my incesions hurt I was also incredibly nauseous the entire night, they couldn't put me on stage one of the diet. The worst part was that because I never ate or drank every time I got nauseous I would dry heave which killed my stomach. I couldn't even go for a walk that night, even taking two steps to the bathroom made me dizzy. The next morning I woke up hoping to feel better and even though thankfully I wasn't nauseous I now had the dreaded gas pains accross my neck and collar bone. I can't even describe the pain but contrary to how some people like to describe it, it's not just "uncomfortable" it is very painful. After a few hours they finally started me on the diet and released me from the hospital once I advanced to stage 3 without throwing up. Last night was pretty brutal, my stomach hurt as well as my collar bone but I woke up in a much better place today. I really wish that 6 months from now I look back and know that it was worth it!

Hi guys!

I was banded this past Monday. After reading through everyone's blogs for 6 months I didn't expect to feel much pain, silly me! Not only did my incesions hurt I was also incredibly nauseous the entire night, they couldn't put me on stage one of the diet. The worst part was that because I never ate or drank every time I got nauseous I would dry heave which killed my stomach. I couldn't even go for a walk that night, even taking two steps to the bathroom made me dizzy. The next morning I woke up hoping to feel better and even though thankfully I wasn't nauseous I now had the dreaded gas pains accross my neck and collar bone. I can't even describe the pain but contrary to how some people like to describe it, it's not just "uncomfortable" it is very painful. After a few hours they finally started me on the diet and released me from the hospital once I advanced to stage 3 without throwing up. Last night was pretty brutal, my stomach hurt as well as my collar bone but I woke up in a much better place today. I really wish that 6 months from now I look back and know that it was worth it!

In a couple weeks you will feel much better. I had mine done the 14th of October and have had one fill. I feel incredible considering how bad I felt and all the pain. YES it is more than uncomfortable for some of us. I too had the dry heaves for the first two days UGH but all is well now!! Good luck!!

My surgery day was very uneventful. Checked in, waited a few minutes to be called back and then got undressed and put on the gown and shower cap. Got stuck twice due to being dehydrated from no fluids after midnight. I pushed it back to 6 pm cause I did not want to have any chance of vomitting and aspirating. They gave me some IV Pepcid before surgery and I suggest requesting it if you are not offered. It is a trial, but worked very well for me. I remember sliding over to the table on my own and having my arms strapped to the supports. Then I woke up sitting up in bed in recovery. I could feel the leggings pulse to keep my blood circulating. For a cloudy half hour I sat there while the nurse recorded vital signs and prepared to get me up. At 9:20 am I cleared up. I was ready to get up and walk. They wanted to wait another hour before having me drink. These two things must happen before being discharged. i downed the 5 one ounce cups at 10:10, my throat was sore from the tube. By 10:20 I was walking again, I offered to help the nurse with the IV pole because she couldn't keep up. By 10:45 I was in the car headed for home. We stopped at Walmart for the prescription Percocet, (why do they wait till the last minute?), and walked around for a bit. Once home I did some light house work while my wife took a nap, getting up at 5 am took a toll on her. I never felt like eating and I accidentally forgot the ice chip stage. I slept very well that night. I am a side sleeper so I just proped a pillow up under my big belly and out I went. My wife takes care of Lap-band patients that chose to have the surgery done in the hospital and was amazed at how well I did. So were the nurses and surgeon at the surgery center. I was blessed to breeze through this day with no problems, thank you Lord.