First off... I want to apologize.....I don't want to be one of those doom and gloom nothing good to ever say kind of people (and normally, I'm not)

But I have to say this surgery has not been too kind to me yet (though I know I am a bit different case than most)

I am now 8 days post op and still in a LOT of pain. I am still having gas pain (though my surgeon insists it is not gas.. that it is the band I feel) Many people have told me they have the exact type of pain (mid breastbone, spreading up and out) and my surgeon told me that is NOT gas...though people think it is. I am sucking down GasX like crazy anyway, it is helping marginally.

My other major issue is itching....I had 9 incisions, and each one of them has a nasty dark red rash around it from the tape. The tape did not start bugging me until 6 days postop, and the doctor took it off the next day (yesterday) The itching is so intense it is actually painful....I am doing all I can NOT to itch...as well as using different topical agents on it (hydrocortizone cream as well as aloe vera w/lidocaine) I just have to be careful not to open up an incision.

I started mushies yesterday too....I was happy about that, since I was Hungry but of course, now I am having trouble getting in my 3 meals, 3 Protein drinks and 64 oz of Water <sigh> I just can't win. This difficulty is not because of restriction (I don't feel any) It's more a time issue...just not enough hours in the day.

I can say I am not unhappy I did the surgery....I am trying to look at all these things as just what I need to go through on the way to a better, heathier me.

Hi. I had surgery with Dr. Mel too, mine was 5/23/08. He is good, but doesn't answer questions very well.

I had a terrible rash about 6 days post op. It was bright red, from head to toe. It hurt so bad. He took me off of the Protein shake until the rash cleared up. My PCP gave me some steroids to take and some meds for the itching. After about a week, it was gone and I resumed the Protein Shake. I was so afraid I was allergic to the band. It'd be just my luck. But, not sure what it was, thinking maybe it was the anesthesia from surgery.

Also, he wants you having between 50 to 90 grams of protein a day, so you are getting way too much protein if you are drinking 3 shakes a day. What I do is I mix 2 scoops of the protein shake with 2 qts of sugar free lemonade and some ice cubes and sip on that all day long. I also add Benefiber, to get in my Fiber for the day.

For the pain that you are experiencing, I too think it is acid reflux. I was told that you will have acid reflux after the surgery for awhile. I don't remember off hand who told me that. I never had it. I do experience gas though. I rarely suffered with it before surgery, but I certainly do now. I think it is the fiber supplement causing it, so I'll tolerate it.

Hope I have been of some help to you. hang in there. It gets better :thumbdown:

Deb W from Kansas

Hi. I had surgery with Dr. Mel too, mine was 5/23/08. He is good, but doesn't answer questions very well.

I had a terrible rash about 6 days post op. It was bright red, from head to toe. It hurt so bad. He took me off of the Protein shake until the rash cleared up. My PCP gave me some steroids to take and some meds for the itching. After about a week, it was gone and I resumed the Protein shake. I was so afraid I was allergic to the band. It'd be just my luck. But, not sure what it was, thinking maybe it was the anesthesia from surgery.

Also, he wants you having between 50 to 90 grams of protein a day, so you are getting way too much protein if you are drinking 3 shakes a day. What I do is I mix 2 scoops of the protein shake with 2 qts of sugar free lemonade and some ice cubes and sip on that all day long. I also add Benefiber, to get in my fiber for the day.

For the pain that you are experiencing, I too think it is acid reflux. I was told that you will have acid reflux after the surgery for awhile. I don't remember off hand who told me that. I never had it. I do experience gas though. I rarely suffered with it before surgery, but I certainly do now. I think it is the fiber supplement causing it, so I'll tolerate it.

Hope I have been of some help to you. hang in there. It gets better :thumbdown:

Deb W from Kansas

Are you the one who bought your Protein Drink at Wal-Mart??? He told me of one of his patients who did and broke out in a rash head to toe ;O

Even though he can be a bit evasive on answers, I am going to miss him when he is gone ;( I really liked the idea of a surgeon who keeps on you, and follows up.

julie

Yes....that was me. We live in Western Kansas and all we have here is WalMart. I bought my Protein drink at the local WalMart. It has 52 g of protein per 2 scoops.

I'm going to miss him too. When he told me he was leaving, it broke my heart. I felt so bad. I'm kind of scared.....he comes out here, so saves us a trip to Denver, now what are we going to do. Not sure if I'll like the new guy. Guess we will find out.

You can email me if you'd like. debbiew_56@yahoo.com

Deb W:smile:

Julie

It was such a pleasure to meet you yesterday. Sorry I wasn't very talkative, but I'm horrible with goodbyes, although I'd have been fine, but darn him, he hugged me and that was it....I cried. Anyway, it was so nice to put a face with the name. I do hope you are doing better and finally on the road to recovery. Let's keep in touch girl. Take it easy and rest......I'm so proud of you and what you have gone through and still you are determined. That speaks volumns.