I know how my doc says it'll go.... but I want to hear it from people.

How are the first 7 days of post op?

I would really appreciate your help. I just want to know what to expect. You don't have to write a whole book about it, just something like "Afternoon/evening of surgery- absolute misery, pain, trapped gas, unable to swallow, etc... Day 2- a little better, not so much pain, able to walk around, able to eat, etc.... Day 3- able to carry my child, not taking pain meds/only tylenol, starting mushies, a lot more alert, etc... Day 4- almost normal, able to drive "

I don't know if this is what it's actually like, I'm looking to get a good idea of what to expect.

I'm having surgery on a Thursday and going back to my desk job the following Monday. Just wondering how miserable I'll be.

I was banded 8 days ago. IMO, the second day is the worst. To be honest though, aside from that it has really been great. The surgery day itself is well, how you would expect to feel after surgery. Day 2 you are in pain. You arent cringing in bed bad, but it hurts and you are sore. For me, after that I was better every day. Walk. I dont know if it really helps but I walked and am doing great. On day 6, I ran alomst a mile and played softball later that night. I took off one week after surgery. Honestly, I have read some horror stories but from my perspective, I have been pleasantly surprised at how smoothly everything is going. Good luck.

Hello! let me see if I can help you out alittle. But as you know everyone is different. The day of surgury when I got home all I did is sleep and I drink something everytime I woke up and didnt have much pain. Then day 2 I got up walked around, drank fluids, not much pain and rested alot because the first week you get really tried easy. Day 3 got bettter and basically did the same things just more of it. I didnt have much pain at all. I only took pain meds. 2 time after I came home. the only pain I had was gas pain and I did gas-x for that. Hope this helps! Good luck...

I was banded 7 days ago, but I'm not as young as the other poster. It hit me harder than expected. I am still sore, hurts to get up from sitting or bending. I still have trouble sleeping in a bed, prefer the recliner. The liquid diet is easy. I only too pain meds for two days. I did get nauseous 4 days out and finally threw up once. I walk everyday. My back hurts me as much as my port side really.

I was banded on 9/8 and the 1st 4 days were rough...gas, walking, sleeping...they key is 2 walk as much as possible it makes u feel better..get the gas x strips that melt on ur tongue they work great..try to drink all ur liquids and get as much protein to function lol...it took me about a week or so to feel good..sleep with pillows on ur sides for support...today im doin great feels like id idnt even get surgery...besides my tummy growlin a lil bit im doin good...good luck

i spent the first night in the hospital and all i have to say is... ask for drugs as often as they'll allow. it hurt to stand up. it hurt to sit down.

i was bloated for about 5 days or so after surgery. i looked bigger than i did before surgery. i was a little surprised at that.

for me, i took my pain meds like clockwork and slept most of my recovery time away!

I haven't actually been banded seven days yet but here's what I have so far

Thursday 9/11- starving all morning til my surgery at noon, when I was in the recovery room I was in SO much F***ing pain all I could do was cry and point to my stomach (I also Has a huge tumor removed which actually hurt much worse than my band) Finally got the pain under control and was at home at 7:30 pm, drank some Water tokk some drugs slept, woke up crying becasue my drugs wore off, had to wait another hour to take them, this happened twice

Friday 9/12- Felt queasy and semi hungry all day, had some liquids took pain meds at appropriate times, walked a little, not too bad a day all said, i just selpt alot, Horrible burping/stomach rumbling, liquid diarrhea (I know TMI) developed cold/allergy upper respiratory thing cough when I lay down, back hurts alot gas pains

Saturday 9/13- Felt great, was off the pain meds, ate more that 1000 calories, walked, did not take a nap probably pushed it too hard, slept through the night

Sunday 9/14- Felt like crap, nauseated all day long, cursed myself for getting the damn band

Monday 9/15- No pain at all, severe aversion to eating, very very itchy incisions

Tuesday 9/16- No pain at all, decided that if eating doesn't make me ill, I will force myself to eat

I have been getting all of my fluids in though every day that is SUPER important, I have very mixed feelings about a band I thought I would love, probably just emotional stuff... hope this helps.

Monday 9/8: Clear liquid diet. A bit nervous but excited.

Tuesday: Banded at 10:30 AM, worst pain was starting the IV. Home by 2:00. Felt fine. Did some work email sitting at my computer. Clear Liquids only.

Wednesday-Thursday: OK, pain meds wore off. I can FEEL the band, very weird. Things moving around. Just liquids, some clear some cloudy. Walking helps a LOT, but I need to lay down afterwards. Definitely the worst period of time.

Friday - Sunday: Ate some Campbell's Chunky Soup. Ahhh, feel MUCH better. Taking regular Tylenol gelcaps for pain and it's enough. Keeping normal hours, going out, walking around, sleeping well. Some minor port site pain.

Monday: Back to work, full, normal day. Eating tuna salad, a bit of cheese and crackers. No longer feels like a band inside me so swelling must be down.

Today: Feel great, pretty much normal unless I do something that pulls at the incisions. Noticed I went in one notch more than usual on my belt this morning, nice.

I WAS BANDED 9/9/08 SO JUST 8 DAYS AGO. Surgery day I was sore right in the area below the ribcage and unable to swallow much. The 2nd day I got home and felt a little sore but mostly uncomfortable from the gas they put in you. Since home I haven't needed anything but tylenol and evryday has been better than the day before. Today I feel great and jumped on the scale and found that from a start of 372lbs before the liquid diet I am down to 331lbs today. So far I'd have to say that it wasn't as bad as I expected it to be.

Bob

I felt like total crap.

Like I had been hit by a semi truck. I had vomiting all night the first night (thank god I stayed overnight in the hospital & got IV meds). Got home and could not find anywhere comfortable to sit or lay. Gas, Diarrhea & fatigue like I have never experienced before.

I was a MESS for the first week!

What ended up helping me was taking my pain meds regular and walking, walking, walking!

In as much pain and discomfort I was in, I would still do this procedure over again. Being down 50 pounds has RE-NEWED me! I love my band now!!!

Wow what a wide array of replies! I guess I won't know what to expect until after surgery!

Thanks everyone!!!

It wasn't so bad. Kind of like recovering from the flu. You don't want to eat much, it is hard to get enough liquids in and you feel a little sore and easily fatigued.

If you are going back to work quickly, it will help if you can take an extended lunch. If you could get even 30 minutes of a small nap, you will feel a lot better the first day or two.

:smile:Heather

I have the same picture of my wife in that chair at Ripley's in Niagara falls!!

Bob

It wasn't so bad. Kind of like recovering from the flu. You don't want to eat much, it is hard to get enough liquids in and you feel a little sore and easily fatigued.

If you are going back to work quickly, it will help if you can take an extended lunch. If you could get even 30 minutes of a small nap, you will feel a lot better the first day or two.

:smile:Heather

I have the same picture of my wife in that chair at Ripley's in Niagara falls!!

Bob

That is exactly the place where it was taken. You have tremendous powers of observation, lol.

Did you like the revolving hallway there??? My husband and son got a kick out of it. I must have tried it about 5-7 times and still couldn't walk straight.

Actually my wife and I got a kick out of the whole place. Even the wax museum up the street was kind of fun.

Bob