Hey, I am new to this forum. My name is Cathryn, from New York. I tend to be a lurker on most other forums. But maybe I will come out of my shell over here.

I've had my lapband for 3 days now! So I apologize for my paranoid questions.

I was finally allowed to take the dressings off the inscisons today and shower.

The cuts were stapled closed, and now I am noticing some blood on my shirt. Is that normal? It's not hot to the touch, or inflamed. I think I have a good judgment of whether it was infected or not. I see my surgeon on Monday to have them removed. So, I hope nothing to serious is wrong.

Also, I had the gas pains in my shoulder for 2 days, and now I feel sore in the chest area. When I take a deep breath, yawn. But the pains in my shoulders is long gone.

This was my first surgery, so I don't know if I am overreacting.

Well, I hope to get to know some of you.

Take care,

Cathryn.

Hi and welcome! Your judgment, and your doctor's, are better than any "talk board" advice, but I will say usually a little blood 3 days post op is ok. If your surgical sites get hot, inflamed, hurt, drain something that is purulent, swell, etc, then call your doc ASAP. OR if you are just worried! But it sounds like you have a good handle on it!

Sounds like you're healing well! Just keep taking those deep breaths, walk, etc. You're on the way!

Thank you for the quick reply!

The nurses sent me home with a spirometer, and I've been blowing on that for the past 3 days.

Out of context that sounds so foul.

I've been walking around, up and down stairs to try and get rid of the pain I have in the chest. I does go away greatly after I take liquid tylenol. I am actually kind of scared to touch the pain medications they sent me home with. I've only been taking it before I go to bed. The surgeon said that if I can deal with the pain, then the tylenol is just as good.

I can't wait til Monday to get these staples out.

And to hopefully get off this liquid fast!!

Maybe onto broths, or something other than Water and crystal light.

You sound so on top of things, so I'm sure you know you really are supposed to "INHALE" with that incentive spirometer, right?

Sounds like you're doing well!

Oh yeah, haha. I knew that. I've been coughing up things. My surgeons nurses called today to see how everything was, and said that is expected and normal. They called before I removed the dressings. Which is why I became a little panicky.

It's old oversize night shirts til these staples come out!

Hi Cathryn!

When were you banded?

Hi and welcome! Your judgment, and your doctor's, are better than any "talk board" advice, but I will say usually a little blood 3 days post op is ok. If your surgical sites get hot, inflamed, hurt, drain something that is purulent, swell, etc, then call your doc ASAP. OR if you are just worried! But it sounds like you have a good handle on it! :huh2:

Sounds like you're healing well! Just keep taking those deep breaths, walk, etc. You're on the way! :glare:

Hi there, just looking to talk to people who have had the lap band put in and what their experiences are/were like. Both good and bad. I want to know all the stuff that doctors don't necessarily tell you. I'd like info from real people who've done weither it's good or bad.

Hi there, just looking to talk to people who have had the lap band put in and what their experiences are/were like. Both good and bad. I want to know all the stuff that doctors don't necessarily tell you. I'd like info from real people who've done weither it's good or bad.

Hi Mike! Im 5 days in and today is the first day I could call a good day. Everyone I know and have talked to said surgery and recovery were the easiest parts and I feel like either A) I was lied to. or :huh2: Im a horrible exception. I think its pretty hard. I've had 2 c-sections and I felt this was harder to recover from! I Posted about my 3rd day post op, you should read about that....obviously Im only barely in so if you have any more questions for me I will answer as best as I can:smile: