Hey Everyone,

I thought it would be nice if all of the April 9 people met one another and we could talk about how everything is going.

Hope to hear from you SOON!!!:smile:

A statement from my April 9, 2009 Banding.... I went through procedure well with the only problem being getting a darn IV in...that was a horrible experience. After 9 tries from various medical staff, the anesthesiologist tried and got me in the neck. If it had been done there the first time I could have avoided all that torture, especially the one in my foot! That REALLY hurt! I've managed pretty well in the past 4 days and am adjusting to making the changes mentally it's taking to help my body recover and be a smaller, more confident ME! Since last Monday (3 days before surgery) I have lost 7 1/2 lbs so I think I'm off to a good start! I still have some shoulder pain and it really irritates me at times!

Sorry about your experience, but I hope you have a speedy recovery.

Hey everyone...I was banded 4/8 and doing okay so far. I have a lot of pain where my port is located it feels better when I am laying down on my back but once I have to get up I want to die the pain is so bad. I am still on clear liquids I start with applesauce and sf pudding wed. I can't wait because I don't know how much more chicken broth I can do..yuk! I lost 15lbs before surgury not sure if I've lost anything else. Has anyone had problems with the port and the pain? Hope to hear from u all soon...

Hello, I was banded on on 4/9 and every since the first day I feel like my stomach is trying to eat through my spine. I do not understand. I thought after I got the band that I wouldn't be as hungry. Even if I drink some chicken broth within an hour, I am back to the starvation again. Nothing seems to help.

Does anyone have any ideas to help solve this? It is really horrible feeling your stomach drawing and growling 24/7.

As far as the pain around the port, I have alot of pain there too. On the left side about 2 inches from my belly button. I think this is normal, after all we all really did have a major surgery.

I am kind of confused about what to eat. I had my surgery done in Mexico, and the doctor told me to use a straw to avoid taking big gulps (the opposite of what I have heard on here) I was also told to drink GATORADE, a friend said I could no LONGER drink this.

Can a few people tell me how you are dealing with hunger? And what YOUR DOCTOR told you that you could eat.

The hunger sucks, but I know that one day I can take off my fat suit. ha, ha

I DID IT......AND I KNOW IT WILL BE WORTH IT IN THE END!!!

I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE ALL OF OUR BEFORE/AFTER PICTURES IN A FEW MONTHS.

LivinWithFaith/KY

Hey everyone...I was banded 4/8 and doing okay so far. I have a lot of pain where my port is located it feels better when I am laying down on my back but once I have to get up I want to die the pain is so bad. I am still on clear liquids I start with applesauce and sf pudding wed. I can't wait because I don't know how much more chicken broth I can do..yuk! I lost 15lbs before surgury not sure if I've lost anything else. Has anyone had problems with the port and the pain? Hope to hear from u all soon...

I had a TERRIBLE IV experience too, but not NEARLY as bad as yours. The IV the nurse used was the size of a ball point pen. I could not believe it. I have never seen a IV needle that big in all my life. I have had several IV's before, but believe me....Not like this one.

I guess what they say is TRUE, NO PAIN, NO GAIN

just kidding

No really, I am sorry you had a bad experience!!

You are doing GREAT...YEAH......7 1/2 lbs. that's good, you should be proud!!!

I think I have lost about 5 lbs, since Thursday evening, but DEAR LORD ...I should be losing weight I feel like I am starving to death. Maybe I need to drink more Water.

Keep up the GOOD WORK GUYS!!!!!

A statement from my April 9, 2009 Banding.... I went through procedure well with the only problem being getting a darn IV in...that was a horrible experience. After 9 tries from various medical staff, the anesthesiologist tried and got me in the neck. If it had been done there the first time I could have avoided all that torture, especially the one in my foot! That REALLY hurt! I've managed pretty well in the past 4 days and am adjusting to making the changes mentally it's taking to help my body recover and be a smaller, more confident ME! Since last Monday (3 days before surgery) I have lost 7 1/2 lbs so I think I'm off to a good start! I still have some shoulder pain and it really irritates me at times!

Banded 4/9 and down 12 lbs! Granted I know that has a lot to do with the 2 day pre-op liquid diet and afterwards most of it is Water weight but I'm still happy!

Today I walked on the treadmill for 30 minutes at a slow, but comfortable pace. The rest of the day, until about an hr ago, I had horrible diarrehea. The nurse said that could just be from the anethesia and CO2 getting completely out of my system and also the Barium swallow on the 10th.

I'm hoping all that is gone by Wednesday so I can go to the Penguins playoff game against the Flyers! GO PITTSBURGH PENS! :thumbup:

Hope everyone else is well!

Hey Livinwithfaith.....i too have noticed my stomach growling a good bit not to long after I have broth or jello. I think the key is to drink water all day, take small sips throughout the day, my md suggests 60oz of water a day, whether it be water, water with crystal light added, tea, coffee, any clear liquid. I'm not sure if the broth counts in this or not, but I only have 1-2oz of broth 3-5times daily, I also can have sugar free popsicles and tonight i tried a sugar free fudgesicle and that was GREAT...just remember to take small bites and let it dissolve in your mouth before swallowing. I do sips through a straw, but only small sips, something like a baby would take from a bottle. Gatorade is a high sugar drink and I don't think that's on my list of allowables!

In regards to port pain, my md put my port in my chest, right above my left breast and the incision is over closer to the arm pit. It was VERY sore the first two days, but has now eased off a good bit, the muscle is sore still but no real pain! The incision for my port is healing quicker than the incisions on my tummy! I'm pleased with where my port has been placed and every dr. does it differently! I hope you get some useful info from this post, let me know if I can give you any more suggestions!!! We will truly be happier people VERY soon! Oh yeah, beef broth is VERY good, I just tried it tonight after getting burnt out on chicken broth!!! YUMMY!

Congrats on the weight loss Gavroche! Hope you are feeling better soon! Diarrhea is NO fun at all! Wishing you well!

Thanks gamassagegirl,

For all your input. I have been sipping on Water with the new Crystal Light powder that has 5g of Fiber and 3g of Protein.

Your information has been very helpful!!!

Hope to keep in contact with everyone on their

CONTINUED SUCCESS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GOOD JOB EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!

Livin' 4/9/2009....My NEW life BIRTHDAY!!!!

Hey Livinwithfaith.....i too have noticed my stomach growling a good bit not to long after I have broth or Jello. I think the key is to drink water all day, take small sips throughout the day, my md suggests 60oz of water a day, whether it be water, water with crystal light added, tea, coffee, any clear liquid. I'm not sure if the broth counts in this or not, but I only have 1-2oz of broth 3-5times daily, I also can have sugar free popsicles and tonight i tried a sugar free fudgesicle and that was GREAT...just remember to take small bites and let it dissolve in your mouth before swallowing. I do sips through a straw, but only small sips, something like a baby would take from a bottle. Gatorade is a high sugar drink and I don't think that's on my list of allowables!

In regards to port pain, my md put my port in my chest, right above my left breast and the incision is over closer to the arm pit. It was VERY sore the first two days, but has now eased off a good bit, the muscle is sore still but no real pain! The incision for my port is healing quicker than the incisions on my tummy! I'm pleased with where my port has been placed and every dr. does it differently! I hope you get some useful info from this post, let me know if I can give you any more suggestions!!! We will truly be happier people VERY soon! Oh yeah, beef broth is VERY good, I just tried it tonight after getting burnt out on chicken broth!!! YUMMY!

I was banded on April 14th, 2009, only 2 days ago. I too am experiencing pain in my shoulder (left) and very gassy. I am only on clear liquids for a week, water, broth and jello, so far I can tolerate most liquids, jello made me a little queezy. Any advice for the gas and pain? My doctor prescribed lquid Tylenol with Codeine but it makes me too sleepy?

Hey guys!

HORRAY PENS!!! 1-0 in the series!

My diarreha FINALLY subsisded Wednesday afternoon. I drank some warm broth and decaf tea and that really helped. Ate some Jell-O too.

Butterfly what REALLY helped me with the gas pains was walking with my hands above my head (sounds funny and looks funnier) and getting dissolveable Gas-X strips. Also a heating pad on my tummy helped a lot too. But walk as much as comfortable.

As for pain, I took my pain meds (liquid Percoset) for 2 days post-op, but they made me tired and nauceous. I switched to liquid Rapid Burst Tylenol and it has worked even better than the narcotics...for me at least!

Good luck everyone!

Hi all! I was banded on April 8th, and I too have been crazy hungry. I don't have much good advice to share, but sometimes it seems to help knowing that we aren't alone on this journey. I go back to the Dr. next Tuesday, so am I anxious to hear if I can move on to the soft food stage. Do you think I will get a fill then? Right now I was told only liquids and pureed food. Yuck-o. I am going to get some sugar free popscicles. I think that will help. Good luck to all of you!

Hey, How's everyone doing? I'm doing great, seems my shoulder pain is much better, gas is pretty much gone, dropped 14lbs in a week (AMAZING) Dr. seemed fine with that at my post op check up yesterday! Said everything looked great! I can really tell a difference in some of my clothes and DEFINITELY in my energy level. I am now enjoying creamy soups and puddings instead of liquids (the beef broth was a pleasant change to the chicken if any one is getting burnt out on chicken!) Please let me know how you all are!

Edited April 16, 200917 yr by gamassagegirl

Hello, I was banded on 4/10/09 in marina del rey, ca. I am experiencing lots of pain where the port is. Also, I was told by the RN to NEVER use a straw, or chew gum for the first few months because it allows you to swallow too much air, and makes you feel fuller, faster. The dietician recommended using smaller plates, and toddler sized utensils until we learn our limits on food. I do have that terrible growling, hunger pain sometimes. I think its because our bodies are used to eating so much more food. I get to eat eggs today, HOORAY 4 ME!! (4/17/09)

Hey guys -- i was banded on 4/6 -- so far so good -- im down about 23lbs -- the procedure went great - i had a ton of pain for about a week and half -- my left shoulder and port area were the worst but im finally feeling less pain -- now my prob is im really hungry though -- i think im not drinking nearly enough water - i find it hard to cont. drink liquids without the straw and now we cant use them! im about ready for my mushy/pureed stage -- any one up to that have any suggestions