I was banded 8/12 by Dr. Jeffrey Baker at Unity Hospital (considered a "Center of Excellence" for banding) in Fridley, MN. I was walking the day of surgery. I went home the next day at 3:30. The gas is finally passing and I hope the pain in my abdomen from that subsides. I also had referred pain up in my left shoulder. I am having quite a bit of pain where my port is, so I have stayed on my hydrocodone/acetominphen Rx for now. I tried Tylenol yesterday but it made me semi-nauseous, so I am staying away from it for now since I had terrible nausea in the hospital that resulted in retching before I was given the right cocktail of anti-nausea meds. This was my first surgery, so we did not know I would have such an adverse reaction to the anesthesia.

I keep looking forward to the future and wonder how I'll look and feel a few month from now and it motivates me and encourages me to know I made the right decision to have the Lap Band procedure. I am also looking forward to reading more profiles and success stories on this website and one day I hope to be one :biggrin:

All the best -

Jen

Odd that tylenol nauseates you but hydrocodone/tylenol doesn't! We're all unique, aren't we?

Just keep walking and distracting yourself. You'll feel better soon!

I had my surgery done on Aug 13 and I am still having some pain where the port is. I was told he fund a hernia and repaired it. This has me thinking what have I done. i thought it woud be really simple. the port area is the only area that has pain. What can I do? The gas pain is subsiding but the port pain hasn't.

i thought it woud be really simple. the port area is the only area that has pain. What can I do? The gas pain is subsiding but the port pain hasn't.

You obviously weren't well prepared; surgery is surgery and not everyone is ready to run a race the day afterward. If you'll read on here you'll find it takes many people a week or two (or more) to feel better and oddly the younger ones seem to have the most trouble (don't know your age but I can tell from your pic you probably are not 54 LOL If you are I want to know what you are drinking :biggrin: )

Anyway just follow your post op diet perfectly, walk as much as you can, take your pain meds if you need them, and give it time.

Usually the port is sewn into the abdominal wall (with the realize band I believe it's clamped, not sewn) and that involves muscle. It will take it longer to heal.

Just hang in there!

Hello there,

What a fimillar story. This was my first surgery. I was also banded on Aug 12, stayed the night, went home at 3:30 the following day. I was up 4 times during the night when I just had to get up and walk. I am still in pain at times, although it is tolerable. I quit taking the lortab d/t the taste. I have yet to just crush a tylenol for the pain. I have been walking around the house and taking short walks outside. Today was the first day I really went for a long stroll. Ouch. It hurts when I take deep breathes too. Does that happen to you? Have you lost any weight yet?

Stefanie:thumbup:

My surgeon told my DH that he put in a smaller band (I didn't know there was such a thing!) and that I could expect more rapid weight loss more quickly. When I got home I got on the scale and expected to see a weight gain because of the IV fluids, which I did. I was up 5 lbs. Today I got on the scale and not only were those 5 lbs gone but so were another 4.5! I am following my liquid diet to a "T". I am on clear liquids this week and thicker liquids next week. Then I go to pureed foods, then eventually soft meats and then "normal" food. It is a 6 week process to get back to regular food.

Hi Jen, I am also from MN. I am considering Lap Band. How did you start the process of finding a doc? and did your insurance cover all of it?

Banded on 8/10/09, and I'm also still having port pain. I find it interesting that the "younger" patients seem to take longer to recover! I'm going back to work tomorrow, and that scares me b/c I don't think I'm ready to sit up in a chair all day...yikes! Guess we all just have to hang in there and focus on the better days ahead!!! Feel better soon, everyone!