Who's scheduled for the 27th?
Hi kcb1955 and others! Well, it's done, my lap band surgery was Wednesday. Everything is going well, but I'm already tired of the clear liquid diet. I think it's mainly because I'm feeling like I need to use the restroom all the time, but I'm retaining a lot of fluid right now. I did rupture a blood vessel in my left eye during surgery for some strange reason, and they say it will take 2-3 weeks to clear up - yuck. But I'm just hanging around the house today, and was hoping your surgery went well. Please stay in touch.
Dear aroundtuit,
It's great to hear from you and know that everything went okay! I got my band on Tuesday as planned, and it went extremely well. I am feeling very thankful for all the good care and support I have received. I too got a lot of fluid pumped in and gained 9 pounds the day of surgery! It is coming off almost as quickly as it went on though, and it helps clear all that yucky anesthesia out of your system. I was on clear liquids for 3 days and the 3rd day was kind of hard, mainlhy due to feeling weak from the lack of calories. Today I have been on full liquids and protein shakes, and I feel MUCH better. I even went out to a movie with my husband this afternoon! But now I am tired and ready to curl up on the couch for a while.
I was surprised to find that my surgeon only needed to make 2 incisions to get my band placed! I have one that's maybe half an inch long over the top of my stomach, and the one where the port is is maybe 2 inches at most. Pain has been minimal but I have to admit I am sore.
I am delighted to have a buddy to share this experience with. Please keep in touch and we'll get each other through this!!
It's great to hear from you and know that everything went okay! I got my band on Tuesday as planned, and it went extremely well. I am feeling very thankful for all the good care and support I have received. I too got a lot of fluid pumped in and gained 9 pounds the day of surgery! It is coming off almost as quickly as it went on though, and it helps clear all that yucky anesthesia out of your system. I was on clear liquids for 3 days and the 3rd day was kind of hard, mainlhy due to feeling weak from the lack of calories. Today I have been on full liquids and protein shakes, and I feel MUCH better. I even went out to a movie with my husband this afternoon! But now I am tired and ready to curl up on the couch for a while.
I was surprised to find that my surgeon only needed to make 2 incisions to get my band placed! I have one that's maybe half an inch long over the top of my stomach, and the one where the port is is maybe 2 inches at most. Pain has been minimal but I have to admit I am sore.
I am delighted to have a buddy to share this experience with. Please keep in touch and we'll get each other through this!!
How different two different doctors can approach this. I'm supposed to be on clear liquids for a whole week. I'm so tired and weak, I can't imagine that this is good for a body. I have 7 incisions! I have no idea why so many. In addition, I ruptured a blood vessel in my left eye, and so I look like a mess! I can't wear my contacts, and my last pair of glasses has an extremely old prescription, so I can't see well. Can't see, can't eat, can't bend, this is nots! I know it will get better, but I'm pretty down right now. Can't wait to have a little nourishment. I'm so glad to know this is going well for you. On the up side, I think i've lost about 20 lbs since going on the liquid diet 10 days before surgery and now!
Oh, I am so sorry you are struggling so much! Perhaps you can talk to your MD's office tomorrow and see if they can move your diet up to where you can at least have the protein shakes, if you are tolerating the clear liquids okay. If you can afford to take a few more days off work, it sounds like you need it. Do you have anyone who can help you at home an give you some moral support? I just looked up your doctor and it looks like you are in Minnesota! I am with you in spirit but too far away (Virginia) to give you a hug!
Well, yesterday my family decided I should try to go to the full liquid diet since I had tolerated everyone so well and based upon what others here were allowed to do. I feel so much better with a little cream of wheat and soup. My eye is still totally red, but the family tells me it's getting a little lighter. I think they're just being nice. I'm supposed to go back to work on Wednesday; I may try to put it off until a week from today. How are you sleeping at night? I don't sleep on my back well and am still too stiff to roll over easily. I thought about sleeping in the recliner last night! My family has been great during all this - how about your support system?
I am so glad to hear you are doing the full liquids with success! I thought I would die after only 3 days on the clear liquids. I am still starving on full liquids, but at least I am getting some protein. Are you doing protein shakes? I was instructed to get at least 70 grams of protein and 64 ounces of fluid per day. I am doing that most days without too much problem.
I know the eye looks pretty nasty! But it will get better although a bit slowly, and there will be no long term damage. For many reasons, including scaring your co-workers with your red eye, I think it's great if you can wait an extra week to return to work. I am planning to go back tomorrow since I just have to sit at a computer. But, if we have ice on the ground I am so afraid of falling and injuring my surgical area that I will probably stay home. I have decided for now that my needs are pretty much taking priority over the rest of my family's, so that in the long run I can get healthier and be here for them.
About the sleep - I have had some trouble with it too. Not so much pain, but just soreness and overall discomfort and hot flashes too. Unfortunately, the hot flashes just come with my age. I used my prescription pain medicine to help me sleep. One tip I have is to wear a silky or nylon nightgown. It makes it MUCH easier to turn over in bed. I normally just wear a cotton tee shirt, but I dragged out a couple of old nylon nighties and they really help a lot.
Thank heavens for our families! I could not have gotten through this without my husband, and everyone else has been very supportive. I have only told a few close friends I was doing this surgery and they have been great. But, I like my privacy, and don't feel a desire to tell anyone else yet. Perhaps that is my fear of failure and being embarassed if I don't lose weight the way I expect to lose it. I have no doubt I will lose weight but I have failed so many times before, I jsut want to wait until the pounds are flying off, and let everyone tell me how great I look and ask what I am doing!
I walked a mile today, and gave myself the gift of getting a manicure as a reward for surviving the first week after surgery! I hope you will find a way to reward yourself too. You have really had a hard time but you are hanging in there and finding your way through this VERY challening time.
Tomorrow I will weigh myself and see how much I have lost in the first week after surgery. Hoping for 5 pounds or so - but I gained about 9 during surgery so I have no idea what I will weigh tomorrow but I will let you know and we can compare notes!
Have a good night, friend!
I know the eye looks pretty nasty! But it will get better although a bit slowly, and there will be no long term damage. For many reasons, including scaring your co-workers with your red eye, I think it's great if you can wait an extra week to return to work. I am planning to go back tomorrow since I just have to sit at a computer. But, if we have ice on the ground I am so afraid of falling and injuring my surgical area that I will probably stay home. I have decided for now that my needs are pretty much taking priority over the rest of my family's, so that in the long run I can get healthier and be here for them.
About the sleep - I have had some trouble with it too. Not so much pain, but just soreness and overall discomfort and hot flashes too. Unfortunately, the hot flashes just come with my age. I used my prescription pain medicine to help me sleep. One tip I have is to wear a silky or nylon nightgown. It makes it MUCH easier to turn over in bed. I normally just wear a cotton tee shirt, but I dragged out a couple of old nylon nighties and they really help a lot.
Thank heavens for our families! I could not have gotten through this without my husband, and everyone else has been very supportive. I have only told a few close friends I was doing this surgery and they have been great. But, I like my privacy, and don't feel a desire to tell anyone else yet. Perhaps that is my fear of failure and being embarassed if I don't lose weight the way I expect to lose it. I have no doubt I will lose weight but I have failed so many times before, I jsut want to wait until the pounds are flying off, and let everyone tell me how great I look and ask what I am doing!
I walked a mile today, and gave myself the gift of getting a manicure as a reward for surviving the first week after surgery! I hope you will find a way to reward yourself too. You have really had a hard time but you are hanging in there and finding your way through this VERY challening time.
Tomorrow I will weigh myself and see how much I have lost in the first week after surgery. Hoping for 5 pounds or so - but I gained about 9 during surgery so I have no idea what I will weigh tomorrow but I will let you know and we can compare notes!
Have a good night, friend!
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