Home From Surgery - Starting to Feel Better

Just an update.  I had my surgery on Thursday.  I have to say it was the hardest thing I've every done.  I feel bad for feeling this way, but I felt like everyone who said it was so great was a big LIAR.  I wouldn't have wished that pain and discomfort on my worst enemy. 

My nurse acted like I was being a big baby.   I could have used a little more compassion.  I must just have a very low pain tolerance. 

I started to feel a tiny bit better on Monday evening.  The gas is just terrible.  I can't seem to pass it and the grumbling is driving me nuts!

Ok, so now that I've been a downer and complained to no end, I will say that I am feeling a little bit better, every hour that passes, and I am starting to see there might be a brilliant light and the end of this dark tunnel. 

Has anyone noticed an increase in their sense of smell after surgery? Wierd.

Jenn

Jenn, who was your insensitive nurse, I had one really great nurse right after surgery and then the next day I had Rhonda, and she was not very compassionate and was never around when I needed her. So don't let her insensitive  manor get you down. You just had a really tough surgery and when you do get threw the pain you will be glad you had it done. I had the lap band cause I am a big baby and I knew I would not be able to do the rny, so my hat is off to you for that. Just keep doing everything they tell you too and you will get past the pain. Tracey

Hi Tracey,

I'd rather not say on the board, but I'll send you a pm.  My husband said she was a good nurse, but was all business.  I suppose he's right, but I needed some compassion, and I sure didn't get much from her.  I LOVED my Thursday night nurse and tech.  Daphne and Emil both were so great to me!  I liked the other techs too, but I felt a better connection with the Thursday evening crew. 

I actually think having the lapband takes a lot more guts.  When I was making my decision on which route to go, there was no way I was going to go back in to have a needle in my stomach that often. I was also afraid that with lapband I wouldn't have the will power to make it work long term.  So kuddos to you Tracey! Lapband definitly is NOT for babies!

Jenn

Glad you are feeling better!
Pain is different for everyone and it DOES get better.  You just put your body thru a major shocker.  By this time next week, you will look back and say, I am so glad I had this done.
As for the gas....WALK, WALK, WALK!  That is about all you can do for it.  Try some Gas X strips or chewables. They helped me quite a bit.  That gas is sometimes more painful then the actual surgery site.

Jenn let me know how you are feeling, I did have to worry about the needle thing cause I hate needles, but it wasn't to bad, pain wise. Now when I was to tight that I started slimy that was a little uncomfortable. Good luck to you and hope things get better, Tracey

Jenn,
Glad to see you back......Sorry about the pain. Don't be sorry. It does hurt. They blow you up w/ gas like a Thanksgiving day parade balloon. It's gonna hurt! Lapband is a lot of maintainance. I just wanted it over with and move on with thew losing of the weight. LOL Anyway you would of went is fine....atleast you did it! I am wearing my favorite bracelet today...My Halloween bracelet from your store! I want one for Christmas now!
 Give it a week and you will feel ALOT better...2 weeks you will feel 10000 percent better!
Walk as much as you can and take Tylenol thats what I did.....Work on getting into a routine. I read all I could that week about everything. It's also a very Emotional time. I remeber the WHAT THE H#$%^ DID i just do, thoughts! IT's normal, your hormones are flipping out. It will get better, I promise. It will all be worth it.
shanna

Thanks Shanna,

You're right, I was cursing myself for doing this. But today is a better day, and I'm sure tomorrow will be even better. 

I'm glad you're enjoying your bracelet.  I have one too..and I love it.  I'm having a Girls Night Out Jewelry Event next Saturday and all of the jewelry is just $3.00 each.  Great for stocking stuffers, secret santas, holiday gifts etc.  If you'd like to come, let me know and I'll get you the address. Anyone is welcome to come, we live in rural Mooresville.  *sorry for the shameless plug*

I'm going to try to make it out to a mall or walmart or somewhere to walk this evening.  It will be my first time getting out since coming home from the hospital and I'm so excited.

Jenn

Jenn, i had surgery last friday had a great nurses some better then others. after surgery i thought what the heck did i do i was sick from anathesia and couldnt walk to the door. but now im feeling better and making progress. i have copd so was harder for me to walk very far still is an issue but every step counts. getting the meds figured out is the test. what to take and when i finally got it figured out i think !!! lol who knows it may change tomorrow.NOw if i can get those protein shakes down. i got out today to walk was surprised how unsteady i was. well good luck hun.kathy

Hi Kathy,

If you were there Friday, I'm sure we shared some of the same nurses :-)  I'm sorry you probably didn't get to meet my favorite one from Thursday night. 

I know what you mean about the walking.  There was a gal who had her surgery the same day as mine, and just was up and walking lap after lap, I felt like a fool. I could barely make it past the nurses desk.  It took me well into late Friday night to get one full lap at a time in. 

I'm sure we past in the hallway. I was the miserable cry baby in the blue robe..lol

I'm finding I can't do the protein shakes, I've tried a few different recipes and had my hubby by some nu whey last night, all of it grosses me out.  I'm drinking an awful lot of milk.  So far ok, but I know in the coming days I'm going to really have to step it up and find an alternative.

Good Luck to you too!

Jenn

Hang in there, you will be doing much better with every passing day.  As for the smell thing, Yeah that's normal too.  Wait until your body kicks in to ketosis and you get the taste thing happening too.  I felt like I liked a garbage can for a couple weeks.  It was awful.  But it too has passed and is just a fond memory from early out.  LOL.

Keep plugging away and you will do fine.  As for protein, try getting the tubes of protein at GNC and adding it to some juicy juice.  It really isn't so bad and it is a good bit of protein all at once.  Just remember to take your protein kinda slow too.  Too much too fast will make you sick.

Good luck, Tracy