is LAP Band the same as gastric band

I will have my gastric band surgery in 9 days, so on March 7th, and I am a little nervous. Please could I get some feedback from you guys about your life after surgery and your experience straight after surgery? Have you been in a lot of pain? How long did you have ti stay in the hospital? How is the weight loss goimg? thank you for sharing :) Angelika

 I was released the day after surgery, so a 23-hour stay (as billed to insurance). I didn't have much pain in the hospital since I was on morphine, the only real irritation was the catheter while walking. And you will want to WALK and WALK and WALK, no matter how you feel, walking will help the most.

You'll also be introduced to very small amounts of fluids - for me it was the morning after surgery, but some hospital protocols may be different. You won't feel very hungry, and you'll be shocked at how one little medicine cup of fluid fills you up 

When you get home, be prepared with plenty of protein liquids in your cupboards. Stock up now, don't wait! You'll also want to have your supplements ready (chewables work just fine, I'd highly recommend against liquid or powder calcium, they are gross!) For AT LEAST the first week you'll barely have room for the protein and liquid requirements...forget anything else getting in there. 

Week 2 and on, people vary in their recovery. I was able to start purees, then solids by week 3 (purees just weren't filling me). I'd highly recommend lentils, greek yogurt, and cottage cheese if you like them and get tired of the protein drinks...I have a hard time with the chemical aftertaste, so I had to improvise pretty quickly on my protein sources. Lentil soups were my lifesaver in the first 2 weeks (about 23 grams of protein per cup).

Hope that helps! Last time I weighed was 3.5 weeks after surgery and I'd lost 26 pounds...I refuse to weigh myself, I'm looking forward to the surprise at my next checkup - but I know I've lost at least one pant size! 

Edited to add: Oh, and I had some port-site pain (above and to the left of the bellybutton) after coming home...it lasted about 3 weeks. Felt like I'd done too many situps. Everything else was minor: a little cough, some rib pain, groggy if I took the pain meds, typical surgery stuff.

~Jen

 I too was really nervous before, but once I got to the hospital the nurses were moving so quickly because the surgeon was moving quickly.  So my nerves didn't have time to really set in on the day of surgery.  

I didn't have to stay in the hospital, it was a day stay surgery.  Checked in at 1:30, surgery at 3:00 and release at 8:10 pm.  I didn't really have too much pain the first night, I came home took my liquid tylenol with codeine and slept till the next morning.  I really didn't use my tylenol cause it was just soreness (like I did 1000 sit ups without the flat abs).  I didn't have any gas too, just a little discomfort and slept with a heating pad.  I was out and about 2 days later for Christmas.

My weight loss has slowed down, which I expected.  But I do know I am losing some inches cause I went down 2 1/2 pants sizes, my shoes fit better (weird).  I measure all of my food, and also keep track of what I eat.  Walk/jog on the treadmill 5 times a week.  

All surgeons put you on different post op diets, I had clear liquid 4 days, then full liquids 4 days, then mushies for 4, then on to regular foods.  But one thing is make sure you sip your water ALL day long to stay hydrated.  I used sugar free Kool Aid, and Isopure for the protein.  

I hope this helps.  Good luck with everything, I am glad I finally had the surgery.  

I had surgery about three months ago and it was easy !!

My surgery was at 1 pm out in my room by 3 and home by 7 pm that night. I was suppose to stay over night but since I did so well they let me go home .

As soon as I got to my room I was up and walking the whole time from 3:15 to 7 pm I never stopped but to sit down in a chair for about 20 min and then I was back up to walking again.

I had no gas pains , no port pains no nothing if it wasnt for the incisions I would have never known I had surgery to be honest.

I was back to sleeping on my belly about 7 days out and I only took the pain pills for about the first 48 hrs due to hubby being anxious not me lol.

The first week my upper tummy felt like I did a zillion sit ups but it wasnt painful .

I have lost 40 pounds as of today and 24 inches and that is within three months and no fills since surgery :o) 
 
Good Luck !!!

Angelika,

I was so nervous the day of my surgery that I almost walked right out of the hospital all hooked up and ready to go, they gave me something to relax and I was alot better. My worry was for naught my Mom said that I was in surgery for less than 30 min. one minute I was talking to the surgical staff and the next waking up.

My insurance required a overnight stay, I was very nauseous after surgery (most likely from the pain killers because they gave me something before surgery for the nausea from anesthesia).
So I took no other pain medication after, I agree with the above poster it felt like 1000 crunches or like I got punched in the stomach but for me I would rather have some discomfort rather than the nausea. 

Don't worry about how much pain you may or may not have and no need to be a hero or tolerate it, take the pain medication if needed. Oh and a pillow for the car ride home...hold it to your stomach helps alot.

I came home from the hospital the next day and was out showing property the day after that......of course I had to be driven and only showed two homes but it was still doable.

I lost most of my weight the first year around 80 pounds, I gained 7 pounds the second year and lost that again and basically maintained..... I had a slight fill in October and have been on the loosing track again, I now only have about 10 maybe 15 pounds (5 as a buffer) more to go and should be there by my third anniversary.

Yes, I may be a  slow loser and I hit a few bumps (bad habits, food addict not the bands fault) but really now that I am almost 100 pounds down it all really doesn't matter............. I would not be a size 10/12 if not for the band........oh and exercise (the only thing I can control).

So when I feel bad because I didn't get to goal by year one like many others did, I think back when I was 254 pounds and remember how I would have killed to be where I am at now..............

So just follow your docs instructions to a T, and remember the first few weeks are a time of healing, take care of your band the first 6 weeks are crucial and know that we are all there for you.

Keep us posted and congratulations......will make some room for you on the loser's bench!!!!

Michele

Good luck with your surgery!  I am having my band placed that same day and am getting nervous, too.  Thanks for asking this, as the responses have been very helpful. 

Is Lap-Band the same as gastric band? Yes, insofar as the Lap-Band and Realize Band are types of adjustable gastric bands. Non-adjustable gastric bands were used years ago, and are still used in the Fobi-Pouch gastric bypass procedure.

My Lap-Band surgery is the easiest surgery I've ever had. I'm comparing it to an abdominal hysterectomy, a breast reduction, an inguinal hernia repair, and some dental surgery that's horrifying to even think about. I stayed overnight in the hospital after my band surgery, but it's often done as outpatient surgery. As for the weight loss, I lost 100% of my excess weight in 12 months.

It would be difficult for me to describe my life with the band in a forum post. I wrote a lot about it in my book, Bandwagon, but you can also learn a lot by visiting the OH band forum every day and reading different posts so you can get an idea of the issues we deal with and the triumphs we experience as our WLS journeys go on.

Jean 

you guys, thank you so much for sharing! I feel a little better now and also many thanks for all the tips (pillow in the car) I will definitely do that!

Totally off subject...my sisters name is Angelika :)

My advise is....Don't over-think it....Get all the info from your surgeons office, listen to your nutritionist and when you come here for help,  you will soon find out who and what you can believe. Don't forget we are all different, what works for one  of us might not work for you. That does not make you weird. There is no NORMAL with WLS.

But then again ...what do I know

Petra

and also totally off subject...my mother's name is Petra ;)
Again, thank you, I am taking on all your advise and help and I feel much better already- though in the next week I'll probably be in this forum a loooot...:)