Got my surgery date...Now I have questions......

Hi Tyler's Mom - and congratulations on all things happening! 

I am Sugar Free Candy and have been banded since December 16th last year.  My doc was Dr. Singh who worked with Dr. Averbach before going off into his own practice.

1.  The fills, I've had 4 fills and one unfill - and as much as I cannot stand needles, they do not generally hurt.

2.  I feel my port all the time when I touch my stomach, but I haven't seen it "poke" out and don't anticipate that it will unless we get to skin and bones, which the docs are not going to let us get to that point.

3.  Dr. Singh has me taking Centrum Silver - and I get the chewable kind - I was spending too much money getting the bariatric advantage, and I just decided I needed to switch.

4.  I haven't tried any liquid vitamins, but Cathy Carr or Arlene Swantko should be able to suggest some to you based on their experience and what they hear from their fellow patients.

5.  I do the chewables for Calcium - Bariatric Advantage has a nice selection of flavors.

6.  I was ready to go back to work the next week.  After surgery, I was up and walking around without any pain medication - I'm a tough cookie - I almost got discharged that night but the Xray technician thought he saw a blockage, not aware that I was a Lapbander and that there would be a slow down of fluids in the Xray - so Dr. Singh came in the next day and said it's what the band is supposed to do, so I was out of there less than 24 hours after surgery.  Sleepwise, I had gas/chest/shoulder pain so I kept trying to walk it off, but was sleeping soundly after a few days.

7.  I wasn't restricted to sleeping in a certain position, I just naturally wound up on my back and side until it stopped hurting, and then now I'm back to my preferred stomach and side sleeping modes.

Again, congratulations!  If you need suggestions for your liquid diet- I posted on my profile of what I did while I was on the 2 week preop and post op liquids.  Hope it helps!