Words of wisdom needed

I had my Lap Band done on Feb. 10, 2011.  I have lost 48 pounds since starting my mandatory insurance journey in July 2010.  The incision over my port was not healing correctly and my dr. will not give me my first fill till March 30.  I am almost 5 weeks out and still feeling blah and my port side is still tender.  I don't feel like me and I'm so tired of it.  I have had a hard time getting my protein in...I was gagging on the shakes but I am drinking about a cup and 1/2 a day.  I am also on my soft foods now.  I am walking for about 25 min. 6 days a week. I just can't seem to get my energy levels up and feel like me again.  How long were you noticable sore for?  Did anyone else have a hard time getting use to the feeling of the port?  Any words of wisdom would be wonderful!!

I felt dizzy and light headed and tired a couple of days after surgery and turns out my blood pressure was too low.  I was told to stop taking my BP medicine.  After a day or two I was fine.   Make sure you are drinking all of your water...I also got a little ill from dehydration.   

I had no problem getting my protein in because the Adkins shakes I was drinking weren't that bad...in fact I liked the chocolate shake a lot. 

I was lucky as I wasn't sore for very long.  I was off my pain meds in 2-3 days after surgery.  I also had no port pain or tenderness.  Sorry I can't help you with those things.

I didn't get my first fill till 6 weeks after surgery...and I seem to remember that the incision was either completely healed or almost healed.

Hi !  Sorry you are having some troubles.   As the others have said be sure to get in your water, protein, multi-vitamin & keep walking.  Are you getting enough sleep?  If not do that as well.   If you can't stand the taste of your protein shakes go get another kind...find one you like & that fits the quality needed.

My port was tender to touch for several months after surgery. It does get better.

One thing I did after surgery to make  ME feel better .... I made me a nice glass of crystal light lemonade, picked me out a feel good book, gathered up my pillows and went outside in the sun for awhile.  I pretended I was just relaxing on a nice day instead of recouping from surgery.  It cleared my head and helped me re connect.

Words of wisdom," It's not a sprint, it is a marathon."

While banding is Out patient surgery.. it's still Major surgery.  It's not unusual to take 6 weeks or more to feel close to normal.

Some things to look into.. Are you taking a multi vitamin daily?  If not, you may want to ask your bariatric support team if you should and what they recommend.  I take centrum chewables and my doc is fine with that.  We don't malabsorp, so regular vitamins are usually fine for us bandsters.

Try to get a minimum of 64 oz of water (or other very low calorie fluids.. shoot for no more than 10 calories per 16 oz. if possible.) in daily.  I personally try for 80 oz, not counting my morning coffee.

What quality of protein are you getting?  If your protein drink isn't made with Whey protein isolate, you may not be getting full value.  We had a speaker at our last support group meeting and they told us that Whey protein isolate is better used by the body than concentrate.  Also that our bodies can't utilize more than 20 to 25 grams of protein at one time.  So if you're drinking something with massive amts of protein, you might be challenging your kidneys.

Are you getting 60 grams or more of protein daily? 

I was still sore for my first fill at 7 weeks.  Like the others have said, it does get better.

Sometimes I think when they install the band, they remove the patience gene.  :)   Hang in there.