First day with my Lap Band

So, I just got my surgery yesterday morning, andi am still not sure how to feel about it.
I was extreemly nervous going in, and once in recovery I was fine. I don' have a lot of pain, but of course my core is sore.  
I am not hungry at all an i find it hard to take my vitamins and pain pills.
I had one protein shake since ive been home (9 hours ago) and i can't feel it in my stomach and it is making me nervous.

Any tips or advice that you can give me to just let this time ride out?

ps. I also hate sleeping on my back!! lol

-Samantha from NY

Hi Samantha,

I had mine just a little over six months ago .  Congrats on your surgery :o) .  I wasn't hungry at all either but keep sipping tha****er and the protein shakes you really do need them .  You dont want to get sick and have to go back in the hospital for IV"s :o( .

And that is excellent you dont have alot of pain keep walking that will make it even better and help with the gas also .

Keep water, your shake with you at all times and just keep sipping.  Dont gulp your water though you dont want to get sick .   I had trouble getting my fluids down the first 48 hrs but after that I was back to drinking a good 6 oz of water at a time .


Take it slow it will get better :o) 

Focus on getting your water in; protein comes second, though both are important. Dehydration is a big problem so sip sip sip!

Time is definitely your best bet. If you have gas pain try Gas-X. A heating pad may help as well.

Happy healing! Rest as much as you can.

Hi Samantha,
Congrats on your surgery!  You stated:  I had one protein shake since ive been home (9 hours ago) and i can't feel it in my stomach and it is making me nervous.

You won't feel liquids or food in your stomach.  When you get progressed to normal foods and you are eating the amounts your surgeon suggests, you won't feel "full".  I have never felt that sensation.  Before the surgery I thought I would feel FULL with a little food, but I haven't.  AND that is okay.  What the band is about is to create satiety, not feeling hungry for 3-4 hours after eating 3oz of dense protein and a 1/4-1/2 cup of a veggie.  And maybe some people feel the full sensation, but I don't.  I don't eat until my band would stop me, I want to do everything I can to prevent stretching my pouch and esophagus.  I have only had 4 stucks in almost 2 years and never have PB'd ( where the food just comes back up)  Maybe I'm lucky or maybe it's that I'm careful.

I slept in a recliner for at least a week after surgery.  You could give that a try.

Best wishes on your journey,
Kristi

Congratulation on your surgery! I know for me it was one of the best decisions I have ever made in my life so far.

I would drink a half of cup of broth and feel full. or eat a half of a serving of sf jello and be full.  Like the previous posters would say it's best to get all of your liquids in now and take it easy. You have a lot of swelling going on in there.  Just do a lot of walking and sipping
It took me a couple of weeks to be able to sleep comfortably on my stomach because I am a stomach sleeper as well. I was on liquids for about 2 weeks and then on softs for about 4 weeks.

I didn't start getting really hungry until about 6 weeks out. It was about 8 weeks before I got my first adjustment.

Good luck sweety. It will be over before you know it. Just follow your doctors orders closely and it will go well for you :)

Jana

I am pretty new as well. I got my band on June 1st. I focused on just getting my fluids in for the first few days, protein focus came a few days after surgery. The internal swelling from the trauma and the gas made me get full quickly with my fluids, and that changed as the days passed. I found taking my time and sipping all day long helped a lot. And rest was super important so you can properly heal.

Congratulations on your decision! Take care of yourself.
Michele

Worry less.

How you feel after surgery and how it feels when you drink liquids is going to be very different from person to person depending on their band size, how much swelling they have, etc. Some people will be able to drink liquids easily, some people will have several days of having to take it really slow. Even if the liquids go down easily, resist the urge to "gulp" and sip instead. Even with fairly loose restriction, gulping a liquid can his your band really heavy and, this early out, could potentially trigger vomiting.

I am a bit surprised that you are on protein shakes on your first day, as most surgeons have patients on clear liquids for at least a few days.

If your pills are causing you difficulty, cut them up smaller or ask for them in a liquid form.