Question:
Surgery tomorrow - last minute advice?

Anyone have something that they wish they would have known before having LapBand surgery? I really love hearing from everyones experiences. THANK YOU in advance for your time. ;)    — ItIsMyTime (posted on April 15, 2008)

April 15, 2008
Hello - first, let me wish you luck!! I had the VBG surgery - best thing I ever did - I am about 4 months out and 83 lbs gone!! My advice is to follow the Dr's instructions - they really are the best advice - also go slow - don't try to rush anything, always follow the diet, if you rush it it will only put your healing behind. Good luck and best wishes. Jamie
   — bzymomjamie

April 15, 2008
I had LapBand surgery a month ago and I brought a pillow to help cushion coughs, sneezes and bumps on the ride home and it was a life saver. Wear/bring baggy clothes you are comfortable in or pants you can roll the waist bands down as the incision sites for me anyway were right on the waist line. I also suggest bringing feminine pads as surgery some how brings on your cycle and the hospital pads are very uncomfortable for walking. When they tell you to walk..walk as much as you can to relieve the gas they pump in your abdominal cavity. I had god awful shoulder pain and walked as much as I could to relieve it and it worked for me. I will be thinking of you tomorrow-- Karen
   — Karen M.

April 15, 2008
i wish i would have known that in some cases your first fill will not cause any restriction. i had my 3rd fill last week and i am just now starting to feel a little restriction but i still need another fill to see some results cause im not seeing it yet. knowing this would have saved me from so much anxiety about when am i gonna finally lose some weight. i understand now that i have to be patient.
   — soliisoul

April 15, 2008
I had a RNY 5 months ago, and I would do it all over again. When you get the hospital, if you are not going right into surgery, and you feel nurvious, and we all do, ask them to give you a shot in the IV they start on you to allow you to rest and relax. The did that for me, becuase I was in at 6 AM but did not go to surgery to noon. I got the shot in the IV at 10 AM and then next thing I remember was waking up in my room. a 5PM. Elective surgery is tough because we have though about it, but you are doing the right thing. Following surgery, the pillow is a must for coughing, just hold it on you stomach when you caught for the first 5 to 7 days. Also, walking as soon as you can the same day is important to getting home. Follow the doctors instructions and don't try something just because you read it on this web site. Ask your doctor and his people if you want to do something they have not told you to do. I wish you the best of success tomorrow.
   — William (Bill) wmil

April 15, 2008
Amy, I will be praying for you tomorrow. Best of Luck. I am glad you posted asking for experiences..it help me also.
   — dyates2948

April 15, 2008
I have to really hand it to my surgeon's office as I feel I was very well prepared for my LapBand surgery. The only thing I wasn't aware of was the potential for left shoulder pain. I had it for a couple of weeks and it was pretty miserable. Partly gas pain, part musculoskeletal pain. I would also highly recommend getting an incentive spirometer and get your lungs in great shape pre-operatively. I knew this as I am an RN- nothing my surgeon's office told me, I just knew it was a good thing to do. Good luck, Dawn Vickers, RN, BLC
   — DawnVic

April 16, 2008
Take a stool softener the day before. Anesthesia always seems to constipate me and makes that first BM hard to move. They want you to have a good Bm before you leave the hospital. I'm two wks out and feel really good, a little sore still and uncomfortable to bend over and pick things up (so i don't). No regrets,Good luck and God bless.
   — Kristi H.