I'm now officially a Bandolero!

Mac the Knife · 02-14-2008, 03:25 AM

Wednesday afternoon I entered the club officially. Woo-hoo!

Things literally couldn't have gone any smoother, at least thus far. Went into the hospital at 1pm intending to begin surgery at 3:45, only to learn that my surgeon was ahead of schedule for the day - thereby moving me up from 3:45 to 2:30 or so.

I remember making it as far as the OR at around 2:20pm, but the next thing I rememebered after that was waking up in recovery at around 5:30, fully banded. On a 1-10 scale I'd rate my abdominal pain as a 1/2 immediately after surgery (though it's now up to about a 2-3 - worth noting, but not worth crying over). My biggest problem thus far has been cotton-mouth, a by-product of the anesthesia and that I'm only allowed to drink 30ml/cc of water every 15 minutes.

The only thing I'll advise fellow Bandoleros: if you smoke, STOP WELL BEFORE SURGERY. The reason? Cough. I'm a smoker (or having stopped 3 days ago, hopefully an ex-smoker) who literally wasn't made aware that quitting was an important pre-requisite to the operation until it was too late. I haven't coughed often, but when I have, it's hurt quite a bit. So even if your doctors don't tell you about it - STOP SMOKING WELL BEFORE YOUR SURGERY DATE!

Anyway, I got home around 8pm and promptly went to sleep. Woke up this morning around 2:30, not due to any pain but due to a cotton-mouth episode. I don't want to jinx things, but things as a whole seem to be going great thus far. Have a follow-up appointment next Friday morning, with a first fill slated for late March. I don't miss food yet, I have absolutely no sense of hunger nor nausea, and in fact if it weren't for the cotton-mouth I wouldn't even want water.

DonHoll1 · 02-14-2008, 04:04 AM

I am really glad it went so well for you. I had a pretty easy time also. I am really surprised they did not tell you to stop smoking sooner. But it sounds like you are doing ok. Welcome to the site and congrats on your band. Donna

Mac the Knife · 02-14-2008, 04:06 AM

Well, while the surgeon himself has proven to be great, his office staff proved themselves to me to be borderline incompetent - they missed key points all along the way, only remembering them if I brought them up.

At one point someone among their office staff said they utilized a "team approach" to the process, at which point I piped up that if that were true, the team had a strange resemblance to the Pittsburgh Pirates or Tampa Bay Devil Rays. :)

Angie4b1g · 02-14-2008, 08:01 AM

Well it sounds like you had a great banding experience! I can only imagine about the coughing... I've been trying really hard not to even laugh.

If you've made it this far without a cigarette you don't need one! Keep it up!

Mac the Knife · 02-14-2008, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Angie4b1g

If you've made it this far without a cigarette you don't need one! Keep it up!

Oh, it's no big deal for me actually. I don't miss having one, don't crave one, and I honestly think if a lit one were brought in my presence right now it'd make me sick. Hopefully it'll be that way a week, month, year, decade from now as well!

patticNJ · 02-14-2008, 10:06 AM

Congrats on being a Bandie! and a NON smoker!!!!!

It only gets easier from here!!!!!

Mac the Knife · 02-14-2008, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Angie4b1g

Well it sounds like you had a great banding experience! I can only imagine about the coughing... I've been trying really hard not to even laugh.

This just in: the coughing hurts. A lot.

It's okay though. My coughing is rather infrequent, and I actually am so comparatively pain-free (compared to what I thought was to be the case) that not even the coughing bothers me that much.

Ever laughed so hard, or rode in a vehicle that jostled you around so much that you've somehow strained the muscles in your stomach? Well, that's exactly what I have felt like post-op thus far: the kind of pain I'd describe more as a nuisance than anything else. Even after coughing, I can live with it.

Rhapsody♥ · 02-14-2008, 11:59 PM

Congratz on entering bandland Mac the Knife! It's so nice to hear you had a smooth surgery, I'm sooooo hoping I'll have the same (yes I'm nervous about the pain). I hope your cough gets better for you too. Keep up the great work without the ciggies!

Gibson · 02-15-2008, 12:31 AM

Wow. A half on the pain scale. I'm hoping to do as well as you and I'm thrilled for you!

Mac the Knife · 02-15-2008, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gibson

Wow. A half on the pain scale. I'm hoping to do as well as you and I'm thrilled for you!

I'm rather astonished at the lack of pain. I fully anticipated 'pain management' to be a big issue for me, but thus far it's been fairly easily dealt with. I'm not sleeping regularly yet, but fortunately I sleep predominately on my right side, opposite nearly each of my incisions.

lynburr · 02-15-2008, 08:36 AM

hi everyone i joined u bandsters 3 days ago feb 13th i too didnt have too much pain after the op. and i too dont feel like any fluids or anything but i have been taking small amounts just because i have to. tried yoghurt soup and fruit juice in very small quantities i feel very bloated but i am sure this is just the surgery. 2 weeks on liquids seems a long time 4 me but u others seem to b having to do it for longer i wonder why this is thanks lyn united kingdom bander

aveamora · 02-15-2008, 11:31 AM

Congrats on quitting smoking and your banding. You are amazing!

Also, hello and welcom lynburr.

Mac the Knife · 02-15-2008, 01:18 PM

Giving up caffeine, nicotine and food essentially all at one shot is NOT something I recommend. While I wouldn't exactly class myself as being miserable, I'm making others around me miserable - and I know it.

I'm finding myself to be tired all the time post-op, sleeping in 3-4 hour stretches and feeling too weak to exercise as I should. The wife keeps nagging me to go for a walk, only to get a more hostile reponse each time for doing so... broth and Crystal Light have run their course for me pretty much in terms of bland-food consumption. Anyone else finding themselves either wanting to sleep or at least too tired to move much post-op?

JaxBandster · 02-15-2008, 01:32 PM

Mac, you only had surgery two days ago. Now is the time to rest and heal. I slept a LOT the first few days. If your body is telling you to rest then you rest. You will be able to walk more after about day five or so. For me, when I would wake up, I would sort of haunt the house LOL. I would make the loop several times then go lay back down, check my email then fall back to sleep again. Listen to your body. Walking around does help you to heal and feel better but so does rest.

Yeah, the clear liquids weren't doing much for me either. Jello was good because it at least had some consistency as were popsicles because they were so nice and cold. I know it's touch now food wise and believe me, it doesn't get any easier as the swelling goes down and you begin to regain your appetite but you will get through it and you will succeed!

patticNJ · 02-15-2008, 01:43 PM

Karen is absolutley right. for the first 4 days, i slept. my son cam in every 2 hours and woke me to walk, per the Drs orders, so he says. so i walked to the kitchen, sucked down a sf ice pop and walked back to bed, stopped to kiss babies on the way. by friday, i was shopping and pushing the babies in the stroller at the mall. take it easy. jell-o was good like karen said, just something to 'chew' on.

it does get better and easier. and as far as caffine goes, i am allowed 1 cup per day and i do get it. matter of fact i'm going to get some right now. a double peppermint latte sounds good. l8tr.
patti