Please HELP!

[Jennifer]

Hi everyone,

I am in need of some major support. I am 6 days post-op and I want to rip it out of me.

I miss food. I feel like my life isn't normal anymore. I'm having terrible terrible pain in my back and left shoulder when I breathe. Gas?

What does it feel like when you get something stuck? How do you get it out?

I've been crying most of the day because I hurt and because I don't know what I've done! I don't feel like I'm losing anything despite this tremendous sacrifice I've made.

I feel like I can't talk to my family or friends because I was the one that insisted that I need the surgery.

[Mrs Sabre]

I believe the pain is probably gas, as you suspect.

If you're on post-op liquids, I wouldn't think you'd be able to get stuck. I have never felt stuck on liquids, only solids. Stuck feels like a golf ball hung in your chest, just between or slightly above you bust. If something is stuck and doesn't come back up, try some warm water and meat tenderizer; I think 1 tsp.? If that still doesn't work, then you need to go back to your lap-band surgeon.

As for missing food, I encourage you to tough it out. It gets better when you get to eat real food again. I actually enjoy food more now because I have to eat slow and chew well. I'm actually getting more taste satisfaction from my food. Unlike diets, I don't feel deprived with my band.

Also try to find a local band support group. I've gotten close to the ladies in our local group; they've been very supportive and understanding. You may want to consider counseling too?

[paula]

HI Jen, goodness, you've come to the right place.
First off, you need a BIG ole' hug.. :hug:

Girl, I can SO relate!
I think all of us can. And dont worry about your family - they are clueless! Just as a tobacco user/alcoholic/druggie goes through withdrawels - so do we. :( sad, but true.

Yes, the shoulder pain IS gas -very normal. Walk. Walk. Walk. This helps the gas move around and come out - PLUS you feel better. Also, it -kind of- replaces some of those comfort moments that food used to satisify.

Your NEW agenda is to find something to replace food... sewing, exercising, computering (me), SOMETHING.
Find a NEW hobby that keeps your interest - this will be your new comfort!

Example:
When I get stressed - I get on the computer.
When I get depressed - I get on the computer.
When I get mad - I get on the computer.
..I used to go to the fridge when I would have these emotions - but now Ive found another outlet.... and you will to!
You're kinda new with this - give yourself a break, OK?
We go through SO much the first week/month - physically, emotionally, mentally - and expect BIG results from all the sacrifices. Be patient.
Honestly... just be patient.
Follow the Lap-Band rules and you WILL succeed!!!!

If you do everything you should and don't succeed - you will be a First! :)

I promise - the first month is the absolute *hardest* part of this journey. No lie. Get through the first 4 weeks, get a fill - and its MUCH easier.

Does your surgeons office have any type of support group? Talking to LIVE people may help, especially during that first month. Or, I can PM you my phone #!

btw: have you had your first BM yet? :) Im serious, this is a biggiefor newly banded folks!

Hang in there, Girlfriend. We're here for you!

[503-250]

Hi Jen,

Sorry to hear you are having such a rough time, but welcome to the roller coaster. It sucks in the beginning, there's the gas pain and the hunger and the aggravation (not to mention that everyone else seems to be eating the food you are thinking about and suddenly every television commercial is about food).

Here's the good news, it gets better. Alot better. Ask Telly, she has lost a ton of weight, is sexier then ever and keeps turning down my polygamous marriage requests. Ask Just Paul, that guy is never here cos he is running or jumping or fishing or filming or acting or chasing his beautiful wife now that he lost tons of weight. Ask Parvathi, Emilee or Mrs Nate Nate who are so stunning beautiful and hot that I have built a giant stalkers altar in my house so I can have pagan rituals to force them to fall for me. Ask P'Nut, Tricia K, heathergurl or Paula (who also have turned down wedding proposals...friggin anti-ploygamists) who have lost pounds and inches. There are a ton of people to ask here and the answer would be it gets better and better as the days go by and the weight comes off.

Hell ask the fat bearded freak of the group, I've lost 65lbs, I fit into clothes I forgot I owned, I have way more energy and my poor wife is exhausted. I have a ton of weight to go (almost literally), but I can tell you it wasn't fast, it wasn't easy, but it did go.

Right now your job is to get better, focus on eating only your mushies and be a good patient. Let the band settle in, get used to your new lower calorie intake and take the time to get to know the wonderful members of B2G. Then when it is time to go back to regular food, you won't be as hungry, you won't feel any pain, and you will lose weight.

Most of all...walk, to relieve that pain...walk, to avoid the hunger...walk, to find smaller clothes that suddenly fit...walk. Movement and lowered calorie intake = weight loss.

You can do it, I am clearing a place on the stalker altar just for you, don't worry just start reading about the wonders and benefits of polygamy.

[kim_8]

Jen -
They are all right! It will get better! Hang in there. :hug: I went back and looked through my half ass attempt at a journal that I kept when I was first banded because I remembered feeling just like you're saying. I got past it (and quickly). Once those lbs start falling off and you get past the post op diet and recovery, you'll feel better. It does take a while to get used to the band, but it happens.

Hang in there!

WARNING... Windy from here on....

Here's a copy of what I put into my journal on fitday just in case it might help you. My journal actually ends on Jan 29th, so I must have been used to it by then.... but until then I was tracking how I felt each day. Maybe you're recovery will be along these lines and this can give you a bit of an idea of what to expect (well based on I what I experienced). Jan 17th is the day I drove home crying wondering what the hell I did. This was around day 6. Didn't take me long to get in a better frame of mind after that.

Jan 13 - Day 2
2nd day of lapband - sore and laid on sofa most of the day. Did a little light cleaning and felt better while doing it and then bad afterwards. ate a whole pudding cup at the end of the night - don't do this again. don't feel good.

Jan 14 - Day 3
little less sore today - gas not quite as bad - port site sore. still hard to get up and down a little but can definitely do it on my own no prob.

Jan 15 - Day 4
still have gas today - although getting some better. took milk of magnesia and had a bout with the toilet. all the toilets stopped up in the house today - ugh. called plumber to fix. can feel port and see a visible lump in my stomach. cut at port site is indented pretty severely. haven't walked much today at all. stomach is less bloated, but chest hursts along with collar bone.

Jan 16 - Day 5
got really full tonight after shake and a few bites of soup. bad stomach pain and had to lie flat on my back to make it go away. went back to work today - not too bad. little fever of 99.1 but then it went back to normal. left work about 3 ish. I was ready to go by that time. people at work watched what i ate :-).

Jan 17 - Day 6
made it through a whole day of work. having the same deal with pressure behind breastbone when I eat. pain just above collarbone. still "feel" all this crap inside me - feel like a plastic factory. having second thoughts....

Jan 18 - Day 7
Finally - less restriction - ate a whole can of soup by myself. Feeling much better now - was getting really drained probably from not eating enough. Got up to 777 calories - still not enough, but better. I guess swelling has started to go down.

Jan 19 - Day 8
Ok, so feeling more restricted again (a bit - not as bad as before though. I tried spaghettios with meatballs pureed and ate maybe 3 or 4 tablespoons full and thought I was going to die - was not going down. Needed to burp. Took maalox - burped - typed on computer - got better - ate some soup - typed on the computer - at a pudding cup. VERY Full now. Why did I have that pudding cup??? Needed more calories - should have picked a shake or something - will try that tomorrow. Port feel funny today - like something moved. I can visibly see it and feel it... just feel different today - happened this afternoon. Pain in collarbone was VERY bad and persistent all day today. Samantha said she could tell I was losing weight! First person to say anything! I could have kissed her!


Jan 20 - Day 9
bad gas and diarreah twice today. not feeling all that great. seems like i can feel port much more (sticking out). tired - going to bed.

Jan 23 - Day 12
was bad yesterday - ate stuff I shouldn't have - chewed it up good first (pita chips, dip and pringles - also took a few bites of homemade pizza.) started period this morning. woke up 1.5 pounds heavier. ugh. gas pain in shoulder & collarbone is horrible today.

Jan 26 - Day 15
shoulder gas pain was down to about an hour today. this is good. had tuna and mashed potatoes tonight - really full. my mushies were supposed to start tomorrow, but I jumped the gun. I just couldn't do soup again.

Jan 29 - Day 18
went to the lake to pick up mom to see gary - didn't record food. had spaghetti w/one meatball for lunch, 1 slice grain toast + 1tbsp peanut butter for breakfast, 1 c pita chips, 1/2 bacon jr cheeseburger from whataburger, 3/4 key lime pie weight watchers.

[Kathy]

How ya doin' Jennifer?

You have great and wonderful advice and encouragement here. I simply can't add! But I can cheer you on, huh? ((((hugs)))) and it DOES get better! You need liquid calories. Egg Drop Soup is da bomb. Chinese Take-out. Cheap. Go get 'em!

Hey, I wanna be on 503's altar! How do I do that?!!!!!! Ugh. :lol:

Oh, and Kim, great journal entries!

AND...what Paula said about a BM. Yup.

[503-250]

Hi Kathy, the path to my stalker altar is simple...

A. Be HOT!
B. post pictures of aforementioned hotness

In your case I think we have some laws to break together. :)

[Kathy]

Okay, then, I'm working on it. I have a consultation next week with my "new" band doc and a flouro fill to follow soon. And digital camera is on my Christmas Wish list. A few more pounds and I'll be posting pre-TT pics and get to work on getting HOT! I'm here for ya. Gimme a sec. :love: and THE RING gets picked up tomorrow. I'll try to post from jail. :lol: Would THAT be hot?!

Jennifer!!!!! Where are you?!!!

[PhotoNut]

Hang in there Jen! These feelings of regret and fear that you've done something stupid WILL PASS! I think we all had them shortly after banding. That "Oh my god! What have I done!?" kind of thing hits us all when we are still sore and perhaps not seeing the awesomely amazing weight loss we'd heard of. Trust me, once you get healed and get a fill in your band, that weight is gonna come off. Right now, just focus on healing.

Try some Campbells Bean and Bacon soup, but blend it until it is pure creamy liquid. Its a great change from all of the cold sweet stuff we find ourselves living on during the liquid phase. Its hearty and rib-stickin' and save me and several others from going nuts when we were where you are now!

Let us hear from you! No hiding out and being miserable by yourself, you hear me? :)

[Jennifer]

Ohmygosh! You guys are so awesome. I am so thankful for all your replies, truly! I am feeling a little better now.

You guys honestly helped so much.

Kim - Your journal entries gave me hope! I seriously felt like it was mine!

Mrs Sabre - I just found a support group I am going to start going to. I do think some individual counseling would help too.

Paula - Your totally right. I need to cope other ways. I just thought it would be easier when eating wasn't an option!

503 - You've given me a new goal - To get on your alter:p Oh and your right about the TV...it's like they KNOW i can't eat!

Kathy - Thanks for the hugs! Your too sweet. Actually the egg drop soup sounds pretty good, I may go treat myself tomorrow!

Again, thanks for all of your help guys!

[Maryb]

I felt your pain! I had the same reaction and thoughts when I started dry heaving 4 days after surgery. My own fault for eating applesauce. Stick to clear liquids for awhile. The Gas is also a big pain! Walking helps, even if it is just around the house. It will get better in a few days and you will feel back to normal in 4 - 6 weeks.

8 months later and at goal weight....I love my band!

[Jennifer]

Photonut - We must have been posting at the same time! Thanks for the bean w/bacon idea. I think I haven't let myself be very creative and I think it would help. You can only eat protein shakes for so long, you know?

[Jennifer]

Man I can't keep up with all of this support :) I love it!

Mary - Thanks for the advice. It's really nice to hear that I'm not alone. I honestly didn't know gas could hurt so bad!

[PhotoNut]

Hey Jennifer! What part of Nebraska are you in? Sara lives in Nebraska and is waiting and hoping to be banded sometime in the near future.

[Jennifer]

Oh really? I'm in Lincoln. I didn't think anyone was doing the surgery here so I went to Omaha for surgery. Now, I find out that they've done several here.

[PhotoNut]

Lincoln! *nudges Sara with a grin*

[Firefly]

*gets nudged*

Hey! I'm... well I'm not in Lincoln, close by though. Its so nice to have other Nebraskans here! Emilee is one of our people as well, but she lives fairly far, far away from us, which is sad because I'd love to meet her. Anywho, I'll have to message you Jen, or vice versa, maybe we can get together :) I'm sorry you dont feel comfortable speaking with your family about your troubles but I'm a willing ear. I'm not banded but I've been around, and if I dont know the answer, I have P'nut on speed dial.

:heh:

[EmileeKaye]

Hey!! I've been gone for a coupe weeks on a little vacation. Just now tring to catch up and it's GREAT seeing another Nebraska Girl on here! I lived in Lincoln for two years!! GO HUSKERS!! Ok...I'm going to stop now and try not to scare everyone who doesn't know my Husker fan side.

BTW, Don't worry about you're feelings. Even over two years out I still "miss" food and my emotional times bing that "need" for it back even more. But you can push through it and you have this AMAZING tool now that can help you change your life. I am such a happier, healthier, better person since my band.

[Firefly]

Go Huskers!

Erm, um, I mean...

*looks around then walks away*

[Jennifer]

Hehee....I actually am not a huge Husker fan. I even went to UNL! It's ok when the win...but I don't cry when they lose like a lot of our crazy fans!

PS - Thanks again everyone, today was better. I'm still feeling some pain and i get frustrated that my energy level isn't what it was. I am a stay-at-home mom and have 3 kids! I have a lot to do.

[EmileeKaye]

I'm a crazy fan......ok, maybe I don't cry, but I come damn close and I get pretty ticked off! ;-)

But great to here you are feeling better!! Everday will get better and better.

[Firefly]

Yeah, I'm a good few steps below Emilee. I just got a little overexcited is all.

[tropical]

I'm on my 8th day and My doc has made me do clear liquids for the first 2 weeks. But The gas in my neck has stopped all together. I really wanted to eat today but I held out. U are doing very good. That gas pain will go away. You have come so far to turn away now. Keep going strong.

[Jennifer]

Thanks Tropical. I am feeling a little better. I was supposed to wait 2 weeks on liquids too but I am at like 10 days and have started eating things like cottage cheese. Variety helps a little bit :)