Banded Yesterday!!

[CindyLou]

Well, I'm finally banded!! Everthing was great the the OCC and the hotel is very nice. I met Selena and a few others, but dont think I got names because of being so groggy.

OMG, just as I was writing this I started having a LOT of saliva in my mouth and dry heaved twice. Any time I swallow anything I can feel it making its way through like a STRONG hunger pang sensation.

I called the clinic and they said if it doesn't improve by this afternoon they will want to do a barium swallow.

I have a question. If they have to do anything further like a swallow, do they charge for this? Not that it would make a difference I"m just wondering.

All in all I'm very happy with the experience, I'm just hoping that this might be a little swelling causing the tightness. It feels like I'm swallowing watermellons every time I sip. And I'm still having shoulder pain.

Sorry to ramble.

Well, I'm off to try and make my botox appt. I'd probably go on a stretcher if I had to.....LOL.

[Kittycat]

Congrats on your surgery!! You did it!!!

I would ask your questions to the staff at OCC...I assume you are still there???

[Jann]

Well, I'm finally banded!! Everthing was great the the OCC and the hotel is very nice. I met Selena and a few others, but dont think I got names because of being so groggy.

OMG, just as I was writing this I started having a LOT of saliva in my mouth and dry heaved twice. Any time I swallow anything I can feel it making its way through like a STRONG hunger pang sensation.

I called the clinic and they said if it doesn't improve by this afternoon they will want to do a barium swallow.

I have a question. If they have to do anything further like a swallow, do they charge for this? Not that it would make a difference I"m just wondering.

All in all I'm very happy with the experience, I'm just hoping that this might be a little swelling causing the tightness. It feels like I'm swallowing watermellons every time I sip. And I'm still having shoulder pain.

Sorry to ramble.

Well, I'm off to try and make my botox appt. I'd probably go on a stretcher if I had to.....LOL.

I would think that OCC wouldn't charge as you are so fresh out of surgery and I've never heard of anyone having those symptoms. Let us know how you are and why that happened.

Hope you are better since you posted.

Jann

[JazzyJude]

WELCOME to Bandland!

I wouldn't think you would be charged extra as this time you are still under their care and so new of a patient.

For your shoulder pain, you need to do a lot of several mini walks as often as you can! Sip your drinks and keep fluids in you to prevent dehydration.

I am wondering also what is your issue and how it happened and what they did to help you. Keep us posted...

[Jann]

WELCOME to Bandland!

I wouldn't think you would be charged extra as this time you are still under their care and so new of a patient.

For your shoulder pain, you need to do a lot of several mini walks as often as you can! Sip your drinks and keep fluids in you to prevent dehydration.

I am wondering also what is your issue and how it happened and what they did to help you. Keep us posted...

I would also roll my shoulders, both of them in tandem. Ten times forward, big movements, ten times back, big movements. Then in rotation, left front, right back, right front, left back, big movements. See how you feel and repeat as necessary without hurting yourself.

Jann

[salena]

Hi CindyLou, I just saw ya and wanted to say that I hope you feel better!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[JazzyJude]

I would also roll my shoulders, both of them in tandem. Ten times forward, big movements, ten times back, big movements. Then in rotation, left front, right back, right front, left back, big movements. See how you feel and repeat as necessary without hurting yourself.

Jann

Excellent point Jann! Those movements would move the gas bubbles around and eventually would move out of your system...

[CindyLou]

I went back to the OCC for a barium swallow. Looked completely normal, but he said I had a huge amount of gas both inside my digestive tract and inside my abdomen. so every time I take a sip, it is causing the gas to push up and causing a heartbearn like sensation.

Then this morning I figured out that I was very constipated (sorry, TMI) and once I was able to go to the bathroom, it has helped the gas pass quite a bit. I feel MUCH better.

Now I'm still having sever heart burn and plan to get come mylanta as soon as I cross back over the border. Still having the shoulder pain, so I know the gas is not relieved.

I'd still go back and do it all again, even though yesterday was totally miserable.

I'm doing the shoulder rolls now!

I was very relieved that my band looked great. The baruim swallow was so cool.

Also I was impressed with the OCC's response. The driver was here within 10 minutes of my call. We went straight to the clinic, the Dr. saw me immediatly and we were back to our hotel within an hour!!! Great service!!!

Thanks everyone for your support!

Cindy

[yoyodieter]

Hi, glad everything was ok.. I still get the pain in my left shoulder, I have it right now matter of fact. It's been 6 months since I was banded and I still haven't figured out what triggers it. It last about 3 days then goes away.

Enjoy your band.. You will love it.

[tlag]

Congratulations on your new band and new life! I am glad you are feeling better. OCC is amazing, just love those guys there! Good luck.

[DaGreen]

Cindy,

Glad to hear you are doing much better. As JazzyJude keeps preaching to all of us, sip, sip, sip, walk, walk, walk. I've also been taking the GasX Strips and Phazyme which was extremely helpful in moving the gas around.

[Guest CaraMBA09]

Congratulations on your new band and new life! I am glad you are feeling better. OCC is amazing, just love those guys there! Good luck.

I just started getting those same symptoms about two weeks ago. OMG is it painful, the worst gas pains I can ever remember having. I was nearly thinking it was my band that had slipped, yet I was able to still eat and was NOT vomiting. Now I know what it is...I will go get some mylanta as well if it works.

[jhawkchick75]

I"m really sorry you had trouble, but at least you know that everything is OK. I get those nasty pains in my shoulder as well. Now that I can eat solids, I get bad heartburn and a tightness in my chest, but that doesn't happen until about an hour after I eat - not sure why. This band is a funny thing!

Congrats! You will start feeling better every day!

[CindyLou]

I'm home now, and OHHHHHHH the gas pains!

I think I might OD on gas x.

It's mostly anytime I go from sitting to standing now. Yesterday is seemed related to liquid intake, now more related to changing from sitting to standing. Its a terrible pain all the way from the top of my stomach that travels up the middle of my chest. It feels like I could just belch really loud and feel much better, but nothing comes out. Wow....I really hope this goes away.

And I feel really hungry. Sorry I know I"m complaining, but I'm starving....hunger pangs and all.

I think I might take Dr. Miranda up on her offer to start creamy soups on day 4 if I'm this hungry tomorrow.

Maybe I'm just tired and cranky.

[Guest CaraMBA09]

I'm home now, and OHHHHHHH the gas pains!

I think I might OD on gas x.

It's mostly anytime I go from sitting to standing now. Yesterday is seemed related to liquid intake, now more related to changing from sitting to standing. Its a terrible pain all the way from the top of my stomach that travels up the middle of my chest. It feels like I could just belch really loud and feel much better, but nothing comes out. Wow....I really hope this goes away.

And I feel really hungry. Sorry I know I"m complaining, but I'm starving....hunger pangs and all.

I think I might take Dr. Miranda up on her offer to start creamy soups on day 4 if I'm this hungry tomorrow.

Maybe I'm just tired and cranky.

I felt the same way. I think I started creamy soups on Day 5 as I could not handle the MAJOR hunger I had.

just a warning. Your jaw will begin to hurt big time from NOT chewing...I hate gum chewing...but I had to chew gum until I was able to start on solids.

[JazzyJude]

I felt the same way. I think I started creamy soups on Day 5 as I could not handle the MAJOR hunger I had.

just a warning. Your jaw will begin to hurt big time from NOT chewing...I hate gum chewing...but I had to chew gum until I was able to start on solids.

Watch the gum chewing...it causes gas!

Cindy ~ WELCOME to Bandland!

WALK, WALK, WALK!!! Take several mini walks, not just one long marathon walk. Also, raise your arms up and down, roll you shoulders up and down, back and front. These movements will assist in getting any gas bubbles stuck out of your system.

Sip your drinks ~ don't chug-a-lug. AND, when drink, DON'T inhale through your mouth. Breathe in through your nose and out the mouth. When drinking, pour the drink in your mouth, instead of slurpng or inhate air while drinking...which causes gas and air bubbles inside you.

Take those new chewable Fiber Choice to curb your hunger pangs ~ one at 10am and one at 3pm.

Hope this helps you...and good luck!

[CindyLou]

Well, I woke up today feeling much better. I haven't had anything by mouth yet (its only 9:20 here). I don't feel hungry at all this morning and I usually wake up pretty hungry. I think maybe my husband eating McDonalds last night was too much for me, and the smell was making the "mind hunger" even worse in addition to the hunger pangs.

So, he has agreed to keep the food I love away for now.

Only a few minor gas pains this morning, but my belly is still HUGE.

Ok, now its time for some hot tea and broth...yum!!!!.....then a walk.

Thanks everyone for your continued support.

Oh, and why can't I burp? I feel like I want to burp so bad and NOTHING comes out, its very painful.

[Taz]

I went back to the OCC for a barium swallow. Looked completely normal, but he said I had a huge amount of gas both inside my digestive tract and inside my abdomen. so every time I take a sip, it is causing the gas to push up and causing a heartbearn like sensation.

Then this morning I figured out that I was very constipated (sorry, TMI) and once I was able to go to the bathroom, it has helped the gas pass quite a bit. I feel MUCH better.

Now I'm still having sever heart burn and plan to get come mylanta as soon as I cross back over the border. Still having the shoulder pain, so I know the gas is not relieved.

I'd still go back and do it all again, even though yesterday was totally miserable.

I'm doing the shoulder rolls now!

I was very relieved that my band looked great. The baruim swallow was so cool.

Also I was impressed with the OCC's response. The driver was here within 10 minutes of my call. We went straight to the clinic, the Dr. saw me immediatly and we were back to our hotel within an hour!!! Great service!!!

Thanks everyone for your support!

Cindy

Walk. Walk. Walk. I found moving seriously helped get rid of the gas. Especially the first few days after surgery.

It is most effective the night of the surgery (some of us were doing what seemed to be rounds through OCC.. they have a nice circuit you can follow ;-) ), as that is when the gas is really trying to escape. From everywhere in your body.

Keep at it. The gas will go away in time. Enjoy the GasX strips and walk it off.

Taz

[JazzyJude]

Taz is right. Walk your heart out! Movements will move those gas bubbles around and eventually, they will pass. Even twisting your body from side to side may help. Just don't sit all the time.

When taking teh gas x strips, take 2 at a time...they won't hurt you at all...just trust me on this! Keep moving and you will blast those gas suckers out of ya!

[CindyLou]

I guess time and walking have done the trick! I feel 100% better today!! The extreme hunger is even gone. Wow....what a difference one day makes. That pain is still there but its just slight when I go from sitting to standing or vice versa.

Ok, now I"m not so discouraged. I was in that "OMG, what did I do?-stage yesterday.

Thanks for the support and ideas.