I'm taking a lesson from Av (love your logbook) and am starting a place where I can update the highlights from my journey that might help me (get advice from all of you) and someone else down the line. I post an almost daily blog (link below), but it includes lots of other non WLS shenanagans from my crazy life, so I thought I'd create a place for just my lapband journey.
I've copied and pasted my first 3 entries from my post-op "Surgery was Wed...." thread, because I was too stupid (or drugged up) to start this last week. Sorry, I didn't include all your lovely replies here, but this gets me caught up so I can keep updating.
4/24/09
I got banded on Wednesday 4/22; overnight in the hospital (pic below, me before banding...sorry no makeup or hairbrush obviously). Had a few small surprises; had to be catherized before leaving, had to get an insulin shot (not a diabetic), almost had to stay a second night as my blood pressure was so low (I have high blood pressure), and I did get sick (but I was expecting that as I get sick watching video games). Other than the roommate from He!!, and only a few hours of sleep because of her (chronic complainer/moaner...and she had a one incision lap procedure on her abdomen wall, not WLS), everything else went well. The doc loved my porthole site pic I drew on my tummy to show him where I wanted my port (pic below...OK, just you try drawing upside down and backwards on your own tummy!). If you want the details they're on my blog (read Tues.-Friday/today)....Link below. It's great to be in Bandlandia!!! I've been collecting all the WLS recipes here...sounds like my crockpot will be my new best friend! Thanks everyone for all the support!!! -BG
Attached Thumbnails (click for pics):
Surgery was Wed., Woot!
5/5/09
I'm doing great now. Had a small gliche...sudden chest pain when breathing and trouble breathing 5 days out (not like the gas pain). Called the surgeon just to make sure it was normal. I could stand the pain and I'm used to breathing things with Asthma, but one sister has had 2 mini strokes, so I wanted to be sure it wasn't a clot. They sent me to the ER and I ended up in the hospital for a couple of days. They did some tests and found out that it wasn't a clot within a few hours (probably my ribs had been pushed out of alignment with the surgery and I reinjured them trying to sleep on my side that day...and they'll just take time to heal), but my EKG I had at triage upon entry to the hospital showed some anomalies as compared to the one I had done for my pre-op requirements. So they kept me overnight for more heart/stress testing...of course, everything was fine.
Bummer was I spent my 50th birthday overnight in the hospital (not like I'd have been partying with my broth and jello anyway). I'll be two weeks out tomorrow and the chest pain has improved. Other than extreme fatigue and feeling weak, I'm doing well. I'm only getting 400-500 cals a day on this all clear liquids with 3 8oz. glasses of milk a day diet and I still have 1 more week of this. I've starting cheating with a protein shake or 2 per day as I can hardly function now. We'll see if it helps!
5/6/09
Yep, I drew it on my belly the day before surgery (the whole OR thought it was a hoot).
My doc gave my initial seminar and told us we could pick our port site (within reason). I did some research and gathered opinions on where people would put their's if they had a choice and if they didn't like where their's is, then why (No third boob for this gal!...can't believe some docs put them on the breastbone). Mine's left, between the ribs and the belly button line.
I follow up with the cardiologist in a few months.
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