7 days until gastric band op

I had mine on the 19th March  last week., I was a little nervouse when I lay down on the operating table but though to myself (you know what when I wake up in half hour it will be done and weight journey is well on its way, I have had no pain relief since the op,different for everyone tho, I have had the trapped wind in the shoulder, my stomach did swell up as well and I couldn't drink water I still was glad I had it done and this is rare overall and is usually a complicationseen really only in men

Hello,

I had my op last Friday I was petrified and really nervous.

When I got there I was hesteical when I had my blood rest and then got all upset me and my partner then went to our private room where I was looked after and relaxed and even had a shower before the op.

I walked down to theatre and met all the team before I went under. I was hesteical when I was going to sleep as I'm really scared of needles they were excellent they have me pain relief and held my hand untill I fell asleep, the injections were not even that bad it was me just knowing I was having them.

I woke after two hours and honestly felt so much better than I thought. I drank tea and water an hour after the op and was up walking around my room.

The only pain I had was my wounds and it was sore when I got up and down, I left at 7am and got home for 10am.

I did have really bad trapped wind so I got liquid pain relief and I also had liquid paracetamol and calpol for 5 days, I now feel really good just waiting for the wounds to heal.

If I'm honest I was so scared but it is not half as bad as I thought. Since pre op diet to now I have lost 2.5 stone

You just need to think of the weight loss and the change to your life, talking on here is really good for advice let me know if u want to chat

Vicki

Hey! I had my down about 2 months ago, it went swimmingly, it was really straight forward, I woke up 40 minutes later, laid in bed for a bit and was up having a cup of tea fully dressed an hour later then went home. I didn't have any pain in my shoulder (gas presses on nerves causing pain in the shoulder, wind isn't actually in your shoulder) I did have a bit of trapped wind, but just took some windeze and walked around a lot, went back to work 2 days later. Good as gold. You will be fine. Don't worry. Don't stress. Think of your new life!

Hey Billie!

I had my band at the end of October last year and don't regret it at all!

General anaesthetics - don't worry about them, you wouldn't be allowed one if they thought you wouldn't be able to handle it! But I'm sure that will all be part of your consent form! I weirdly quite enjoy it - because you don't remember anything!

I too had to walk in to the theatre and lie on the operating table which is very daunting but your not awake for very long and usually very friendly staff!

It is fairly painful afterwards but not too bad! It's just the wound areas when you sit up and down! Pain for me only lasted 5 or so days and then it was just discomfort for a couple more and then back to normal! I had 2 weeks off work!

I found that windeze really helped for the trapped wind and also benefibre (got mine from Amazon) which helps you keep regular! I would recommend getting both of these!

I was given dissolvable painkillers which tasted disgusting! I'm a bit of a wimp with that sort of thing and they made me gag which really hurt! So they ended up giving me tiny tramadol tablets which also helped me sleep! What I'm trying to say is make sure your happy with the painkillers etc before you leave and just think you've got to take them 3-4 times a day for the next week or so!

Try and stay calm and think of the future, it is a big deal and nerve wracking but hang on in there! It's so worth it and I'm not even half way along my journey!

Stock up on soup and yoghurts, angel delight, jelly! Mix it up a bit as it's easy to get bored of these!

Usually you go home the same day but I always feel dizzy when I stand up after a general anaesthetic so I stayed over night! They won't throw you out if your not up to it!

Good luck xx

Hi I had my band op last wed, am still bit sore but it's getting better each day, gonna see if I can cope without pain relief today. Hosp gave me dissolvable cocodamol (it tastes disgusting!!) was also sent home with infacol (for the gas pain) and Lactulose plus vitamins!

I came round from the anaesthetic well, only complaint was pain so had extra fentanyl in recovery and oramorph bac on the ward before I mobilised! i think I was in theatre for 2-3 hrs. Don't even remember falling asleep!!

I haven't had any nausea or vomiting. But have had trapped wind under my diaphragm (none in the shoulder) which is uncomfortable.

I have 5 wounds, all closed with clips (that look like staples) 1 large one wound with 10 clips in, the other wounds all have 2-4 clips in. Appointment on Tuesday with the nurse to have them removed (eeeekkkk) have some bruising around the large wound and one under my diaphragm which I think is causing most of the pain.

I haven't lost any more weight since the pre op diet, I haven't had a poo either (sorry , gross!) yet despite taking the Lactulose daily. Will invest in some benefibre Too I think. Haven't managed to take the full liquid diet as yet just due to not having the appetite for it.

All In all I think I've come through ok, still tired and needing naps in the day but that's fine!! Will be off work for 2 wks as think I'm gonna need it!!

Good luck with your op, stay in touch

Thanks guys, I think it's only natural to be nervous for surgery..

I'm currently 13st 7 and I'm having this band because I have PCOS and it's impossible to lose weight and puts me at risk for diabetes and other Health problems. So it will hopefully change my life and health fingers crossed.

Where did you guys have yours done? I'm having mine at spire parkway in birmingham