My Lap Band Surgery Experience

Hi all!! As promised here is a blow by blow account of my day of banding.

The day before I went to work as normal and had planned to stay all day. Well that didn’t turn out to be the case. At 1:30 p.m. I drank “as advised” my Magnesium Citrate. Well I was making such a horrible face as my Assoc. VP walked in with another director that I had to explain that I wasn’t frowning at them. I told them that what I had drank and the AVP said oh my you need to go home. He was so funny, he was scaring me with stories of my possibly pooping on myself. I was howling laughing and my VP said that I better run home. Well most folk know I don’t always do what I’m told. So I prayed that I didn’t poop myself and went to my bariatric doctor to weigh in. I’m sorry there was NO way I was going to drive 40 minutes all the way home just to drive back out 40 minutes to get weighed. Nope not gonna happen. So I took my chances. I felt my stomach gurgle a little, but I kept going. I walked in the office and signed in. They called me back in 2 minutes and I was down from 278 to 270. I was happy because my surgeon is a stickler for doing what you are told. He has a distinct rep for being an A..hole, but hey I can role with the punches. After getting weighed, I stood around talking to the office nutritionist about recipes and what it takes to be successful. All in all I got home about 3:30. That’s hour and a half after I left. The laxative didn’t start working on me until about 5 p.m. So I was good. I milled around the house and got my stuff together for the next day, got my last broth and apple juice in and called it a night with some Tylenol PM.

Fast forward to 4:30 in the morning…..ugh! I am SOOOOO not a morning person, but got up showered and walked around the house for 20 minutes. I guess I had some nervous energy. My mom was up and ready to take me to the hospital so we left about 10 till 5. I think she sensed my nervousness or was maybe trying to cover up her own by making small talk. Normally conversations between me and my mom are free flowing. We made it to out-patient check in at 5:30 on the dot. I signed in and walked to “same day surgery.” The minute I got to the desk one of the nurses showed me to my room and I commenced to getting on that really cute gown that opens in the back. Then I met the most wonderful angel, My nurse Marcele. She took my vitals and told me that they were ready for me. I was shocked because normally when I have a surgery the wait time is at least an hour. The reminded me that because I sometimes have problems with anesthesia (malignant hyperthermia) I needed to be the first to have my surgery done. Ok, not a problem. They anesthesiologist came in and introduced herself as she checked for a vein, while my surgeon came over and asked if I was ready and prepared to do what was right (while my anesthesiologist rolled her eyes, LOL). Now I must mention that my surgeon is not well liked, by his colleagues or some of patients, but I wasn’t there to be his friend. I told him that I was and my assumption of the band and its purpose and he left to check my OR. My anesthesiologist was by that time thumping my hand and saying that she was proud of me for taking such a bold move for my health. We talked a bit and she mentioned that of course I had a big part to play and we talked a little about what I needed to do. She talked about her food addiction, but tried to make sure she didn’t gain much. She also said she would not say anything since she couldn’t say anything nice about my doctor, but the she recanted that and said…..”well he is very good at what he does.” With that my doctor stuck his head in the door and made a face. He was a little frustrated that they didn’t have my OR ready yet. They had to re-stock because of my condition. About 5 minutes later it was ready and I was wheeled about 3 doors down the hall (my last look at the clock said it was 7:45). They stretched my arms out like I was on the cross and pinned them down on foam with some Velcro straps. I mentioned how cold it was in there and the next thing I know I was out like a light.
I wake up in recovery to a nice nurse monitoring my blood pressure and temp as they both have a habit of spiking when I go in surgery. They both finally came down enough for them to let me go to back to my room about 10 am. I called my mom and told her I was out and she headed in (she had went back to take the grand kids to day care). My nurse Marcele, comes in and takes my vitals and they look good. She says that I have to stay until 3 p.m. I sleep off and on and awake to Marcele saying if I feel up to it I can take a walk. And walk I did. I circled the out patient floor 5 times. I was to loopy to count the steps, but determined not to have any problems with pinned up gas. Marcele said I was the poster child for success and that she had never seen any patient do that. I just kept going like the Energizer bunny. They finally released me right at 3 p.m. I rode out in my cute gown and robe. They said hey why change just go in that…..so I did. I got home and laid it down as the sleepies were coming back. My mom went and picked up my ‘script and I dozed in and out of consciousness. I finally got up about 5 and trotted to the bathroom. A little tired but not extremely so. About 7 I make myself sip some broth and take my meds (liquid Loritab). I’m not really in any pain. A little sore at the port site, but that’s it. I decide to walk my hallway about 10 times which is 20 steps one way, text my son and call it a night.
The next day I was feeling a little better, but still sore. I got up and sipped some broth, watched television and just decided to walk. So I got my little walking dvd out and did about 10 minutes of it. I did this off and on throughout the day, whenever the urge would hit me. I must also tell you that I have had absolutely NO problems with gas in my back or shoulders. I am sooooo happy about this as this was one of my biggest worries. I have just kept it moving. I walked in Wal-Mart, I walked in Sam’s club I even went to Nashville yesterday to see my baby boy!! One of my BFFs (the one that has been banded) called to check on me and asked if I was excited, I told her that I can’t say “I’m excited anymore because excitement wears off, I’m more determined than anything.” She didn’t have anything to say. AAAHhhhh well!! Got to keep it moving.

Ok, I didn’t mention my eating. I am sooo not hungry. Even today I am just eating because I know I’m supposed to. Today I have my protein shake for breakfast and lunch along with some sugar free jello. I have also been taking my Flintstones, and my sublingual B12s and I’m not tired either. I attribute the lack of fatigue to the fact that after you go through chemo, nothing makes you tired anymore. I got energy!! I am though, sick of broth. I have moved onto full liquids which are ok, but I’m soooo looking forward to the 5 & 6 week where I can go to normal food consistency. I have my first 2 weeks of meals planned out 2 being putting chicken breast in my crock pot with some veggies and going ham (as my son says). Seriously, I’m looking forward to cooking for the week and putting things up in my new Tupperware for each day. The next week will be poached salmon with Idaho potatoes in the crock pot. Well Tuesday I start my mushies and I’m excited about my refried beans and cheddar cheese among other things.

With that I will end here and let you know that the new name of my blog is “The Life of the Band” starring me and my band ….Jiminy Cricket or JC as he is so affectionetly called (thanks Gwen). He has deemed himself my official conscience as you can tell from the picture so I'm gonna let him run with it.