no bashing please, just your info

no my doc did not send me home with a packet. i was told that this morning i could start on mushies. i had surgery 3 days ago. i have been sipping water.
for breakfast i had 1/2 cup protein drink. lunck 1/2 cream of chicken soup. snack 1/2 cup protein shake. that is what i have had so far. i am not hungry at all. i know that he said that i can do mushies but it just seems way to early so i am sticking with soups until iget to go home on monday. the nurse said it was okay if i wasnt hungry to just do soup. i am more tired then i thought that i would be. i was up at 430am walking because i hurt and that was the only thing that helped.  have taken 3 25 min. walks and a nap after each one. so not sure how to get the liquids in if all i want to do is sleep? cant wait until i can go home on monday!

Rebecca,

I have been very sleepy for a few days after all of my various surgeries.  It's because the anesthesia is still working its way out of your system, and your body has been traumatized by the surgery itself.

Three 25 min. walks is excellent!  I could only manage a few 5-min walks in the first few days after surgery.  I too found that walking made me feel better.  I think it helped the gas dissipate.

Don't worry too much about how much liquid or food you're doing right now.  Just keep sipping as much as you can when you're awake.  Sleep when you need to.  It will get better every day, I promise.  When I was in the hospital, a nurse gave me a supply of 1-oz plastic cups and told me to drink 1 oz every 15 min.  This is the same size as the cup that comes with liquid Tylenol.  Send your husband out for some Tylenol and try the little cup thing.

You will feel so much better when you're home, able to sleep in your own bed, with your family around you...don't you have 3 kids?  I think they'll keep you distracted...or are they with you now?  And you can still sleep?  LOL - you must be really tired!

Take care,
Jean

Congrats on your surgery.  It is perfectly normal to be tired after surgery regardless of how minor it is.  Make sure you stay hydrated and worry about mushies when you are up to it.  Keep walking and sleeping - you'll perk up in a few days!

When you decide to start back on mushies you can control the degree of liquid you put in whatever you are eating.  I was told to go to mushies on day 5 which compared to many of the others on here was pretty early too!  I started with things the consistency of cream of wheat or maybe gravy and simply thickened things as I felt comfy.  At 11 days I was told to go to solids and that REALLY threw me for a loop!  Took me several days before I tested that one!

Good luck and go at the speed you feel comfy with!  Slow is always better than overdoing it!

Don't worry about "food" but it is essential to get in enough liquid - and fluid counts. we need at the very minimum maybe 48-64 oz a day - and 80-100 oiz asap.

you should be able to have abut 1/4 - 1/2 cup  or so every 15 -30 minutes at least. more if possible - but Hot things will be much better than cold - cold shrinks the stoma and makes it even harder to drink.
A warm heating pad on the chest will also help relax, openb, mand heal the stoma  - 30 min every 2-4 hrs.

You're in the hospital until monday??   is something else going on, ort am i misunderstanding you? that's  quite a long time for such  small surgery that is often done as an outpatient....

every day should be a bit better.Keep the faith!

sandy r
band educator

I can't believe you didn't get an information packet on after care and diet.  Check out this websight www.thinnerfuture.com . They have some info that might be helpful for you.  Just take it easy and be good to yourself.

thanks everyone!

Jean, the kids are down here with me nad hubby. they have been a big help. they think it is way to funny that mom walks like an old lady down the sidewalk. or when i ask for help getting up right. the nurse gave me several 2 ounce little cups. they have been great! the gas pains have been, well i really havent had them. thank god! did anyone have problems standing up right? when i try, i feeling pulling. i only had to take the pain meds last night and i will again tonight. but the kids and hubby have been great. i know they all hate having to be in the room, even though it is a main room with 2 bedrooms. doc said to call on monday to get cleared to head home. okay time for sipping water...thanks everyone

Hey, Rebecca - I'm also surprised you are in the hospital until Monday!   Mine was outpatient and I was HOME by 1pm same day.   I also did feel the same "pulling" you mentioned, but it subsided as my incisions and port placement healed.  It took me a few days to stand upright, but I was moving as much as I could.

Congrats - it's definitely a journey.  I was one of those people who did not get great education post op and, frankly, this site has given me more info than my doctors or nurses ever did.  I agree that Sandy R is a great resource (she's been very very helpful for me), but your doctor is obviously the one who will see you and know what's going on. 

Diane

Congrats on getting banded!!  I used a pillow and pressed on it when getting up and down.  LOLthe pulling was awful for me!!!  Read the boards and just keep learning.  No one should be bashing anyone as the band is a tool and we all need to learn how to use it.  Everyone is different!  Blessings to you!~Ann

Rebecca I have the Guide to eating and living well after lapband surgery packet if you PM me and give me your email address I would be glad to send it to your email address