My band gets removed tomorrow!

trishah wrote:

I think its worth waiting Scott to reduce the risk factors. It also gives you time to get your head straight.

Coming from band to sleeve has its own issues and sometimes its hard to stop thinking "band"

I am sure everything will work out great for you and there are so many happy exbandit/sleevers on here that we cant all be wrong.

Hi Trish,

Yes it will be all good I'm sure. The forum is great as it has so many people who have been in my position, which makes finding out info on the subject a lot easier than it otherwise would be.

thanks Scott

I think its worth waiting Scott to reduce the risk factors. It also gives you time to get your head straight.

Coming from band to sleeve has its own issues and sometimes its hard to stop thinking "band"

I am sure everything will work out great for you and there are so many happy exbandit/sleevers on here that we cant all be wrong.

trishah wrote:

Did they call it a hematoma Scott?

The wound won't actually heal with the collection of old stale blood there behind it so its best it comes out. I had this after an op once and was told to massage it lightly in the shower daily to get the gunk out. It is usually due to a lot of pushing and pulling in the op causing trauma and bsub tissue ruising so I would imagine its prob the hole they dragged the band out of.

Keep taking good vitamins so you heal well.

G'day Trish,

I honestly can't remember what they called it, but it seems like there was a bit of a "Pocket" of space that the fluid had built up in and once the stitches were removed this created a path for the fluids to escape from sort of thing (thats basically how it was explained to me) it seems to be good now with no sign of weeping at all now, which I guess is good and any fluid should be reabsorbed back into the body going by what I was told by the doc.

Time will tell I guess?

I feel fine, no fever or pain etc, no sign of infection which is good, as the Doc said if you see any yellow or green coming out get back in ASAP as its infected but he also gave me a script for some Anti Biotics to help fight any possible Staf infection so hopefully that won't happen either.

I've got an apointment next month to the the surgeon who did the op so we will see what his thoughts are on what's happened and I guess the wait is on for the VSG op, which I was told will be in 4mth time, it would be nice if it was earlier but I guess its better to let the body to heal and recover from the 1st op that way the possibility of complications is reduced too, going by what the specialist told me anyway, whether thats just medical BS or not who knows but I can wait, I've been huge for many years and a few more months of waiting won't make that much difference to my life I guess!

Cheers Scott

Did they call it a hematoma Scott?

The wound won't actually heal with the collection of old stale blood there behind it so its best it comes out. I had this after an op once and was told to massage it lightly in the shower daily to get the gunk out. It is usually due to a lot of pushing and pulling in the op causing trauma and bsub tissue ruising so I would imagine its prob the hole they dragged the band out of.

Keep taking good vitamins so you heal well.

Well I've been in hospital 3 times in the last 2wks first was to remove the band then a day or so later to get stitches put in as the wound had opened up and blood and god knows what all over the bed.

Anyway all was going well and I had my stitches out yesterday, no fuss but whilst I was cooking dinner last night my daughter asked to have a look at the site and she said theres still some stitches in, I though oh no surely not, but yes there were 2 stitches still there, and ran my finger over them to feel them and as I did that the wound opened up slightly and the brownish/red liquid come spurting out! what a mess all over the kitchen floor, so I got some paper towel and put that over it to stop the mess.

So last night saw me heading back to hospital for yet another visit, it turns out it was pooling of some liquid (they had a fancy name for it - just can't remember now) so it was allowed to drain and then they put another patch on it and off I went. Apparently the removal of the stitches allowed the fluid to escape, normally the body would re asorb the fluid.

So hopefully that is it now until I get the Sleeve done.

trishah wrote:

My pain was minimal but I felt kinda drained for weeks... kinda zapped ....dont know why and eating was a slow process I filled to bursting on very little and it was quite uncomfortable.... I did manage to get over that though and could eat quite a bit

I had some scaring to my gut so that could have been why, you said yours was relatively unscathed so you may not experience the whole scar tissue rebound tightening thing

G'day Trish,

I'm able to have canned soup no worries at the moment, I'll stay on that until tomorrow then move to some soft foods for a few days then see how I go on the more solid stuff. I'd say I will be pretty flat for a week or so as well. Mind you I feel quite good at the moment but I'm sure it will catch up somewhere along the line.

Cheers Scott

My pain was minimal but I felt kinda drained for weeks... kinda zapped ....dont know why and eating was a slow process I filled to bursting on very little and it was quite uncomfortable.... I did manage to get over that though and could eat quite a bit

I had some scaring to my gut so that could have been why, you said yours was relatively unscathed so you may not experience the whole scar tissue rebound tightening thing

Thankyou everyone for the kind words and wishes - I much appreciate it. I'm amazed that there isn't any real pain to speak of, it only gives a very low level pain when turning over in bed but not enough to require anything for it.

Now the wait begins (4mths until sleeve surgery) can't wait, I'll be glad when this part of my journey is over and I can start looking forward to living again.

Thanks again everyone.

congratulations Scott....now it all gets a whole lot better

trishah wrote:

Yes Good luck today BFScott

Thank's Trish,

Well the op went very well, no real pain at all to speak of. I'm back home now and just taking it easy for a week or so (Docs orders). The band didn't do any real damage at all - I did however have a small hernia from the port tube by the sounds of it, they repaired that so all should be good there also.

The Doctors and Nursing staff at RBWH (Royal Brisbane Womens Hospital) were very professional and I commend them for a great result.

At every stage I was explained how everything would happen and what affects it would or wouldn't have on me, which helped put my mind at ease regarding all the different procedures etc that were about to happen.

Well now the wait (around 4mths) until they will do the Sleeve.

I have to remain on fluids for 3 days then onto soft foods for 3 days then all should be good to go back on a "Normal" diet and food intake, somewhat looking forward to that I can tell you after only having Optifast for the last 2wks.

Anyway I'm going to have a little lie down for a while (haven't slept real well for the last few days) so that combined with the effects of the Anestetic and pain relief are starting to take their toll on the energy.

Scott

Yes Good luck today BFScott

thinking of you on op day

take care

shelly

jelly wrote:

I had my band removed recently and the whole operation was a breeze , no pain at all. I was eating a sandwich within three hours of my band being removed and discharged home within four and half hours of the operation being completed.

I did not drive until the next day as i was not allowed due to the anaesthetic, and was back at work as a nurse a few days later.

Good luck with your operation tomorrow and your sleeve journey

WOW Jelly,

I hope I get that lucky! When they fixed my band last time I felt fine, no pain what so ever, you wouldn't of known they'd been in fiddling at all. I hope this time is the same, they did keep me overnight (I think because of my Sleep Apnea?) but I was out before lunch the next day.

Thanks again and I hope your Sleeve goes well when it's done.

I had my band removed recently and the whole operation was a breeze , no pain at all. I was eating a sandwich within three hours of my band being removed and discharged home within four and half hours of the operation being completed.

I did not drive until the next day as i was not allowed due to the anaesthetic, and was back at work as a nurse a few days later.

Good luck with your operation tomorrow and your sleeve journey

natashao'donnell wrote:

Best thing i ever did 2 was get that nasty thing out of me, no more reflux, no more sluge coming out my nose, no more jelly fish spews lol.

i think i got out of hospital next day and felt absoltuley amazing and was eating chicken and salad rolls yum yum i missed them the most, good luck it will be the best thing u eva do x

LOL Jellyfish spews!! I'm hearing ya, the bands fine when they are adjusted right and working but when they aren't boy can they cause havic to your life hey. I got sick of not being able to eat healthy foods, mine seemed to be fine eating crap but once I tried eating salads etc, just wouldn't happen, it was really giving me the shits in the end, here I was wanting to eat good nutritious food and the bloody thing wouldn't let me.

I guess that's when I realised that it had to go - so my journey started to find a better alternative (the doc who was doing my adjustments never ever once mentioned the Sleeve) all she wanted to do was keep getting the $$ for each adjustment (at least that's how it felt to me). I had to keep telling her that there was a problem with the band and finally after about 1yr of complaining about it she finally said we will have to do some tests which revealed what I had been saying all along - THE BLOODY THING IS LEAKING! - it was leaking where the port hose joins the band itself, it was repaired and worked for about 2-3mths then it started feeling the same! I'm thinking to myself this bloody things leaking again, I'd get an adjustment then next thing you know I would be able to eat anything I wanted and with very very minimal restriction, so again some tests and sure enough its doing the same bloody thing. So then they said I can get the complete band etc replaced, sleeve, or RNY so we discussed that and the sleeve sounded like the best option at this stage (being safer apparently? who knows) so thats what will be happening once the band is removed.

I will be glad when this Journey is over and I can start functioning as a normal human being again - I'm so over it now.

I'm glad you are happy with your decision, I hope it all goes well for you too.

cheers

Best thing i ever did 2 was get that nasty thing out of me, no more reflux, no more sluge coming out my nose, no more jelly fish spews lol.

i think i got out of hospital next day and felt absoltuley amazing and was eating chicken and salad rolls yum yum i missed them the most, good luck it will be the best thing u eva do x

trishah wrote:

I have never regretted the removal of my band... I cant explain how much physically better I felt once it was removed.. it is true when they say its a foreign body... it was like removing a life force sucking creature from me. yet when it was in I had not noticed how much it did make me feel physically less than I should feel.

This is the best decision you will make, having it removed will be a breath of fresh air to you and I am actually excited for you.

Good luck tomorrow, you have my best of wishes and confidence in your forward walking.

Trish

Thanks Trish,

I will have to see if I feel the same re it sucking the life out of me or not, I'm sure someone else said the same thing also.

I'll be glad when the complete op is done and I can get on with the new life - looking very much foward to that.

Scott

I have never regretted the removal of my band... I cant explain how much physically better I felt once it was removed.. it is true when they say its a foreign body... it was like removing a life force sucking creature from me. yet when it was in I had not noticed how much it did make me feel physically less than I should feel.

This is the best decision you will make, having it removed will be a breath of fresh air to you and I am actually excited for you.

Good luck tomorrow, you have my best of wishes and confidence in your forward walking.

Trish

G'day Trish,

Thanks for that, I'm not worried about putting on weight as the band hasn't been working for some time now and I'd doubt it's got any fluid at all in it, so I've been able to eat bread, steak etc for a while now.

Strangely enough I haven't put on anymore weight than when I first got it put in! so thats something I guess.

I will be glad to get rid of it though as sometimes it hard to eat things and other times is no worries at all. Manly in the Mornings I notice it's a bit harder but once I've had something hot or warm its pretty much good to go, which is of no use to me what so ever - I do love my food. But I'm sure I will adapt well to the new way of life once the Sleeve is done, I can't wait, it will be nice to fit back into descent clothes again, especially those off the rack from shops that everyone else shop at.

Congrat-u-ma-lations Scott... great news.

Now you will prob be 2 days in hospital... straight after the op you will be on liquids...next day you will be on reasonably normal foods... like toast OMG it was awesom to eat it and not feel it... ooo anywhoo from there you will be able to eat anything that takes your fancy like steak.

You will wait for the hit the first time you eat it but when it doesnt happen your heart will leap!

For the first 2 to 3 weeks your hunger will be next to nil and you will fill up on relatively very little and you will think this is awesom... I dont need a sleeve. BUT.... the hunger does come back.... it was just the swelling and the beating up and cutting out of the band that has reduced the capasity. Once it settles your an eating machine again. Try... really try to stick to the protein first principle... eat your slab of steak and your low carb veg but keep away from the high carb Shite and you will be on the first place runway for weightloss with the sleeve.

If you cant...(like me) and you decide to use this time to have a food funeral and are happy to gain *sigh* thirty odd kilos....like me *sigh again* then go for it... in all honesty I am a little glad I got it all into me.

You will feel sucked dry and tired for a good 6 weeks.. you will be able to function but your energy levels will be a tad zapped... dont know why but everyone I spoke to with a band removal has remarked it took this long to feel totally normal.

Hope this helps

Hi everyone,

My band is to be removed tomorrow at RBWH, is there anything I should know about after the band is removed - ie length of time in Hospital, what I can and can't eat after the op, anything really. I have to wait around 3mths to get sleeved which no doubt will feel like torture but it has to be done that way for safety and recovery reasons.

Anyway I would appreicate it if you let me know your experiences with getting the band removed.

Thanks Scott