Useful Tips

Useful Tips

Post op pain

Wound area

Heat pads that you warm in the microwave NOT HOT just warm will help with a lot of this

Also when sleeping sleep half on your side and halfway on your back; use a pillow each side to stay that way I found it better on my left side than right.

Shoulder pain

from gases used to inflate tummy region

Theses gases will work there way up into your shoulders several home tricks to help over come this pain

Heat pads again or Sports rub to heat it up

But best treatment is either of the above and laying down as this stops the gases rising into your shoulders.

Cotton Ball in throat feeling

This is normal post op and is caused by bruising of your Tummy from the banding and some foods later on will also cause this feeling these are the bad foods most of the time.

Treatment,

warn NOT HOT liquids NO MILK

warm water with peppermint extract in it will help

Sometimes you may get this in the mornings and can't eat Don't force yourself wait a few hours and you will be OK 90% of the time.

Just drink fluids when this happens and do it SLOWLY.

Adjustment time helpful hints

After each adjustment go back to liquids for 1 > 2 days and slowly build back up to the stage you where at pre adjustment this will make a world of difference as you will be bruised from the adjustment no matter how little.

Also if they have trouble finding Port use the fluoroscopy X-ray machine to locate it and save lots of bruising and possible tenderness in the area.

Gas filled drinks (Carbonated)

these are a NO NO

But I break the rules at times as everyone doe's and will.

I probably have 2 small bottles of Coke a month

The gases will cause pain on your pouch and worst cases can move the band or stretch the pouch.

IF you want to have a gas filled drink let it sit and loose some gas first I know it will taste a little flat but is far better on you that way.

The odd treat will not effect you much as long as it is only an ODD treat.

Candy & Chocolate is in this TOO

All are NO NO's

WATER

I have problems with water always but trick for those who also have a problem is

Squeeze in some Juice from a Lemon or Orange this will solve a lot of the problems also try drinking the water at Room Temp this also will help.

Reflux at bedtime

This can be caused by several things

Band to tight

Eating late at night

acidic foods

Home Cure of Mine

Raise head end of bed about 6 to 8 inches above feet sorry no silk sheets with this LOL

Try eating no later than 7 pm if you go to bed at 11 pm as your pouch will still have a bit of food in it if you eat later

Cooking meats to keep them moist

Cook them in a soup and if you should have trouble you will be able to have the soup and still get some of the meats flavors too.

This works will all meats.

Also a slight breaking of rules here

Those who want to eat a steak or chop and struggle to get it down and get that tight feeling and still want to eat it Have a cup of Soup with you NOT hot just warm and this will work in to ways help it down and also give you some more nourishment.

Constipation

In Australia we are given a Laxative liquid to take after our banding and told to use it always as with you very small intake your bowl movements are greatly reduced, yes drinking water will help but not enough always so a daily maintenance dosage is all that is required to help you

Hints for newbies

when you are going onto meats and this is chicken and fish, cut up the meat into small sections a first meal from banding with meat will be no more than a dessert spoon full and this will fill you up for hours and may even give you some tightness in the chest and the feeling you are unable to breath, you may even feel your heart pounding away,

Try to AVOID being sick, sip at some warm soup or tea or Coffee to help it move down

Try not to take more than a teaspoon full in per mouthful and chew it a lot. and don't swallow it and the straight away take another mouthful allow 5 minutes to pass before trying another.

Sleeping tips

Elevate the head end of your bed about 6 to 8 inches this will help in several ways for those with sleep apnea this helps as I used to suffer from it. also this will reduce reflux at night and make getting a full nights sleep much easier.

Post op after a repair done Open surgery not lap

I had lots of pain trying to sleep laying in bed but slept very well sitting up in an Armchair recliner

		Useful Tips Post op pain Wound area Heat pads that you warm in the microwave NOT HOT just warm will help with a lot of this Also when sleeping sleep half on your side and halfway on your back; use a pillow each side to stay that way I found it better on my left side than right. Shoulder pain from gases used to inflate tummy region Theses gases will work there way up into your shoulders several home tricks to help over come this pain Heat pads again or Sports rub to heat it up But best treatment is either of the above and laying down as this stops the gases rising into your shoulders. Cotton Ball in throat feeling This is normal post op and is caused by bruising of your Tummy from the banding and some foods later on will also cause this feeling these are the bad foods most of the time. Treatment, warn NOT HOT liquids NO MILK warm water with peppermint extract in it will help Sometimes you may get this in the mornings and can't eat Don't force yourself wait a few hours and you will be OK 90% of the time. Just drink fluids when this happens and do it SLOWLY. *Adjustment time helpful hints* After each adjustment go back to liquids for 1 > 2 days and slowly build back up to the stage you where at pre adjustment this will make a world of difference as you will be bruised from the adjustment no matter how little. Also if they have trouble finding Port use the fluoroscopy X-ray machine to locate it and save lots of bruising and possible tenderness in the area. *Gas filled drinks (Carbonated)* these are a NO NO But I break the rules at times as everyone doe's and will. I probably have 2 small bottles of Coke a month The gases will cause pain on your pouch and worst cases can move the band or stretch the pouch. IF you want to have a gas filled drink let it sit and loose some gas first I know it will taste a little flat but is far better on you that way. The odd treat will not effect you much as long as it is only an ODD treat. Candy & Chocolate is in this TOO All are NO NO's *WATER* I have problems with water always but trick for those who also have a problem is Squeeze in some Juice from a Lemon or Orange this will solve a lot of the problems also try drinking the water at Room Temp this also will help. *Reflux at bedtime* This can be caused by several things Band to tight Eating late at night acidic foods Home Cure of Mine Raise head end of bed about 6 to 8 inches above feet sorry no silk sheets with this LOL Try eating no later than 7 pm if you go to bed at 11 pm as your pouch will still have a bit of food in it if you eat later Cooking meats to keep them moist Cook them in a soup and if you should have trouble you will be able to have the soup and still get some of the meats flavors too. This works will all meats. Also a slight breaking of rules here Those who want to eat a steak or chop and struggle to get it down and get that tight feeling and still want to eat it Have a cup of Soup with you NOT hot just warm and this will work in to ways help it down and also give you some more nourishment. *Constipation* In Australia we are given a Laxative liquid to take after our banding and told to use it always as with you very small intake your bowl movements are greatly reduced, yes drinking water will help but not enough always so a daily maintenance dosage is all that is required to help you *Hints for newbies* when you are going onto meats and this is chicken and fish, cut up the meat into small sections a first meal from banding with meat will be no more than a dessert spoon full and this will fill you up for hours and may even give you some tightness in the chest and the feeling you are unable to breath, you may even feel your heart pounding away, Try to AVOID being sick, sip at some warm soup or tea or Coffee to help it move down Try not to take more than a teaspoon full in per mouthful and chew it a lot. and don't swallow it and the straight away take another mouthful allow 5 minutes to pass before trying another. Sleeping tips Elevate the head end of your bed about 6 to 8 inches this will help in several ways for those with sleep apnea this helps as I used to suffer from it. also this will reduce reflux at night and make getting a full nights sleep much easier. Post op after a repair done Open surgery not lap I had lots of pain trying to sleep laying in bed but slept very well sitting up in an Armchair recliner

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