Hi all. I am being banded this morning . It is now 5am and I have been awake since 2am, nervous I suppose. I am due at the hospital 9am and will be in for an overnight stay.

How did I get here? I have been overweight since my early teens-I am 46 now. I have had varying degrees of success with diets always losing well but putting back on (with extra) just as easily. I finally had enough and did some research and banding seemed the way to go. I made the decision about a month ago and have just finished 2 weeks of Optifast. I have lost 4 kg since deciding to have the surgery. As you can probably see I work in kg not lbs (I am in New Zealand), but I will have to convert to lbs as I see most of you are lb people. I know it is 2.2lb in a kg but thats too hard to work out at this time of the morning! My weight this morning is 83.2kg and my goal is 55kg which my surgeon is happy with-myself, I would be ecstatic!! I havent been this weight since getting married 25 years ago. I am so looking forward to this food obsession going-it will be nice to be like 'normal'people who eat to live not live to eat

I am nervous on a lot of levels. First is the operation/ anaesthesia but I suppose this is normal and Im not at that great a risk I suppose. My ECG was fine and my BMI was 37.1 when I started. Not too worried about the preop pain. My main concern I suppose if fear of failing again. After a lifetime of failing to keep the weight off I can barely hope that this will be the ticket. I am under no illusions it will take commitment and effort, but I am scared-this is the last chance. Also it is very expensive-over $18000 NZD and Ive been declined insurance. I need to have a BMI of over 40 to qualify or 35 & comorbitity (which I dont have). Only time I havent felt fat enough!!! The insurance cover would have only been for $7500 so Im not too worried although it would have been nice.

Anyway better get off here and do chores before the rest of the family gets up to keep my mind occupied. I will be back to post soon. :Banane20:

Congrats!! I just started my journey. I'm nervous now and haven't even met my doctor!

Don't go into surgery with a negative approach. While you may have failed in the past, you won't this time :Banane20: There are A LOT of resources to help you, especially here. Keep your head up and your mind positive and you'll do great.:Banane20:

Congratulations! It will all be over with before you realize it and you'll be banded! I was banded on Monday and I just went back to work today. It's rough (the gas pains!) but it's so worth it.

Can't wait to do this journey with you! :Banane20:

Thanks. Your message has helped. It will be good to have someone to share with that is doing it around the same time as me. Feeling a little excited, less apprehensive now.

Good luck with your journey too. I am sooo looking forward to tonight-once this part of my journeys over and I can get onto the next stage

We are all here for ya Maggie! Next week is my turn, so we can learn together.... You will do great! Just envision how you want life to be, and it will be. That is why we are all doing this!:Banane20:

Well, that parts over. Dont know what I was worried about. Great surgical and hospital team. Felt nothing more than moderate discomfort and had adequate analgesia. Easiest op so far. Bit tired today as slept badly last night, probably to do with all the monitors bleeping. Now back at home and caught up on a bit of sleep and having small amounts of protein shakes and tolerating well. Looking forward to the next steps

Well, that parts over. Dont know what I was worried about. Great surgical and hospital team. Felt nothing more than moderate discomfort and had adequate analgesia. Easiest op so far. Bit tired today as slept badly last night, probably to do with all the monitors bleeping. Now back at home and caught up on a bit of sleep and having small amounts of Protein shakes and tolerating well. Looking forward to the next steps

Congratulations! Thanks for letting us know how you are doing!