Hi All. I have just found this amazing site and i am having my band fitted Dec 3rd. Can anyone give me any tips on what to expect and if there are local places/pubs as i have my partner coming with me and he wii be staying at Camponile Hotel while i'm in hospital. I am really excited and a bit nervous, and would welcome all tips on pre/post op. Also is there anybody out there who can be my buddy/mentor it would be great to have someone to share this with who has been through the same journey.

Hi All. I have just found this amazing site and i am having my band fitted Dec 3rd. Can anyone give me any tips on what to expect and if there are local places/pubs as i have my partner coming with me and he wii be staying at Camponile Hotel while i'm in hospital. I am really excited and a bit nervous, and would welcome all tips on pre/post op. Also is there anybody out there who can be my buddy/mentor it would be great to have someone to share this with who has been through the same journey.

The Hotel has pretty much everything you need from what I remember. I didn't actually go out though. I travelled on my own and then spent one night in the Hotel after the OP.

What you can expect:

A lot of pain around the stomach area and a feeling bloated due to the gas that they pump in the give the surgeon space to move around. It can take days for the gas to be absorbed back into the body. I ended up laying flat on my stomach one day to shit it around a bit. I wouldn't advice it though as it bloody hurt. I did think it helped me though personally. I was eating Soup the day after the OP in very small spoonfuls but some people can only take Water. This is due to the swelling inside. I really lived on shakes like slimfast type and added Protein powder I got from a health shop. Sometimes I added yoghurt to it and blended it changes the taste. There is no quick and easy way to lose weight. You have to change how you are and take exercise, small amounts at first then build it up. You will find as you lose weight it becomes easier. I used swimming and the cross trainer once I got over the getting into the water part. I hated how I looked but to change it you have to just get on with it. I cannot explain just how important it is to exercise. I was losing 3 times as much after I started exercising. Lots of people say it doesn't work for them. That is because they either eat to much still or don't exercise. It's not a miracle cure but with a little work it definitely can be

Over time you will have to keep getting your band adjusted until you can only eat a small amount. I can still now eat quite a bit but don't. It does allow me to eat a little more when I am out with friends. Rather than a starter and sit there all night. It is a personal thing and I told everyone. It stops the awkwardness of why I was not eating 10 times less than I had.

I don't get on here as often as I did but if you need any advice or assistance I will try and help, good luck with the OP and your new life.

Alfie