I am having a panic attack today about my decision. So to put my mind at ease I would like some information from fellow band members

What is a good shopping list for me to make sure I have for the first few weeks. What were your favorite things to have after the surgery.

What should I take to the hospital? I will stay overnight, so what will I need.

Please tell me about what you had to go through to be allowed to have the surgery and your surgery story.

I think the answers to these things will help me feel better. Thanks everybody!

I am having a panic attack today about my decision. So to put my mind at ease I would like some information from fellow band members

What is a good shopping list for me to make sure I have for the first few weeks. What were your favorite things to have after the surgery.

I ate a lot of popcicles..i loved them they made me feel almost normal LOL

chicken broth, potatoes for mashing, cream of wheat, Water, sugar free Jello. To tell you the truth for me there was not a whole lot of variety those first 3 weeks..applesauce,.i would puree chicken noodle Soup which was good, um cream of chicken soup is good. after about the second week i would puree canned chicken with a little mayo..have mashed potatoes (those were my fav) cream of wheat for Breakfast, i would scramble an egg during the 3rd week. It's rough! those first few weeks are hard. but after that it gets so much easier. I can eat just about anything now, i think i probably need a fill but am putting it off because i'm comfortable with my eating right now and am afraid to restrict myself but I know i have to do it eventually.

What should I take to the hospital? I will stay overnight, so what will I need.

I'm sorry i didn't stay over night i was in at 7:00 am and out by 4:30 that day. didn't the hospital give you a list? my "binder" says you should take your spirometer is you have one, unflavored lip gloss or chapstick (they don't let you drink a whole lot that first day and you will be sick from the anesthesia) slippers, robe, ear plugs i guess if you're a light sleeper, brush, toothbrush, deodorant? loose clothing for discharge

Please tell me about what you had to go through to be allowed to have the surgery and your surgery story.

I did not have any hassles, i have kaiser in about june of 2009 my doctor said i was a candidate because of my bmi and high blood pressure so i was ok'd went to the first group meeting it took me a year to finally decide to do it, I didn't want to, I told myself if I couldn't do it on my own then i would have to have the surgery, well i tried for a year and was at the gym one evening doing a zumba class and my knees hurt and the class was encased in mirrors so i had to see myself and i saw all the thinner people there and i had a moment where I knew it was something I had to do or else i would continue to gain weight, to yo yo diet and never get anywhere with my weight loss. I have not had the kind of success i imagined i was banded on sept 13, 2010 and was 277 on day of surgery, i am now 257 my lowest was 253 since surgery date, holidays did a number on my focus/willpower..what ever you want to call it so i am struggling now to get off the sweets and to excersice more...its still a battle but i do not regret it at all, i cannot eat nearly as much as i used to. let me warn you, for me the first 2 weeks were hell, i regretted the surgery i couldn't understand why anyone would recommend the surger (of those who have had it) and i had the worst shoulder pain that i though would never go away seriuosly i thought i was going to live with it for the rest of my life LOL but things are good now. i just have to do my part and the band will do its part.

I think the answers to these things will help me feel better. Thanks everybody!

I hope my babblings helped you..sorry to be long winded, sometimes i start to read some of the posts on here and think my gosh you are going on and on and here i am going on and on..LOL Best wishes to you let us know how you did ! you can email if you'd like i'm at good2bjolly@gmail.com my name is Carmen i live in Sacramento CA