Xmas Eve morning got sliced-and-diced early. Pre-op was great! Every single person I dealt with was informative, funny, patient with my questions and just generally good to be with. Didn't feel a single of the many needle pokes and the procedure went off without a hitch. 4.5 hours after I was wheeling into O.R. I was back in the car for the 6 hour drive back home.

No one was kidding about the gas bubble thing along with the shoulder pain (mine is right side) - it's there and it ain't gonna let itself be ignored! No problem though, I wouldn't feel right without having to share some of what the rest of you have endured.

I've noticed it's very important to drink slowly, pretty much just sips. I suppose that's common knowledge but I somehow missed it. Deep breaths are tough due to the bubble and the fact that, for whatever reason, every time I do it I get a coughing fit (which gets my attention). Walking seems to make it worse - when I sit back down most of this pain subsides.

I'm psyched about what's awaiting me, I truly am. The one thing that always kicked my butt whenever I got serious about getting in shape (hunger) can now be a memory. Ahhhh-Nolllttt... you'd better look OUT!

So glad everything went well Ted!!! Your exciting journey is just beginning!

Merry Christmas, Ted! Great present to yourself, and you are early starting to the dreaded New Year diet! Stay positive, and keep coming back to advise how you are doing! My advice, if you want it, is to walk as much as possible, it wil help the gas move. Best wishes, Karen

What a great Christmas present! Congrats and keep up the good work!

Congratulations and Merry Christmas! Use that heating pad excessively on the gas bubble. Walk and sip, sip, sip the wine water!

Best Wishes and now the fun begins.....

Awesome Christmas present!!! Probably the best ever you can receive!!

Good luck and congratulations.

Merry Christmas to you and your family!

Merry Christmas and congratulations! I was banded on the 21st and I also had the gas bubble. Try walking around, but definitely don't over do it. So glad all went well for you. Most of my pain subsided by post op day three. I went from taking pain medicine every 4 hours to only once a day. This was really after the gas finally passed. Good luck to you!

Slept better than I have in weeks and I feel better than ever today. Though "The Shithead" (my name for the gas bubble) seems to be going way. I think it's scared!

I did weigh more today than expected, especially since I ate zero yesterday but I realize that's probably due to my body reacting to getting hacked on. It's really odd to not eat and not be hungry. I like it!

While the fam is downing turkey, 'tatos w/ gravy and the rest, I'll be trying to get some broth to go

go down (didn't have much luck w/ that last night). Oh, and having to answer questions because I'm not telling anyone what I've done until I get near my goal. My hope is that the four or five who need it will get excited enough to follow my lead. Nothing like an obvious success to inspire others.

Thanks to everyone for the good words an support!

Your positive attitude is awesome! It makes me even more excited about my New Years Eve Surgery! Blessings to you! !

Day 3 post-surgery and "The Shithead" (aka "gas bubble") has demanded way more attention than it deserved and needed to be slapped down. Knowing there's only one way to resolve this I attempted to find inspiration by YouTube-ing some old faves by the 90's bands "The Ass Ponys" and "Butt Trumpet". Although that put me in a better mood neither group lived up to the lofty promise their names imply. Sigh.

Fortunately, I think I experienced divine intervention when I discovered that switching from side to side while sleeping (right-to-left) causes some valve to open - blessed be thine own butt-air!

For what it's worth, my name isn't really Ted. I've adopted this screen name from a how-to that you'll understand if you visit this site: http://mistupid.com/people/page051.htm

Should you actually go there you'll understand that the lack of maturity in the first part of my post isn't a fluke. It's all about me entertaining myself... sorry if it offends.

Band-plus-10 days and I think I'm ahead of the curve (thanks doc!). I've been able to eat some things I maybe shouldn't have but what's a guy to do? Went to a Seahawks game, went out a bunch of other times during the holiday break... ugh!

I busted most every rule we're supposed to follow during this period (alcohol, solids) but seem to have gotten away with it as I'm down 11 lbs. Now that partytime is through I'll be better.

Although I've yet to experience some of the bad symptions (nausea, vomiting) I think I've been close to being stuck. Things like greek yogurt have a way of piling up if not eaten very carefully.

I can tell I'm going to miss eating haystacks of food but I suppose so long as I'm full I can handle it. Restaurant bills ought to be less cringeworthy from now on!

Today I'm starting some light work on the treadmill - maybe 20 minutes of uphill walking. I'll wait a few weeks to hit the weights but am looking forward to coming home from the gym and not having to eat pails of spaghetti to feel satisfied. At least I hope that's how it will go.