...before getting the procedure done? I've done alot of research but don'tknow it all. So I'd like to get input from others who have been through this. What do they forget to tell you or did you not realize you'd expereince post op?

I completely agree with Kim, I know I read "it's just a tool" a million times before the surgery but it never sunk in how much conscientious work you have to do on your own - this feels good sometimes, as I don't feel it's all the band when I lose weight, I contribute exercise and will power to the struggle - but the band really does it's fair share!

I wish I had known a rich relative that offered to pay for it all.

DeLarla...keep the one-liners coming! Hee, hee.

I wished I would have heard more about the games you mind will play on you after surgery and your not able to eat, Unreal how much you miss chewing the first few weeks, but on a good note I am 5 and half months out and the whole food is my life syndrome is subsiding, my world does not revolve around food anymore, but now I find myself reallllllly bored and hunting for things to do

I wish I would have know how much work it is to lose weight even with the band. And how hard it would be to watch someone eat a hamburger and crave it so bad it hurts and know that you can't have a big hamburger ever again. (Makes me want to cry every time I think about it) But on an up note, I wish I would have known how darn good I look in a pair of size 10 capris, would have never let myself get as fat as I did.

Oh Jack, you are so right, I haven't felt this good about myself in a long time. Last night I was laying in bed, in my little night gown (well its not all that little) and I couldn't stop staring at my thighs and legs, they look so thin, my husband asked what the hell I was staring at so passionately and I said I was just looking at how damn good my legs and thighs look. it was so funny.

Amen! I was sooooo hungry, too!!!

I wish someone wouldve told me that when I woke up from the surgery, I may be hungry.... because I was. The nurses looked at me like I was nuts.

And stayed that way (hungry) for a loooong time... even after my first fill.

hunger, fear of eating in public, frustration when I forget the "rules" I still do unfortunately....

I was thinking about this myself the other day. There was a few things I had wished I had known, although none of them would have stopped me getting this procedure done.

Unbelieveable gas from both ends :">

How bad the pain was for the first couple of weeks after surgery

How hungry I was going to be after the swelling subsided

How much I am stressing about every little thing to do with this op...eg eating too much, every little niggly pain, have I caused my band to slip, did my port flip and it goes on and on

Again I say I am still only a newbie but I knowing what I know now I still would have had the procedure done in a second.

I wish I had known/understood the nervousness I would have eating in public or with colleagues at lunch.

I wish I had known to pack LIGHT for Mexico and that I would basically live in my pj's for 3 days and not care.

I wish I had known that Lisa would have gone to Mexico with me and I would have left my family at home.

I wish I had known that losing 17 lbs does NOT mean that your clothes will fit any looser.

I wish I had known I was getting band surgery last holiday so I wouldn't have dieted all through it and really relished in all the goodies then, since i won't be able to do it again.

I wish Lane Bryant made clothes smaller than 14 as I will surely miss them when I get there. NOT!

I wish I knew about the tugging and pulling that happens in my belly when I do certin things or mover certin ways. Or when I try to bend over to pick something up I thought my guts were going to fall out. Ouch!!

Trish your back!! I hope all went well for you! Are you still in pain? How was the drive home? I got banded on Monday. stayed in hospital until Tues 11am wanted to go home so bad, now wish I was back. My bed is hard to get in, and I am starving!!! only liquids for 7 days? how do I get any nutrition? The hunger PAINS is the only pain I have.

Please tell me whats going on with you to see if day 3 is supposed to be this way. I am very light headed.

Glad your back ready to hear your experience and make sure I'm "normal" well ok that might be stretching it my firends would say. who else would do this then freak out cause it's done.

I wish I had known how hard it is to eat the bandster way vs. eating crap. Eating protein and all of the food we are supposed to eat, are very difficult at times. I mean they get stuck and it can be very uncomfortable to get the protein in. On the other hand eating total crap is a cinch, chips, choclate and icecream are a breeze. I wish it was the other way around. So that's when you have struggles with your brain, eat the good stuff even though at times it is damn uncomfortable!

So true Woodkd. I could easily live on fruit/protein smoothies, lots of yogurt with pecans or walnuts stirred in (yes--way too much fat), cottage cheese, pudding. All soft stuff appeals more than going for some meat. But of course, eating all soft stuff the calorie and fat count can get clear away from me. Whereas eating some chicken or other meat--not gonna happen. Thanks for a good reminder to sometimes do the uncomfortable thing . .

This is amazing. As soon as I was taken up to my room after surgery I was famished. All I kept thinking was I would love a sandwich. I thought I was a lone on this. Its funny how we are all dfferent but the same. I've so far and will continue to stay focused. But for the grace of god !!