Hey Guys, I am new here and still in the beginning stages of this. Have my first appointment with the surgeon next week and I am a bit apprehensive albeit committed to getting it done. I weigh 360# and have struggled all my adult life with eating and my weight. At one time I was a competitive powerlifter, seems like a million years ago, but after many injuries I had to give it up. Never gave up the massive appetite though so here I am. Guess I am just looking for some encouragement from other guys who have gone thru this or are going thru it. I do have a former lover/friend who was one of the first in the country to get it done post FDA approval and she has been very supportive about my decision which helps. Well thats it for now, hope I havent ranted to mush and look forward to hearing from you

Yes, congratulations! You're banded!

Good deal Rick, you're on your way!

Rick - First off - congrats!! - seems like it took forever...

I sleep on my side as well and found having to sleep on my back the most challenging aspect of my post-surgery recovery. After a few unsuccessfull nights trying to sleep in my bed, I wound up going for my recliner and it was much better. Honestly, it was a little over a week before I was able to move back to my bed and this was the toughest part of my recovery, as it effected my sleep. Otherwise, I cruised - no pain, just a little gas (from surgery). Try to get walking as soon as possible - it really does help !

Welcome to the Bandwagon

Time to start shrinkin'

db

FINALLY!

Congratulations, Rick! I've been away on vacation, good to return to your news. The next few days you'll be feeling better and better.

Welcome to the fraternity!

It's a great feeling to finaly get Banded,,,Congrat's Rick

Thanks to all those who Patiently waited for me to get this done and offered nothing but encouragement along the way. Things are improving, albeit, somewhat slower than I had hoped, having trouble with my blood sugar being irratic as hell so I have felt pretty lousy overall so havent had the energy to do much but that will change I am sure--

Sorry to hear it's been a little bumpy.

How are you doing on Fluid intake? On Protein?

It's been a few days since your last post Bigrick. I hope everything is going better for you. Are you walking? Did your blood sugars settle down?

Not really, the blood sugar still remains high but is sort of beginning to settle down some. It was only 178 this morning instead of the 240's or so I was getting. Still not feeling great although things are slowly improving, still little to no energy although I have tried to walk every day, can only do a mile or less before I am wiped out. Much less than the 6-8 I could normally do over rough terrain. No problem getting the required protein intake but the desire to eat something solid is growing! Thats all for now-

I guess it takes a little while for your body to get used to the changes, and to the stress/fatigue of the anesthesia and surgical process.

How are you faring now? How are you doing for pain? It sounds as if pain isn't the issue, but energy is.

Let us know how things are going.

Pain is not the issue, stopped the Percocet's on Saturday so less than 24 hours for those but then I HATE the way they make me feel so it was easy to stop! Blood sugar is coming down after a visit to my PCP but still a little high(~150) and my stomach feels cramped and grumbly constantly. I think it has to do with the protein drinks mixed with milk. Still no energy, feel worn the hell out after only a 1 mile walk, I am sure it will all change, just being a little crabby I guess but all of this also comes with me having lost 23 pounds already and I am sure that is contributing to how I feel also. Anyhow I am there and moving forward and looking forward to what the future brings my way!

This seems to be the thread for me ... am about a month out from my surgery and well im flipping the hell out to say the least everything from mourning food to wondering how much access skinn i may have after dropping so much weight... i have never really been small so im not even sure if i will recognize myself after... i have always been a jock so im glad to be getting back to where i can do the things i love doing but seriously im having a hard time manning up in these my last days as a citizen of fatdom. I mean it took me a long time to become one with my fatness and now im turning my back on it .... sept 9th is the day ... i started eating to much as a coping mechanism to depression and skeletons in the closet... when i cant hide behind the fatass what will i do then?

Watcher, you mean you're getting your band in another month or so?

First off, that's great! You don't have to mourn food, you'll just learn to eat differently. Right now, what you should be doing is mourning *life* - the rich, healthy, full life that being fat has deprived you of. You worry about excess skin already, but right now you don't care of the rings of fat with which you've surrounded yourself?

It's a question of perspective. And you know the time is right for you to Choose Life!

Ok to its amazing how the right information at the right time can change anything... i just ended a very intense relationship and was sulking about that then the hospital calls and they want to move my surgury date up to now... 8-25 to be exact... barely gives me time to get my work situation situated but ... danm if its not a relief i mean the wait is friggen over finally.

not not really as nervous as i was before then...

thank God something is going my way