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

Congrats Watcher!! I'm getting banded the same day too.

congratulations to the both of you, best thing in the world!

Banded on Thursday and so far so good. I going to go to the mall with the wife and get some walking in. Not too much, but I can't sit still any longer. I've also pretty much stopped the Hydrocodone (I'll probably use some tonight to help me be able to sleep).

But I do have a question for you band-veterans. I keep getting this feeling in my throat/top-middle-of-my-chest like I need to burp, but nothing will come up. Is this normal? If so, what in the world is it?

To DWRD and Watcher, hang in there guys. Its really not that bad. I think the worst part of the surgery day was right after the surgery and they wouldn't give me but four ounces of ice chips. Thankfully I was still kinda sleepy so I slept most of the post-op time.