Hey guys -

Here is the story. Tuesday I went in for my final pre-op appointments and to have the IVC filter placed. The filter was scheduled for 8 in the morning, so we were there by 7. Waiting around and was finally taken back to the radiology OR. They gave me "happy gas" but I was awake and was able to watch on the monitor. After about 20 minutes of prep work and placing the wire they decided my IVC was too large to have a filter. I guess it messures at 33-34 mil. Stroy of my life, too big. Anyway the suregons decided that since I had lost about 30lbs on my pre-op diet I was no longer in the over 50 BMI, so that was one less risk factor. Surgery was a go for Wednesay at 9.

Wednesday my family and I drove out to the hospital and we were in the waiting room by 7:30. I was hooked up and ready to go by 8. Spoke with all the docs and they rolled me back by 8:30. I was pretty nervous about the drugs knocking me out, but my brother had reassured me when he had surgery they told him to count down from 100. He said he remembered saying 97 and then woke up in recovery. As I was being tucked into the table I was waiting for him to say he was going to have me count down. I remember him saying here it comes, and then I woke up in recovery. Didnt even get to say 100! :biggrin: I was in recovering by 10 but didnt wake up until closer to 11. I was home by 1 and it is a 30 minute drive. Nurses said I was the ebest patient she had seen in her 3 months(I am sure she tells all the guys this), but it worked for me. I wasnt able to sleep much last night but I have been napping on and off the last two days. Small gas pains, and I very lucky I havent had pain or discomfort in my shoulder or back.

You guys were a great support system before the surgery and now that I am a bandster, I am sure you will be eqially great as we go on our weight loss journey together.

Thanks for everything guys.

Nice work, hombre!

The first couple of days after banding aren't much fun, but they're also not terrible. If you have discomfort getting out of bed or out of the chair, clutch a pillow to your stomach and chest. Keep walking for gas pains. All the discomfort will rapidly clear up, and soon you'll feel great again.

Just keep walking. Try to walk at least a half an hour today and tomorrow, and much more in the days to come...

You're on your way now, PRcowboy! Like Fenton said, walk,walk,walk. It helps.

As the other two have reminded,

Make sure you walk as much as you can not only does it help the healing process but it keeps the lungs free from pneumonia

Congratulations! Amen on the walking advice. It really helped me. You should be feeling a lot better in a day or so.

I've been absent for a while. I hate it when work gets in the way. best of luck to you in your journey.

I remember experiencing the same thing with the anesthesia. I had surgeries in the past and thought I knew what to expect, but it was the same thing - they hooked in the line and next thing I knew I was waking up in recovery.

Welcome aboard - sounds like you are well on your way !

I agree with everyone....the main thing is to walk, walk, walk, and even when you don't feel like it walk!