My name is Angela and I am 36 years old. I live in Gainesville, GA with my husband and 16 year old son. I work in one of the state's largest school district at the central office level. My official starting weight is 230, but I have lost 8 pounds during the pre-op diet phase.

I am scheduled to be banded tomorrow morning (August 15th) at 7:30! :tongue_smilie:

I guess I am having all of the normal feelings.....excited, scared, worried....just lots of emotions. I am worried that I won't be able to eat once it is done, that I will be hungry, pain (I have read many of you have experience a lot of gas pain), how can I manage the pain, what if it doesn't work and I have paid all of this money, how long will it be before I get to buy some new clothes in a SMALLER size,.....all of that kind of stuff.

I do not personally know someone who has gone through the procedure....but I would love to actually talk to someone......so this forum is great! I look forward to sharing my experience with you guys.

Hi Angela,

First I want to wish you good luck tomorrow, we were all nervous the night before, not sure I even slept a wink that night just worrying about everything I thought there was to worry about. I don't care what hospital you go to, the nurses do their best to calm you down before surgery and the drugs take care of the rest. Before you know it you will be in recovery with another team of awesome nurses.

The first few weeks I got to tell you as far as eating goes, you pretty much don't! You are on liquids and jello's and puddings and anything that slides down easy. I was banded on July 29th and I am in the mushy phase of the diet. It was heaven eating a scrambled egg. They just want to make sure you heal correctly before you start eating "normal" foods. I can tell you one thing, when I saw the scale going down instead of up for a change, I was excited and as long as I am not hungry I don't care that I was just drinking Protein shakes and broth and eating Jello and puddings. The gas wasn't too bad for me, some people are worse than others. Get some gas x strips to use, they really help. Keep walking and moving, the gas will go away. I have lost about a pound a day since I was banded, but I am sure once I start eating normal foods that loss will slow down....it is just amazing that a 1/2 cup of food now makes me full! This is the best thing I have ever done. Good luck tomorrow, don't worry, you are going to be fine.....and when you get home, just take one day at a time.......you will succeed.:tongue_smilie:

Carol

Hi Angela,

I'm getting my band tomorrow at 7:30 am also. It sounds like we are feeling the same way... a little nervous, but excited to get it over with.

I'm thinking of this as the beginning of a new me. I have lost over 25 pounds on the prediet and can't wait to lose more!!!

Best of luck tomorrow.

Dani

Good luck tomorrow! I know you'll do great!

Angela~

Good luck tomorrow! This will be the best thing that you ever do for yourself! I am one week out and I am so glad to have this tool.

Make sure you have your meds before you leave the hospital, you will be glad that you have them. You need to be sipping your Water and moving as much as possible. The movement will really help with the gas pain after surgery.

I wasn't really hungry until about the 4th or 5th day out from surgery. It is crazy how you will not be hungry and how a little bit of broth will make you full!

Good luck!