Hi everyone! I was a little disappointed today when I called the surgeons office to check to see if my HMO had approved me. I found out my file hadn't even been sent yet!!

Even if I am approved quickly, the surgeon can't take me until early November. I have a really big project coming up November 15th so I'm afraid I won't be back to work in time.I would have to be back to work no later than 11/12 and work throughout the weekend/ I know,,,get to the point.

Has anyone here been banded during Thanksgiving week? I'm afraid I would ruin everything for my family and myself if I have the surgery 11/24....any thoughts? I'm afraid it will really play on my will power to be on clear liquids while everyone around me will be eating turkey.

My surgeon said I should allow anywhere from two to four weeks for recovery.

Thanks

I guess it depends. Do you have to cook? Does it bother you to cook and not taste/eat (if you DO have to cook?) If not, I say go for it. Thanksgiving is about food, maybe, but more it's about being with people we love and giving thanks. You can enjoy the company without eating turkey and pumpkin pie. And it's just one holiday....next year you'll be able to partake; you'll just be a lot healthier and eat a lot less. Having been through the banding etc I can say go for it. It's not that hard to stick to liquids (or whatever your surgeon recommends) that first week. By week 2 you will feel better and more hungry and might be tasked to stay on plan, but the first few days post op, it's easy to comply.

However if you have to do a lot of the cooking etc depending on how quickly you bounce back postop you may not feel physically up to it.

Hi,

On my trip to Mexico to get banded I met a lady who was banded just before Thanksgiving last year. She said she was bagging little bits of things she knew she could eat in a few weeks and putting them in the freezer. I think the idea of it is harder than the actual experience. I was back to work as a massage therapist 2 days after my surgery. I think it depends on what you do but remember to walk, walk, walk as soon as you can after you wake up, it makes all the difference. Best wishes on this amazing journey.

Sally