I was banded December 30th, 2009, in Austin, Texas by Dr. Alejandro Esquivel. I was cash pay, and used a low-interest credit card for the process, which scares the hell out of me, but I felt the trade-off is fair - my life for some debt.

After blood work, sleep studies, psych exam, etc, it was determined I was a candidate for lap band surgery.

I was 5'0.5" and 233lbs, starting out. I have not weighed myself since the beginning of December, so am not sure how my pre-op (2 weeks of Atkins Induction Phase) affected my weight loss.

Let me tell you, Christmas was not a whole lot of fun, not being able to even try all the goodies around me, but the payoff is SO worth it... I resisted temptation (and had one little cheat, when my best friend invited us for Xmas dinner and made me an Atkins dessert (not allowed on Induction)).

So, my surgery was set for 1pm on Dec. 30 :biggrin: I was so excited, and nervous, and was constantly questioning my decision. And questioning whether I should have told certain people (I mentioned in my previous blog that I haven't told my dad). But in the end, I knew this was for ME and MY life, and the life I was building with my partner, who was behind me 100%, and that I needed to do what was best for me, not for anyone else.

I got all my ducks in a row for the 30th. I have sleep apnea, but the study was done so late in the game that I needed to borrow a machine from the center I went through, just so they would do the surgery. Luckily, the dollar still seems to speak to people and the possible loss of my cash pay surgery probably said "let's loan her a machine"! So the day before surgery I had to run all over Austin - during rush hour, I might add - just to get a machine that (it turns out) I never even needed to use. Oh well.

I then got home, cleaned house like a madwoman - dishes, laundry, vacuuming, special attention paid to the toilet in case it was my not-so-friendly friend after surgery, and took a nice long shower. I had previously put together a bunch of other things I have read about on this website - GasEx strips, sugar-free Popsicles, juice, and some Pedialite (something I thought might come in handy if I DID get sick). I made up the couch so I could sleep there for the next several days, put out my heating pad, had some magazines and library books on a table, some lotion...creature comforts.

Stayed up late so the morning would be slept away and I wouldn't be awake, stressing out, before surgery.

Got a call at 8am - can you come in early? We want to do surgery at 10am instead of 1pm :biggrin:

Rushed through my morning. BF and I got to the center about an hour and 15 minutes after waking up (it's about a 30 minute drive on a clear traffic day). They rushed me back, started preop stuff...and the doctor was an hour late. And there was someone before me. :biggrin:

So I went in to surgery at about 1pm. LOL

I remember the nurses coming in to get me ready. And I remember the nurses telling me to open my eyes. Then I was being stood up for my barium swallow xray. Then I was in a wheelchair going home!

I slept most of the ride home. Was able to walk up the flight of stairs to our apartment with minimal pain. The worst was going to the bathroom - for some reason sitting in that position wasn't comfortable. I suppose it's the swelling in the stomach.

We didn't take "before" pics, so we took them right after I got home.

The gas pain was ok - GasEx definately helped, though. My biggest "pain" was strange, and I haven't heard it meantioned here: the day I got home, the DAY OF SURGERY, whenever I would get a tight stomach that felt like I was getting nauseous, rather than needing to throw up, my stomach would growl. Yes, growl. Like severe hunger pain. So, was I hungry? I'd take a sip of water or juice and the pain would go away, but come back a few minutes later. Repeat and rinse.

If anyone else has had this problem, I would love to hear about it - is it just gas moving around in there, or am I really hungry? I know I can't eat anything, but putting warm broth in there, or some jello, seems to work much better than just some juice or water.

I took a shower the day after surgery and BOY! did I feel better. My port site glue has pulled a bit and I have been bleeding a little from that spot, but it's not open, so I've just covered it with a bandaid. The swelling is starting to go down in my belly, and the bruises are turning lovely shades of yellow.

Chicken broth and Lipton hot tea have become my saviors. I bought some pomegranate juice because it was Splenda sweetened, but it's too acidic. If I want something cold to drink, I mix Mango Pedialite with water - about 50/50 - and that seems to work well for me. Last night (the 31st) I switched from GasEx strips, which I ran out of, to the chewable tablets, and have had no problems with them. In fact, I think they work better, tbh, but the strips are great for the initial swelling phase.

It is 422, the morning of the 1st of January 2010. I am starting a new decade, a new phase of my life, with a light heart. I believe this is going to be one of the best years of ever, and LapBand is to credit. I know it won't be easy. I know it's going to take effort. But I feel I have the power over my life for the first time ever.

And power feels GOOD!