I was banded on August 1 at Rex Hospital. I was wheeled into the operating room at 8:42 am and I notice a car stereo in the wall with speakers. I only thought to myself “I wonder what music my doctor will be playing while he is installing the band.” I was strapped down to the table and told to breathe in the mask. I don’t even remember breathing in. I awoke around 11:00. I was very groggy and in severe discomfort. Not really pain. I was given morphine and then the shakes came. I could not get warm. I was then given demoral and then a shot of something for nausea. By 12:45 I was wheeled out the hospital and into my car for the ride home.

After getting home, I just went to sleep for a while. I then took some Lortab and felt really good. Walked around the house and nap on and off for the day. Saturday, August 2, was the most painful day so far. It was mostly gas in my shoulders and upper stomach area. My port area is really sore. My step mom came over and kept my daughter overnight which was a blessing. My husband and I went to Wal-Mart to walk around some and to get my Gas X strips. I didn’t realize that it was Tax-free weekend and every school supply shopper was out in full force. We managed to get what we needed and to get out pretty fast.

Sunday, August 3, was great. I woke up feeling refreshed and some gas pains. My port area is now every color of the rainbow and really sore. I wanted to go for a walk before it got hellishly hot outside. I walked for about a mile and it took my 30 minutes. After that I passed out in the bed for 2 hours. For the rest of the day I sipped on protein bullets mixed with water and ALL bran fiber water dink mix. I don’t feel hungry at all yet. Or least what felt like hunger before being banded. I hear my stomach rumbling but I don’t know if that is gas or hunger. I practice sipping every 15 minutes and managed to get down 60 oz of water and 50 grams of protein.

Today is Monday, August 04, and I continue to feel better. My husband went back to work today and I am home alone. I took a 2 mile walk today. I will continue to sip on some protein water and just take it easy.

My weight loss journey has started.