Monday was my two-week anniversary of being banded...I go for my first post-op appointment today. :biggrin:

The banding experience was a good one - I arrived at the hospital a little early to ensure I wouldn't mess up the schedule. My check-in time was 9 am.

I checked in and was sent up to the post-surgery floor shortly thereafter. I changed clothes and talked with the hospital staff. The nurse who took my info was the same one I saw when I had my pre-surgery blood work done - nice to see a friendly face. :car:

I watched TV for a short while and reflected on that day being my last one as an 'obese' woman...though I know the weight will not magically disappear, I know that after surgery I will be on the road to a healthier me. I was (surprisingly) a little teary - I didn't expect that at all!

My hubby was on the midnight shift and we live an hour away from the hospital, so I drove myself there and parking in valet parking. Hubby planned to take the train into New Haven the next morning to get me, and then a taxi or shuttle to the hospital.

Once my transport arrived, things went fast. The orderly (cutie pie with shoulder length dreadlocks) :wub: and I joked about trying to get tickets to the Obama inauguration and our lack of dollars to do so. I arrived at the surgery floor and met the OR nurses and the anesthesiologist who would be with me during the operation. My surgeon also checked in with me and everyone was all smiles and confident - they really eased any leftover nervousness I had.

Surgery was at 10 am and when I woke up I was in recovery. That was around 12 noon. I had a coughing fit shortly thereafter :eek: - felt like I was coughing for 5 minutes, though I'm sure it wasn't that long. I am glad the anesthesia hadn't worn off yet! :eek:

It took a few hours to find me a bed - I guess they were quite busy that week, and I slept off and on while waiting. They found me a bed and moved me there. I was able to move myself from the gurney to my hospital bed and proceeded to sleep the rest of the day away. Apart from the occasional visit to draw blood or check on me, the staff left me in peace.

I got up at 4 am to walk - I had slept so much that I couldn't sleep for a few minutes, but by the time I did two laps around the floor, I was ready to go back to bed. I think I used the morphine pump a few times, but not often - it made me really sleepy.

The next morning, I felt pretty good. I hadn't urinated yet, so they were a bit concerned, but after they gave me some water, things started moving again. I guess I was a bit dehydrated - though with the IV, I'm not sure how THAT could have been true! I was scheduled for the 'swallow test' that morning, so I couldn't have anything to eat until after that.

I was ready when they came to get me - got up out of bed with no trouble and walked to the gurney. Down to the radiology suite I went, and the XRay tech was terrific. The stuff they gave me to swallow was pretty bad-tasting (the brown stuff) but that was followed by white liquid that tasted like a vanilla milkshake - not bad at all.

All was well with the band, and I was returned to my room. I got to "order" breakfast, and settled on broth, tea and jello. They weren't sure about the jello, but it went down very easy. The broth tasted very good as well. :scared2:

Shortly thereafter, my hubby arrived, I checked out and went home. I slept most of the drive, and had already filled my post-op pain medicine prescription, so I was ready.

Felt a bit weak (no food, I think) and slept a lot the first couple of days. I did get up and walk each day (slowly at first) and by day 4 was back out walking the dog with my family, though someone else had to hold his leash (he pulls a bit).

My incisions are healing well, and I have very little discomfort. :thumbup: It's a bit odd to feel the port, but not painful. The first couple of days at home I noticed the 'head hunger' and wanted to eat EVERYTHING! :biggrin3: The stories about restriction and pb'ing (Projectile Burping) on the site helped keep me honest.

I followed the 'don't lift anything over 10 pounds' rule and was glad I did! Picking up anything even remotely heavy was uncomfortable. :eek:

I continue to walk every morning - at least a mile with my family as we walk the dog. I also walk during my lunchtime at work and went back to the gym last night for the first time. I did 35 minutes on the treadmill, but won't do any weights until I'm cleared by my surgeon. I've got my first post-op check-in with the doctor's today, so I'll post again afterwards.

I've been eating well - strictly liquids the first week, a bit of thin cereal the second week, and lots of sf Jello, popsicles (for when I want to chew something) and pudding (thin). Broth and clear soup are good too.

Hope all those who are recently banded or scheduled have an easy recovery like I did - no gas pains in my shoulders, no difficulty with anything, really. :party:

I'm down 14 pounds since surgery, a total of 24 since starting the pre-op diet, and really enjoying being banded.:wub: