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The night before surgery....I kept myself busy and finally at 11 dropped from exhaustion.....and slept like a baby until the alarm went off at 4 a.m. I was in the OR, getting prepped for surgery, asked for something for nausea in my IV, we had a few laughs, and the next thing I know, I'm happily waking up in recovery... My eye sight was blurry for hours after the surgery....and as soon as they let me, I walked...blurry eye sight or not.....the fear of gas pain was my motivator, I walked as often and as far as they'd let me....and continued walking every hour starting the 1st day after surgery. When I was finally in a room (long delay), I felt utterly helpless and useless....like a beetle on its back. I'm not a fan of pain killers......don't experience pain like most people....I only took something late at night (not sure I needed it, but thought it couldn't hurt and sleep was important.) Morning came early, and the first thing I did was pee and walk...I don't think people knew what to make of me walking at 5:30 in the morning, so I just smiled and said good morning.....had the dreaded leak test this morning (wasn't so bad)....found it.hard to sip my liquids today, but wasn't too worried because I'm hooked to an IV......they are giving me prilosec in my IV, and I've never had nausea. I am sore, but not in any real pain. The only pain is when I breath in deep. The biggest problem I'm facing is high blood pressure.....it's all over the map.....so they are giving me something for that.....6 hours later we finally see a break. Day 2.....time to go home! Yeeha! so sick of being hooked up to an IV and having my pee measured and BP taken LOL The first thing I do is get up for my early morning walk.........and surprised how much easier it is to get up and out of that bed....wow! They give me another dose for my blood pressure.....will have my blood pressure checked on Monday with my PCP...may have to go on blood pressure medicine until some of this weight is gone (I've never been on BP meds before) I was dreading the self injections.....did that this morning, and it wasn't so bad. UPDATE: I did have a drain, and that for a brief second or two hat was some intense pain when it was take out---but again, very brief. I haven't experienced the gas pains yet....hoping all that walking worked it out....but I'm still walking..... I've experienced my restriction...took one little sip too many and felt it.....luckily it was a tiny sip and went away quickly. UPDATED: this pain I'm experiencing is a spasm, not a restriction....will try warm liquids and see how it goes. Now that I'm home, my arms are killing me.....I figure one is from the IV....no idea about the other....my IV was in my hand, and my hand is a little swollen and sore. I was told the priority and goal in the next few days is to get down the isopure (1/2 bottle mixed with water).....finding it difficult, but I sip as much as I can (I found in the hospital juice and broth went down much easier LOL) I haven't gained weight from the hospital (yet anyway) but I am swollen around the mid section. Right now I'm feeling rather fortunate....have not had a WTH did I do moment. I'm so thankful to have a wonderful man by my side for support. The things I packed that I used....a pillow (only for the ride home)....a maxidress w/o anything at the waist was great for going home with a cami underneath...a note pad/pen for notes/questions for when the doctor came in...my own tooth brush/paste, hiar brush, eye glass case, and my cell phone to check in with VST and for my email. I know this is just the first step in a life long journey, but rather than anxious as I have been, I'm looking forward to the ride.....

Okay, here are a few things I want to do once I reach my weight goal. wear a bikini. walk in high heels comfortably. do a marathon run/walk for a charity. to be able to run around and play with my little sister without being out of breath or lack of energy. be more confident. to stop hiding behind my laptop and enjoy life. to look and the mirror and be happy with what I see. to go to my high school reunion as the new me. to go back to school and be able to fit in those awful desk. to do a cycling class to be healthy I've got a long way to go before I reach any of those goals but for right now I have smaller goals that are achievable for right now. Refer to my blog before this blog. I think a list of goals can be helpful especially if you are serious about reaching them.

Dealing With Stalls Just be patient. I know it's frustrating when the scale doesn't move. I'm on week 11 and I've had at least 3 different weeks where the scale doesn't move for 7 days, then I'll mysteriously be down 2 - 3 pounds overnight. Your body is just acclimating to the lower calorie intake and sometimes it is holding onto every calorie, trying to replace the glycogen stores in the muscles. I don't have a formula for getting the scale moving again, but I do try to mix things up to keep my body from getting used to a set pattern. I walk a little extra, up my vegetable intake, or eat low carb for a day or two to see how my body will react. I was eating pistachio nuts and sunflower seeds last week and EEEEEKKKKKK! I gained 2 lbs that week. Monday I went back to basics of eating my refried beans and chicken (eating 4oz every 2 hours), this morning I've lost the extra 2 lbs plus another 1lb. For the 1st time in 4 years I'm under 310lbs.

I have 5 days until my surgery!!!!! Im so anxious to have it done already...it feels as though this process has been sooo long!! I have finally realized something...I am on my liquid diet btw..yesterday I was talking to my fiancé and I asked him if I could cheat just a little on the diet...and he told me something that I now hear in my head every time I want to cheat.."You have cheated your whole life, its time to buckle down cause things are changing!!" Im blessed to have such a wonderful man in my life who supports my every move. I heard him and I thought to myself...he's so right, I have ate pizza at late hours with extra cheese, extra pepperoni, I have eaten out for days eating junk and greasy food, I drank pop whenever I wanted to and never thought about the consciences...but now is my chance to move forward to grow out of that to help myself in becoming the better ME I can be for my Fiancé and most of all for my DAUGHTER!! I don't want her to have to see me as a diabetic or with high blood pressure and have to worry about me taking pills or having to be on insulin..i want her to know me as active and healthy I want to chase her around and take her for walks and not feel out of breath because I jogged a little..These next 5 days cant come any faster!! I am so ready to start my Journey with the lapband

It's not your issues that are being censored but your swear words....This forum is here to encourage everyone to continue the journey with help and understanding....As I read your post I put all the swear words in their places....You can say everything you need to say without cursing and all will know you mean business..... Personally I don't care how you write your feelings out but they have rules on this forum and there is no swearing allowed....not even short handed swear words...lol

It's hard to break the SCALE. Unless you don't have one. I had gotten rid of mine so now I only use it like once a week when i'm at the gym. But I don't trust the scale...My weight is ALWAYs jumping up and down now that I have gotten closer to my goal weight...It always varies in between 5-8 lbs. So I try not to trust it and pay attention to it "UNLESS ITS A FAVORING NUMBER" . lol but instead focus on how I feel...how my clothes fit...how my body looks to me. I'm excited for you joatsaint I have been where you are. At my heaviest I used to weigh 415lbs. So it can be done , just do it, be active and make good food choices and GOOD LUCK

Sounds like you were blessed.

Thank you for giving us a view into what it's going to be like. I love t read everyone's take on it. As far as your arm goes.....from what I've read, I think that may be the gas you were looking for. It can cause shoulder/arm pain. Good luck on your journey...it's going to be amazing!!!