Good Morning Crissy 8705, I was banded on OCT 7th. I think your feelings are normal. I too had the rash around my abdomen. Use some Benedryl spray or cream. My doc and nurse said some people are allergic to the stuff they use in surgery to clean your skin with i was also allergice to the bandages/and the steri-strips. Benedryl should help alot. and my rash was around my incisions. Secondly the pressure in your sternum will subside mine did after about 4 weeks and still once in a while i have it if i drink something to fast or if im full and the pressure starts with gas. At about 3 to 4 weeks i started getting the tingeling sensation behind my left shoulder blade..the pressure is your diaphragm which presses on the nerve that causes the sensation(something like that!). I also had all this nervousness about stuck/sick it will get better as the days go by. Dont think about that.. just concentrate on what you are drinking and eating just for today. At two weeks post-op i was eating realy watered grits(run off the back off a spoon thin), soups and cornflakes..take SMALL bites and eat real slow. Dont worry about what you cant eat worry about what your eating for today. As for thanksgiving..you can eat mashed potatoes/gravy/sweet potatoes/yams, and very SMALL pieces of other soft foods like green beans/cranberry sauce. I did fine at three weeks with these mushies just made sure to eat real slow. As i suffered from excessive gas for weeks. I still cant hold very much at one time..2 to 4 ozs is it and im now 6 weeks post-op. it will get better with time..hang in there! Your frustration is normal.