Jbotsie

I have tightness in the AM as well. I usually wait till after I've taken a shower to eat and it feels better. I've also heard that if you sip some hot/warm tea it relaxes the band and you're able to eat with little difficulty.

Good luck on your surgery! I had mine done at Lahey as well. I can't say enough good things about the program they have there. Corrine and Pam are wonderfully supporting people. Looking forward to hearing more about you! Maybe I'll see you at a meeting!

Not quite Lowell, but I'm in Billerica! Good luck with your surgery!

Congrats! You ARE doing great! Keep up the good work.

Bring something loose and comfy to wear home. You stomach will be sore and distended from the gas used during the procedure. When you come home, you'll just want to sleep for the first day anyway so no need to get all spiffied up. You just need something to get you home from the hospital in comfort. Slip on shoes are DEFINITELY the way to go though. As far as while you're there, if you're just in for the overnight, you'll have a johnny & no-slip socks provided. You most likely won't be allowed a shower before you go home, so you won't need any of those toiletries. Bring a toothbrush and definitely some lip balm. Pain often makes you breathe thru your mouth, causing your lips to dry out faster. Plus, hospitals are notoriously dry to begin with. Good luck!

Hi! I'm from Mass as well! Welcome aboard!

The BF & I just started riding last fall after taking the safety courses. He was having a midlife crisis and wanted a bike. (So I used his crisis as an excuse to get my OWN bike. Haha) I have an '06 Yamaha VStar Custom 650 in silver & blue. Very pretty! He has an '07 Suzuki Boulevard M50 & I'm jealous of the fuel injection and GAS GAUGE! But we love throwing the kids on the back & headed out for rides! And I'm finding my bike even easier to maneuver with my weight loss. Its also working my thigh & butt muscles in different ways.

I bought vanilla flavored Protein powder from GNC and would mix it in the blender with Sunny Morning Crystal Light...it tastes like a creamsicle. On the go, I'm a big fan of the EAS Myoplex muscle building Protein shake in chocolate fugde. It has 42g of protein. They have a lower calorie version too. Either way...yummy!!!

It affects your social life only as much as you let it. I recently had a fill and I followed my dr's instructions of a liquid diet for 24hrs after. My friends all went out for drinks & nachos after work. I still went with them, but drank Water the whole time. It was better for me, physically and financially. (even though I could have killed for a margarita after my night at work..haha) My friends were happy I was there, and applauded my willpower and my decision. It was actually very empowering. The first few weeks were hard, because I DO like to be out and about and that inevitably crosses mealtime at some point. Once I stopped letting what I COULDN'T do or couldn't eat affect me, I started focusing on what was so wonderful about the whole thing.:thumbup:

I was banded on 1/7/08 & have my first fill on 2/18/08. I can't wait! I've lost 16lbs since the surgery, but lately I've just been HUNGRY. The first few weeks, I was feeling full after eating and the weight was pouring off, but now I have the hungry horrors. My weight loss has stalled as a result, so I'm reeeeeeeeeally looking forward to this fill! In the past, I've always gained a few extra lbs around "that time of the month" (luckily it hasn't happened this time) and I'm hoping that's part of my plateau problem right now. Between hormones, hunger, & bloat, Monday can't come fast enough! :biggrin2:

Thanks for the warm welcome!! No pain in the neck or shoulder-I was actually dreading that more than the surgery. I had my GB out a year ago and the gas pain was horrible. But my banding was great. Its Friday and I don't need any pain meds, I've been walking all over the place, sleeping on my stomach (even in the hosp after the surgery), and drinking my protein shakes. The burping is still there. My kids think its funny. Haha

I had my surgery on Monday and the dr used glue.

I was banded on Monday, Jan 7th in Massachusetts. Came home yesterday. Everything went well...now I just feel like I've done a gazillion situps that have made my tummy hurt. And I'm burping like I'm at a keg party.