1 year bandiversary today!

[Guest guest]

Well 1 year ago today I was wheeled into the OR where (many of you

already know) I broke down crying. I don't know why. I think it

was just the culmination of a very busy day and the realization of

what was about to happen. Thank goodness the anesthesiologist was

so good.

I remember my first week of hell (can't think of a better word). I

went to the ER a day after arriving home. I remember my esophagus

was so swollen I could not swallow my own saliva. I thought I would

dehydrate and die. I am actually embarrassed about this now but at

the time it wasn't funny and I was really wondering if I had done

the right thing. To say the least, I was overreacting. Nina and

the Dr called me every hour until I was better. If I had listened

to them, I would have saved quite a bit of money.

I remember the second week; I was asking my husband what I had done

to myself. I was tired week and just didn't feel like myself. I

was having the normal after surgery pains and I thought they would

never go away.

This almost sounds like the beginning of the end but it isn't. I

hung in there and now 1 year later I am 105 lbs less then I

started!! I started at 280 and today I weighed in at 175. If you

told me a year ago I would be here I would not have believed you.

Here are a couple of things the newbie's should keep in mind right

after surgery.

-It will get better and easier over time.

-You will probably PB and Slime but this is all part of the re

learning to eat process.

-It is OK to screw up. Just don't give up. Anyone who has been on

the board for more then 6 months remembers my candy addiction and

how Halloween through Christmas was difficult for me.

-This will work if you if you work the band.

You must be willing to change your eating habits or this will not

work for you.

-Everyone loses weight at a different rate.

-I don't think the " head hunger " ever completely goes away, you just

learn to identify it and find something else to do (like cross

stitch).

-One last thing to keep in mind; everyone is different. Just

because it worked for me doesn't mean it will for you.

I still have 35 lbs to lose and I learn something new about the band

every day. I am not an expert and I don't know if anyone really

ever knows everything about the band.

Thank you all for listing.

Thanks M for paving the way for most of us.

Thanks Deb for inspiring me to get back on the " band " wagon.

Most of all, Thanks to Dr A and his entire staff - Nina, ,

Yolanda, and all those names I can not remember. Without

you guys I don't know where I would be today.

7/18/05

280/175/140