Jmo

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I'm home and I'm banded.  I went to the hospital on Monday morning, 11/27/2006.  When I got there I had to wait about 45 minutes until I was called back.  They had me put on my hospital gown and presented me with a Bari-Bear which is a large teddy bear designed to use to hold against you after surgery to brace yourself when you move or cough.  It was so cute!  The anesthesiologist came and put in my IV himself... he used novicane first, so it did not hurt at all, which was cool.  Pretty soon they sent my mom and my husband back to give me a hug and kiss, then took me in to surgery.    Dr. Rantis was there and held my hand and told me to think of something nice.  The next thing I knew, I was waking up in recovery.  Dr. Rantis was there and said it was all over and asked how I felt.  I said I was hurting, so someone came and gave me some pain meds and then I felt fine and just slept until I went to my room.  I went to the 6th floor and had a beautiful room.  The other bed in the room was empty and I asked if I'd be having a room-mate, but they said they would only fill that bed in a dire emergency, so I should be on my own.  That was really nice!!  The nurses were so sweet.  They got me out of bed that evening and I tried to pee, but couldn't but they said that was ok. I can not imagine going home the same day as surgery.  I was in NO condition to leave that night and I was totally dependent on the pain meds... something called dilautin (sp) that was amazing.  They would put that in my IV and I would be in lala land.  So I slept well all night, and went for an upper GI in the morning.  That went fine, althogh the stuff I had to drink was awful.  Later that afternoon when I was finally able to pee,they sent me home.  I was pretty uncomfortable the first night and the liquid vicodin they sent me home with was making me really nauseous, so I had to call the surgeon that night and get something different.  He gave me Darvocet and told me to cut the pills in half and go ahead and swallow them.  I was glad because the taste of crushed pills is yucky.  So, I was on clear liquids that first night home and I cheated and moved on to full liquids the next afternoon, because I hate clear liquids.  Food is weird.  I want it soooo badly, out of habit, but I'm really not hungry.  After I eat some soup or yogurt or something, I start to burp a little, then I'm uncomfortable and cant eat anymore.  If this was just another diet, this is the point where I would give it up and eat like a mad woman, so I'm frustrated and happy that I can't do that.  I'm not even craving sweets, I'm craving a ham sandwich!  At least I know I'll be able to eat a ham sandwich in a few weeks!  SO far I've lost 12 pounds.  I was 389 on the day of surgery, and now I am 377.  The water in my legs is gone.  So far, I have no regrets!

Tomorrow I will be banded.  I'm getting very nervous, although my main issue at the moment is that I am soooo hungry!  The doctor has me eating only clear liquids today and it makes me really glad I didn't have to do the two week liquid diet since so far, this one day is making me nuts!!!  I'm really hungry.  I also had to drink citrus magnesium to "clean me out".  That was really yucky.  Between that and the protein drinks, I'm not enjoying the various things I'm being asked to consume.  My husband says I would be a very bad Fear Factor contestant.  I look forward to having a healed stomach when I can eat normal food and feel satisfied.  I'm so anxious to have this done!  I hope I can sleep tonight.

Yesterday, I spent most of the day at the hospital having pre-op testing done.  I had a blood test, EKG, chest x-ray and upper GI.  The upper GI was disgusting.  I had to drink a bunch of barium and I kept gagging on it.  I was supposed to fast from 9:00 pm the night before, so they had a hell of a time finding a vein to take blood.  They stuck me several times and I have a big nasty bruise on my arm from one of the attempts. I'm also sick to my stomach today and having a hard time getting the barium out!  Oh well.  I see Dr. Rantis today for the pre-surgical visit.  It's starting to freak me out that this is really happenning.  I hope I've made the right decision.

I will have my lap band on November 27.  I can't believe the date is finally set and this will be a reality.  I'm excited and nervous and I hope the next three weeks go fast!

Well, today I was called to schedule the surgery.  I scheduled it for November 27.  Now I'm really excited and nervous.  I hope nothing happens in the mean time to mess it up.