Hi My surgery was on Monday 3/19. The surgery went well. The hospital stay was another story. I was suposed to go to ICU for cardiac monitoring but No Beds! So I spent 36 hours in PACU. When I finally got to my room I was discharged 12 hours later. It wasn't the hospital experience I was expecting. ( I am a nurse in another hospital so maybe I was expecting too much!) I am home and doing well. I actually came home Wednesday afternoon. My sister has been staying with me which has been a blessing. Driving my kids around, cooking and just taking care of my every possible need. She is leaving tomorrow to go back to her family. I am going to miss her. She is my best friend and it was so good to have this time with her. I got on the scale this morning! I am down 10.5 pounds!!!! I am shocked and so happy!!! I must have stepped on and off the scale 10 times! Today we are going grocery shopping to stock the pantry before she leaves. Yesterday we went shopping to buy easter suits for my sons. These little excursions have been good.

i am also scheduled for the 28th...a bit nervous...i have not done very well with the opti-fast pre-op diet...anyone else in the same boat? gail

Awesome to hear you are doing well. Take it easy, and give yourself time to heal! --Dave

Rita, CONGRATULATIONS! Keep up the good work and I hope to be joining you on the losing side soon! I'm glad your surgery went well!! All the best, Courtney

Hi Sarah- Like you, I was very sore. Today was the first day I woke up and didn't have to hold onto something to get out of bed. I haven't really been feeling queasy, but I have had awful gas pains, so that has really killed any desire I've had to eat. Plus, I am so bound and determined to make this work. I was very good about following my pre-op diet starting 2 weeks before surgery, so between that and the time since my surgery last Tuesday, I am already down 20 pounds. I feel really good about that! As for the RNY folks, I know it's hard to watch their rapid weight loss. That was one thing I considered when I was trying to decide between the band and RNY. There were a couple of reasons I decided on the band (aside from the less invasive procedure). Here they are. Maybe they will help you not feel so green with envy. :-p 1. RNY is a malabsorptive procedure rather than just restrictive. So while some of the calories eaten are not absorbed, there is a greater risk of nutrient deficiencies. 2. RNY gives you a roughly 18-month window of opportunity. After that the body begins to adapt. Weight loss at that point is just like for non-WLS folks. I have a friend who had RNY and lost 147 pounds in 18 months. However, she didn't completely overhaul her eating habits and has gained about 50 pounds back in the last 13 months. She's struggling horribly right now. 3. Our bands will be manageable for the long term. Through fills, we will have a tool that works for us the rest of our lives. Remember that those who chose RNY did so because it was best for them. We chose the band because it was best for us. Embrace the tool you have now and use it to its fullest! :-) Keep in touch, Joanne