Had my lapband on 12/07/09 today is 12/08/09 and in some pain but glad its over and done with. Now ready to start new life!

Dont feel hungry at all.  Ive read that is the case with a few people in the beginning. 

Left the house at 435am to get to Beverly Hills for surgery this morning.  It was raining and was suppossed to rain all day.  Knew traffic was going to be heavy since it was Monday morning traffic.   I drove as Nikki slept and we were able to use the carpool lane whihc was a Godsend as very little pool traffic.

I arrived at 628am and the Beverly Hills Weight Loss Center, CA was locked up.  Well everyone was inside but the front doors to the building were still locked.   We parked at the side of the buiding.  We were soon let in.  I was given my wrist band soon after signing in and filled out insurance docs.   I went called to the back and was given the obligatory blue "open in theback door" robe.  The nurse took my blood pressure and temperature, read over my chart and then started my IV in my left hand.  I was told that another woman was waiting for the surgery also but Dr. T susually takes the person with the highest BMI first.  As i was a 47 she thought I would be first into surgery.   The bext to come in was the anesthesilogist who went over some paperwork as well confirmed that I was able to take anesthesia.

Dr. T came in soon after affirmed that I was soon to enter for surgery.  He covered my post surgery diet as well scheduled my first office visit.   He gave me his cell for emergency contact.  I was then taken to the operating room.   I was laid on the "cross" spread my arms and had the inflating cuffs placed on my legs.  I saw the time was 815am (my scheduled surgery time was 730am).  My anesthesiologist placed the mask over my face and said that it was oxygen.  I tasted an odd taste in the oxygen.  He injected the sedative and told me to think of dreams...lol,  I looked up at the ceiling wondering how long before things went black.   Id say 15 seconds and I remember waking up in recovery.

I was having a chore catchind my breath but soon got a handle on it.  The nurse gave me a cup of water to sip.   No nausea.   Slight pain but nothing intense.  Started burping I was very groggy of course but in about 1/2 hour was able to sit up and get dressed.   Was placed in a wheelchair to get ready for discharge.   I saw the clock on the wall showed 1113 am. At about 1130am I was wheeled out the the Tahoe and Nikki and I took the hour drive home.  It was srill raining and she got us home.

I felt little discomfort but was groggy.   I thought I was going to take care of some light phome business but after she came back and gave me some paon meds i went to sleep unitl about 455pm.   I was able to sleep on bed on my ususal side.  Funny I wasnt sleeping completely cause I heard the TV which was on but was in a deep rest.  After awakening and voiding my bladder (for the third time) I felt pretty good,   I am not burping anymore, I have no shoulder or chest pain. The pain at the incision sites is minimal with the liquid Vicodin Im taking.   Ive been drinking a lot and can only have a liquid diet for the next five days.  So lots of gatorade, chick and beef broth and jello  (I love jello!)

So now its 816pm.  Im sitting on my sofa watching Monday Night Football drinking Snapple Apple and having another Jello.  Ive had my second Vicodin (3ml) and the injection sites are sore but tolerable.  I have walked around the house fine and showed my little guys the surgery sites which they think are cool!  No more burping, no shoulder pain...yet   I think Dr. T rocks and is just better than all the others! 

So tonight  Ive got five little patches covered with plastic.  I can shower and leave them on tonight.  Im supposed to remove them Thursady andleave the steri-strips (all sutures are internal).  Liquid diet till Saturday them thicker soups till I see Dt. T on Tuesdat.   So there is is my first day Lap-Band surgery experience.   I'll post this for others to read also.

Hi, thanks for replying to my post.  If it helps, it seems everyone is nervous about the surgery - we are, after all, human.  I think you are correct in saying we did our homework, and now we have to trust that we made the right decision for ourselves.  If we were not good candidates, the doctors would have told us.  Think of all of the things you will be able to do that you have not been able to do in a while.  I keep thinking of what I will look like in "normal" size clothing.  I cannot wait for that.  This is a long journey, but one that will have it rewards in the end.  Your surgery date is the day after mine, so I will not be able to wish you good luck then, so good luck to you!  We are NOT alone in this, just look at all of the postings for December alone.  Life will be better.  TTYL
Suzanne :-)

LOL That reminds me of a cheer they use to sing when I was up to bat, my softball number was and is #9!!! "Number niner niner niner hit a liner liner liner"!!! LOL It's cute! Good luck hun! And everyone!