Back in the USA!

Did anyone else's stomach look like this a week after surgery? Frightening, right?

On another note...

I'm finally back in New York! Thank goodness! I have never been so happy to be in the United States. I did a lot of research and preparation leading up to the decision to have surgery in Belgium, but I didn't think through the fact that I would be on liquids and mushies in the UK. Without a blender. Also without food that I find consistently edible. Bad plan. Upside? I lost 11 lbs in 2 weeks! (I don't have a scale in our temporary apt. in NY, so I weighed myself in the scale aisle of Bed Bath and Beyond yesterday while my husband stood guard.) I realize some of this is only temporary loss because I've been subsisting on juice for weeks. I am now 189 lbs and 16lbs down from my highest EVER weight!

I feel really great. My doctor has a pretty liberal eating plan following surgery, so I'm already on soft foods. Last night I had a quarter of a chicken quesadilla and it was fantastic. I'm fitting better in all my clothes and already feeling so much better about myself. We have four weeks left in New York and I hope to make the most of it and do my best to refrain from falling victim to bandster hell. I'm not entirely sure that it's avoidable, but I'll try!

Thank you all so much for your support! It got pretty difficult not knowing anyone in the UK while I was recovering, but I feel like there is such an encouraging community here. I recently went through and read a number of your blogs immediately post-op and I love seeing where everyone was then compared to where there are now. I can't wait to get there!

I'M BANDED!

I am back in the UK from Belgium, sporting a brand new band! The experience wasn't anything like I thought it would be, but my husband got off work Friday and was able to be there before I went into surgery, so that made things a LOT better. I'm still in quite a bit of pain. I feel like my stomach is gurgling and churning and burning like crazy. They discharged me from the hospital Saturday morning, but I ended up having to go back because I was throwing up my water and pain medicine. I'm still somewhat worried. Did anyone else experience this at first? The port area is a little sore, but it's nothing compared to what is happening inside my body.

Overwhelmed

Thank you all SO much for all the comments and following my blog!! I just got to Belgium (by myself) and got online and was totally FLOORED by all the sweet, encouraging comments. I may or may not have cried a little. I didn't even think anyone was reading this. I'm definitely scared about tomorrow, but all of you reassuring me gives me the confidence that this will be okay. I am grateful.

Hi!

Hi! I'm Christine. I'm 24. I live in the states, but I am currently in London, traveling to Brussels tomorrow and getting banded on Friday. Oh my god seriously just typing that make me want to throw up. I am crazy nervous.

I'm going abroad because I couldn't qualify for the surgery in the U.S.. I weigh around 200 lbs (I haven't been able to weigh myself in a few weeks due to traveling) and my BMI is 34 so I'm self pay. My wonderful, amazing, supportive husband is between his second and third year in law school and got an internship with a law firm for the summer that includes 3 weeks in their London office. I'd been researching weight loss surgery for a while and after reading some of your blogs and lap band talk I got the courage to book my surgery with Dr. Christian De Bruyne in Belgium during the time we would be in London. I'm going by myself tomorrow and he'll be there Friday evening after work. With my surgery less than two days away I'm scared to death and thinking, "What the hell did I do?" I know I can handle the post-op challenges and following the rules, but I am mostly just scared that I'm going to die. I've researched and read books and papers and statistics and I know that it is not likely, but my stomach is still in knots.

I'm not quite ready to post before pictures; just looking at them makes me cringe. I will after surgery. Wish me luck!