By Gloria Samuels

Back in 2006, there were no Realize® bands in the US and most banding surgeries were done in the hospital.  I don't remember much of what happened the day of surgery.  I don't really remember waking up in the recovery room, or being taken to my room.  I do remember that my wonderful, supportive husband Tom was there, and knowing that he was by my side, I just wanted to sleep.  Still tired from the anesthesia, and as the mother of two young children and a busy corporate executive getting sleep was a luxury. 

The next morning, was very different.  Today is the first day of the rest of my life.  Before 8 am the hospital was bustling.  First things first - walk.  At pre-op class the nurses stressed the importance of walking right after surgery.  Walking was easier than I expected, although I was walking with "my dance partner" the intravenous pole. 

 My surgeon, Dr. Billy came to see me.  The surgery went well, no surprises; the whole procedure which I spent months stressing over took less than an hour.  My doctor spent time talking with me about what I now needed to do to reap the benefits of my band - the first of many head adjustments.  I would be discharged in the afternoon, assuming that the mini upper GI series showed I was able to swallow.

 Next a visit from Sandi, "my angel," a lap-band mentor/volunteer from my surgeon's practice.  I had met Sandi before at the support group meetings. 

Sandi had lost over 200 pounds with her band, and was an expert.  I am so incredibly fortunate to have Sandi as my "angel."  What I didn't know at the time was that Sandi would be there to hold my hand and teach me every step of the way on this Banded Living™ journey.  In my fourth year, she's still there for me and she's also one of my dearest friends.  I doubt I would have been this successful without Sandi; she taught me so much. My husband arrived after dropping the kids off at school.  We wanted to keep things as normal as possible for the kids.  No other visitors, I was keeping my surgery a well-guarded secret.  I didn't even tell my sister.

While my husband, Tom was there, Sarah, the nurse from my doctor's office came to see me.  She was awesome at my pre-op class, but she also came by to see me to make sure I understood all my post-op instructions and to lend support.  I'm really glad she came, but I was also glad that she gave me the instructions in writing ahead of time.  There was just too much to remember, and my head was still in a fog.