Everybody needs a pookie like mine!

Everybody should be as lucky as I am. :) I have THE #1 most fabulous partner in the history of partners. She did the two-week pre-surgery diet with me and lost 6 pounds herself. She took a week off work to stay home with moi. Good thing, 'cuz I couldn't even sit up in the dang bed by myself (well, unless I ENJOYED excruciating pain, which I do not) until about Friday. I still can't pick up anything below my knees or load the bottom rack of the dishwasher without pain, and I tire out very quickly. So far, she is keeping her promise NOT to be the food police, but she IS, or was until she went back to work today, preparing most of my food, so it's kind of a moot point, LOL.

I'm a participant on Smartbandsters, a Yahoo group for folks who have, or are considering, an adjustable gastric band, regardless of brand. If you're thinking about getting a band, or have one and need extra support, I highly recommend it. There are other band lists, but I like this one best. The moderators do a good job of keeping out harassing folks, and one of the list founders is a Band Genius - she's had her band for 10 years now, and is a nurse who works in a bariatric practice. She's really good about answering folks' questions quickly and in a no-nonsense way. My favorite quote so far: "You will always be able to eat way more than you should. DON'T DO THAT."