Jessica.O

It will be a tough day for you but just think of all the reasons you are doing this. Think of what an improved quality of life you are going to have! To be honest with you, the first 24 hours after my surgery were pretty crummy but each day things get better and easier. I'm three weeks out today and I feel so much better than I though I would. I was even saying that at one week post-op! You can do this. See you on the other side! PS- Don't be afraid to ask for anxiety meds when you get to the hospital

Bran are you taking Tylenol? That's all I was instructed to take for pain after leaving the hospital and it helped considerably.

I'm only three weeks post-op so haven't had the pleasure of baggy clothes yet but I am planning to take the clothes I can't wear anymore to my local support group meetings. Many of them offer a clothing swap. You might look into that as an option. No tax write-off but you might score some "new" clothes for your new body.

Daron- I found it helpful to attend a support group meeting and hear from others who went through with either the sleeve or the bypass. Do you have one nearby you?

I had my huge slap of reality in April. For the first time I had to ask for a seatbelt extender on a flight. I was traveling alone and was absolutely mortified. Luckily my WLS was already in the works and I had it done July 1. Next time to visit my husband on his deployment I want to use a regular seatbelt and make his jaw drop when he sees me!

That's great Irene! Congrats

It sounds like your pain is resolving already, that will make you feel much better! It was incredible to me how bleeping painful that gas build up was!! And you're right, you had to have that hernia repaired so better to go through surgery once than twice. I've been feeling a little buyers remorse myself. I find myself wanting to snack/graze and craving my old "friends" nachos, cheeseburgers, and pizza. I guess this is part of the retraining, huh? Someone who is 14 years successful post-op RNY told me to try and think of this as mourning the death of that "friend." I'm trying but it's hard. It might not have been a healthy friendship but it sure was comforting...

Pik- I had horrible chest pain, too. I could've sworn I was having a heart attack or an elephant was sitting on my sternum. Turns out it was all gas. It was so painful it elevated my BP from 120 to 180 systolic. Have you been able to go for short frequent walks? That's what really helped mine dissipate. I hope you feel better soon!

Congrats Kristin! Karenlee you're almost there... just a few hours from now you'll be on the other side. Deep breaths. Ask for drugs

Sweet meat, I am one week ahead of you. My surgery was 7/1 and I know how you're feeling! I started my mushy foods one week ago (applesauce, cottage cheese, oatmeal, runny mashed potatoes). It was so nice to have some real foods and helped my energy increase. I found the cottage cheese to be most satisfying because it's a but salty and has some texture. I still tire very easily but am much better than before. Today was my last day of those damn protein shakes and tomorrow I get to start introducing some new foods (toast, avocado, scrambled egg, crackers, salt and pepper, ketchup and mustard) and I'm so excited! I wonder when we will start to feel full? I'm not physically hungry, just head hunger, but I miss feeling full! All these years I've either felt hungry or full and now I feel neither. When will I feel full again?

I used the Atkins Advantage shakes and they were decent. I found them to be a bit too sweet but I managed to get them down. They come in four flavors.

Karenlee, can you have sugar-free Popsicles? Those helped me get through my pre-op diet. I didnt even get protein shakes! Just clear liquids. You can do it karenlee!!

I love this thread! Here are mine in no particular order 10. Wear boots! 9. Shop in any store (except the big girl stores!) 8. Better sex 7. Fly more comfortably 6. Enjoy getting dressed 5. Go to amusement/water parks 4. Keep up with my nieces and nephew 3. Not be the fat friend 2. No more foot and ankle pain 1. Feel confident!!

Red wings- I just had RNY a week and a half ago so I'm no expert but I would encourage you to do research on credible sites and attend a support group meeting. What I found in my reading was that the RNY typically results in a higher percentage of weight loss which was what I needed. I felt if I was going to go through surgery I only wanted to do it once. I also read that the short-term risks of RNY tend to be more serious but less common than with the band. The long-term risks of the band tend to be less severe but more chronic than with RNY.

I also took many of my meds whole. It really wasn't an issue for me, I just made sure to wait a minute or two between meds. Like the others said, try to get liquids (no sugar though) or chewables or sublinguals if you can. Another option if you can't tolerate the pills or capsules is to look into using a compounding pharmacy and having hem made into liquids.

I am going to the one at INOVA Fair Oaks on 7/21. I have to figure out where in the building the meeting is! Here is the blurb from their web page: -------------- Journey Together Support Group meets the third Monday of the month. Our experts give a presentation on a specific topic each month, followed by general discussion if time allows. Occasional guest speakers address special areas of interest such as plastic surgery. We intend these support group meetings to be both informative and fun. Bring your outgrown clothes for our clothing exchange. Plan to socialize with new friends after the meeting. All bariatric patients are welcome. Bring your support person, too. When: Third Monday of each month, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Where: Inova Fair Oaks Hospital campus, 3580 Joseph Siewick Drive, Fairfax, VA (the new building across from the hospital's main entrance). Fee: Free --------------- The Virginia Bariatric Surgery Center (the practice I used, Dr Fitzer) also has a group that meets at Reston Hospital the first Monday of each month but I'm not sure if that's strictly for patients of that practice.

I'm planning to go to that meeting on the 21st, too

I'm in NOVA. Surgery July 1

Congrats jaysweet Keep us posted on how you do at home. Any early July post-ops sharing my mourning of the full-belly feeling? All my life I've either been hungry or full and now that I'm neither i feel a bit lost and sad

I'm 10 days out now and started mushy foods yesterday. I'm physically feeling pretty good (still tire very easily though) but I've been pretty emotional. Partially due to personal stuff but partially due to food. It was so good to have something to eat with texture and flavor yesterday but i didn't feel satisfied. Not hungry but not full. I guess its my food addiction talking but I miss feeling full!! I miss that feeling so much. When do you think we'll get that again?

My surgery went well. The first couple days after were quite painful. I kept hearing people talk about gas pains and I guess i assumed they meant in their bowels. Not so for me! My main area of pain was has build up right below my sternum. The incisions didnt really hurt at all. After a couple days the gas got much better. I went home on day 2 and each day is easier than the last. I've only been on Tylenol at home for the pain and it's been sufficient. Minimal nausea. I cant wait for tomorrow to come so I can eat some mushy foods!! I'm glad to hear you're feeling better. I think by the time you've been on the preop diet log enough you just want to get it over with already!

Pik- how is your anxiety doing with your big day getting closer?

Stick with it, you're on the home stretch. My in-laws are awful, I would be an absolute wreck to have them thrown in on top of the already stressful situation. And I cant tell you how much Xanax I took in the two weeks leading up to my surgery! My husband had been away for a month, I was hungry and cranky and emotional. Then top it all off with getting my "ladies days." Awful awful awful time. I'm only a week post-op and am still on clear liquids only. I am hungry and weak and crabby. I just keep telling myself what a small blip of time this is in the big scheme of things.

Sounds like we are all in the same boat. My pain and nausea are minimal but I have no energy. Feeling weak and wobbly which makes me nervous to go too far from home. I haven't been out anywhere besides walking down my street because I'm afraid of feeling faint in public.

Oh also, I recommend staying away from yummy food smells during your three day pre-op diet. I avoided movie theaters, malls, etc. i mostly stayed home. Went to Lowes one day and the pool another.