Going through this process once doesn't count much toward "wisdom"! But thanks.
So I'm 4 weeks out beyond surgery. Lost 21 pounds since surgery, 40 pounds since process began. BP is down considerably. a1C is now 5.8, BMI 39.something (just below what insurance covers!). You'll get there!
BTW: So far surgery bills (surgeon plus hospital) total ~$55K before BCBS. After BCBS I'm in it for $1.1K. Still incidentals like anesthesia remaining, but nowhere near the $6K I was expecting!
And I also told my surgeon at post op meeting (2 weeks after surgery) that I think she cheated me. I have 5 little scars that I could have made with an x-acto knife, but other than that nothing. No pain at all (NONE!), no nausea, nothing to indicate I had surgery. OK, maybe a bit of "gurgling" now and then, and maybe I fill up after eating almost nothing, but really that's it. And she did give me pictures of my stomach before and after (showing staples and liver, pretty cool), but I have no evidence it was MY stomach, could have been anyone's!
Good luck to you, it'll happen soon.
PeterB.