Irene H.

Hi. I had my surgery on Thursday the 20th; it’s now Sunday the 23rd. I really don’t know what my pain threshold is, but I think it’s low-ish. 😊 Still, I hope what I have to say will help you. Its fresh, because I’m still going though it. I can’t believe how little pain I have. In the hospital, I took whatever they gave me, and I wasn’t uncomfortable at all. I came home Friday afternoon, and I took two Tylenol for a headache, and one Compazine (prescribed) for nausea. Yesterday I didn’t take anything out of the ordinary, and I haven’t needed it today either. I do have a Gabapentin prescription for nerve pain from a back injury, that might be helping, but that’s all. I have a bruise at each incision site, and two from Heparin shots they gave me. They itch more than anything. At its worst, the pain has felt like the soreness of a really good core workout. That’s it. I was afraid too, and everyone was really vague when I asked about pain. I hope this helps.

My surgery is tomorrow at 0600 hours. My sister asked me if I’m nervous, and I can honestly say I’m only excited and happy. I feel such relief! I went on my first diet at 10, so it’s been 30 years of one diet after another. I finally get to be done with that. I know surgery is not a magic bullet, that I have to make good choices, but now I’m hopeful that when I do the right things, I’ll get results. I can’t wait!

I’m 41, and afraid to tell my mom I’m having bariatric surgery. She won’t understand, and she’ll be unpleasant about it. She’s always been tiny, thinks being overweight is just a lack of willpower, that fat people are just weak. But I’m so tired of fighting by myself. She put me on my first diet when I was 10. For the better part of 30 years, it’s been one diet after another. I know it’s not just willpower, and I know that even for the willpower part of the equation, I’m not magically going to turn into someone I’ve never been. I had the idea that I just wouldn’t say anything, but having a better understanding of the changes ahead, that’s not going to be an option. So I know I have to tell her, and I’m dreading it.

Really? I just assumed me eating less or differently would never escape her. If I can keep from telling her, though, my one reservation will be gone.