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Oh No! I hope you get all that worked out. I hate to hear you have had complications. Do you have medical issues that would complicate the procedure? Here's wishing they get that fixed soon

Well, today is the day. SURGERY DAY. It's more complicated than when I had the gastric sleeve because not only are they doing a revision from sleeve to bypass, they are removing my entire lower and mid stomach (the part that is bypassed) because that's where all my polyps develop. It's a 2 hour surgery, and I was told I'll be in recovery for about an hour after. It's like having 2 bariatric surgeries in 1, so the recovery/healing/down time will be worse than my original surgery. I'll be in the hospital for 2 nights, so I'll be home sometime on Friday the 30th. That sucks, and is really annoying (I hate hospitals) but I know it's necessary and will be worth it. I can't wait to get my life back. Working out, feeling good, no more in and out of the hospital, being ME again. This has been a looooong road, but I'm finally almost at the finish line. It's gonna be awesome when I hit my weight loss goal (I'm 70 pounds away and speaking it into existence now that THIS TIME NEXT YEAR I will be at my goal weight). So wish me luck, and I'll see ya'll on the flip side

First get to know your surgeon by research...is s/he reputable? how many RNYs and sleeves has s/he done? what about complications? Get those questions answered and if s/he is a good surgeon then listen to why s/he wants you to have RNY. There may be a good reason for it. It will all depend on your statistics and co-mobidities. I suggest you listen to his/her reasons first then ask about the sleeve. Ask why s/he doesn't think the sleeve will accomplish your goals. Explain you have researched the sleeve and feel that its right for you. Explain why you feel the sleeve is right and not RNY.

Excited. Anxious. My husband is sitting here still researching... he has tried to talk me out of it for 5 months. I think he's just scared of possible complications. I think he is more nervous than me. I'll let you know how it is. I'm thinking there will be no sleep tonight. We're a hour away and I check in at 5:30. Hibiclense shower tonight and in am. Planning on starting at 3. ???? Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-T377A using the BariatricPal App Thanks.... Good luck to you too! Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-T377A using the BariatricPal App

I'm a 50 year old male and had surgery last year on June 6th, so my one year is coming up. I am 5'8 and weighed 320 lbs at time of surgery. I now weigh 207 lbs, a whopping 113 lbs less than I did before and only 20 lbs left to goal. I can honestly say this was the best thing I've ever done for myself in my life. I haven't had one complication and I can eat anything I want to, although I do eat healthy most of the time. I say go for it and never look back. I can finally eat like a normal person and know that this time the weight loss is permanent. Good luck to you!

this might be helpful for all who have tummy issues. I for one have had GERD all my 33 years of life. My mom said that she had to follow me around with a towel when I was a baby...... :sick Original Article: http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?id=HQ00312 Barrett's esophagus Overview Tums. Maalox. Mylanta. Rolaids. These and other over-the-counter remedies spell "r-e-l-i-e-f" for many of the millions of Americans who regularly have heartburn. However, common heartburn isn't always just an annoying condition that's quickly remedied by an over-the-counter antacid. It can also be symptomatic of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which is the chronic regurgitation of acid from your stomach into your lower esophagus. And, long-term GERD can sometimes lead to Barrett's esophagus, a condition in which the color and composition of the cells lining your lower esophagus change because of repeated exposure to stomach acid. Having Barrett's esophagus increases your risk of developing esophageal cancer. Barrett's esophagus is uncommon. Only a small percentage of people with GERD develop Barrett's. But once it's diagnosed, there's a much greater risk of developing esophageal cancer, which often spreads from the esophagus to lymph nodes and to other organs. Although increased, the absolute risk of esophageal cancer for someone with Barrett's esophagus is small — less than one percent a year. Signs and symptoms Barrett's esophagus itself isn't associated with specific symptoms. But, heartburn and acid reflux — the bad-tasting liquid that may enter your mouth from your throat — are common indicators of GERD. And having GERD can lead to Barrett's esophagus. A telltale sign of Barrett's esophagus occurs when the color of the tissue lining the lower esophagus changes from its normal pink to a salmon color. This process, called metaplasia, is caused by repeated and long-term exposure to stomach acid. Other signs and symptoms of GERD that also may be associated with Barrett's esophagus or even rarely esophageal cancer include: Trouble swallowing. Often, a narrowing of the esophagus (esophageal stricture) leads to difficulty swallowing (dysphagia). Bleeding. You may vomit red blood or blood that looks like coffee grounds. Unusual stools. Your stools may be black, tarry or bloody. Weight loss. You may experience an unexpected drop in weight. Causes Barrett's esophagus usually develops from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Heartburn and acid reflux are the most common symptoms of GERD and result from stomach contents washing into the esophagus. The ring of muscle at the junction of the esophagus and stomach (sphincter) normally traps acid in your stomach by clamping shut. GERD usually results from a weakened sphincter, and it can be aggravated by a protrusion of the upper stomach, where the esophagus passes through the diaphragm (hiatal hernia). Left untreated, GERD can lead to more serious complications such as severe heartburn (with esophagitis) — the chest pain can be intense enough to resemble a heart attack — stricture, bleeding, Barrett's esophagus and even esophageal cancer. Risk factors Chronic heartburn and acid reflux put you at risk of GERD and Barrett's esophagus because the esophagus is designed to carry food and liquid only one way: from your mouth to your stomach. The esophageal lining is sensitive to and unable to handle acid. Your stomach, however, has a lining designed to withstand acid-containing stomach (gastric) contents. Stomach acid is damaging to esophageal tissue. Repeated and long-term exposure to stomach acid can lead to the transformation of esophageal tissue into the salmon-colored tissue characteristic of Barrett's esophagus, which is actually an acid-resistant lining similar to the lining of your stomach. Men are more likely to develop Barrett's esophagus than women are. The disease is also more common in people over the age of 60 than it is in younger adults. When to seek medical advice See your doctor if you've had long-term trouble with heartburn and acid reflux. Talk to your doctor as soon as possible if you: Have difficulty swallowing Are vomiting red blood or blood that looks like coffee grounds Are passing black, tarry or bloody stools Experience an unexpected weight loss. Screening and diagnosis Diagnosing Barrett's esophagus is difficult because it often doesn't exhibit specific symptoms. Experiencing the acid reflux of GERD may be the best indication that you either have Barrett's esophagus or may be at risk to acquire the disease. If you have severe acid reflux, your doctor may discover Barrett's esophagus by examining your esophagus through endoscopy. Endoscopy involves inserting a lighted, flexible tube (endoscope) with a camera on its tip through your mouth and into your esophagus and stomach. Usually, you'll receive a local anesthetic, and you may be sedated for this procedure. The procedure allows your doctor to search for abnormalities such as precancerous cell changes (dysplasia) or an abnormal junction between your stomach and esophagus. In a healthy esophagus, the stomach-esophagus mucosal junction is at the lower end of the esophagus. In Barrett's esophagus, this junction is displaced upward. If Barrett's esophagus is suspected, your doctor also looks for evidence of cancer. During endoscopy, your doctor may remove tissue samples (biopsies) of potentially abnormal areas to be examined under a microscope. If specimens reveal intestinal goblet-shaped cells, your doctor may make a diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus. Complications Having Barrett's esophagus increases your risk of developing esophageal cancer. The earlier that metaplasia — the telltale changing of the color of the tissue that lines the lower esophagus from its normal pink to a salmon color — is detected, the better. Barrett's esophagus may develop precancerous changes (dysplasia) in grades ranging from none to mild but still significant changes (low-grade), to serious changes (high-grade), and finally to invasive cancer. When high-grade dysplasia is detected, cancer often is already present. Cancer can spread from the esophagus to nearby lymph nodes and to other parts of your body. Treatment It's not too late to treat Barrett's esophagus if you don't have advanced cancer. However, many people with esophageal cancer show up so late in the progress of the disease that doctors first discover Barrett's esophagus at the same time they find the cancer. Treatment for Barrett's esophagus may start with controlling GERD by making a number of lifestyle changes and taking self-care steps. These actions include getting more exercise, avoiding foods that aggravate heartburn, stopping smoking if you smoke, taking antacids or stronger acid blocking medications, and elevating the head of your bed to prevent reflux during sleep. People with severe GERD and Barrett's esophagus usually need aggressive treatment, which may include medications, other nonsurgical medical procedures or even surgery. Medications Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) such as omeprazole (Prilosec), lansoprazole (Prevacid), rabeprazole (Aciphex), pantoprazole (Protonix) and esomeprazole (Nexium) are drugs that block production of acid and relieve irritated tissue. Doctors sometimes prescribe another class of drugs called H-2-receptor blockers to treat GERD and Barrett's esophagus. They're weaker than PPIs, although less expensive. Prescription H-2-receptor blockers such as famotidine (Pepcid, Mylanta AR), cimetidine (Tagamet), nizatidine (Axid) and ranitidine (Zantac) are available over the counter in doses less than prescription strength. Although these medications often are quite effective for GERD, once Barrett's metaplasia is present these drugs won't reliably reverse the condition, and the risk of cancer remains. Surgery Anti-reflux surgery (laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication) offers an alternative to dependence on medication for GERD and Barrett's esophagus. The procedure tightens the sphincter by wrapping part of the stomach around the lower esophagus to prevent acid reflux. Laparoscopic surgery involves inserting special instruments through small incisions — less than an inch. The procedure leaves only tiny scars. You can expect to stay in the hospital for one or two days following this surgery. Although surgery can be effective for GERD, once Barrett's metaplasia is present surgery won't reliably reverse the condition, and the risk of cancer remains. If you have esophageal cancer, or if you have Barrett's esophagus and high-grade dysplasia, your doctor may recommend you undergo a procedure in which the esophagus is removed completely and the stomach is pulled into the chest (esophagectomy). After this surgery, you may lose up to 20 pounds, spend 10 to 12 days in the hospital and require up to six weeks to recover. The surgical treatment of people with high-grade dysplasia is controversial. Some experts believe that esophagectomy should be used as a measure to protect against cancer. Other experts believe that surveillance through endoscopies at three- to six-month intervals and esophagectomy — if cancer develops — are sufficient. Doctors generally don't recommend surgery for people with declining health or for those who are too weak to withstand a major procedure. Alternatives to medications and surgery Removal (ablation) of dysplasia makes possible the reversal of Barrett's esophagus, and it may prevent esophageal cancer. Combined with PPIs, ablation may be appropriate especially if you're not a good candidate for an esophagectomy. Ablation procedures include: Photodynamic therapy. First, you'll take a drug to make the Barrett's cells sensitive to light. Then, your doctor inserts a light into your esophagus. Tissues that the light touches are burned off. The Food and Drug Administration has approved the photosensitizing agent Photofrin to treat Barrett's esophagus. Electrocautery. Your doctor inserts an electric wire into your esophagus to burn away dysplasia. Laser therapy. Your doctor uses a hot beam of light (laser) inserted into your esophagus to burn away Barrett's cells. This procedure is effective but difficult to apply evenly. Argon plasma coagulation. Your doctor releases a jet of argon gas into your esophagus along with an electric current to burn away dysplasia. The long-term effectiveness of ablation procedures in preventing cancer is not known. Self-care You may eliminate or reduce the frequency of stomach acids flowing up into the lower end of your esophagus by making the following lifestyle changes: Eat smaller, more frequent meals. Three meals a day, with small Snacks in between, will help you stop overeating. Continual overeating leads to excess weight, which aggravates heartburn. Loosen your belt. Clothes that fit tightly around your waist put pressure on your abdomen, aggravating reflux. Avoid stooping or bending. Tying your shoes is OK. Bending over for hours to weed your garden isn't, especially soon after eating. Don't lie down after eating. Wait at least two to three hours after eating to lie down or go to bed. Raise the head of your bed. An elevation of 6 to 9 inches puts gravity to work for you. Or you can insert a wedge between your mattress and box spring to elevate your body from the waist up. Wedges are available at drugstores and medical supply stores. Raising your head alone by using pillows isn't a good alternative. Don't smoke. Smoking may increase stomach acid. The swallowing of air during smoking also may aggravate belching and acid reflux. In addition, smoking and alcohol increase your risk of esophageal cancer. By Mayo Clinic staff HQ00312 May 19, 2004 © 1998-2005 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.com," "Mayo Clinic Health Information," "Reliable information for a healthier life" and the triple-shield Mayo logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

I know some that did eat baby foods but personally YUCK! and a lot of my band friends threw stuff in the blender like roasts and said they tasted great again I just couldn't get past it. Once I switched over to the creamy/mushy phase at the 14th day I was all over the various cheese Soups if they had veggies in them I either gummed them to oblivion or fished them out. I couldn't be bothered to do the whole blender thing like I should have. I also made a variety of Protein puddings by mixing whey protein powders with instant sugar free puddings. (Chocolate, Cheesecake, Lemon or Lime, etc..) Later I discovered an even healthier option where I would blend Cottage Cheese until smooth and replace most of the milk called for in the pudding recipe with that instead. It had a much higher protein to carb ratio and tasted great. Most people think it sounds disgusting but really it tastes very creamy like you made it with whole milk (no hint of salty at all) Oh and if you freeze the puddings for a while before you eat them and stir them up they taste like eating soft serve ice cream. Yummy. Right now one of my favorite protein rich foods is Cottage Cheese with some Yogurt and a Cherry or Rasberry Crystal Light bottle Water packet stirred in. I've just been feeling too lazy to take the time to blend up the puddings and mess up the kitchen. But I'm not sure if cottage cheese would be considered "soft" enough for the 14 day mark. This stage was SO HARD for me but I just kept repeating to myself I can put up with anything for just a couple weeks and being self pay I couldn't risk the possibility of having to pay for any complications much less the loss of money with more time off work without pay. Speaking of work, one of these days I may need to talk to you about the whole teeth whitening thing. I'd love to do it but always assumed too expensive. Tried one of those home kits once and was VERY sore and dissapointed though I managed to get my money back. I personally think I would need veneers to do any good on my teeth. (though I'm not nor ever was a smoker)

Angie, I'm sticking with my theory that the new placement site is the difference. It will be an interesting question to ask your doctor. I am betting it feels nice to be able to eat without pain, but scary as well for fear of regain. Insurance companies do pay for life-threatening complications. I'd think a slip that severe qualifies, but I am no expert. I'd be concerned as well. I does sound as though your surgeon has had experience with insurance and going the ER route. That might have been very wise. Keep us posted as to how you are doing!!

I haven't had a baby yet, but I am pregnant now after being told for the last 6 years I couldn't have children. My doctor doesn't usually do an unfill, but he did have to take out 1.5 cc's because my band tightened so much I was unable to eat and lost about 10 pounds in a month period. Since having my band loosened I have gained back 5 pounds in the last 3 weeks, which is what I needed to do. Now I'm on course for the typical 1 pound a week. I feel my port no differently than I did before I was pregnant, but I'm only 15 1/2 weeks at the moment. I will be able to have a natural birth, barring any complications (that won't be band related). The band should not affect my pregnancy at all. Because I plan on breastfeeding, I will not get my band tightened up immediately because I will require an additional 500 calories a day. I can answer more questions the further along I get.

I am curious how did your surgeon know your band slipped if you did not have any symptoms? Did you have a fill under fluoroscopy? If a surgeon sees that your band has slipped the first thing they usually do is totally unfill the band -- to remove pressure off the pouch, not leave all the saline in. If your band has slipped, it's only time before it may have to come out/fixed or rebanded if possible, everyone is not a candidate for rebanding depending on how much damage is done and scar tissue. It also depends on the severity of the slip, some slips can't be fixed without surgical intervention, but if it is pouch dilation, sometimes removing all the saline and let things rest for about 6-8 weeks, and the surgeon needs to perform a Upper Gi to check the pouch size, and often times you can get refilled - slowly and carefully. In the meantime, it may be a good idea to search for a new job that will cover bariatric surgery. Also you may want to check with an attorney, although your insurance may not cover bariatric insurance, if you have a life threatening complication, it may be covered under medically necessary. Good luck

Hi all I had a lap band on 12/10/2011 the surgery went well but then on 31/10/2011 and with no warning I had sever pains in the left side of my abdoment so I went to hospital and had x rays and discovered that the tube that attaches to the port had come off hence the pains so next day I went back into theater to have it fixed. All went well again then on Monday (24/11/2011) the same thing happened. This time not sure wot to do. Should I give it another go or should I just have it taken out?? Also has this hapened to anyone else???

I was the only one with a drain tube, not Michele or Kristi. I only had to have one because my operation was more complicated removing my lapband and all. Trust me I'm a real big baby and the tube didn't hurt at all, I was totally surprised. Kristi got her teeth whitened there, the Zoom method and I got mine cleaned.

Hi, Excuse me but I am new to online forums. I'm sure over time my tech-savvy will improve. I am 4 weeks post sleeve. My first 2 weeks were awesome I thought "wow" then I've been really going backwards. I have celiac disease which flared a lactose intolerance, which has added to my woes. At about 2 weeks on a minced and mashed diet I started to vomit all solids. It didn't matter if I took nause medication (I take Nexium) up it would come. Landed in hospital for a night just after xmas for fluids and a scope - all was fine. Home sweet home for a few days and the vomiting started all over again. My doc is great but I think he's wondering what to do with me. Also every time I eat solids or even thick Soups I get moderate to severe stomach pain - like a spasm and in my stomach that radiated to a variety of places over my tummy. I have now been told this is not 'normal'. After I eat, the pain goes away generally within 5 to 10 minutes. I am keen to here if others have experienced a similar set of complications and how did you cope and DID IT PASS? Cheers, Gmac (I have not figured a signature out yet!):thumbup:

No I mean 158. I had my band removed due to complications at the same time and had the sleeve done. I hope the water weight doesn't stay for too long. I'm following everything to a T.

I had an ablation after our third kid e cause I have a large fibroid in my uterus. We did the ablation to not only stop my cycle but to see if the fibroid would die off or stop growing. I have had it since I was preg for my first child.....11 years ago. So after our third because the surgery to remove it was too dangerous with my knowledge of how complicated my preg were and breaking everything in that area due to an accident several years ago. The ablation was the best thing we did, but the fibroid did not change so no dr would touch the removal of the fibroid due to size and where it's pushing inside due to the fact I did not so well after three kids each one did something else to my lower body section and I couldn't loose any of the weight due to the pain the fibroid caused, thus 11 yrs is enough and I just had the bypass last Wed and once I am down some weight they will be able to remove the fibroid. Can't wait. Sorry for the end, just wanted to tell you the ablation was one of the best things I have done for myself medically and if you are done with children and have a medical need. I highly recommend it! Best of luck with yours.

If you have a ton of money... you should fly to mexico when you need a fill...or unfill... I say a ton of money cuz you should be prepared to have many fills and unfills in case you have some problems..... If you cant get to mexico often... you need to find a fill doctor close to you... for some its hard.. I am lucky, mine lives an hour away and is always open and is cheap and open to anyone and just the BEST imaginable possibility for me! I also am lucky cuz I have the best doctor who trusts and listens and respects me... and cares.. Everything I have needed from him, I have been taken care of... as long as I told him what I needed and why and it make medical sense, lol... I have had alot of minor complications consistantly through the year... if I didnt have my fill doctor as well as my primary care doctor there for me, IT WOULD be VERY VERY BAD! I got lucky cuz I went into this whole thing very illprepared and ignorant.

As of today I found out I believe I will be with Dr. Rod in TJ on August 21! I am both excited and scared to death. My companion will be my 16yo daughter. She will be great but then I start thinking about complications and her being there without my voice to guide. I also was beginning to wonder about Dr. Rod as I've not seen him on here too much. I have to say though....JoAnne has been my coordinator and she has been amazing! Every question has been answered almost immediately even though we've done it through e-mail. JoAnne also will be there for the surgery dates and that makes me feel much more comfortable. She was also a patient of Dr. Rod and she sings his praises. I've been waiting for this for quite some time. Seems to me that if you have surgery in the US, then you are covered by your insurance. If you go to MX, then you are self pay. I'd really like to know the complication % out of MX versus US. I believe more complications are US at least if what I'm reading here is true. I don't have a choice really....it's either go to MX... or no surgery. I can't believe the crap people give you if you tell them. It's as if they think you are just going to automatically get kidnapped or worse, the surgery will self combust. I can't say I have NO worries but after reading as much as possible, I think I'm ready to accept the risk. It's just happening soooo fast!

simply amazing and incredible!!! I don't just 'like' your comments, I "LOVE" all of them. thanks again to all of you. Yes - I am getting my surgery done at Mass.General Hospital in Boston. The Hospital is Ranked #1 in the Nation. Not sure where they rank for weight loss surgeries but I'm sure they're great at it. Yeah I mean, I'm not afraid of missing out on soda or coffee or fast food or anything. I can and will go without, seriously. I just wish I could know I'll be ok and make it out alive without complications. that is why I am trying my absolute best to work on my weight and health now. I pray I will be ok and I will have faith.

Having a child is a strong motivator to live and to be healthy. No one can deny that you take a gamble either way, but you have to decide which risk is greater....possible death on the operating table, or a shortened life span due to obesity. Following the pre and post op diets will certainly reduce (but not eliminate) your risks of complications.

You are gonna be GREAT!! Dr. Rod and his team are the BEST!! Say hello from Jillian Groves - I was sleeved May 10, and I have had NO Complications, No throwing up, nothing... down 43 lbs! You are gonna LOVE your sleeve!!!

I am also to be banded. My surgery is scheduled for February 7th is Richardson, TX by Dr. Marsden. I am excited but at the same time scared of the process, specially of possible complications during and after surgery. I am such an eater, my goodness !!! No wonder I gained 70 lbs in the past few years.... I am now 193 lbs and need to loose 70 lbs, I hope Lap Band works for me, my appetite is so intense, maybe I can have the doctor stich up my mouth too... Just kidding... Everything sounds good for me, from Indian to Brazilian food but it is time to shed the extra weight and feel good about myself. Good luck to all of you having the surgery.

Hi everyone, I am in Adelaide (SA) in a hotel a few minutes from Adelaide Memorial hospital Dec 21 - Sunday. Tomorrow Dec 22 at 7AM I get admitted for stage 1 of my surgery to remove excess skin. Stage 1 comprises of 1 x Radical tummy tuck, and Male breast reduction. Total cost inc GST $6030 surgeon, $800 Aneathesist, $0.00 for assistant, $200 for chest and tummy compression garment (Needed to be worn for 2-6 weeks) and $250 excess for hospital, I will be staying at hospital Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, on XMAS day between 8and 9AM I am allowed to fly home to Sydney, assuming there are no complications, stitches where my belly button is re-positioned are able to be removed by a local surgeon. Stage two entails a Thigh Lift :tongue_smilie: (I have lots of skin on my thighs) and a buttock lift. Cost is going to be slightly under 7K all up for this second procedure. The quotes I had in sydney were about 4 times as much as in Adelaide, the Adelaide doctor also gave me medicare numbers so I will also get some $$$ back from Medicare :tongue: Will update some more details after 1st and second stage are completed. Am happy to give more details when stage 1 is completed and I am back to accessing my PC after XMAS, stage 2 is scheduled for 8 Jan 2009, assuming I recover enough by then, should be OK. Am really nervous and so excited, I just hope it all works out like it is supposed to. Merry Xmas to everyone, and thank you for all the support and advice I have been given from this forum for teh 3.5 years of my Lapband journey. Weight today is 89Kg, after both procedures it should drop about 4-5Kg, making my weight almost exactly 1/2 of what I was prior to being banded :eek: Amazing!!!! Anyone who is considering getting banded, stop wondering and do it, it was the best thing I have ever done in my life, it has changed my life in so many ways.....

Me too. In the same boat. I lost and gained 80 lbs. Back to square one. I didn't have complications w/ my band just some majorly difficult life, job issues. Once all the stress happened, it was followed severe depression and I couldn't cope w/ everything and handle working my band. But! looking forward to a fresh start beginning now!

I agree with what 'thebean said!! Sounds like it's time for a "Dear John" letter to your current surgeon's team! There are too many success stories on this board that contradict what they are telling you. Of course there are risks and complications too, just as there are with any surgery. Ultimately you have to make the decision that will work for you and what you feel comfortable with! I would not want to have a surgery that I felt forced in to! Good luck!!!

I completely agree with ShouldBlittler. When I made the decision to move forward with this, I weighed the small possibility of a surgical complication against the much greater risk of what will happen to me and my health if I continued down my current path. After that (and these forums and amazing community), it was a no-brainer. Now I only have two and half weeks to go!!!! Yes I'm nervous/anxious. But mostly I'm excited to become a better, healthier me. Nicci, my advice is use this community as your virtual hands to hold... you will not be disappointed with the response! Good luck!