Happy Endings!

[jennlhp 39]

Ok. So I think I might have finally decided to go through with the surgery. Is it possible for me to ask for positive stories? I want to hear the happy outcomes. I hear to many bad/scary ones.

[AbacoRaveness 44]

OMG! I am the best person you could have asked for to stumble across this! I should be the poster child for this surgery because I have had a DREAM recovery. I mean... freakishly good. So, therefore, take this all with a grain of salt because it's not really the norm.

I had my surgery Jan. 31, 2012. I was supposed to be first of the day, but ended up getting bumped and didn't go to the OR until 2:30pm-ish. I woke up in recovery close to 5pm-ish and was totally lucid... to the point that I explained cell surface receptors to the nurse when I told her that she couldn't give me a morphine drip because it wouldn't work (I got hydromorphone instead).

They wheeled me to my room where I said good night to my husband because he was leaving (end of visitor's hours) and promptly hit the button on my drip and had another four hours of blissful sleep. I'm usually an insomniac so I was making the most of that drowsiness!

I woke up around 10pm with some pain my chest/abdomen. The nurse told me that walking would help. So I got up and walked maybe a total of 15ft down the hallway before I started to feel neauseated, but by the time I laid back down I guess the gas had shifted and I was back to being relatively comfortable.

I consider myself lucky that I did have a catheter, so I didn't even have to get up to pee! I slept the rest of the night away and only pushed that "pain button" once or twice.

The next day was the leak test... WORST part of the whole thing. That stuff is NASTY and made me feel kinda sick, but I got through it. chicken broth is ridiculously delicious after that! So, day one: spent either sipping, walking, or sleeping. I think I walked half a mile that day all total.

Day two was more of the same and I finally made it up to the volume they wanted me to get. I also walked a mile on day two. They discharged me on day 3.

The rest of it is history. My pain was seriously minimal. I've had achilles tendonitis that hurt much worse. My first few days I had to force myself to drink small sips every five minutes to get my fluids in. But other than that, I was back to good in two weeks.

I added foods back slowly like you're supposed to, but I've never found one I couldn't tolerate. My energy level was fine and I went back to work full time at two-weeks post-op. I lost about 25lbs the first month. Started exercising at two months. And haven't looked back.

I love this life and I'm so glad I made the decision to go for it. Again, my recovery was freakishly good and most people have at least one thing that bugs them. But, you wanted a positive story and that's what I've got!

[gaye jarvis 751]

Well here is my story, I'm sitting here in my living room thinking how good I feel, I just got home from my daily trip to the gym, yes I'm sweaty and tired but 3 months ago I could barely walk to the bathroom without being out of breath, I had high blood pressure, heart problems, back problems, swollen legs and ankles, headaches every day, I was in MISERY! I started this journey at 334 lbs and today I weight 259 lbs, that's 75 lbs gone forever! This is the best decision I could have ever made for myself and I would do it over again in a heartbeat! My husband has been telling everyone that he feels like he's having an affair because my whole body has changed. Here are some pics of before and 75 lbs down, I still have 80 more to go.

[Catracks 865]

I was dying. I has severe sleep apnea, high blood pressure, diabetes and fatty liver disease. I was falling asleep at work. I almost lost my job because of it.

I am now in site of goal and the sleep apnea is gone as is the high blood pressure (120/60 now), diabetes and fatty liver. I have so much energy that I go on 5 mile hikes AFTER WORK. I just bought a kayak. I also rocked a size 8 cocktail dress at a premiere yesterday.

My recovery was great. I never took the morphine after the first dose of it. Didn't need it. Frankly that what I think makes people nauseated. I walked and sipped constantly. The gas dissipated and I was so bored in the hospital I started thinking about ways to get out of there early. I asked my surgeon if he would clear me for horseback riding at my two week appointment and he cleared me for everything.

A few people have complications, but I wasn't one of them.

[jennlhp 39]

Thanks ladies!! I need all the happy stories I can get! I'm so scared but I need to do this.

Gayle, you look amazing!! What a big difference! Congrats!!

[imworthit 156]

Ok. So I think I might have finally decided to go through with the surgery. Is it possible for me to ask for positive stories? I want to hear the happy outcomes. I hear to many bad/scary ones.

Jen I too chickened out of the gbp surgery 2 years ago and I'm now scheduled for the sleeve in October. I'm happy that I waited because the sleeve is a better surgery in my eyes, so I look at it like this was the way it was supposed to be. Back then they were not doing the sleeve in my area. I'm scared beyond belief, but I am so worth it and I'm going for it!!! Best of luck to you with whatever decision you do make. I would love to stay in touch and see how it goes. I'm 29 yo nurse in nj.