I've got the same feelings exactly! It's an excited nervous, my knees are knocking too. Then I can just be totally calm and normal. But 5 minutes later I'm so nervous again. Mine is on the 14th. I am soooo excited. Good luck to you.

Michelle is right, you certainly can gain it back if you don't make this a change in life habits. You have to eat differently forever. That doesn't mean you won't ever be able to enjoy food again, you just have to always remember where you came from and be determined not to go back there. Sandi

Thanks for letting us know what to expect. I already know about the gas part. Everyone goes through that. As a matter of fact, I hear the gas pain is worse than the surgery pain. But then I am pre-op still so I don't know. My doctor has said that he wants me up and walking in recovery. I don't see how that's possible, but he says it is so I have to believe him. He's the expert. The more walking you do, the easier the gas passes. Thanks again for letting us know what to expect. It's unnerving going into unknown territory. Sandi

First I would like to say all the pain is worth it. Doing good, already lost 16 lbs, which I was not expecting. I am excited. About the surgery process, I was taken to the surgery room fairly quickly. They put me on a table and had me breath into a mask. The next thing I know I have a nurse asking me if I am in pain and my wife standing there holding my hand. It was over, but I was so doped up I didn't even know it. According to my wife my surgery took about 4 hours, only because they also took out my Gall Bladder, because I had 2 1/2" stones in it. My wife also said I was in recovery for about 2 /1/2 hours but that first day after surgery was a blur because I was so doped up all I remember is sleeping. The second day they gave me pain meds about every 3 hours and by that evening made me get out of bed and take a short walk. That was painful. I took another walk about 4-5 hours later and it was not as bad. By the second day I was getting out of bed every 3 hours and taking a 10 minute walk by myself. I was release late in the afternoon the third day and back home, where I now follow the post op instructions of my doctor. I am getting better every day, it gets easier and easier to get out of bed and move around. I walk for 10 minutes every 2-3 hours, sip 1 oz of water every 15 minutes and stick to the Full Liquid diet that I was instructed to eat and take my pain meds about every 6 hrs, although I did reduce the amount of pain meds I take. My Doctor wanted me to take two pills every 4-6 hours, but that had me so doped up I could not function, so I cut it to 1 1/2 first thing in the morning, 1 every 5 hours during the day and 1/1/2 at bed time. That seems to work better for me. The only thing I did not know about, right after the surgery, was all the bloating in my abdomen and the amount of gas that I would be passing right after surgery. I have never passed that much gas in my life. But finally on the fourth day, following my surgery, I had a bowel movement and the pressure was greatly reduced. That was a relief. Now it is Saturday morning and I feel great. Like I said before it was all worth it., I just wished I had decided to do this a year earlier, oh well, better late than not at all.

Norma, The sad truth is yes you can gain it back. WLS is a tool not a magic trick. You have to work at it as with all things. I was not able to get insurance to pay for my surgery and actually had to finance it myself. Let me tell you, that is modivation "NOT" to gain it back! I mean I chose WLS surgery over a new car this year! And all insurance companies may be different so you would need to check with your provider. Good Luck!