just when I thought my healing was going great one of my incisions seems to have a minor infection...doesn't hurt or bother but I know it exist first thing tomorrow morning.....calling the doctor although my 2nd follow-up is on Tuesday.....wish me luck guys......

I wanted to post my progress, pitfalls, and everything since my surgery. As of 3 weeks after surgery I was down 23 lbs, which shocked me because I thought my 57 lb pre-op loss would make my post-op losses more gradual. Big surprise! I wanted to splurge on a few sensible "last meals" but really didn't, because I had the flu the month leading up to my surgery. I have mourned one meal I never got to eat. I look forward to my birthday, (in late November) when I will have hubby take me to get that meal. I figure I can handle a little bit of it by that time. But in the meantime, that's one of my only regrets. Not having that ONE meal! My surgery was on 3/18 and was without any sort of complication. My first roommate in the hospital was just getting ready to go home after FIFTY days in the hospital with complications from her revision to RNY surgery. NOT encouraging. My second roommate straight out of RNY surgery was a little fussy, but that was okay. I tried to help her as much as possible! I went home on 3/20. My incisions had small red rashes around them. I suspected I ws allergic to the tape. Over the next four days the rash spread until I was covered in hives from my scalp to my knees. Doc removed the tape and gave me steroids. The day I went to see him the allergic reaction was starting to affect my throat, and it was closing up! A very scary reaction. It isn't known if it's the anaesthesia, or the tape, or a combination of both. But if I ever have surgery (plastic surgery) I will want them to do some sort of allergy panel on me to make sure I'm not allergic to the anaesthetic. I fear that I may never have my floppy bits made less floppy! Once the allergic reaction cleared up, I went back to work (14 days after surgery). I was very glad to be back at work, and tired as anything at the same time. (I'm a high school teacher). From the beginning I've been able to get 80 - 120 oz of liquids in, and 70+ grams of protein. I'm grateful for that. I find that I am lactose intolerant, though I intend to try it again on my 1 month anniversary to see if I'm getting over it. Even lactaid bothers me. I seem to dump on the milk sugars. I'm sorta bummed that I'm a "dumper" but knowing myself as I do, I'm glad. A little bite here and a little bite there and soon I'll be a big blimp again! My foods are easy and tolerable for me. I am able to get down much of anything. Though some days I can't seem to get down meals that are more than about 1 1/2 ounces. Other days I can get down 3 or 4 ounce meals. I'm totally melting. I am amazed at the changes in my body with just this 23 pound loss. As I lose the weight I'm grateful for the changes and yet chagrined over the somewhat unattractive me left behind. But I do know it's a trade off. My feet are happier. So happy they shrank a whole shoe size! I'm also down 4 ring sizes. Since I don't want to buy a lot of interim clothes, and since I own a few smaller sizes of clothes for that no-longer-mythical time of when I would lose weight, I do not know what size I am. I did buy a pair of size 22 capris that seem on the smaller side, and they don't fit yet, but another pair of size 22 shorts do fit, and my size 28's are enormous on me. It seems as though my clothing is expanding and I'm staying the same. It's a wonderful adventure. I know that the vitamins and protein and water goals are "for life" but so far I've had an easy enough time of it taking the vitamins and doing what I'm supposed to be doing.

Yes, I was told there was a 1% chance of me dying from having the surgery, BUT, I was NOT told that there would be so many absorption issues. Things have improved since my original surgery in 2001. Of course back than, they were not doing it at all lap. I think I would have prefered that for sure. My body just loves to make scar tissue which of course causes the bowel obstructions over and over again. Good luck and thanks for responding to this post. Sandy Pierce Cincinnati, Ohio [email protected]

Yes you can be. My wife is allergic to Splenda. I love it but she can't have it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know there are some with no complications out there. But, how many people do you know that are above 5 years post op? I had 3 wonderful years (so I thought). My surgery went fine on 1/4/01, again so I thought. Sandy