hi everyone! ok,,im a little disappointed,,i read so many posts that ppl say they've lost 15+ lbs in the first week,,my measly -4 almost seems like a failure. I'm walking and not cheating,,is there anyone else out there that doesn't lose that much the first week? Sorry, don't mean to whine and congrats to those that have lost that much,,i am very happy for you!!

Hi Mary! I'm Linda Jones, and I live near Houston, Texas. I had lap RNY on July 8, 2003. Your surgery was on my 55th birthday! I'm sure you're still in the hospital at this point, so this message will be waiting for you when you feel like sitting at the computer again. 1) Follow your doc's instructions to the letter (I'm sure you will). I'm not usually a strict abider of doc's rules (I work in a medical school and see them while they're still students..lol), but I have been in this case. I realize now that they DO know what they're talking about when it comes to this type of surgery. 2) While you''ll be in pain for a week or so (in my case, it was 2 weeks of agony), it won't last forever. The more walking and doing the breath treatments, the faster the pain dissipates. Good luck in your journey towards better health and a brighter future. I'll walk with you on this road and look forward to hearing from you. Bye for now...Linda

You have reached the right person. I waited 3 months and had my surgery a week ago. Today I drove to Sears to spend a gift card I had. If you spoke to me 10 days ago I was a basket case. I had my surgery scheduled for 8/15/03 the day the power went out. I cried 2 days before that only to get a call 5:00AM that my surgery was cancelled. I thought this was omin from G-d not to go through with it. I told my daughter I think about my funeral - who will come and who wont and why dont I just cancell this and try to lose weight on my own. Of course I didnt and had my surgery 3 days later. The first 2 days were rough but not terrible. I laid in bed most of the time. By the 5th day I am able to do laundry, walk steps, etc. It is totally normal to feel this way but you already made it this far and just do it. Time goes by quickly. Soon it will over. If you want to email me do so any time. It is a scarey proceedure but hopefully we will lose our weight and be able to shop like everyone else and do all the activities we can't do now cuz of our weight!!!

Sept 25 holds a big new step in your life!!! And what it will provide is a better life! I am 10 years post-op. My life is so different than it used to be. I have little to no pain...I have true joy enjoying life with my family and friends! Obesity kills! It robs you of your life and leaves you with a mere exsistence! Knowing everything there is to know about your surgery should help you relax. A good patient is a well informed patient! Yes, there is some pain...but don't you suffer pain and limitations everyday?? You are probably looking to the surgery to not only increase your quality of life, but also, as I, to become more socially exceptable. This world can be a cruel and painful place when you do not fit the standards of a nation! One of my major gripes was always being told to push myself away from the table to lose weight...when in reality I was eating far less than most of the people that were telling me to starve myself!!! It is hard...no it's more like impossible to make a 1/2 cup of celery fill a football sized tummy! then add to that ...our systems are broken from all the blasted diets....it decides for itself to hold on to all that it can get! We are broken....most of us in spirit as well as body! This surgery lays the plans for us to learn new eating patterns....no hunger when that tummy is the size of an thumnail to half an egg. As you loose from sheer loss of volume alone, you study and learn about nutrtion and make a better eating plan for yourself. Then, you stick to it!!! The weight leaves, the mobilty arrives, muscle gets built and a new world opens up to you! Use it wisely!!! Life is awesome!!! Good luck and E Mail me if I can be of any help! [email protected] Mighty Hugs to carry you through! Susan

Wow isnt it exciting. I just had my surgery last wenesday. One week later I am down 17.5..