I have been reading posts...

I have been reading posts here for about 3 months - thank you to everyone for all the great information and support. I had surgery 7 days ago (10/12) here in So. CAL by Dr. Quebbemann and Dallal of the NEW program. I am doing okay, I also had hiatel hernia repair and some trouble with really low blood pressure requiring me to stay in recovery for 5-6 hours. I spent 2 nights in the hospital. I have one piece of advice for those going in for surgery - or I'll change that and say there is one thing that "I" would do differently (if I had the chance to do it over) I would NOT do the morphine pain medicine. The day of my surgery the morphine drip was added to my IV pole (after surgery) where I could push a button and administer a small amount to go through my IV tube. I have NO memorey of that day at all. I do not think - in the state I was in - that I made good decisions as to my own medication. I think I would have felt better sooner had I not used that little button. I also know that I did not abuse the medication offered. I am a real light weight when it comes to drugs. To sum it up - I wish I had not asked for anything extra to relax me BEFORE surgery - and that I had stuck to the liquid Tylonal with Codien for pain After surgery. Also, on another note: Today is the 7th day that I have not had a cigarrette! I somtimes miss the smoking more than I do the food - go figure??!! I am determined to be a non-smoker and have not yet felt the added energy they say I will feel having quit. I have lost about 20 pounds since my initial consultation appointment 9/28. I am in my late 40's, have smoked most of my life and have struggled with weight all of that time too. Any suggestions or advice anyone can share with me regarding quitting would be greatly appreciated. I find that I just want to sleep so as to not think about it. Thanks in advance for your help, Anita Pierce Sorrento, Florida San Juan Capistrano, California PuLL uP your BiG GIRL paNtiEs and DEAL with it!

Hi, I don't know what type of pain meds my doctor will provide but I will be sure to ask before surgery. I am not one to cry about pain, I kinda like to feel a little pain just to make sure I'm still alive!! I had open-heart surgery in Nov. 2003 and for the most part only asked for tylenol for the pain...and believe me that was some pain!! I'm not a crazy person but I agree that if you are too doped up you really can't tell if something is going wrong. I have to admit that I'm a bit nervous about surgery because I have pulmonary issues as well as the heart thing. I am hopeful that the weight loss will resolve at least some of my physical problems...and I feel that overcoming the food demon will help mentally also. I wish you great success, stick to your diet, and good luck becoming the new thinner you!!!!!!!

Dear Tina, Thank you for your note. I will be thinking of you during your surgery day and praying that you will be safe. As much as I said in my post about the *drugs, I do believe that the Doctors we have working for/with us today would more tend to fall on the conservative side when it comes to drug therapy. Two days after my surgery, my Doctor came to my room and I mentioned my feelings about the morphine and he implied that he too did not like the effects. I guess they must supply somthing like that for pain for those that really need it - and how does a Doctor tell before hand who will and who won't? Time is money and those of us that have now had experience with pain meds are armed with that information to share with our Doctors BEFOREHAND. Good luck with your surgery. I hear from so many on the boards that most all of our problems get easier to bear after some weightloss. It can only get better right? Reading your profile, I sure hope that you can be okay through the liquid pre-op diet phase. I am sorry that you have to threaten yourself. I found that if I took it (and Im still dooing this) ONE DAY AT A TIME, it truely does make it more bareable. Huggs to you and please do keep in touch. anita