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I am due to have the realize band on June 29 and I have done alot of research on it. Also, this site is very helpful with advice but I think there may be something I do not know about or forgot to ask.

So I ask:
What is something you wish someone would have told you about surgery before you actually had it... to make you more prepared?

I think I wish I knew that the first few days, weeks and even months after surgery are not what life will be like in the long run. If I had known that, I think some of the rough days might have been easier, knowing that it would indeed get better and easier with time.

I think the other thing I wish I knew was that I'd probably have trouble getting my head around the new and changing me. I had always been big and didn't have a reference for what I might look like when I slimmed down. It took and to be honest is still taking some getting used to. 

I also wish I knew that I need to start identifying my behaviors and learning to manage them sooner. I am doing it now, but I wish that I had started more fully addressing those issues when I was about 6 months post op or so... Earlier than that and you'll just be focusing on getting through surgery and the changes necessary to strip off the extra weight. 

Wishing you all the best!

Thanks,

You always have very informative advice.

I really had to think about this one.

Not sure if it is just due to me not remembering  or if there wasn't something I encountered that I was not prepared for. 

WLS was my first surgery and overnight stay in the hospital. Had no clue the nurse would come in EVERY hour .  I know it's there job to check on me but sure cannot rest with someone waking me up asking me every hour how I am doing. 

Only other thing I could think of was that the workaholic in me thought I could jump right back into working 50 hours a week. I took off 3 weeks after surgery to rest, but my first week back to work, I barely made it till noon. Worked 1/2 days until I got my strength back. That was partly due to me not drinking any protein for the 1st 3 weeks (could not tolerate dairy or anything else for that matter).

Wishing you all the best!

Thanks Fionna,
That is the one thing I hate about hospitals.