Here I go.........

Well I got my surgery date today. My pre-op will be April 5th and my surgery is 2 weeks later on the 19th. Now I could use any advice, things you wish you knew before you had the surgery, things you wish you had in the hospital or things you wish you had when you came home from the hospital. Nervous but very excited to start my new life Debbie

Congrats!!! We are definately buddies in this thing!! I'm looking forward to see what kind of advice everyone has for you! Good questions! Is your mind racing though too? I swear, one minute Im' excited and the next minute I'm sick to my stomach!! LOL

Thanks Amber, I was hoping for a hall walking buddy but you will go home before my surgery......... Can you believe this is happening? My mind is definately racing, Am I doing the right thing? (which I know I am) will my children be alright when I am in the hospital? etc. etc. I have answered all these questions for myself before but then they all come racing back when you have a date. Well 5 weeks and 2 days to go........Debbie

I was hoping we'd be able to meet too! I am also thinking about how my kids are going to do... I know they'll be ok when I'm in the hospital.. I'm more worried about when I get home. Gabe will be 8 months by then and I am afraid I'm not going to be able to handle him. My daughter Abby will be here with me and I know my mom, gram, cousins, aunts, friends, sisiter in laws, mother in law, and DJ will not let me be alone but I still worry, ya know? It's a mom thing!! LOL I just keep reminding myself that the world will go on with out me and once I get healed up I'll be a better mom and wife than I ever was before. I'm doing this for ME, but also for them... :D This is good stuff!! ;)

I didn't really take anything except slippers and a bath robe. You will be walking the halls quite a bit, but the gowns are really big so I didn't have to worry about anything being exposed. I guess my advise is that you probably won't feel good on the surgery day or the day after. I wondered what I did to myself on those two days but since then it has been smooth sailing. I had my surgery on 12/29 and I am eating regular food -- not really any bread and no sugar, ice cream, etc. I can eat vegetables, turkey, fish, bison, potatoes, chicken - some times and small amounts of pasta. That spray salad dressing is my friend! Good luck to you and make sure that you post as soon as you are feeling better!

Thanks Angela, I appreciate the advice and words of encouragement!

HI Debbie! Congrats on your April date!!!! Let the excitement begin! Debbie and Amber, What a week for you both in April. That is wondeful...Here are some of the things I did before surgery. Shopped for all the liquids and had them ready in the house ( crystal light, sugar free popsicles, sugar free jello, flavored waters, chicken broth, sugar free hot chocolate) This was for the 1st week or so before purees begin. ( You will both get all this info at the PAT testing) Got the magic bullet ( a small blender that was GREAT during the liquid/pureed stage) Protein powders, you can go to GNC and buy samples to see what you like. By the way, your taste might change after surgery so not really all that useful to try before. ( This is all my own opinion by the way) For the hospital, I brought, my own underwear, robe, CHAPSTICK, your lips get VERY dry. I had a few flavors too! LOL Slippers, maybe a magazine or two, and I brought a pic of my family. Before the surgery I gave Dr. Ben-meir a picture of my 4 little boys and told him if anything happened to me during surgery they were his! LOL I felt he would be extra careful then! If either of you have any questions ask away, I am excited for both of you and actually have an appt with Dr. B that week, if either of you would like a quick supportive hello. Just let me know, Your friend in Weight loss, Michelle

Thanks Michelle... great post! I wouldn't mind a quick hello at all!!

Thanks Michelle, I am excited too! Thanks for the advice, I will take all I can get. If you are in the area stop in, I could use the encouragement. Debbie

Congratulations on your surgery date, thats great. Cheryl