hi im judy iam schedule f...

hi im judy iam schedule for surgeries march 16 2006 with dr gorospe i would like to know what to except after surgerie

Hi Judy: You are about to embark on the most wonderful weight loss journey of your life. Don't be nervous you are in good hands. Dr. Gorospe and Dr. Kirk are the most amazing doctors you could ever hope to have do this surgery for you. I had my surgery 1 year ago on the 24th of January, so I just celebrated my re-birthday a few days ago. I can tell you I would do it again tomorrow, and the next day, and the next. For the 1st time in many years I feel like a normal person. When I walk into a room I don't feel like people are looking at me thinking, boy does she need to cut down on the food. I just look normal. So, that is something you can look forward to. Since Dr. G does the surgery lap, it is so much easier on your body than open, you will find you will be sore the first week (I think the gas from being blown up on the inside was the most uncomfortable, but not intolerable and I am a wimp about pain). Another thing I loved about Dr. G doing my surgery is I came out of recovery WITHOUT tubes down my throat or a cathater (sp) , or anything. I was so thankful for that, so you can look forward to coming out of surgery like you went in only with a few incisions and a new pouch. You will love the little sponge things they give you to suck on for water, they were wonderful and I never thought a little spongy thing would be so good. Make sure you take your chapstick to the hospital to keep your lips moist. The pouch test is ok, that stuff tastes pretty nasty, but, you will make it through that ok too. It is really cool to watch the stuff go down and see you do not have a leak. After the 1st day you will be up walking the halls and you will be amazed at how quickly you bounce back. I am a dance teacher and I went to visit my students 1 & 1/2 weeks later, was back in the studio teaching (not jumping around though) the 3rd week and actually jumping around and teaching by the 7th week. As far as eating, you will be on the liquid phase which will actually drive you crazy, then move to soft foods. That was hard as well. I think the liquid and soft phase was the hardest thing for me out of the whole process. Once that was over and I could try everything again, I loved it. Even today I can eat what I want, when I want (except sugar, but Russell Stover & Whitman's has the best sf candy in the world and I eat a little candy everyday so I don't feel deprived. Also, Starbucks has the best sf banana/walnut bread you have ever eaten, can't tell it is sf, and Walmart carries all kinds of sf cookies & pies for your sugar free eating tastebuds). I eat steak, chicken, pork, breads, whatever I want which has helped me feel sooooooo normal. You will have to try foods a little at a time to make sure your body will tolerate them. One thing for sure is you will need to chew chew chew your meats once you are back on them. Don't try tuna as it is so dry at first, give your body some healing time before you try it. I tried it at about 5 weeks out and it hit my stomach like a dry lead balloon, I grabbed my daughter's diet coke to try to wa**** down and thought the bubbly was gonna kill me at the mall. Learned not to do that anymore in the beginning. Of course, tuna with mayo is fine now. You will just have to see what works for you. Try not to get discouraged during your liquid/soft food stage, remember, it DOES NOT last forever, that was hard for me to remember!! (It seems like it will though). Follow the Dr's orders with menu choices and take it easy the first few weeks. You will make it through just fine and be on the losing side with the rest of us and be so thankful for this new tool which will give you the opportunity to live the thin, healthy life you have dreamed of the past several years. Some things you will be able to do soon and can look forward to: 1) Wearing shorts again 2) Sitting comfortably in the movie or airplane seat 3) Shopping in the trendy, regular size section in the Dept. Stores 4) Eating what you want (of course your wants do change) and still losing weight 5) Walking into the room and knowing you are not the biggest person in the room 6) Crossing your legs 7) Riding amusement park rides 8) Not taking the blood pressure or diabetic medication 9) And on and on and on Best of luck to you. Keep your chin up and know you are making the right decision for a new wonderful healthy you. Keep us posted on your progress and if you have any other questions, let us know.