1 month post op

Hi everyone, I am new to this site. I had my surgery in Pittsburgh on May 5th and am down 37 lbs. I am on the pureed diet for one more week than can move to soft foods. I feel great and have more energy. I have been walking and doing some light weight training but am fearful that I will end up with my grandmothers arms. Does anyone have any suggestions? Glad to read that you are all doing so well. I am grateful to be on the losing side now and know that life will be changing. Already my clothes don't fit. I am anxious to talk with all of you - as we are all going through the same thing. Best of luck to all!! Pam

Hi Pam, I want to welcome you here. I can't be of much help thou as i only had my surgery a week ago yesterday. But so far it looks like i lost 20lbs, some of that is what o gained during surgery but thats still good for one week. This board is sometimes very quiet so you might also want to post on the main board also as you will get quicker answers there. Lots of luck to you. Claudia

Claudia, Thanks so much for the quick reply. will do as you suggest and post on the main board. I am so glad you are feeling well. What a dramatic change in our lives is now taking place. I wish you the best of luck and remember to drink all of your fluids-it makes a difference in the amount you lose. Pam

Welcome pam iM so happy for you I have not had my surgery , im in the testing stages. But im excited for u keep in touch .. Why did you go to pittsburg for the surgery ???????????? Did you try local first ??????????/ elaine

Elaine, Thanks for the reply. I did a great deal of research on the surgery and the complications and post-op infection rates in RI and MA. Although they are good, the rates were significantly lower at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. My physcian, Dr. Anita Courcoulas performs approximatley 500 of these surgeries a year, is the director of the program and her post-op infection/complication rate was less than 1 %. Also, there were no students or residents allowed to participate in the surgery itself--only Dr. Courcoulas and her associates, which she introduced me to before I even agreed to have the surgery. They allowed me to do all of my testing here in RI and have my PCP fax all of the results. The only thing I had to do there was the nutritional couseling, which I did the day before surgery. I had the surgery at the Magee Womens Hospital-the most wonderful hospital I have ever been in. Yes it did require traveling, but for me and for the comfort level of my husband, we wanted to go to the best place we could find. I had a bad experience with RI Hospital in 2003 with a staff infection after back surgery and almost died. So as they say, "a burned child fears the fire." Now I still think that RI Hosp. is a great facility, and I would go there if I needed to, but for me, after the bad time I had and after seeing the Pittsburgh facility, the choice was obvious. Pam