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Major surgery is nerve wracking but my experience was good. I was most concerned about the anesthesia making me sick (I've had a bad experience in the past) so I made sure that both the surgeon and the anesthesiologist knew my concerns. I did end up in recovery longer because I was so nauseous but they took very good care of me and all was well. I was only in the hospital about 24 hours total; rarely had to use the self administer pain pump during that time (the nurses kept coming in to tell me to use it if I needed it, but I didn't need it) and by the 3rd day I was on tylenol only for the pain. My program had me do a week of nothing but full sugar gatorade the first week -- I was very happy to get off that week.

I would encourage you to take whatever time off your dr recommends; I found that the first couple of weeks managing the fluid intake and the waiting periods and then the food and the waiting periods to get to my required protein and fluid goals felt like a full time job; I am not sure I could have balanced them with my normal job.

You mention the diabetes -- that was the main factor in my decision for the RNY -- I was off the meds the Tuesday following my surgery, so less than a week!

Good luck to you tomorrow and stay as relaxed as you can today -- you've got this!

Thank you so much that really helps gives me hope. I did take 6-8 weeks off of work which is nice and hopefully I will be able to return before that.

I was very nervous, but decided to deflect that by talking and getting to know everyone who was taking care of me during my surgery and recovery. I'm relatively a quiet person, so this was different for me. I ended up joking and talking to people, such that months after my surgery - I'd bump into members of the care team at the hospital (for follow-up visits) and they'd remind me of how much fun I was to have as a patient. My memory was so positive and I really did actually fun. I was probably super nervous going into the OR because I was cracking jokes until they put me out. I got lots of mileage out of the inflatable transfer sheet when they move you from the gurney to the table. They know what they are doing - so enjoy the ride as best you can.

P.S. After time I'd love to know how the structure of Dr. Now's program supports patients. From the TV show - they don't show much (or any) of that side of the program. Makes you wonder, but I suspect it's very good. Would love to know your experience once you get to the losers bench. Good luck and relax the best you can!

Thank you for your positive words and encouragement. As far as Dr. Now's program there isn't one...he has no bedside manner at all, has 0 personality...lol. I asked his office people more questions then him actually, they are not a very supportive office its strange I thought it was going to be different honestly. But I do know I'm in very good hands.

Yeah, you can see he's a very good surgeon - which is great. But I guess that puts a lot of extra on you to build your support network. This is a great place as others have said, but maybe also check around and find some support groups to attend in person (at another hospital system). Our's welcomes all comers and there are several folks *****gularly attend who were in a similar situation. The one big thing I have learned and reinforced here - success is up to you and not someone else or even the tool you are given by the surgery. It takes a lot of work, so good you know what you need to do before hand. The surgery isn't the cure, it's just a step in the journey (a great one for sure)! Again, good luck.

I am going on 4 weeks out from RNY. I was super nervous beforehand too. I was released from the hospital the next afternoon, and was prescribed Hydrocodone which I did take for the first couple of days, however it made me super drowsy and with all the sleeping I was having a hard time getting fluids in, so I stopped the hydrocodone and just took Tylenol. After a couple more days I didn't take either. By 1 week out I was driving and getting out a little bit, and at this point I am walking a mile a day.

Just keep sipping the fluids, taking little walks (those first few days were just short bursts of pacing around the house) and you're going to feel great in no time!

Good luck, it is a major surgery and anxiety is common. I had it. I also had diabetes, high blood pressure, osteoarthritis, high cholesterol. My diabetes is controlled now with diet (I used to be on insulin several times a day), and I am off almost all of the meds I was on.

I had some significant nausea when I woke up, but it was gone by the time they put me in a room. I had vlood thinners (Lovenox) in my belly for 28 days and that was very annoying but it stopped blood clots so it is a necessary evil. First week or two were painful. Someone here on OH told me about abdominal belts, and when I finally got one the left side pain went away almost immediately. I wore that belt for about a month and it was wonderful.

It is important to get fluids and protein in. Walking will help with gas and getting things moving.

I had rny 18 months ago and it was, by far, the best decision I have ever made for myself.

Congratulations and I look forward to your posting how it went!

I am having my revision to RNY March 14, so we will be surgery twins! When I had my VSG the first day was prolly the worst. The gas pains hurt the most. The more you get up and walk the better. Once I was allowed up to wal****pt getting up every two hours myself to walk the hall. The nurses commented that they wished all their patients where determined like that. Half the time that almost had to force them out of bed. I think that's why I healed faster and required little pain meds. I continued to walk a little bit every 2-3 hours once I was home. Once you get passed the first couple of days you will be glad you did it!

Welcome! How exciting that your surgery date is almost here! It's totally normal to be anxious about such a life-changing decision. I swung back and forth wildly as my surgery date approached, alternately feeling terrified and enthusiastic about my choice. By the time the day came, I was utterly at peace with my decision, confident in my (incredibly handsome) surgeon's skill and experience, grateful to the kind anesthesiologist, and appreciative of the wonderful nurses. I had a great experince! The only moment of real, mind-blowing pain came when I woke up right after surgery, surrounded by people, being asked where my pain was in a scale from 1 to 10. "Nine - nine - nine!" I yelled, over and over, until they mercifully knocked me out. A tiny rational part of my brain reasoned that things could always be worse, so nine it was!

I had a private room and my wonderful son had flown out to California from Philadelphia to be with me for the operation. It was so, so nice to have him there. And the nurses were amazing, kind, and so responsive. I really wasn't in very much pain, but I was a little afraid of being in it, and I knew I would heal more quickly if I wasn't fighting pain, so I availed myself of the drugs that were offered. I was in the hospital for two nights, and went home late on day 3. Recovery was smooth and relatively uneventful. I took the oxycodone/Tylenol liquid I'd been prescribed for about 3 or 4 more days at night only, decreasing to a half dose. I got up routinely and without pain, and walked around the house about every hour. Really my pain was very tolerable. I tired easily though, and so gradually eased back into working over the next couple of weeks (I work from home, for myself). Altogether it was kind of an amazingly well supported, kind of wonderful experience!

I am 5'8 and a half, and started at the knee-crushing weight of 353.6. After my 2-week pre-surgery diet, I checked into the hospital at 335. Like you, I also have a thyroid condition, though luckily I don't have diabetes or asthma. I don't know how much I have lost over the past few weeks because I just moved, and the movers finally brought my stuff just yesterday! I'm going to start unpacking and can't wait to find my scale! But when I last weighed, almost a full month ago, I clocked in at 227.8. My surgery was June 12, 2017. I am so very grateful that I had this surgery!

I wish you a wonderful journey. See you on the loser's bench!