First dinner out since surgery next week...freaking out a little.

You probably could find something (not $30.00 worth) though.  I had my surgery in September and had similar problems because we were in a dinner club.  I just didn't go for a couple months until I knew I was ready to make good decisions and know that i would not have any problems with bathroom issues.  Other than soup or a soft fish, I would stay home for this one :( I hope this helps, good luck with whatever you decide and congrats on your surgery.

Well  for me, I'm not sure that a friend of my boyfriend's birthday would warrant going out to dinner so soon after surgery.  Actually, I'm not sure any occasion that would have put me in a restaurant, and if it did, I would have not consumed anything there excep****er.  That would have been really hard, so that's why I would have stayed away.  We have to get used to saying no to things that are not in our best interest and this is not in your best interest.  Put yourself first!!

For me, the social aspects of being out with people in a "normal" setting far outweighed the challenge of being around food I didn't eat. 

For me, being in normal social situations just wasn't my priority at that stage. It was all about getting successfully getting through the physical healing process and staying on plan.

Based on my past behavior in social situations, I would not risk going off plan for the sake of some  acquaintance's birthday dinner. Social anxiety and/or 'relaxing' in the moment both played into making bad food choices in the past, so I found it safer and easier to avoid those situations until I was more familiar/regimented with my food choices.

Actually, while I was losing weight, I never went to restaurants that did not have something on the menu that was clearly within my plan. I found people who were in my circle were amenable to restaurants that fit with my needs.  If it was with people who were more socially 'distant' from me where I wasn't comfortable asking for a venue change, I just didn't see it as important enough.

We get to choose our individual paths here for sure, but for those who are anything like me, it might be wise to recognize and avoid risky situations for awhile. 

I definitely agree with your last paragraph!