Congratulation Elisa !!!! Good luck, I know you will continue to do great...I haven't had my surgery but people like you are an inspiration...Thank you and keep us posted and updated....You have a rough road ahead but with the loving support of your family and prayer, you will soon be a success story like many of our friends on this site...God Bless and congrats, again....Warm regards Carolbear

Ladies I envy you for being able to eat real foods!! LOL jk I am on my 5th day post-op and I've had nothing but clear liquids. So this is what I've been having since I was discharged: ~chicken or beef broth ~water with some apple juice (I'm not sure about the exact measurements just so it's not too sweet) ~tea ~sugar-free jello ~sugar-free popsicles and that's basically what I have breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Oh and I tried to have something different, don't laugh, bean broth and um let's just say it didn't help the gas issue so I'm sticking to the 2 broths I can have . So this is my menu until I get cleared for creamy soups and mushy stuff. Wish me luck--it IS HARD but what helps es que la tripa no me esta gruñendo. elisa p.s. Since I am not a cook do you guys think you could share some food ideas or receipes? Maybe that could be a different thread...Thanks in advanced!

Hello, I am a fellow tejana that lives in washington state. Cooking on the grill on our temperatures is fine, come rain or shine, it will and can be done.

Hi Carol, I had my surgery 1/24/06. I am almost one month out. The only regret I had was the first two days I got home from the hospital. I asked myself, "what have I done to myself", but after two days, I really started to feel great. My life has changed so much already. I used to be in so much pain when I showered that I would have to sit down immediately to stop the pain. Now I am enjoying my showers again, and my partner was even surprised to hear me singing in the shower. I hadn't done that in years. I can't explain to you how much better I feel, but I have no doubt that I am doing the right thing. I was headed toward a coffin. Now I have a second chance at life. Your son is scared. He doesn't want to lose his mom. Maybe if you explain to him that you are doing this for your health so that you will be able to be with him for many long years, he will understand. Also, maybe if you took him to the surgeon with you so that things can be explained to him. I would like to answer your questions: 1) without a doubt 2) not if you follow the surgeons directions and do what you need to do. 3) hopefully those who love you will support you and realize you are doing what you need to do for yourself and your children. You will still be the same person, only happier and more active. 4) Anyone who tells you that you are taking the "easy" way out is not educated on WLS. It is in no way the "easy" way out. Just ask anyone who has gone through it. It is a struggle every day, and it requires a complete life style change. If someone says that to you, then maybe they need to educate themselves on it. 5) Everyone is different. I am blessed in that, so far, I have had no complications. Best thing to do is to arm yourself with knowledge. Join a support group (your surgeon's office should have a list), and post on the boards. I don't know about you, but prayer helps me a lot. Any time you have a question or concern, please talk to someone, or post. I have found OH to be so helpful, and I joined a support group before my surgery. Most important of all, remember that you are doing this for yourself, and your children. If other people want to judge you or discourage, that is their problem. You do what you need to do for yourself! Feel free to email me if you need to talk. Also, please keep us posted. I wish you all the best! Rosa

Thank you for answering my question...it is very helpfull.... If you don't mind me asking, what type of emotinal roller coaster did you go through?......This is one of the things that I worry about.. I am a single parent of three wonderful kids, ages 20 (girl), 18 (boy), and 5 (boy)....My 18yr. old son does not want me to go thru this. He tells me that he loves me and that he doesn't want me to change, he also tells me that he doesn't want to see me any other way...Yeasterday I told him that it would be nice to have a slim mother at his high school grauation instead of an overweight one, he told me that it would be embarrasing that people know that I had to go thru a surgery instead of doing other things. It really made me feel sad and I cried...for he had never said anything like that to me. He is normally a sweet, wonderful young (slim) man. We have a great relationship but from the start he has been opposed to it and has told me so. I worry about being so involved in my quest, that I go thru other (worse) things and I would not be there for my children. They look up to me. I am their rock and for me to not be there for them would kill me. I know that everyone is different but how long did the emotional or other complications last...what is the recovery time...will I ever be normal again????????????????????? Thank you, Carolbear