Wow, those are a lot of questions, lol! I will try and answer some of them for you about how my experience went (and how my life is 10 months later). Basically, your surgeon will schedule you once they know how they're going to get paid. So either through insurance approval coming through or you figuring out how to pay a lump sum. Then, at some point before surgery you will go on the pre-op liquid diet. I was really worried about this but it was actually amazingly easy. I really enjoyed the way my body felt on the liquid diet. Very light and bouncy! When you go to the hospital on surgery day you will be taken to pre-op and scrubbed and gowned and at some point they will give you an injection to help you relax. At this point you're not going to care whats going on around you! Then they wheel you into surgery and put a drug into your IV and before you can count to 3 you're out like a light and then waking up in post-op. Post-op anesthesia recovery is different for everyone but I get really cold, get the shakes, and a bit queasy. I've had surgery before and have had that reaction so I let them know before hand and they had lots of warm blanquets and medicine for me. I'm not going to lie, you had surgery so you will have some sort of discomfort but I personally didn't find it to be that bad. Plus I was hooked up to a pain pump for 2 days and found that it managed my discomfort easily. As for worrying about your husband and his meals, I would recommend just cooking a bunch of stuff for him and putting it in the freezer so he can just reheat it. I know that after I was back on solid food I really just kind of stuck to eggs, cheese and tuna fish for awhile because I wasn't interested in food. My stomach was also VERY picky about what it would tolerate and it was definitely a trial figuring it out. I still can't eat some foods that my doctor recommended (yogurt) and that I used to love. It's strange but my taste buds have definitely changed!

It is hard to get used to drinking because at first you really have to sip constantly throughout the day, even if you dont want to. I swear my water bottle was glued to my hand for the first few months. Now, 10 months later I can drink bigger amounts so it makes it easier. I still can't gulp water like I used to, but I can actually drink like a regular person.

My weight loss was very, very fast for the first six months and then it slowed down which, for me, was good both mentally and physically. I had, and have, a bit of loose skin that will show up when I drop weight quickly in a small amount of time (Ex: 10 lbs in one week during a nasty case of pneumonia) but it has tightened back up every time for me. I haven't had buyers remorse at all, nor have a grieved for what I've given up. Yeah, it was a huge change and sometimes it was hard to deal with mentally but I've always kept in mind that I've gained much more than I've lost (no pun intended). I now run, yoga, kickbox, climb, zipline, ride fair rides, date and do a variety of other 'normal' activities...which means more to me than being able to eat a cheeseburger and fries. I've also kept one pair of my old size 24 jeans and whenever I get down during a stall I just slip those bad boys on and laugh that I now can fit both legs into ONE of the jean legs. You just have to look on the bright side! Plus, and to be honest...once the surgery is done, it's done and there is really no going back. Regretting something that you can't change is a recipe for having a miserable life. I just made sure that all my mental ducks were in a row before I went under the knife and that I had a good support system in place for when I did get stressed out.

Everyone is different but I wouldn't trade the life that I live now for anything, and would go through it all again if I had to. Hopefully this helped some, and good luck with your journey!

Lyra you're a sweetheart for having read my whole long-winded post and given me some answers from your personal experience. Thank you!

I also REALLY like your attitude about no remorse. I don't think I'd ever regret it, because I want this change so badly, and I WANT food to not be the focus of my life anymore. So I won't regret it if I don't love food anymore. I think perhaps any remorse I might have will be if I'm hurting a great deal in recovery. I'll just have to enjoy pain meds and know it will get better. If being in a lot of pain even happens. ......Ah, I see that I am worrying about something that may not even happen...that's not very productive is it?

Oooh kickboxing! I hadn't even thought of that! That sounds awesome and I'm adding it to my list!!

I loved reading about your experiences. You've definitely helped. Thank you!

I have no buyer's remorse whatsoever. Best decision of my life. I wish I had it done 50lbs ago! I'm trying to remember all of your questions...

The anesthesia...nah...you won't remember anything. It will be very fuzzy before and after. And a huge chunk in the middle you won't even have a memory of. I haven't had any aversion to food...yet. I can basically eat anything I could before hand. The only thing I ate that was "bad" was a couple days ago...I had a spoonful of this frosting that I was making for my cupcakes for a work party. I had never made it before and wanted to make sure it was good (because I didn't have all of the ingredients and kind of improvised) so I tasted a spoonful...well a half hour later...I had severe stomach cramps...and had to use the toilet. I was like never again!!! Besides that I've stayed pretty safe as far as food choices go. My taste buds haven't changed at all. I definitely don't have the urge to eat all the things that I used to.

Loose skin? I know I will have it. When I was 18 and lost all my weight...I already had loose skin on my arms and my belly below my piko! So if I had it then, I know I will have it now, but much worse. I don't know why people talk about being able to get rid of it or if you lose weight slowly you won't have it. That is a bunch of crock. Some people...genetically (like myself) will just have it based on where fat is distributed and skin elasticity. You know your body best...thats something you will have to figure out.

I took 2 weeks off of work, but probably could have gone back 4 days later. My job is very sit down, no heavy lifting...so easy peasy!!! I definitely would take a few days off...just for you to sleep!

slow loser fast loser? Well...my goal was to lose 30lbs my first month...I have only lost 20lbs. I am not a patient person...so I really wanted my numbers to go down before I go to Ny in May. But after really thinking about it...20lbs in 4 weeks is nothing to fret about! all in all...it doesn't matter...as long as it is coming off then thats great!

Dr. Fowler will give you a picture of your stomach if you want it...just ask him...I have mine...it is when he is inside your body. Pretty cool!

I really think Dr. Fowler tries really hard not to make too many incisions. My belly button isn't pretty, but thats not his fault. It was from my teenage years when I had an infected belly button ring. The other 3 incisions look fine too! very small.

As far as the husband goes...well...no worries. You are already investing your time, money and emotions in this. As long as he knows you are going to do it, then he will be just fine...and afterwards...you will prove to him it was worth it.

Have you seen a therapist? I wish I had before surgery. As ready as I was for the change, I didn't have the skills to cope with it. Being a few weeks out, I've been grieving for the way things were and worrying about the things to come. The surgery doesn't fix what's going on in your head, it fixes your capacity and can fix your hunger. The single psych visit was not enough for me. With my insurance, it required a 6 month supervised diet. I thought that was a waste of time. I wish they'd had 6 months of required therapy to make sure you were ready.

No problem and glad that my long, rambling answer helped some. As for the pain, well, if my family had a personal philosophy it would most likely be "this too shall pass" and "there is no use worrying about something that hasn't happened yet". Keeping that in mind has helped me get through a lot of the ups and downs. As for kickboxing, I highly recommend it as it's both a great stress reliever (especially during stalls or angsty moments) and really helps with getting back muscle tone!

thanks everyone! I know the majority of my questions are of the just-have-to-wait-n-see variety. I hope to come back in a few months and be able to answer each one with my personal experience.

LifetimeLoser! girl! I read today that you've actually achieved your goal of 30lbs! Awesome! You're doing so well and it sounds like physically you're doing really well as far as recovery from the surgery. I'm so glad! I will ask Dr F for a pic. I'm sure it will be lovely. lol. OOh you should post yours on the board though! People would love to see!

Juny-- I think you're on to something there! I really think, now that you mention it, that 6 mos psych counseling would be infinitely more beneficial than nutritional counseling for most of us. I know me for sure. I've never been afraid to ask for help, so there's no stigma as far as I'm concerned. I ~know~ all the proper diet guidelines. I was a leader for WW years ago for goodness sake! My problem is that I cannot control myself to follow it. And in a way, it messes with my head even more knowing what to do but not being able to do it! I had a dream the other night where I was going into surgery and this disembodied voice said "you need to deal with your food addiction". Ha ! Not very symbolic for a dream is it? My subconscious was being pretty darn straightforward!

Lyra My mom was a military kid, and her philosophy has always been to "walk it off". I've teased that even if I broke my leg she would tell me to "walk it off". BUT...she had a double knee replacement and the reason she has full range of motion now & better than ever is because she was so good about getting up and walking during her recovery!