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All of these are valid to me, actually! I could go back and add to my list now but to be honest, some of the things just didn't hit me until after my surgery. I was really in a fog and just couldn't think I was so nervous / excited/ SCARED! lol I know now that just being able to get out of bed when I wake up (without help!) was a big milestone for me and it happened at about week 2. Some of my fibro pain has gone down considerably, to the point that my son said it was so out of place that I was walking "normal" again, without a limp, that it was odd to him and he had to do a double take. So yes, I could certainly add to my list now but at the time I just couldn't think of all the things I wanted to do or to be because I wanted it ALL and it was jumbled up in my head LOL Renee`

You're absolutely right Irene, unless you want to make yourself very sick! The body wasn't meant to run on that few calories for the long haul. Depending on the amount of fat you have to burn, someone may get away with it for a little while but then burns out and starts eating the first thing available to it...muscle. Remember, the heart is a muscle and it's not immune to the body devouring itself when there's nothing in it. This is partly why I never go more than 2 1/2 to 3 waking ours without putting something healthy in my mouth. Even if it's a bite of Protein. Listen to your body and feed it if it's hungry. A car doesn't run without gas and neither will your body, at least not for long. Renee`

This is NOT true, sorry, but it's not. You have to remember that the vast majority of your stomach was just removed. In no way will you be able to eat the same amount of food that you did pre-surgery and so by drastically cutting calories, no matter HOW you do it, you WILL lose weight. With that being said, later on when weightloss is a bit tougher, don't put junk into your body but on a balanced diet, you will still lose weight. Low carb IS right for some, but for some people that have kidney disease or kidney problems, low carb is not an option (this is what Atkins says in his book. Pregnant or nursing women should up their carb count and people with kidney disease should ask their doctor to see if it's safe for them). No matter what you do, there is no alternative but to lose weight, especially at first. If later on your weight loss slows or stops with a balanced diet, then yes, move to low carb and it will pick up again...probably. Everyones bodies are different. There is NO scientific evidence suggesting that the ONLY way to lose weight is to be in ketosis. I am a fan of low carb dieting but sorry, this is NOT true and I don't want someone to take this as fact and possibly not have the surgery done because they have kidney problems, which are common with diabetes. Renee`

I know Sarsar is real because I was next door to her at Almater Hospital. Her surgery was the day before mine and she was in and out of my room helping me when I was sick and dry heaving. A true friend, she even tied my hair back for me. We talk on the phone almost daily and have developed a great friendship. It IS scary and I had the same thoughts that you are but then I realized there as so many people on here that no way could ALL of them be paid, the doctors would go broke! lol So yep, these are real people with real experiences. Some good, some bad. LOTS of questions and answers that in reality, a paid person wouldn't post. Hope your experience is a wonderful one and don't let fear hold you back. As Nike says, JUST DO IT! Renee`

If they did a catheter it could be from that as well. When they did my hysterectomy they used one that was too large and actually hurt me. I didn't know it because I was knocked out at the time they put it in, but I did have blood in my urine for a couple weeks afterwards. I'm glad you're going to your doctor about it. I don't think it's surgery related, like he said, maybe just a UTI. Hope everything goes well, Renee`

This is my guess as well. spasms in the diaphram or new tummy. Gas can cause way bad pain as anyone here can tell you. It totally sucks at first because everything is new and scary. New noises, spasms, feelings and even sounds. Everything is different and it always makes you want to grab the phone and call the doctor. Just know that they DID do 3 leak tests before you left the hospital so it's more than likely NOT a leak! Take eating and drinking very slow and try different temperatures to see if that helps any. Try Gaviscon or Gas-X (gas x never did much for me but the gaviscon works like a charm) and see if that helps. Just my suggestions, coming from a total hypochondriac, these are what I tried. Renee`

My kids are all older; 18, 21 and 23 so I didn't have those issues. They've watched me struggle over the years with weight but nothing like my most recent 287 (the morning of surgery). They want me to be around for a long long time, so they were all supportive of me going under the knife. My youngest sons only concern was my going to Mexico with a friend (both of us female) and so he came along to be the body guard chaperone LOL He wasn't needed for that, but I was really glad he was there! Can you explain to him the being heavy will dramatically decrease your lifespan? It makes it so that all the fun things you'd love to do, you aren't able to and *LE GASP!* you'll have a nice big lap for him to sit on! Tell him in a few more years he won't want to "lay on" mom anymore to get comfy anyway and you'd like to be around for a long while and not die a young death. Having more energy is one of the perks of having the surgery done and even now, my boys love it when I have enough energy to go outside and pass the football with them. So will he! Renee`

It's ok to be pissed off and upset, but not ok to stop dead in your tracks and not keep going forward! Remember the saying "if it's worth having, it's worth fighting for." ? It's SO true in this case. Your life IS worth fighting for. Put down the Haagan Daaz and step away from the freezer... LOL Renee`

These are wonderful! I sincerely hope you get your lap back, I know how important that one goal is because I too want mine back. I'm a wife that loves to sit on her husbands lap and I can't WAIT for the day I'm small enough to sit there again! Renee`

The only two surgeries that guarantee a "cure" are the rny and the DS. IF her diabetes can be controlled by diet, then the VS would work for her. Keep in mind, most patients do low carb after surgery to get the weight off and then keep it off. If this works to control her blood sugars, then yeah, the vs is probably for her. Keep in mind, I don't have the cool white coat OR the MD behind my name, this was just what I found to be true during my research phase of WLS. Renee`

Check out youtube as well. I know there are a lot of post-bariatric patients on there that have had surgery done and yeouch....looks painful to me but I'm a total wimp

HELLS YES I see a difference! Arms, face, tummy..WOOT! rock on woman, you look amazing! Renee`

I left you a message with my phone number in it, please feel free to call me. Renee`

Believe it or not I was dreading post-op because I wouldn't be able to walk outside to go smoke. However, considering I remember very little of my time there and the whole first day and night was a total blur, I guess I didn't miss it or b***h that I wanted to go have one. So, smokers out there don't be afraid, you won't even know you're missing it the first day. Second day you can get up and walk so then you can go outside LOL

They need to be able to see the nail bed to see if it's turning blue which means a lack of oxygen. Yeah, this is important. I feel for ya, my nails hadn't been bare since Jr. High School and every time I looked at my nails I was like..UGH! I took my nail polish with me to Mexico so I could paint them after surgery. Stupid, I know! LOL Renee`

I've never heard of protonix, is that available in the US? Keep in mind I never really suffered from real heartburn or acid reflux until post-op, so I'm not real up to date on the ppi's that are available.

I started Gatorade G2 on the day I got home from surgery and haven't stopped it. I feel horribly weak but I think that's because I'm not eating enough. To be honest nothing sounds good so I take a bite of something here or there. At this point I'm not even sure what I *can* have because I've had serious heartburn issues (fixed now with more nexium and Gaviscon) and now a horrible lactose intolerance. I live by Murphy's Law LOL My advice and what's helped me through this (without a trip to the E.R. I'm sure) is the Gatorade. The only one I can tolerate now is (what I tell my husband) "the red kind" so I'm guessing fruit punch or something lol Good luck with your upcoming surgery and keep me posted! xoxo Renee`

Just an idea, when you're feeling that hunger kick in, what about taking a sip of Gaviscon to see if it goes away? Then you would know if it really is acid or if you're seriously hungry. I was suffering horribly with hot acid bubbles in my throat and my esophagus on fire and my tummy seriously pissed off before I swallowed the Gaviscon and it helped a lot! No heartburn now, no acid reflux. I take the Nexium 3 times a day (20 mg each) just to stay on top of it because it was so horrible, but the gaviscon really did work miracles.

WOOT Erika! You go girl! That's fantastic weight loss in just 16 days...seriously I want to get my pom poms and cheer you on. It would be hideous so I won't, but still... LOL XOXO Renee`

It always gives me hope to see that you had no restrictions at day 4. How very different than here in the US and Mexico! Just wanted to add here also for Tamz, what about cream of wheat? It's pretty yummy and you can make it as runny as you need to. Also if you're southern, grits are always a good stand-by! Renee

**puts away beating stick** ok good! You can sleep more than 2 hours, I promise! LOL Seriously though, your body needs rest to recover. I'm hoping you do sleep more than a couple hours at a time because trust me, I know about broken sleep and it SUCKS! *hugs* Renee`

Girl...I'm going to beat you! GO TO BED! LOL I'm more worried about your lack of recovery due to fatigue! Your body neeeeeeds sleep and rest right now, you just went through major surgery. Blood clots? Do you have a clotting disorder? Does it run in your family? Did they give you a shot of Heparin or other blood clot medicine before surgery? Stop worrying...seriously, you're going to make yourself sick This is totally normal post-op so don't stress because you're going to be fine! xoxo, Renee`

I didn't have a hernia so I guess I was one of the lucky ones. Most all surgeons repair it if they find one while performing surgery.

LOL I thought that at first too and then ran out of options and grabbed the blender and more soups!

Last night I wouldn't have understood this post. Tonight, after consuming 1/4 of a scrambled egg and "spitting up" saliva / foam, I totally get where you're coming from. You just can't swallow it back down, there's no room and it just keeps coming up. Very gross and very frustrating at the same time. I'm glad I was home when this happened and I totally feel for ya being stuck on a subway...UGH! Hope you're feeling better tonight! xoxo Renee`