I guess I should have expected a hiccup in this process because everything has gone so smoothly. First appointment with surgeon on 11/21, completed sessions with dietician, psych eval, etc with no complications. Received insurance approval on 2/20 & surgery scheduledodor 7:45 am on 3/12. This is where things changed...I don't remember anything after receiving "my happy juice" from the nurse anesthetist but upon waking up I felt like I had been hit by a Mack truck over & over again. So the dr did have to repair a hiatal hernia, no idea I had one, so I am not sure if that is where the some of the pain is coming from or is it the terrible gas or the terrible shoulder pain. This is day 5 and it is getting better but those first few days were a nightmare. Fortunatey, I have not had much of an appetite so the liquid phase is not a big deal and I have lost 5 lbs since Monday. I am committed to this lifestyle change and am thankful for this forum. I was able to read some of your stories on those nights I couldn't sleep to make sure I was not the only way going through this pain.