pnw218

Hoping it all goes well for you! Positive attitude and breathe deeply!

Stomach cramps? Like maybe gas bubbles? Have you been doing the gas x strips? I made it home and am comfy on the couch. Home sweet home!

At the airport and a happy camper! I was even able to switch airlines and get an earlier flight so will be home before my original flight was supposed to take off. The excitement sure outweighs any post-op blues. I will say tho, that the nasty purple liquid that you have to drink before your "leak" xray is nasty!!!! That took as much mind over matter than anything else! Getting home will be so nice. I was able to walk thru the airport on my own and didn't get a wheelchair. I just took it slow and my rolling carryon was very light. The variety of smells tho at the airport is taking a little bit to get used to : ) Will write a full review later.

Feeling human again is great! I am a day behind you and am happier every day! I have had esphageal spasms for about 18 months and they are no fun at all. My biggest pain post-op was in the lungs - not sure if it was related to the spasms or just being tubed and inflated. I had some anxiety issues just before and about 36 hours after surgery - that has all passed now also. congrats on your progress so far!

Congrats!!! I am so excited to be where you are! I am just 3 days past surgery and so looking forward to reaching the milestones you have! I have a few medical issues that I am hoping to resolve as well. It is so nice to hear about the successes - it sure gave me strength and courage to have this surgery and to get thru the first couple of days. congrats again!

Omg Lee! That sounds like more surgery than you bargained for! Hope you are able to rest and feel better soon! Hope the biopsy comes back with good results! Will definitely pray for that. Take care!

The staff here has been great for the most part. They kept us quite amused before the actual surgery. The first night was ok. Slept in 2-4 hour stints. Bkind and I are sharing a room. I am so glad we met up on the board ahead of time! She is the sweetest gal. We even shared a hotel room the night before. We are excited to get ice cubes today! LOL Thanks for your positive thoughts and prayers!

All done. Doing ok. More later.

Bkind and I are at the clinic!! Will check in later. We are very excited!!

In San Diego! Dinner: carrot cake, pb cups, doritos and mimosas! LOL Hoping to get some sleep tonite but if not, oh well, it will be a medicated nap tomorrow! I did travel alone. Another 'sister sleever' bkind, will be here shortly. SarahRN will join us tomorrow. It is so nice to have someone to share this with, in person as well as on this site. Thanks for all of the pre-op info and support! Talk to you all soon with post op feedback! *hopefully* : )

congrats! so glad you received good news!!

Sabrina, Have you ever ziplined before? It is such fun! But you definitely need your tummy muscles to hold your legs up as you soar across the line. And you will sometimes come in hard and the guide has to stop you! LOL Vacations are as much a state of mind as they are a list of activities : ) Jenn: work first, play later. Think how much more fun that birthday will be a few sizes smaller!

You are so right Lee! My office at home is my hideaway : ) I will likely spend the next week cozy in my recliner - I have pillows and blankies ready! I am taking my phone to the clinic for sure; will likely take my laptop also. I am hoping to post at least an "all done" message on Thursday night. I just don't see this as being worse, initially anyways, as my tummy tuck and I was home by noon and online that afternoon. Thank goodness for good drugs! haha! I think you have about 3 more hours! Good Luck!! One more "get up" here : )

Sarah! So excited to meet you in TJ in a couple of days!! Don't know if I will see you before surgery or after . . . we might have to wait for a group photo with Teresa until Friday or Saturday! I am very excited, ready to go. I can tell that I am also nervous tho by some of the pains I am having - esophageal spasms, discomfort from oddi dysfunction. Will all be better soon tho, or at least will have pain meds that I won't notice : ) It is sad to say goodbye to the food - I am a very emotional eater. However, I really really want those single digit sized jeans back!! Travel safely and I'll see you soon!

Wishing you the best Lee! I will be 24 hours behind you! Altho, I have never counted "sleeps", have always done "get ups"! LOL 2 more get ups for me and it will be my turn! Hope we are all feeling well enough to check in this weekend and compare stories!

Stacy, you crack me up! It must have been the "really neat" comment! lol or the "peeing like a racehorse"! That's why I love cathedars. Don't think I have ever used a bed pan and hoping it isn't a first later this week! Also made me think about being overnight in the hospital; seems they are always waking you up to see how you are doing - and then telling you to get some rest! :smile: I don't mind being in the hospital however I almost always wear ear plugs and never hear the nurses until they are standing over me - and they about scare me to death! Just a bit of insomnia tonite. Good thing the Olympic coverage runs late. :smile:

Lynda, my daughter is 15 so it was a little different. I also have two children in their early 20's but will tell them after the fact : ) Others who have children the same age may have better info . . . I think being very honest with her would be fine. You don't have to go into alot of details, just enough for her level of understanding. Maybe the doctor is fixing my stomach so mom can be healthier? I think we do have to be careful not to make our kids obsessed about their weight but encouraging them to be healthy is different. I remember trying to explain to my older two about being pregnant with the 3rd . . . that was interesting!! : ) My mom had told me about babies coming out a "magic door". Darn was that a fib! LOL

My goodness! I look at your numbers and you are halfway to your goal! That is amazing! I think we are often way too hard on ourselves. We need to set smaller goals so we can Celebrate more often. Tomorrow is a new day. Do something special for yourself :smile:.

ok thanks! I will check in with you afterwards.

Hi Shauna : ) I was in tears for two days and now just can't wipe the smile off my face! I am so very excited to get this show on the road! My worst part of surgery is when I first wake up. They often don't medicate you very much initially because they want to make sure you are ok after the surgery drugs. Then you get pain meds and very soon you are a-ok again. I have had lap surgery for gall bladder removal and a tummy tuck, so I figure this can't be any worse and not nearly as bad as the TT. Relax and prepare for the new world waiting for you! I know, easier said than done!

T minus 3 days! I packed last night. Will put the last minute stuff in tomorrow morning. I am taking the train to Portland to visit my sister and we are going to Legally Blonde the Musical. I will fly to San Diego on Wednesday and surgery is scheduled for Thursday! I am very excited and just a little sad as I have said goodbye to many favorite foods this past week. I know that I may see them again someday, but in much smaller quantities. One change - I have decided to travel alone. My husband is staying home with our daughter so she doesn't have to stay with friends. Just makes it easier. After reading about other's experiences here, I am very comfortable with that decision. My history with surgeries has been very positive and I don't expect anything different with this one. Plus, Sarah and Teresa from this site will be with me!! I feel very fortunate to have connected with them :crying:. I am taking my laptop so hope to update my progress over the weekend. I am so very excited to be a Loser!!

Quick question: Did anyone test flavors before surgery and then find out after surgery that their tastes had changed?? Thanks!

Hi Lee, I am flying from PDX (visiting my sis first) to PHX to SAN. Home is also thru PHX but to Seattle. I leave home on Tuesday afternoon. My sis is taking me to the Legally Blonde play in Portland. I will fly to San Diego on Wed afternoon. Sounds like one night in the hospital and two nights in the recovery house. I have a ticket to fly home on Sunday. Fortunately, it is with Southwest, so if I have to change it, I can : ) Good Luck with that MoM! yucky! I got lucky and missed that order!

I totally agree! There is alot of comfort knowing you won't be alone. We cruise whenever we can and have made awesome friends on a cruise website with people who will be on the same ship as us. After chatting for a few months, we feel like old friends when we finally meet onboard! I may even let my husband cancel at this point. I am not as concerned as I was initially and I would actually prefer that he stayed home with our daughter. We'll see what he decides. He dislikes to fly so may take me up on the offer! LOL

I would love to have brought my sister, but she has a 4 month old and I didn't think that would go over well in the recovery house! : ) All three of us are about the same size with a similar amount to lose, will be nice to have the support. Would be great if we could enjoy our weekend 'vacation' but we might have to schedule a reunion for that! lol by the way, my user name is prolly confusing. My name is Jan - the pnw stands for Pacific Northwest : )