I had my first doctor appointment on Dec 4, 2009. Got the psych eval, visited with the dietitian, everything was done by the end of December. Then the waiting game started. Going back in the first part of January 2010, I had lost 3 pounds (this during the holidays, mind you!). Two weeks later, I was down another 5, so a total of 8 pounds before I even had a surgery date. Then the phone started ringing, insurance was settled, and my surgery date was set for March 16, 2010. I had kind of started easing my way into the "liver shrink" a week before I had to, so when I started the two weeks that were required, I was ready. The liver shrink my doctor uses is a Slim Fast for Breakfast, one for lunch, and then a Healthy Choice (or equivalent - I chose HC because it was a full meal with entree, vegetable and DESSERT! lol). I cheated a little - strangely enough, being a sweets' freak, I didn't crave them at all. I wanted tomato Soup and salad. So a couple nights I swapped out the HC dinner for tomato soup and HUGE salad. I guess knowing the bulk of a salad would prevent me from having one for a long time, that was what I wanted.

So on the day of surgery I was down 23 pounds from my first visit in December. My surgery was on Tuesay, 03/16/10. I planned to come home that night, but the radiologist couldn't do the swallow study until the next morning, so I ended up staying overnight. I was a little sore; the binder helped immensely. I got up twice the night of surgery and walked, and the next morning convinced the nurses I could make it on my own, so I was cut loose.

One thing that THRILLED me was hearing that I was on the "small side for a bariatric patient." I never thought I'd be on the small side of any group, anywhere! My doctor had ordered a bariatric room for me (reinforced toilet, bed with a trapeze, etc.), and the nurse from the floor called back and said I didn't qualify, I needed to go to a regular room! RED LETTER DAY FOR ME, I wasn't big enough for special treatment! lol... I kept telling everyone who said that how much I loved them!

I'm now on postop day five, have lost about another 5 pounds, and I'm happy with the way things are going. I have two weeks of liquids postop, then can start with pureed stuff. Right now I just want to CHEW something, but I'm not going to mess this up.

Congrats - you are one your way. Clearly it sounds like you are very ready for this life change. Here's to your success.

Joyce in KC

I too had surgery march 16. And i feel great to be "on my way" also. since my pre-op on march 11, i have lost about 12 lbs. My gas pain has subsided and my incisions seem to be healing well.:laugh:

I'm not going to mess up either. this is too important to me. So let's keep each other going in a positive direction. Let me know how you progress. and maybe we can exchange stories.:smile:

girl55