So I am 4 days out of surgery. I am handling everything pretty well. Just going to take it a day at a time. I was in a tizzy trying to get approved before the end of the year. I got approved on the 29th and had the surgery on the 31st. It was a 3 month whirlwind. Now it seems a bit anti climactic. Sort of like "Now what do I do with my time?". I don't have a scale yet so I am not sure how much, if any, I have lost. I had an incredible doctor (Frank Chae in Lone Tree, CO) and an incredible team. I also have to say that, for the first time in my life, I have nothing bad to say about my insurance company. Go Aetna!!!!

I am trying very hard to concentrate on following the doctor's orders and not think about what I can't do or have any more. Every once in a while I get a fleeting moment where I imagine what it feels like to just have a giant mouthfull of food but that passes pretty quickly.

I am starting to work on the reasons why I use food. I signed up for an online program called "Shrink Yourself" about how to get rid of emotional eating. When I tried it before the surgery it would trigger binges; but now that I don't have a choice I think it's the perfect time to do some work. Has anyone else used this (or any other system)?

I am concerned about telling my husbands side of the family. They are a bit judgemental. But, I can't control what they think or feel, so I will just have to plow through and tell them (when they notice) and let the cards fall where they may.

All in all I am VERY optomistic about the whole thing. I am going to a support group meeting on the 20th that my doctor offers, free of charge for as long as I want to go. Pretty great!!!

Thanks for the ear...

Sorry to hear you're struggling. You're on the liquids only stage so hopefully it'll get easier for you once you get on to mushies!

It's good to hear that you're positive about the whole and I hope you continue to put your best foot forward.

Sorry to hear you're struggling. You're on the liquids only stage so hopefully it'll get easier for you once you get on to mushies!

It's good to hear that you're positive about the whole and I hope you continue to put your best foot forward.

Thanks so much! I feel much better now. I had 2 very tiny sips of a protien drink (though technically I am not supposed to go on protien until day 10) and that was all I needed. I think it's probably mental - but this whole thing is a learning process.

I am just so excited to see where all of this will take me.

Thank you again!