Hello everyone ~I have my pre-op day on Oct. 20. My surgery is on Nov. 8. I am nervous as all get out.

I have 150lbs. to lose. I haven't told many people about my surgery because I have some

fears of negative reactions which I don't really want in my head right now. I haven't told

my daughters about my surgery as they are so young and I don't want them to worry.

I'm hoping to Skype with them from the hospital during my stay. Thankfully my parents are

near to help my husband. I have a fear of failing yet I read so many success stories. I'm

planning to go back to work after 3 weeks - basically a desk job - is this unrealistic? How

soon after surgery do you feel like starting to exercise? I'm glad I found this site. I

know I am going to need the reassurance of the veterans to get me through the rough

patches. I am concerned about the hair loss I read about. Are there any supplements that

help to decrease this side effect? Thanks for any recommendations to make post-surgery

less painful and stressful!

You will do fine, just hang in there.

To answer some questions, it depends on you, everyone is a little different.

I had surgery on a Thursday was ready to be released on Saturday, stayed until Sunday to have a day off IV and get used to drinking Water.

On Monday I was driving and felt fine. I worked part time the first week and full time second week but I do have my own business and had need. Only pain post surgery was sleeping prone. I had to sleep in recliner for a week until I could stretch out flat on a bed due to staples being pulled from being stretched out on a bed.

I got back to gym at week three. First week rough could only walk at first for 15 minutes, got back up to running 30 minutes by third week of being back to training and was adding weight/resistance training. I use a personal trainer. From week three to week 5 of exercise I sweated a lot in part due to rapid weight loss, insufficient calories and reduce carbs. Week 6 I stabilized weight loss, increased carbs before working out and sweating reduced to normal levels for a one hour workout, even sweated less than before surgery. This puts me at week 8 postop and I feel great.

Don't know if my hair loss has increased, it seems I lost a little but not much. I believe one of the B Vitamins help with hair loss. There are several ways of dealing with it so don't let it worry you.

Good luck with the surgery and enjoy the new healthier you.