Well, I had my surgery yesterday morning, and it went really well. I'm not in near as much pain as I expected to be, though I am pretty drugged up still. I mean, dont get me wrong, there is pain, but its not like I'm bed riddden. Anyway, here are some things I am dealing with that I did not expect:

1. They shave your stomach after you are under, then you have to wear a body wrap for 6 weeks after surgery. That is great, except that the tiny left over hairs ITCH like all get out! I have started putting the body wrap over my tshirt, but it still itches. And you're scared to scratch, because if you were to scratch an incision.....well let just say that would be bad.

2. I instantly realized that my view of hunger was so messed up that I couldnt tell if my stomach was in great pain, or if I was hungry. How messed up is that? I associat(ed) a hurting stomach with food (because I used to eat so much at one time), that I couldnt understand what my body was telling me.

3. Looking to be honest here, but not advocating it: I was terrible on my liquid diet (I had the two weeker, and would eat the shakes during the day, and a regular meal in the evening, but was supposed to be all liquid only). I didnt eat for 24 hours before the surgery because I didnt want to need to go to the bathroom after surgery, which was a good call. Nevertheless, the surgeon said my liver looked good, and wasnt an issue. So, I'm not saying this to encourage people to not follow the liquid diet, but instead to let people who trip up on it know that all is not lost.

I'm really loving the sleeve at this point, and think that if I can stick with the Meal Replacement shakes for a good while, this will go great. And, staying away from food at this point is COMPLETELY different than pre-surgery. I have NO desire to eat right now, and honestly havent eaten anything in nearly three days.

Anyway, I hope this helps someone, as I received so much peace of mind from this site as I was going through the process.

Congrats as well to all of my sleeved brothers and sisters!

EDIT: I am a male, if that matters.

I think there are no set standards and doctors have all sorts of different rules. Some people are allowed to eat right after surgery and some follow a stricter diet. Some drink sodas and some do not. While I have a great deal of respect for doctors I feel I still have to do research and know for myself what I should do because only I know my body. I didn't follow the liquid diet because the liquid diet is to help reduce the size of your liver pre surgery. My liver function is normal. I cut back and did not go crazy, but I also did not go liquid all the way. I lost 6 pounds that week I don't drink soda. There are people on here that do. The theory is it could stretch your sleeve. I am not sure if the doctor's are right, but I don't mess with soda just in case they are. Many people say soda is ok, but I am too chicken to take that risk. I don't do everything everyone tells me and I question the system a lot, but I know too many times where my grandfather would be like no you asshold doctor I have this and they wouldn't listen. A eye doctor blinded him, he had a heart attack while the doctor was telling him it was a panic attack. I will never be an uninformed patient.

I think there are no set standards and doctors have all sorts of different rules. Some people are allowed to eat right after surgery and some follow a stricter diet. Some drink sodas and some do not. While I have a great deal of respect for doctors I feel I still have to do research and know for myself what I should do because only I know my body. I didn't follow the liquid diet because the liquid diet is to help reduce the size of your liver pre surgery. My liver function is normal. I cut back and did not go crazy, but I also did not go liquid all the way. I lost 6 pounds that week I don't drink soda. There are people on here that do. The theory is it could stretch your sleeve. I am not sure if the doctor's are right, but I don't mess with soda just in case they are. Many people say soda is ok, but I am too chicken to take that risk. I don't do everything everyone tells me and I question the system a lot, but I know too many times where my grandfather would be like no you asshold doctor I have this and they wouldn't listen. A eye doctor blinded him, he had a heart attack while the doctor was telling him it was a panic attack. I will never be an uninformed patient.

THANK YOU! I have actually been talking to a gal from another site who is local and she is doing AMAZING - a size 14 to a 2 since December and she eats steak and she also said she went right to the mushy food when she got home - Ramen Noodles, and didnt have a problem. I am not going to push my luck though - I won't try soda though I love it - that's a big reason I gained so much over the last few years

I think we all take our own responsibility. I have had great experiences with US doctors and horrible ones too. Everyone keeps squacking about the strip mall vs the "real hospital" - I had a great result from a plastic surgeon in his office OR and horrible ones 6 times over 6 months with one that did hers in the hospital.