I am set to be sleeved on 11/25 so I have been on this site non-stop. Lately, many of the posts I have been reading have been about complications from surgery. I understand that those are a very real possibility, but it's starting to make me really anxious. I need some good news to keep me balanced and put my fear in check. I have an excellent surgeon and am in fairly good health (no comorbidities except joint pain). I plan on following all preop instructions to the letter. With all that, did You have a good recovery? Somebody please tell me that this process CAN (not wii) go smoothly for me, too.

Just read a sad story so

I need to resurrect this thread. Surgery in six days. More reassurance please!

Lyn, it's a calculated risk. And so far, based on my experience it is totally worth it.

I could get hit by a bus tomorrow. I probably won't. But I know that continuing in my pre-op state was bound to cause me complications and possibly death.

There are no words powerful enough to comfort someone who has a tragedy strike. But I believe it is a tragedy and not the norm.

Oh no! What happened? :-(

If you don't get any more responses, start reading at the beginning again. There are a lot of positive experiences documented here.

I will be 8 weeks out tomorrow and I'm still doing perfectly well. I've lost 45 lbs. and I've gone down 3 sizes in jeans. My total cholesterol has gone from 236 to 148!! It's unbelievable to me how easy this surgery and recovery has been for me. I'm never hungry anymore, so eating really is quite the chore. There are times I have a treat, that I figure into my daily carb allotment, and I have had no issues whatsoever. I never feel deprived, either. This surgery is probably the best decision I have ever made for myself! I was originally supposed to have surgery in early May, but I chickened out. I had read a lot of "complication stories," or just negativity in general, and I got too scared to go forward with surgery because I was so hung up on the "what ifs." Now, I majorly regret not following through as originally planned. I am very happy that I worked up the courage and had this surgery in the end, for sure!

I hope that helps reassure you.

Hang in there Lyn. This was the best thing I ever did for my self.

I am almost 4 weeks out and have had a relatively smooth recovery. I am ahead of schedule for weight loss and BMI tracking, which is great! I did have to deal with a yeast infection (probably from the antibiotics or catheter) and some expected post-op discomfort for the first week. But, no vomiting, very little nausea, no foamy burps or spitting up. I will say the first 7-10 days were a little rockier than I thought they would be. I have always rebounded and healed quickly after surgeries but I am 10 years older now than when I had my last surgery so I think my expectations were a little unrealistic in that regard. The biggest thing I struggled with was/is the energy swings. One day I'd feel great and the next I was exhausted. As you probably know, this is a by-product of the healing process and I have learned we just have to be patient with ourselves. Interestingly, I have not had any of the aches and pains I used to get all the time (headaches, joint/muscle aches) which is awesome. Honestly though, there have been some moments that I would never like to repeat in my life, but that's just what they were: moments in time, relatively speaking, but the benefits and results will last a lifetime. I can't wait to meet the new Me when I reach my goal!

Lyn,

Just about 3 weeks out here and nothing out of the ordinary!!! I think recovery is about attitude, not all of it but a good part of it is. This process isnt painless , it isnt easy but it is worth it!!!

I'm 7 weeks out. Learning what I can & cannot eat, ... Mostly how fast / slow I can / should eat.

It's been pretty easy.

Last week I had an other unrelated surgery. Was constipated afterwards. That was the worst of it.

So I am 10 days post op and I have to say that this is not by any means easy for me. I some how read these threads pre op and was expecting things to go smoother. It is not awful by any means and I have no regrets and am down 18 lbs. I have to keep reminding myself everyone is different. I was starting to feel like a failure for not having as good a recovery as everyone else. Saw my Dr for my post op apt yesterday and he said everything was fine. Be prepared for pain, nausea, diarrhea, I had awful headaches, fear of food, missing food, feeling lonely, having second thoughts. You may or may not have these feelings but I think if you are prepared for the possibility of them your recovery will go easier. That was one of the harder things for me to deal with because I really didn't think it was going to be this difficult. All of the things I mention are transient and can be dealt with. I hope you have a great recovery but if you don't i don't want you to feel like a failure as I did. Best of luck to you.

I am ten days out as well...I am doing well. Tht said, I have only lost a few lbs. worst thing for me is

Hate this new app!

I had a pretty easy time of it, overall. The farther I get from the surgery, the easier it seemed. But I remember very clearly that the first day I was in pretty rough shape. I had a gnarly headache (caffeine withdrawl, I think), and just wanted a motrin! The morphine made me sick so I never pushed the button. I remember thinking, wow, this is rough! But I never thought, 'what have I done?' I was thinking, 'heck yes, I got through the surgery!!"

I never had the gas pain you hear so much about. I had no trouble sleeping on my side. I took the pain medication once a day before bed for the first 5 days and then dumped it out. Nothing made me nauseated as far as fluids. I just had my first episode of nausea and vomiting at almost 3 weeks post op from drinking cold water first thing in the morning (too much, too cold, too fast?). I went back to work at 2 weeks and survived. I don't feel bad, but just that I should be taking it easy.

I think I was really really lucky. I agree with Chris E above, a lot of it is attitude. Focus on the positive. Get lots of rest. Have someone helping you at home if possible the first couple days. Hope for the best and leave the rest to your higher power.

I had surgery on October 18th. I also followed the pre-op diet about 99% to the letter (I did sneak a piece of pizza somewhere in there). My surgery and recovery were exceptional. Minimal pain, completely gone in two days - have had no adverse reaction to any food I've eaten so far. My energy level is sky high! Best decision I've ever made!!!! Good luck, you'll do great.

Thanks again for the posts, Everyone. I go into the hospital at 5:30 Monday morning. I actually have to work a 12 hour shift tonight so I should be sleeping, but my nerves are really starting to ramp up. I wish I could be on an IV drip of Ativan until they put me to sleep for surgery ( but I think that a nurse walking around attached to an IV pole and high on benzos might be a little off-putting to some patients.) I am supposed to do liquids today and tomorrow. I'm not even dreading it because the anxiety has taken my appetite and I actually feel nauseous and shaky (or maybe it was that 5 hour Energy that I had at 3 am at work). Anyway, I just can't wait to get this done and be on the other side of this so that I can help some neurotic pre-ops like me. I just need to get a few hours of sleep, get through my shift tonight and I will be almost there. Thanks again, all, for your encouraging words.