i am 11 months post op, and frequently get asked what i wished i had known pre op. here are 4 things:

I wish i would've known that i would still get hungry.- i was told my hunger would be gone.

I wish i would've known that the 1st 5 days of recovery could be difficult- i was told i would just be a "little sore"

I wish i would've known that my weight loss would be slow- i compare myself to others

I wish i would've known how yucky the Protein shakes would get to be--they suck now.

Please chime in! What do you wish you would've known pre op? Our honesty could help those who are still pre op.

Dont be scared-- im not complaining. i love my sleeve and the results i have gotten so far.

Bandmom, nobody really adequately describes head hunger. When I had to drop coffee, alcohol and food it suddenly struck me that I was an emotional wreck over wrought with unaddressed anxiety. There was a lot of crying, a lot of agnst, a lot of resistance and I had nothing left to comfort it with, in fact I was pretty much stuck in my anger for lack of relief. I obsessed about food, dreamt about jamie oliver and even bought chefs knives. Five months or so out and food still doesn't provide the satiety or sedation that it used too. I have to use yoga, journalling, art & meditation. Daily. Had I known, I would have broken up with food long before surgery, so I could concentrate on healing without the pangs of withdrawal to contend with.

Thank you all for all the comments! My surgery is January 13, 2013 and I thought I was the only person having trouble with letting go of food. I'm on the pre-liquid diet and all I think about is what I should have eaten before I started the liquid. If I think about it I'm not really hungry, I just want to eat. I won't lie and say I didn't love food because I really love food. I'm working on it. My kids are adults and they are my support team along with my granddaughter. My sister and sister-in-law can't say anything nice about it. Since I've told them 2 months ago that I was approved, I've only heard from my sister twice and that was to wish me a Happy Thanksgiving and to say Merry Christmas. My sister-in-law have not heard from at all. These are two people that I talked to every week. It's sad. but I'm finding out who my real friends and support team is.

Thank you all for all the comments! My surgery is January 13, 2013 and I thought I was the only person having trouble with letting go of food. I'm on the pre-liquid diet and all I think about is what I should have eaten before I started the liquid. If I think about it I'm not really hungry, I just want to eat. I won't lie and say I didn't love food because I really love food. I'm working on it. My kids are adults and they are my support team along with my granddaughter. My sister and sister-in-law can't say anything nice about it. Since I've told them 2 months ago that I was approved, I've only heard from my sister twice and that was to wish me a Happy Thanksgiving and to say Merry Christmas. My sister-in-law have not heard from at all. These are two people that I talked to every week. It's sad. but I'm finding out who my real friends and support team is.

They need to get over themselves! My dad was horrible to me and said I was going to die! Well guess what, he got the surgery one month after me! Keep your head up. This is not a piece of cake and takes work but it's definitely going to help you! It's a tool and no tool works without all the pieces doing their part

I wish I had known I was the " fat friend" to my best friend, she has been super hateful to me with every pound I lose her comments get uglier, I was told my apples would fall from the tree and only real friends would stay. ,

Wow, good point. I'm waiting to see what happens in my life~ not with my best friend but with one who ALWAYS has a lot to say about everything!

Women are rothless when they think another Woman will look better then them, and even more so when they have been " the looker" of the group. Just remember those who speak ill of you or to you only see something in you they wish they could have. Keep kind and stay true to you and nothing will hold you back.

Good information! I'm still in the pre-op process of meeting with dietician and soon will start the psych evaluation part.

I am scheduled for January 20, 2014 and I am feeling less nervous after reading all of this. Thank you all for your support!

Thank you everyone for all the post. I really needed to hear this information and start dealing with the emotions that I will have with food after surgery.

Thanks guys....very helpful! I am scheduled for January 27, 2014

Take measurements prior to surgery because they can be a benchmark measure when the scale is not moving.

Take pictures of yourself prior to surgery. Get a front shot and a side shot also. I did not enjoy looking at the pictures, but look at them along side pictures you take six weeks out and you'll be amazed at the difference.

I wish I had known that I miss the gulping of Water..I used to love to gulp.

I wish I would have known that the food tolerance progression is taking me a longer time than others.

I wish I would gave known about gummie Vitamins. I cannot handle the. News I bought at the hospital and was taking my meds.

I wish I had. Now about this stall I am going thru.

I wish I believed in the sleeve before I had the surgery as much as I now believe,. It is working for me.

I learned that if you pack up all your clothes by size in clear boxes so when you loose weight you can go shopping all over again into your own closet. Of course shopping is always fun so enjoy it!

I learned with my lapband there are those who say they support you only to find out what your secret is.

True friends and encouraging friends will stay true the others ya just need to let them go. Life is to short to please everyone!

I finally got my date!! Pre op is the 15th and surgery is the 29th.. I am so nervous and excited to start the liquid diet! And pointers for me?? Thank u in advance!

I finally got my date!! Pre op is the 15th and surgery is the 29th.. I am so nervous and excited to start the liquid diet! And pointers for me?? Thank u in advance!

Congrats!!!!

Negatives: 1. I wish I had known that two fiber chews a day would have stopped all my pain earlier! I'm good to go now. Take fiber!! 2. I wish I had known how tired I would be the first three weeks. Once past that all gets better. 3. I wish I had known that I really needed to work on my mental thoughts about food too. I focused on portions. Now 7 months out I have major head hunger. Not really hungry EVER but my mind thinks I should snack all day. Constant challenge 4. Wish I had known about this surgery sooner. People need to talk more!! 5. I wish I had known how challenging it really is to wait 30 mins before and after eating Pros 1. I feel amazing 2. I feel sexy 3. Happily married but guys consistently gives me looks and it's awesome! Lol 4. Sex = Amazing TMI sorry, don't want people to miss out on the truth! 5. Buying clothes is so rewarding 6. I've saved three friends by speaking up about the surgery and helping through the process - for the surgery because I told them about my experience 7. My dad is alive and had the surgery after me - he was anti surgery until he saw my success 8. I enjoy healthy foods that I would have never eaten before 9. No more blood pressure issues 10. No more sleep apnea 11. Size 20 to 6 I could literally go on and on!

Loved this. Because in the broad scheme of things, we've carried around hundreds of extra pounds for years causing us daily pain, both physical and emotional. Like a lifetime of that @&$). Not 6 weeks or 6 months but 30, 40 years. Being obese is no picnic. That said, this thread just made me order the books about emotional eating that everyone raves about because this won't be an easy year for me. There are so many freedoms I've given up being obese. I know I'm gonna be giving up my old friend (food) but I want the opportunity to feel good. Love this thread....