I started on this journey about 7 years ago. Then what stopped me was the cost of the procedure, the fact that it would have been banding or bypass. And lack of encouragement from a then husband. Fast forward 7 year. Ex husband. My very supportive family, changing jobs and having great insurance. Me wanting to have a life that I don't complain of knee pain and a lot of other ailments. I'm only 42 but feel 82.

So I have done the informational meeting, did the first intake meeting with the dietician and the nurse. Next is shrink, dietician and meet with the doc.

Starting to question the what ifs.... will I only be able to eat Protein the rest of my life? Can I take I bite of my dad's birth cake with out getting sick? I only have 2 weeks of sick time built up. Will it be enough time off from work?

I want to be healthy. Just very scared of the journey to get there.

I'm in central Minnesota and If there are any locals I would love to have a mentor and coach to call on for encouragement

Well, there are no absolutes and no way to predict the future. But chances are very, very high that you'll be able to eat a rich and varied diet -- just a lot less of it -- in your post-sleeve life. Will you focus a lot on protein during the weight loss phase? Yes, but even then you'll have more than just meat or tofu or Greek yogurt! Will you be able to have a bite of birthday cake without getting sick? Magic 8 ball says . . . yes!

The work question is trickier. For most people, particularly if you have a sedentary job, 2 weeks is enough. But again, it's hard to predict how you will react to surgery, and of course there is the small chance of complications. If you use up your PTO, will you have access to unpaid leave under FMLA? Here is a fact sheet about which employees and employers are covered under FMLA:

http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/whdfs28.pdf

Other than sick time, could you use vacation/annual leave for this if needed? If you aren't covered by FMLA, would your employer give you unpaid time off if needed, or would they be more likely to just fire you? Personally, if my only options at my job had been 1) being sure to go back to work in two weeks or 2) get fired -- I would have waited to build up another 5 days or so of sick leave/PTO. But that's me, and I tend to be conservative about that kind of thing, particularly because I am single and need my job to keep a roof over my head and kibble in my dog's bowl. That kind of of risk/reward calculation will vary for each of us. Just do your research with respect to how laws and policies work at your place of employment so that you can make your decision with confidence you know the possible outcomes. Good luck!

I went back to work at 2 weeks and it was fine. I scheduled 3 weeks off but went back after 2 because I felt so good.

You will be able to eat everything in moderation. I was only off work 1 week, but everyone is different. Two weeks is plenty I would think !

I had surgery on a Thursday and was back to work on Monday, but I work from home, which I'm sure makes a difference. I was back to traveling for work after 3 weeks.

I can tolerate any food. Anything and everything. Just in much smaller quantities. I have a friend who was sleeved back in August and he can eat anything as well. I know some people report not tolerating some foods, but that has not been my experience.

Good luck with your decision.

My husband and I were sleeved the same day. We felt back to normal by day 3. We followed our post op diet and have never had a sick / sliming / vomiting episode. We can eat everything we could before just less of it. I so plan my meals with nutrition in mind. At least 98% of the time. I make sure we get in our Protein, then veggies and then complex carbs.

Good luck on your decision! I've never regretted ours!

I love how every one is so helpful. It is helping to know that I am making the right decision.

I went back to work after 1 week. I had surgery on a Monday and was readmitted on Friday-Sunday for some dehydration related issues and still went back to work the following Monday. I teach at a college so I was able to take it slow and easy. I will be a month on Monday and I still have to take it slow. My energy is gone- I am trying to get it back so I can get to walking and working out. I have just decided I have to take it 1 day at a time. I have no regrets. Feeling so good already (both mentally and physically).

Hubby and I were sleeved in Costa Rica on a Tuesday, released from hospital Wednesday, relaxed on Thursday, and went sightseeing around Costa Rica Friday and Saturday, flew home on Sunday and back to work on Monday. I'm 53 and a nurse and he is 60 and drives an hour to work at a desk job. We both experienced some fatigue after about 6 hours of work and that first week back we cut our days short by about 2-3 hours...but we were back at work. We used all energy on work for a couple of weeks, and made no other commitments. We were committed to following all rules and rested when needed, and were fortunate to have had good recoveries.

Prior to surgery, I, too, was afraid of complications with not only a negative health outcome, but missing work and potential judgement and criticism for doing something that is technically elective, but to those of us who have tried everything without lasting success, we know is a last resort. We made our decision based on risk vs. benefit, and came to the conclusion that the roads we drive each day on the way to work posed more of a risk than the sleeve surgery with its very low complication rate.

It was very encouraging to me to read about peoples' journies...good and bad...and very few people said they had regrets. Even those with complications whether minor or severe, were encouraging despite their challenges. Life after surgery is an adjustment, but becomes a way of life...with occasional tiny guilt free treats and tinier clothes.

Think positively, do your research, follow the rules, ride out the challenges,and enjoy new health. Good luck with your journey!!!