Had surgery on 11/16 and, all things considered, am feeling fan-frickin-tastic. This app/forum has been a phenomenal resource for me and I truly believe that reading about the pain really helped me understand and prepare for it.

Anyway, now that I'm only a couple days out and clearly an ~*expert*~ (feel free to laugh here) these are my stray observations:

- There is something living in the lower left side of my tummy. I feel it stabbing, clawing, and itching me from the inside out. It gets its kicks by pulling out a little feather and tickling me until I want to roll on the floor for release, not unlike my dog. I fully expect a little alien head to pop out that cluster of incisions soon. What's up, a new buddy!

- My skin looks bomb. It just might be the copious hydration and feline sleep schedule (you think?!) but I've finally kicked the pesky breakouts that have lingered since, um, whenever "regular" acne became "adult" acne.

- I am harder to put down than a Gillian Flynn novel, but once I get to sleep, just watch me go! I will resist a nap like a recalcitrant toddler then sleep with an intensity you've never seen. Also, I'm sleeping about 10 hours a night and relishing every moment of it. I feel like I spent years in sleep deprivation and now it's basically my job, guys.

- Walking never appealed to me and now it's my favorite thing (outside of sleeping and touching my now-smooth face, of course.) I live in the suburban sprawl of Chicago where, unless someone is clearly jogging or out with kids and/or a dog, you wonder what the heck they're up to. Who is this adult? Why are they alone? Where are they going? Don't they want to run there, or at least take a Pomeranian with them? I now love exploring my neighborhood, getting fresh air, and realizing that everyone else's grass looks kinda patchy up close too. That's okay, snow will cover it soon. *voice cracks as a single tear rolls down my cheek*

- Speaking of cheeks, I'm still carrying around excess Fluid and am 4 lbs heavier than surgery weight, but I can tell the fat is melting since my cheekbones are thawing out. Maybe I can stop "Kontouring like a Kardashian" in a few months, hooray!

- Also regarding cheeks (can you believe I have TWO cheek-related points? Impressive) I've taken to calling myself "Chipmunk" on account of my drinking strategy. That strategy is "Think about hydration nonstop, sip for a while, forget about your lil' pouch and take a huge swig, then hold that Water in your cheeks for a while like a panicked forest animal." Every time I do it I swear that will be the last time, then 1 hour later my face is full of chamomile tea that I'm carefully dripping down my throat while resisting the urge to giggle.

- What is binge-watching, and how do I do that? TV shockingly doesn't really appeal to me right now. I used to enjoy marathon TV weekends but all I have patience for at this point is reading or scribbling in my "adult-friendly" coloring book. Perhaps I won't regret failing to catch up on this season of Scandal when I'm gazing upon the gorgeous artwork lining my walls. *Looks up at the gallery of crudely torn coloring book pages featuring improbably colored hummingbirds and decides to fire up the Netflix*

What is your post-surgery milieu? Any fun facts you learned about yourself after WLS?

Y'all are cracking me up!!! I have to admit, I thought my face looked exceptionally wrinkle free..... Well almost. I am 50 and know each square millimeter of my wrinkles. Man, I couldn't believe it!!!!!!!! Better than Botox!!!!!!

I go back to work Monday and I dread it. I love my job and I am one of the lucky ones who had almost no pain and absolutely no nausea. I have been off two weeks and I love not having to do anything but walk if I want to!!!! I know, sounds lazy . I am in west texas and despise cold weather. It has been cold here. I have really enjoyed snuggling up with my blanket ( I can actually semi curl up due to the 20 lbs I have lost).

Good luck to all of you!!!!!!

Y'all are cracking me up!!! I have to admit, I thought my face looked exceptionally wrinkle free..... Well almost. I am 50 and know each square millimeter of my wrinkles. Man, I couldn't believe it!!!!!!!! Better than Botox!!!!!!

I go back to work Monday and I dread it. I love my job and I am one of the lucky ones who had almost no pain and absolutely no nausea. I have been off two weeks and I love not having to do anything but walk if I want to!!!! I know, sounds lazy . I am in west texas and despise cold weather. It has been cold here. I have really enjoyed snuggling up with my blanket ( I can actually semi curl up due to the 20 lbs I have lost).

Good luck to all of you!!!!!!

Whoa, 20 lbs? You go, rking! You're slaying it.

In the same boat: start work Monday (the first week is working from home, thankfully) but I've gotten used to the life of leisure. If only we could be independently wealthy! Rich and skinny haha.

Stay warm and congrats!