Hello everyone....

My name is Ilene and I just joined Bariatric Pal. I’m having sleeve surgery on 11/15 and it is starting to get VERY real. My liquid diet (modified) starts this week, my pre-surgical visit is this week, my final tests (endoscopy/colonoscopy) is this week....you get the idea.

I do have an advantage.....I’m doing this with my very supportive husband. In fact, he had his surgery on October 4. Everything went really well and his recovery has been textbook, so I have had the opportunity to see first hand (we’ll, as close as possible) exactly what I am getting into. We went to all appointments with the surgeon together from Day 1 until after surgery (schedule conflicts) and continue to look out for one another.

But now it’s happening to ME, and I’m both excited and TERRIFIED. I just turned 46 this month, I have 3 children (12 year old boy and 10 year old girl/boy twins, and the twins are both Autistic) and I want to be someone they can count on for the long haul. I want to have the energy to take them places. I fear diabetes in my future (family history on both sides). I KNOW this surgery is the right thing to do, and I really have no doubts.

But that doesn’t mean I’m not scared S$&Tless!

I’m hoping that I can get to know others who are going through this, like me, and we can get through this together!

-Ilene

Welcome. Having both adults on the same path should make supporting each other fabulous. No one will be bringing in trigger foods, just nutritious ones. Good luck.