Hello! I am one week post-op, Lap-Band to RNY, with a surprise hiatal hernia repair as an added bonus.

When I'm anxious, I prepare. So I prepared lists of foods to have during each stage, lists of things to bring with me to the hospital, lists of things to have on hand upon my return. But I also did a lot of reading about others' experiences, and I took care to read messages from the same people right after surgery and then months on. I am SO glad I did. Over and over, I'd read, from the just post-surgical, "What have I done?!" And then weeks or months later, from those same people, "I am so glad I did this." I made a note to myself (a physical note) to expect to feel regret amid the pain and discomfort and to keep in mind that it would almost certainly pass.

There were a couple of days last week where I would have given a limb to rewind to the week before surgery. Those were some VERY challenging times. But one of my comforts and the thing that kept me thinking forward was that note. There isn't anything that's been more valuable than the lived experience of those who've come before. At this point, at the very beginning of this, the knowledge that things will look very different in a few days, a few weeks, and a few months, is the best thing I have.

So, thank you, so much, to those who share their lives. And for those yet to have surgery, I hope you find that bit of knowledge as important and comforting as I did -- and do.

What a lovely note of recognition!

My surgery is a week from today, and I am going to take your advice and write myself a note, too. Thanks for sharing this!