I am going in for my pre-op next Monday, and I'm getting excited, and nervous! I have been working on this journey since last April.

My biggest concern is my young family. I have 7 children at home: 3 teens, and a 7, 6, 4, and 1 year old. The teenagers are fabulous and help out great! However the 4 year old has to be driven to/from school,(will I be able to?) and I need helpful ideas on the 1 year and getting her in/out of her crib. She is only 15 months old, and won't stay in a toddler bed!

Initially we had scheduled surgery to coincide with the kids February vacation, my husband has that week off as a teacher. However the surgeon was on vacation, so it has to be the week before! Should I keep my daughter (age 14) out of school for a few days? Honestly I have no idea how much pain I will be in. Just looking for honest help! Thanks so much!

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I should think your biggest issue will be a weight limit on lifting after surgery. I had a five pound restriction the first week with a ten pound limit for the following two weeks. No twisting or bending either.

It seems you will need help with the younger children at home to me. I have no kids but my sister came over for me for the first week post op and was doing my cat box and even vacuuming and stuff. I miss those days!

I think having each of your teens take one day off to help you is reasonable. I would not put it all on one teenager...that seems unfair...and highschool work can be too demanding to miss a lot of school.

Consider checking if your local community college has a student working on earning a daycare license who could help you a few days a week. They could make a little money, and you could be a good work reference for them.

Enlist the help of friends/neighbors/relatives.

You likely won't be in a lot of pain....which is bad...because you'll be tempted to overdo it.

Maybe arrange a sleepover with grandparents or aunts and uncles with the littlest members of your tribe for the first few days.

It's wonderful everyone will be home to help on week two:)

Week one....call in the army. LOL:) Best wishes.

Can't your husband take a week off FMLA? I know he's a teacher, but he can set up a plan with a substitute, right? I would do that way before I kept a teenager home from school...

Edited February 1, 20188 yr by Apple203

It's his first year teaching, to request another whole week off before school vacation might not get his contract renewed next year! I was trying so hard to coincide it with school vacation too! But I DID find out my oldest son is moving to 2nd shift, so that may take care of my issue!!

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Well that is good -- the other option I was going to suggest was to reschedule to summer when he's off.

Hi... I’m new to all of this. I go feb 13th for my nutrition class and surgery is scheduled for March 12th. I’m nervous but excited for my new journey. I’m 37 and weight 265 lbs. I’m 5’10 tho so most people don’t believe me when I tell them what I weigh. I was approved thru my insurance bc I have high BP too. Anything y’all can tell me to help out would be appreciated.

What kind of surgery are you planning? On age alone I would guess sleeve but I have been wrong before. I live in Ohio, in a city 14 miles from Ohio's Geographic Center. I,will have my own surgery, a RnY at Mount Carmel in Columbus. I could be a surgery twin of yours. All my prerequirements are completed,, just waiting on a surgery date from my surgeon's office. Thought,it might be as soon as February 15th but found out today my surgeon Dr Miller asked that I have an upper GI done, the kind where you swallow something like Barium or another contrast medium. That's not always required so don't worry that you haven't had one. When I had,my EGD they found I have a small stomach,ulcer as well as gastritis. Dr Miller wants this test to pinpoint its exact,location in the stomach. I guess I got the ulcer from too many NSAIDS. Where in Kentucky are you located? We have Kentucky chicks having surgery in Ashland, Hopkinsville and Lexington , A little more about me. I have a son about your age , weight. and height. His real,name,is Bryan but on Bariatric Pal I call him my Tomkitten. He is main support person and the joy of my existence. I've been a widow,for 5 1/2 years, late hubby died on the 4th of July 2012. I'm 72, yeah old to be having this surgery, many of my prexisting conditions WLS will cure or lessen the impact on my body. I am 5ft8in, in my prime i was a shade under 6ft but we all settle down as we age. My current weight is 323 down from an all-time high of 355 last October. PCP gave me diet pills and my weight went up instead of down. I have had 2 knee replacements due to wear and tear and the fact of having arthritis since I was 25. I have 2 living children, Tomkitten and his older sister known as RD on here, she is 49, RD stands for Rotten Daughter. She lives 7/8th to a mile from me, largely estranged by her idea. I hadn't heard from her directly for maybe 6 months, her best friend died suddenly last. Christmas day of a heart attack. She started calling and texting me again. Will it last? God only ,knows. She knows I love her but I don't care for some of her past actions. Ah we all have some sorrows in our lives and I'm sure not immune. I hope you'll want to friends, you'll find I will always be here for you. I'm a pretty good source of information, both from living forever and a lot of studying. I should have been a doctor, if I had had my druthers I would have been an immunologist and worked for the CDC. Have a good evening and text,me back if you ever want to talk.

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I’m having the sleeve and I’m actually having it in Hopkinsville. I have had the upper GI and the Egd. All I’m waiting on now is my nutrition class the 13th. I’m excited but also a little nervous