Obesitylaw.com won my appeal so I got my date yesterday 12/20/07. My question(s) are these:

1. What would you have done to prepare for coming home if you knew then what you know now? (Keep in mind I live alone)

2. What do wish would have known that didn't know before having the surgery?

Thanks, Lisa

1. Definetly have someone drive you home - and take a pillow to hold on your stomach to prevent the jiggles and pain that comes from jiggles. I did ask for a cup of crushed ice togo since I was so THIRSTY!

2. I didn't get to the true RESTRICTION till almost month 5. So no need to have had the mentality - Last time I can eat this or that. Not True - so don't get into the LAST MEAL syndrom.

Place things where you can easliy reach them, wear shoes that you can slide on. I was too sore to bend or reach for about 5 days so anything that fell on the floor stayed there untill I could have someone to pick them up for me. I live alone also but had someone stay with me for a week, I couldn't have done it alone.

Good luck - keep in touch!

Do you have a friend that could come and stay at least 3 or 4 days? Or someone you can go stay with?

That would be the best deal.

Congrats on getting your date. You should have all your shopping done before surgery. Have plenty of protein powder

soups, or whatever your doc allows you to have. It would be good if you could get your pain meds before surgery. I got home late at night and my DH had to run around at midnight trying to fill my prescriptions.

One thing I wish I had prepared myself for is how uncomfortable I was due to the gas they inflate your body with. I have a really “un-technical” understanding of the surgery, but they use gas to inflate the cavities so it is easier for the surgeon to see and work. This inflation is used for most, if not all, laparoscopic surgeries. Well, after the surgery there is gas still trapped somewhere in the body, and it is “uncomfortable” as it dissipates. Walking around helps a lot, but the first 3 days are hard b/c of that. I was not sore from the actually surgery, just the residual gas from the inflation (kind a weird to think we are balloons!).

The only other thing is that I was cranky on the all liquid diet. My doctor is kind of lax on the strict guidelines of when you can eat certain things, so I was on non-clear liquids 4 or 5 days after surgery (but I was fast healing-- I was walking around 3 hours after surgery and am a notorious “non-sweller”). BUT…. I did not drink the recommended amount of calories when I was on Clear Liquids, and made myself feel sicker by being cranky and more tired than I should have been until I was allowed to drink Soup and things. That’s all I can think of!