Tomorrow is my big day. 4/4/24

any ladies or fellas in here with me this month?

I hate saying "good luck" because that implies luck has a lot to do with it. So, I will say I hope your day is successful and smooth. My date is 04/16. I'd love to hear how it went, afterward.

My surgery is 4/16/24!

KortGBP- I hope things goes well with your surgery and my the Drs hands be gentle and successful tomorrow!

Wendy- hey surgery date buddy!

Radzi, hey surgery date buddy! 12 days out. Are you nervous? I am actually getting less nervous as the date gets closer. I think this is because I had been wavering back and forth about if I am doing the right thing, and am now convinced that I am.

My surgery is April 30th. I am getting it due to severe GERD and ongoing damage to my esophagus. But weight loss is an excellent side effect! Good luck to everyone!!!

My surgery date is 4/9! Good luck with your surgery!

Edited April 4, 20242 yr by ChelsRae33

leese13 & ChelsRae33, I wish you two a smooth ride as well!

Happy surgery month, April-ites! I did mine in April of last year and want to share my encouragement and support, knowing almost one year out (26th) it has been an extraordinary and revelatory experience. There were some bumps and dings throughout the year (Foamies, severe stabbing pains post surgery - they subside! , gallbladder removal, fainting from dehydration, no appetite, strong appetite, hair loss and regrowth, etc). All worth the rollercoaster and 107 lbs down. Happy to answer any questions :) summer had a lot of comments, Fall was the sweet spot of people noticing and me feeling my best. Winter and now spring again- I’m starting to run and be outside a lot more. Really helps to have a 2nd chance at moving well in my body and enjoying real food. All the best to you guys!!

Thank you, longhaul68! I read about hair loss and was hoping it was a rare side effect. It sounds like it does get better when nutrition picks up?? Did you tell everybody you had weight loss surgery? My friends know, as they are my support system. I have not told anyone at work. I told my boss I'm having surgery. I told my families (I work with kids) that I'm going to be out for 2 weeks (BTW is 2 weeks enough??). It's not that I'm ashamed of the surgery, I don't think. I'm not sure why I haven't told everyone in my life. They'll think I'm sick when I start the weight loss! What have others said to people?

Well I am going to have to join the May buddies - they just moved my surgery from 4/30 to May 21st. I am bummed. Good luck to all the April people!!!

That sounds very disappointing, leese13! I'm so sorry.

Hi Wendy- I found it important to confide in friends who I knew would see the surgery as an effort to reset my system and not as a vanity project. So, I opened up to three close friends and no family other than my husband and teenage son (whom I sat down and really went through the toughest reasons why with). My parents are gone and I don’t see my siblings very often - easier in that respect. And I also sought out references from friends of closest friends who knew someone who’d had the surgery and talked extensively about the aftermath and any complications. They were exceptionally compassionate and enthusiastic supporters. I really felt ready. The comments from a good friend group came in waves: “you look great”! Then, a bit of concern - “all okay?” Then, “wow, you look like a different person: are you on ozempic?” with a direct desire to know what was up. I told that group together but only after 3 month mark, asking they not share it with others. No one has been negative about it. I had a dear friend say, “look, if there was a surgery that would reset my brain to comprehend things more quickly, I’d do it in a second”. I had to explain it’s not a quick fix but I knew what she meant- getting one’s beast of burden off the mind. Re: Hair loss- timeline was strange - I’ve always had a thick head of hair and thought maybe I’d bypass the intensity of it. Alas, no- it started to really come out heavily in Aug/Sept. I was worried bc it didn’t slow down and had thinned dramatically but now the growth is back - slowed in Dec/Jan and I kept it short all fall. No one especially noticed enough to mention it. Again, all good thoughts to you as you begin this remarkable feat! You’ll feel amazing soon enough but I hope you’re proud of getting to this point!