My Bariatric Surgery Adventure

Tomorrow is the big day.  I am scheduled for bariatric surgery at about 11am.  I am not nervous about the surgery per se but trying to get my work life in order before I go in is an itch.

It took me over seven years to come to grips with the need to seek this kind of help.  My wife had this surgery in July 2001 and lost over 245 lbs.  I resisted because I thought I could lose my weight on my own.

Diabetes was the last straw.  I have been on isulin for a number of years and between eye sight issues and other issues it is starting to get serious.  I am hoping that surgery will help.

The other issue is that my identity for most of my life has been tied up with being heavy.  I have been fat since I was 4 years old.  I have lost weight a number of times but it has always been temporary.

Most people know me as the jolly fat guy or maybe not so jolly.  I think that I finally gave in to the idea of surgery when it was no longer a cosmetic issue but a real health issue.

The surgery itself does not bother me, but the recovery holds some dread.  No solids for a few weeks and a lot of very small chopped up meals for a number of months.  That is not something to look forward to.

Well I have done my out of office memo and confronted most of my demons about not being here for the clients.  I have the on going fear that I will not have a job when I get back but everyone tells me that I am paranoid.

I am not sure I will be able to post much while in the hospital so that part of the story may have to wait until I am home.

I hope that my experience can be helpful to people.  Rich