I've just started my insurance's 7 month process before getting surgery.  I was just wanting to know if there was anything that you learned post surgery that you wish you knew ahead of time? Anything you wish you would have prepared better for or anything just was just pushed under the rug that shouldn't have been?

Um...for the electric bill.

My internal thermostat is all cracked out! 

The gas! Not just in the immediate postop but likely for the rest of my life. I can clear a room, and it is not nice! I fart all day long and if i try to hold it back my tummy hurts :( Ask your doc about GAS!

The first time you have a BM accident and think to yourself, "OMG, I am so embarrased", and worry that its something that will never go away.  Don't worry it will go away.

Immediately after surgery I had bloody / tarry black stools -- scared the hell out of me -- it was just the combination of cut intestines & blood thinners.  I wish I had known that it was a possibility, it would have saved me some panic.

agreed.  Mine came whooshing out liquid like and thought i was bleeding out.  Scary.

And gas pains really sucked.

 That despite having an IUD I got my period in recovery and several months afterwards.

i hope i can remember everything i need to and have no surprises post op.  i'm following in my mom's footsteps with this and i think its harder for me to see what she's gone through and know how hard the first couple of days were after surgery.  it might be easier if the pain level was still an unknown. oh well, every time i think about that i start looking at more before/after pics and i start to realize it will be worth it.  still nervous though...

Use this site every chance you get!  I did for several months before surgery and I learned so much.  It's great to hear about all of the different experiences.  People ask questions on here that I would've never even thought of when I started the process.  As far as knowing what your Mom went thru right after surgery...it may not be the same for you.  There are a lot of people on here that only had minimal pain after surgery.  Good luck with everything!

Research!!!! It is your best friend. I love my RnY, but I just may have gotten the sleeve had I known more about both surgeries prior. Not saying that I would have changed. Just saying that it never hurts to look at all your options.

I wish I knew how bad my food aversion would have been in the first couple months! It's getting better,  though!

I wish I had taken the advice of people who told me to keep the new clothes buying under strict control. I got to size 12 and went crazy. And now I am a 6! Not complaining...just wished I hadn't thought 12 was the smallest I would ever be.
I wished I had known how wonderful my life would be one year out. How easy my new way of eating really is, how food does not rule my life.

Seems like no one said they thought they were dying for a few days after sugery..I wasn't prepared for it.  I have had several other surgeries and never felt that bad post op. I honestly thought I had damaged myself and that I might die. After 1 and 1/2 weeks, I started feeling better. Now, I have lost over 130 pounds and feel marvelous. I am so happy I did it but wish I knew it was a very difficult road to recovery.

 You will likely experience plateaus or slowing of weight loss from time to time.  I actually gain weight sometimes, but overall have lost about 155 lbs.  Attend a couple of support groups a month. It helps immensely.  Don't  base your expectations about pain or recovery on what you read or hear.  Fewer people take time comment about a good sugical experience than those who had a tougher time.  In the hospital, time your requests for pain meds so that you get the meds shortly after you get back from walking.  That way if the walking causes any discomfort, you'll be able to relax fairly soon.  Walk as much as you reasonably can in the hospital. I did, and only spent one night there.  One last thing, in the hospital and even once you get home, consider having only one person around to help.  You don't need the hassle of a crowd. You're going to do GREAT!

You will gain weight during surgery. They pump you so full of fluids and you bare swollen as part of the healing, that you will gain weight. You need BIG clothes for the trip home.

You will be on an emotional roller coaster. Warn those close to you in advance. Crying is normal.

Allow yourself to heal. Get the rest you need.

Stay off the scale. It's evil. It will make you mental. For the first three months, just weigh at the surgeons office. You will have enough post op visits that you get a great idea of your weight loss.

Stalls happen. The weight loss is more like walking down stairs than sledding down a hill. You lose, stay flat, lose, stay flat, etc.

I wish I had known that I wouldn't be able to have NSAID's.
To this day my surgeon still hasn't told me that I can't have them.
I found out by reading this board.

 One more thought.  I believe that being spiritually "right" takes away loads of stress.  So not to be get preachy, but be sure you're squared away with God.

 I wish I would have really listened about regaining weight.  Yes, you can and yes, you will if you don't pay attention to what you eat and if you don't exercise.

It took me 5 years and a lot of hard work to get that 80lbs off.

I wish I had known that not everyone dumps and about the constipation

I wish I would have known what an emotional experience this would be and how bad my depression would get without my "crutch" (overeating).