Hi all...I am now a Loser!!! I had surgery on January 13th and was able to have it done laproscopic!!! I really never believed that it would be lap, I had prepared myself for it to be an open surgery, but Dr. D was great, he was able to take his time and get through the adhesions, etc.

Recovery time was so much better, I was alert in the hospital as they brought me into my room. I was out for my first walk that evening. My mom was with me the whole time, I finally talked her into going to the hotel on Thursday to get a good nights rest and lo and behold, that would be the night I almost fell out of the bed. I had a bed that rose so you could walk off of it, the nurses didn't get it low enough, so I went to step off the bed and slipped into a squat. Lucky for me i was holding on to both rails. I wouldn’t let the two nurses help me up until they got a strong male to help me...didn’t trust their strength. Then I got to meet the lab tech from hell. My IV went bad, and they needed to put a new one in, so this woman tried 3 times in my right arm then another 5 in my left until she finally decided to put in a line... all the while not telling me what she was doing, I was so upset I was crying. My mother walked in during the middle of this and clearly stated that that tech was never to work on me again... then she made a fatal mistake by asking my mother what was wrong... bad news on the tech's part. My mother went in to momma cub mode/Nurse mode and clearly told the woman off... and clearly told her that she did not know how to relate to patients. My mom kept her cool the whole time, and the woman never came back...heheh

I went to see Dr. Dimarco for my one week follow up and I was thrilled. I have already lost 27 lbs. From 475 to 448 YEAH!!!!! I can start trying to introduce soft foods on Monday, and I can start to drive short distances. I can't believe how well I am feeling. As long as I am sitting down I feel great. Not so much when I am up and moving, I tire easily. I have a one store limit. The Doc wants me to start walking in 2 weeks, 20 minutes every other day... I am on my way!!! And a special Hi to Vicki K a fellow OH.com member that I met at Dr. D's office-- thanks for your support and kind wishes. Most of all, I want to thank Kricket for being my angel, keeping me sane and giving lots of great advice. THANKS!!!