Tom, Good luck Tuesday with your surgery. I noticed you just posted a question on how long the surgery lasts. My surgery lasted 6 1/2 hours with Dr Lirio. When you wake up you hardly notice the tubes. The nurse will take out the NG tube when you wake up and you hardly feel it. Please don't worry about anything. Just keep thinking that everyday after the surgery you feel better than the day before and you have the best, most caring, most thorough surgeon you could possibly have. See you at the April support group meeting. I guarantee you, you'll feel great by then. Helen