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I stopped by this site a few days ago just to see what what up.  Used to spend a lot of my days here, especially pre-op and newly post-op. 
I know this site & the stories are invaluable to newbies, or anyone who is nervous about being approved for surgery, the surgery itself, etc.  So I just thought I'd post an update.

I will be 4 years out on April 1, 2012- which seems- almost unreal.  My surgery went VERY well.  I had no complications and no pain in the days immediately following.  When I started to eat solids again, it was a challenge & sometimes painful.  Usually a walk around the house, some warm tea & pineapple enzyme would un-stuck whatever was stuck. 
I was extraordinarily faithful to exercise.  Some people don't want to hear that, but it really is the key that unlocks all the potential you have to be successful on this journey.  Find a work out regimen that suits you. 

I ended up losing about 115 lbs, which made me really very thin.  I didn't look right.  Then I had a bounceback which freaked me out, but was ultimately good.  I am holding steady at a 100lb loss.  Sometimes I gain a few lbs around the holidays, but keeping a food log & getting more exercise takes care of it before it gets to be something that is a problem. 

A few areas that I would caution newbies about.  #1 VITAMINS.  How important these are cannot be over emphasized.  I highly recommend Vitalady's plan for your surgery type (even if you don't purchase from her).  I've sustained running injuries, depression, you name it... all the things they tell you might be related to a vitamin deficiency?  It's true.  You need to spend the $$ on a decent vitamin regime. If you buy in bulk, you can generally save $.  It's so important though, just soooo important.  Don't skimp on vitamins.

Second.  I had transfer addiction in a major way.  I didn't drink for the first few months after surgery, but when I started again, it took me about 4 months before I realized I needed help, and I needed a 12 step program.  People talk about different things as "transfer addictions"- sex, exercise, shopping, etc., but it's not something to joke about.  A true addiction takes over your life and has the potential to wreck your family.  Anyone going in for WLS needs to know, needs to research, needs to be aware that it's real, and it's out there.  If your doctor's office offers any type of education class on transfer addiction, I highly recommend taking it. 

I don't mean to sound all 'gloom and doom", because WLS was by far the best thing I've done for myself.  I take care of myself, my family focuses on nutrition in a way that I could only have dreamed about (no more tubes of cookie dough in front of the TV).  I don't remember what it was like to be the fat girl anymore, and I spent 20 years as that girl. 
It's a good ride.  It did change my life, in some ways I didn't expect, but mostly in ways that make me happy to look in the miror. 

Bad before picture.  Pretty decent after shot though.  I'm happy. 

Well... back when I went to the first new patient meeting at NWH at the end of January, Dr. Partridge said to take 4-6 wks off from work.  I took 4.  Last week at this time I was having 1 great day followed by 2 not so great (tired) days.  This week- totally different.  I'started back at the gym (which I love) and have a ton of energy.  So now I'm bored & decided to go back to work a few days early.  That said, I really cannot imagine having done this and tried to go back after less time.  
Before I had the surgery I thought about not ever talking about my weight afterwards, other than in this forum.  I think I'm going to stick to that.  So many people think they have a right to ask about weight when you start losing weight... when no one would dare ask you "how much have you gained?"  Just my thoughts. 

So everything went pretty well, I think.  Felt a little nervous in the days leading up to surgery & I took my doctor's advice and stayed off the message boards- and basically any other internet resource related to WLS.  Figured there was only so much information I could get.
The surgery was quick, over in about 1 1/2 hrs, I woke up fuzzy in recovery, the hospital stay was all right except for the 2d night when I was smacked with a pretty wicked migraine.  Could've done without that.  I took my full 3 days in the hospital, came home and have been resting ever since.
I notice that I alternately have bursts of energy one day followed by extreme tiredness/ sleepiness the next day.  I am getting my protein shakes & all my water in every day, I find the blended diet to be fine and not nearly as awful as I was expecting.  By the end of the month I'm sure I'll be all set with chicken soup and baby food bananas, but for now I'm good. 
I've been getting out and walking every day, even on my tired days, even if it's just around the block. 
Haven't stepped on my scale yet, I decided to weigh myself just once a week on Tuesdays (since my surgery was on a Tuesday) and this week it didn't really occur to me to weigh myself.  I notice a difference.  That's all that matters right now. 

Today is 2 weeks until my last day of work before I go out for surgery.  
Really the only thing that I have left to do is go for my pre-op visit & gallbladder ultrasound... and whatever else it is that they do that day.  I'm excited.  I get momentary flashes of anxiety where I think I don't really need to have the surgery, but then I remember how much I despise trying to lose weight.  
I decided to update my page & my blog today because I know there are many lurkers out there who are thinking about the surgery & hoping to have the surgery & not quite sure about it, or whatever, and I found the stories that I have read over the past few months to be very inspirational.  Also very helpful for me.
Stay tuned