What surgery are you having? I had RNY on Jan 24, 2005. I will never sugar coat anything for any questions you might have. I was 317 the day I laid on the table, knees grinding, lower back hurting, sleep apnea, extremely high blood pressure. I was scared, but I knew I wouldn't be around to see grandchildren or at the very least be with a walker or cane or worse if I didnt go through with it. I had dieted my life away up to 317 so my metablolism was shot. The first part of your journey will be what we all call the "honeymoon stage". You will drop weight fast I lost over 100 the first year. I reached goal 155 not quiet halfway thru the second year. I felt great on top of the world! I did end up with anemia and was put on meds and needed a blood transfusion before having my hysterectomey the first year. But I was on meds a short time and learned take vitamens with iron. I kept my weight off and was fairly healthy for the first 5 years. I went thru a nasty divorce and stress and with that bad habits returned, slider foods. I started getting sick off and on. Not feeling right. And then I would eat carbs and then feel good. I didn't realize it but I was developing another known issue "Reactive Hypoglycemia" it goes by other names too but this is the most popular. By time I was diagnosed by a Endocrinologist that was familiar with bypass patients I was full blown by A1C was a 5.8 just 2 shy of diabetes!!! I also gained 54 pounds!! That was June 2009. I have since had many many episodes of confusion, white flashing lights in front of my eyes, passing out while I learned all over again what I could and could not eat. That same year, all I drank was coffee and got severely dehydrated, my intestines collapsed and I was in the hospital for 4 days and narrowly avoided surgery to remove the collapsed piece! NEVER EVER DID THAT AGAIN I DRINK WATER LOTS OF WATER AND LAY OFF THE CAFFIENE NOW! I have lost 6 pounds in over 2 years. But I took a kick in the self esteem, became a carb addict all over again. Like they say your body is fixed, but your head isn't. Any and all addictions and issues you had before will be with you on the other side of weight loss. I am finally doing better and doing the 5DPT and have a good support group. Now the real work begins to get the last 48 off. I have learned NO carbs except HEALTHY WHOLE GRAINS and even then limited. I am back to basics measuring my foods and following the rules you will have for life. I take 2 Chewable Flinstone complete with iron, B12 Complex Liquid, 2 Chewable Fish Oil, 2 Chewable Calcium Citrate, 1 10,000 mcg chewable Biotin EVERYDAY without fail and my blood work has been PERFECT! Would I do this surgery again??? In a heartbeat without a shadow of a doubt! Would I change anything? YES YES YES! 1. I would never have touched soda 2. I would have drank water to the tune of 8 or more glasses every day like I do now 3. I would of never went off my plan and never touched bad carbs and slider foods. 4. I would never touch caffiene 5. I would have stayed with my support systems. There are LOTS OF US out there with weight gain, all around the 5 year mark, but if you listen and do exactly what you are told and even once at goal DO NOT EVER FORGET your healthy eating habits and realize that it is hard work to stay at goal you will make it for life. It will be the best thing you ever did and you will never regret it. PROTEIN FIRST, VITAMENS, WATER, NO SLIDER FOODS, NO SODA, NO CAFFIENE, SOME FORM OF EXERCISE and you will be great! I am here feel free to friend me, ask me anything at all. And a nother good source of support. . . .FaceBook LivingwithWLS Project 2014, she is starting the new 2015 Livingwith WLS Neighborhood her name is Kaye Bailey she has two books out there and the people there are great! They are at all stages of the journey. Hope to see you there!

I too have Bipolar Disorder. Make sure that if you are on medication that your work with your doctor to make sure you can still take it after surgery. I will need to switch one of mine because it's an extended release and my surgeon told me that with RNY (which I will be having) it will be processed too fast in my body. I see my doctor in a few weeks and will be trying a new medication. I also see a therapist which helps manage my moods immensely. Good luck! Feel free to add me as a friend if you need additional support

Best decision I ever made. No complicstions, no problems. Follow your plan to the letter, and you'll do fine.