Hope the takedown goes really well. Of course I do not know the specifics of your situation - but I want to encourage you. My takedown was done in ....1987. Yikes! It was so much easier that the first surgery in terms of recovery; I think I was able to leave the hospital a lot faster - maybe 3 or 4 days. I went back to work teaching high school full time within a month of that takedown. I was 23 and had youth and grit on my side; I also had no idea that I had any choice in the matter - you gotta work to put a roof over your head, etc.! I think what Lauren was trying to say was just sort of go easy regarding what you eat - I could eat pretty much anything - but I would pay for it
I needed to eat as I lost so much weight during the first surgery. I was able to sort of modify my eating and I did not eat much during the days at work - no private bathrooms in a high school - and you can't leave your classroom, etc. I think I ate a great deal of my calories at night. You will probably be able to get all the nutrients you need without a problem - and if you do have one - you will be able to adapt and fix it. (I am assuming you are young - maybe you aren't) - but if you are, you will have youth on your side. I did have pain at times - gas would get stuck, etc. - but it was bearable - it was not "go to the hospital" pain and other people at work had migraines, or other types of pain - etc. - I tried to tell myself on some of the tough days - this too shall pass - and it did. I think you will do great! (P.S. If you do struggle - please don't do what I did as I got older - I wouldn't tell my bosses about my struggles (which were not all the time- but here and there throughout the years) - I would miss work and they really did not understand why - I was so determined to not be a complainer - and people are more open to understanding about this type of thing now than in my generation due to the internet. Also - laws are much stronger now regarding disability, etc. - not that you will need it - but my point is - there is no shame in take days off here and there if your pouch acts up at times - it's life. I was really dumb about not wanting people to know about bathroom issues. - just a thought for you- something I wish I could tell my younger self). Good luck!! Life can be awesome with the pouch!
