Thanks to everyone for participating in this thread. I just read it because that's where I am. I, too, have Dr. Shen and saw him for the first time this week. (My fourth GI at CCF.)
He spent most of the time scaring the living shit out of me with dire warnings including the lifting. I've never been a power lifter, but there is nothing like weight training to feel better. I am only seven months from the takedown.
Most discouraging is there isn't a consistent message throughout. Surgeon says one thing, another GI says something else... It would be nice to have something more definite than, "you're going to rupture your pouch, good luck."
