No Regrets but Regretful

OK so its been pretty crazy for me this past month. I feel like I haven't eaten since the day prior to surgery (so much jello, pudding, apple sauce, and water). Although I haven't been eating 90% of the time I didn't want to anyway, up until last week. I was told that when you have the surgery, the hormone that causes cravings is normally taken with your stomach (I believe it). But my nose has awaken and I'm smelling and craving everything!

I must warn whoever is reading and has done some research.....DUMPING SYNDROME IS REAL! I learned the hard way lol. The story goes, I went to a late night movie to see Black and Blue (good movie) I was in Phase II or which ever phase you can have protein shakes, well the lie I told myself was that "Oh the movie theater has shakes I'll just try theirs." Bad move. I drank probably 1/8th of the shake and 1 hour into the movie everything started rumbling. I made a bee-line for the bathroom, and well you get it. Well you don't because I never made it back to my seat, I thought I was in the clear headed back to the movie and BOOM, it hit me again. I missed a good 30 minutes of the movie and just stood by where people exit or wait for extra endings in movies. Just a warning....don't try and cheat at the movie theaters!

Good news though, I'm down 45 lbs now and my scars are healing nicely. I got some scar cream called Mederma and I apply it as often as I can and it works great. I haven't been back to work yet (on FMLA, I go back Friday) but everyone thats seen me has barely recognized me, I was even told I look taller (my 5'8 frame loved that one, and from a kid btw and they have brutal honesty). As of next week I can eat solid foods, but believe me the portion control is real. I used to eat 4 eggs, 4 bacons, grits, and 2 toast regularly for breakfast. Now I cant even eat 2 eggs with out being full. I will begin to work out like everyone else for the new year to try and get rid of my moobs (man-boobs) and love handles. I also noticed I get pretty tired easily, I guess thats due to lack off food, although I take all my vitamins and pills. I've noticed I'm quieter as well, my girlfriend asks me whats wrong alot, I guess its cause I feel different. I'm also self conscious of my stomach, I have a 2 yr old that loves to climb on me and I find myself protecting my stomach often. Well I'll update for the New Year....If your thinking of doing it, good luck and go for it, but do your research!!!

Any questions leave them and I'll try and respond when I can. Thanks for your time.

Hello so I almost didn't want to write anything but honestly if not for this forum I would not have gone through with the procedure. To start off, Im a people person that likes being to himself, so almost no one in my family new about me getting the procedure. When I told people I was going to Tijuana, Mexico they would try a talk horror stories like I'd get kidnapped for $1000, be made a drug mule, etc.....Whatever.......
To start it off, their communication was great. No translation issues, my driver Edgar picked me up from San Diego airport on Thursday November 8, 2019 and we drove straight to the condo which is physically and literally right next door to the hospital. From the airport to the condo was my most frightening moment (or so I thought).
In the condo you may share it with other patients whom will have their own room there is a kitchen and living room (common area) but i just stayed in my room and watched Netflix and chilled (it got cold at night, turn on the oven to warm the condo cold....which is what we did). Your handler comes to get you at like 730 am so don't get too comfortable. After that we were taken to the hospital, filled out some paperwork, took care of the financial issues, and shown to our new rooms (within the hospital) that we would be in until our departure.
Once in the room their gonna do blood work and multiple test to make sure your ok for the surgery and it seems like by 1pm I was on the table ready to go. Dont remember much after that, but I was back in my room on some good drugs and watching The Last Boyscout on Netflix. I had made a friend from Detroit whom was also getting the procedure (he was bigger than me) and he was up and moving right after his procedure. I thought I was just tired and once the drugs wore off I'd be walking around. I got up at like 3am to start walking my laps in the hallway. I did this 2 more times within the 24 hour period and by Sunday it was time to go. In between that time there was more blood sampling and tests and a catscan to make sure my stomach was healing properly and that there was no leakage.
Well we were on our way back to San Diego airport before noon on Sunday November 10,2019 and although walking slow, I felt fine. I had no appetite and I had my med bag and was ready to get on with my life.
So I'm flying from san diego to denver, denver to chicago to get home. I make my first leg, window seat, cool....Halfway through the flight Im super hot so I turn on the air....then I get super cold and turn it off.....5 minutes later Im sweating through my hoodie I had on. I get up to go to the bathroom and while Im waiting I can barely stand, once it opens up I rush in because nature's calling. When I stand to wash my hands the little bathroom started spinning. I literally could not leave the restroom to make it back to my seat. After a few knocks and me trying to collect myself, I just stayed in the bathroom until the plane landed then opened the door and told the flight attendant I needed help.
There was a doctor on the plane who came and took my blood pressure which was 88/50 and with my normal high blood pressure having self 150/100 I knew that couldn't be good. They called for paramedics and by that time I couldn't breathe. I was taken to UC Health in Denver (nice hospital) and told that I had internal bleeding in my stomach and would not be leaving any time soon.
They ran multiple tests, made sure my hemoglobin count was higher (because it was low) and finally let me leave on Wednesday November 13, 2019. I get back home to pissed off family members and my girl and Im back feeling ok. I go to take a shower (because I hadn't in almost a week) and it felt great. Once out the shower my stomach started leaking blood, continuously, my girl immediately calls paramedics and Im taken to a local hospital and the doctor explains to me that the blood is mainly additional blood from the inner layers of fat and skin and I was comfortable with that.
I had a doctors appointment with my primary doctor the next day (whom was also unaware of my procedure) and she informed me that when I went to TJ I had 16 pints of blood...once in Denver I only had 10. This scared me because I was uninformed by WLS of any difficulties or that I had lost soo much blood. I still haven't heard from them but its only been a week.
Right now Im still in recovery at home, Im gonna go into the office Monday and see how I feel while I wait on my FMLA approval, and Im almost complete with Phase 1 of the post op diet. I've already lost 20 lbs and I keep my compression socks on to stop blood clots as my blood count rises back up. Im also tired of sitting on my butt in the house and I dont have a appetite. My mom and girlfriend tested this hormone deficiency the other day by ordering pizza and eating it in my face.....thanks mom.....but so far since being back home so good. I just wanted to share and hopefully I didnt deter anyone because I do believe its worth it and I look forward to this lifestyle change.....I'll post pix as well but not many. Thanks for your time.