What that means is: a major surgical procedure wherein my stomach is sectioned and an arm of my small intestine is attached in such a way that a fair portion of my duodenum is bypassed. The result is a much smaller stomach pouch, and the decreased length of the small intestine allows less time for absorption.
Surgically enhanced, as they say.
I'll eventually be able to eat the same things I do now, only in drastically reduced amounts. In the interim, a prescribed diet of mostly soft foods while the stomach heals.
The interim consists of the surgery, when it's scheduled, followed by 5-7 days in hospital, depending on how rapidly recovery procedes. Then an additional 4-6 weeks off work, the first portion of which I will be spending with my mother in Bremerton. [Chris Conner has graciously consented to cat-sit during this period, a thousand thousand praises on his head.]
Drastic, yes. A primary coping mechanism is for me to think of it as a really major body modification.
Anyone who wishes to visit me in the hospital or in Bremerton will be heartilly welcomed. Email me and I'll make sure you get the info on when and where I will be when the schedule is finalized.
Don't email me to try and talk me out of this. It wastes your time and annoys the pig.