meggiep

It is so great to have your input knowing you got to your goal. That is the main thing, right? I am mentally prepared, I think, for a stall since I have seen so many. And ladies, from here, a few weeks before the surgery- the amount you have lost in a few weeks seems AMAZING to me! Nevertheless I know it must really frustrate you so here are some giant Meggie hugs!

I love that expression "hen weekend"- can tell you are most likely from England when I hear that!

Hooray for you! That has got to feel wonderful- I love seeing the people here reach their dreams!

quote name='RHL592' timestamp='1303248903' post='139581'] I have Kaiser in N. Cal, too. I have my first consultation on May 10th and it cannot come fast enough!! So what do I do from there? I don't have to take the 12-week class? So far, I know they weigh me, I have to lose 10%, I have to schedule all the pre-op appts. (did you have to do the swallow and the sleep apnea test?) What else? Share your wealth of knowledge with me. lol It seems to me that people with conditions like PCOS that make i hard to lose weight should have a lower requirement- if you could lose the weight that easily you would not need surgery! The little devil in me thinks you could to what the manipulators on Biggest Loser do - push the Water intensely before your first weigh in so your weight is artificially high... ;-P

Well if you want to drive to Redwood City and get some- I do not lie it would be worth the trip!

Hooray for you! And yes- that is my date too! You are not alone in that eating thing- pretty common! I made a triple layer red velvet cake tonight to Celebrate all our birthdays before I start my liquid diet next Monday.... We can support each other in our journey!

It totally rung true to me when someone (maybe you?)posted in your thread about obesity that our stomachs have evolved to be this large from a time when we didn't always know where our next meal was comng from, when we had to eat a lot to hold us over, and when we also worked hard doing chores, hunting food all of it. We don't need stomachs this big, that is a fact. I really do think this surgery will become more and more common. And them maybe someday people will evolve to have smaller stomachs, naturally.

Hey girl- what part of "You are required to do these forever" don't you understand? Don't you get that checking your latest update is an intrinsic part of my day? That was what I have been mainly thinking until it turned to Uh oh-are you ok? Are you passed out on the floor with a wine glass full of vicodin in your hand? Now I have to look and see when you last posted... Oh dear oh dear oh dear... oh wait...could it be, no it could not possibly be that you , say, have a life?

The ticker tutorial: How to insert a ticker

It's almost three weeks later and I am still amazed at myself. I am not sure if I was desperate or if I was finished or if I just wanted a vacation or what. But I really did this. It was almost like I was doing something I had forgotten to do years ago. Reorganize the hall closet. Reallocate the 401K. Steamclean the couch. Get your stomach cut out. `Oh I just love those words! That is just how I have been feeling... It seems that after you are here on VST for a while it becomes the norm to have your stomach cut apart and not the exception. So glad you are starting to feel human again!

You CAN do this- it is a gift you are giving to yourself and especially to your partner and your kids. Look at it this way- you can voluntarily do this procedure in full control of it or end up in the hospital from weight related reasons at times not in your control. Request a relaxing drug to take at home before you go in-that should help! And you will find all kinds of love and support here too. We will all be behind you helping you do it.

Congratulations! WOOOOHOOOOO indeed! Hi! My surgery is 5/9 and I am in REDWOOD CITY! I would be pleased to help you any way I can and we can support each other. I have been looking for other peninsula folk so that we might have a group to meet, etc. Congratulations! WOOOOHOOOOO indeed!

And here I am not starting my liquids until the day after Easter and I have no plans on the day to torture me like you all do. It does not seem fair to you! Then I will be liquids only for my own two looooong weeks.

I totally hear you- I swear I knew more about this surgery than anyone I met with other than my surgeon. And much of it is due to VST. I have a last group nutrition class before my surgery on 5/9 and I expect it to be a yawnfest. Thank heaven they have wi fi and I can get VST on my iPad!

You know I think one of the problems for all of us is that there is no one way to respond to this surgery! Some people sail through with little pain, and are bopping around in no time- others are really lid low for a while and are much slower to move forward. Some can drink fluids etc. with o problem, others really have trouble getting the fluids in for the first few weeks or longer. However- I think fever is a warning sign and you are right to see your doctor. Just today our daily poster Crosswind was found to have a double ear infection 19 days out- she had felt wonky and had also had a low fever now and again.

And now I am laughing out loud again! Fact is with my fentany patch and 90 dilaudid a month I am the last person to seem to be snarky about vicodin!

Unfortunately I don't think it is that simple. Carbs like ice cream cake, Cookies, etc. slide right down through our sleeve rapidly and easily, leaving you hungry for more, and it will require work bot the lose enough of your excess weight and to maintain your weight loss if you do meet your goal.The fact they dissolve into liquid is the problem! The sleeve is not going to automatically guarantee that you lose weight and keep it off, unfortunately. My doctor, who has done the sleeve for nine years, says there is a window of from 18 months to 2 years for losing weight and that the people who are most likely to meet goal are those who count carbs strictly and keep their calorie intake low during that window of time. After that you have to be vigilant for the rest of your life because it is too easy to eat around the sleeve and gain weight again. Most of us have eating patterns involving emotions as as well as addiction to food and the people who know to really work the sleeve and learn how to deal with those emotions and addictions replacing them with healthy things are the ones who will maintain their weight for life. To me- and I am saying this because I care about you and everyone here- it is a warning sign to be anticipating the foods that may have helped you get to the point of needing to have drastic surgery such as the VSG. For me- I have to stay away from my trigger foods or I will soon be down the wrong path again. The sleeve is not a magic bullet that will take the wieght off because of your small stomach. Would that it was so easy!!!

OMG no wonder you have been feeling so wonky! Although my Jonesing for Crosswind post seemed to have offended everyone with my off attempt at humor, I really was worried about you as the day went on without you posting. I hope my post did not offend you I have nothing but mad love for you, I think you know that! DO your ears hurt? How very bizarre to have that happen right after a surgery that is so unknown to you that you couldn't recognize you were sick- and to have all that stuff swirling around your system while adjusting to the greater part of your stomach being gone. And now you have to mess up your stomach again with antibiotic- make sure you eat yogurt with acidophilis if you can stand to- and maybe some chicken broth would help? Do you have someone to take care of you? Aha- now the psychedelic experience at the beauty shop for the pedicure turns out to make sense as a fever dream ;-P Feel better sweetie- you should be on the med soon with the antibiotic. Kisses and hugs to you.

OH my goodness that is not what I intended- I was joking! I adore Crosswinds daily updates and was merely expressing how sad I was not to find one- and it turns out I was right to worry about her. The vicodin in the wineglass, if you have been reading her updates you would understand what I was referring to! I am sorry if I seemed offensive, I am mortified to have been interpreted in this way. I even mentioned my own presumptiveness in feeling she should put aside her own life to post for us. No rudeness intended, truly. I have nothing but love for you all.

Unfortunately my doctor would consider the GNC one a no-no as he says you need to pick one that has double digit protein grams but single digit carbs. Alas! If you want to count carbs that makes sense too. Sigh.

My doctor said to look for double digit grams protein and single digit carbs.

I myself believe the sleeve will become the surgery of choice. Aside from not thinking it great to have my intestines rearranged, I find the malabsorption aspect of the RNY really undesirable. Though removing part of your stomach is extreme, I like the fact that the route from mouth to colon is the same. That is a BIG thing to me. The lack of dumping is a big thing too- I have a lot of physical issues and I don't need that. I am the kind of person who does a lot of research before doing anything and I chose the sleeve.

Do you live near a costco? I have been told their ready to drink Protein drinks (premier) are liked by almost everyone- and they are relatively small for 30 grams of protein. The unjury of course is also highly recommended. One thing I can say- dont invest in too much of anything until you see if your taste buds change after your surgery! I have heard that is a problem. I plan to have the costco premier shakes in the main, as well as some syntax nectar ( that comes in a variety of fruity flavors). There are some great resources in the nutrition part of this board that rate the various protein powders and also make all kinds of great recommendations.

I feel for you. My friend who had the RNY and is in my water aerobics class warned me that the two weeks before is the worst of all- afterwards you are on your journey and have your sleeve to keep you from being so hungry- before you have every craving and you still have your big tummy! I start my two weeks on the 25th....not looking forward to it. Just keep your eye on the prize!

You look MAHVELOUS! I love the way you have that little hip jut action going on - feeling saucy and looking fab. don't forget to do a video ;-P