lkcraig316

Thanks so much for the list. Since I probably won't remember who is next after me, I am going to send a prayer up right now for everybody on the list so far!

Congratulations to you! I'm so glad the surgery went well for you. Take care!

Start my 24 hour clears only. I cannot believe I am going to say this but I will really miss my protein shakes today. And nerves are starting to show up. This time tomorrow I will be in the holding room getting ready for my new start. When I started this process I guess I never fully believed it would really happen.

I will be fine until I go to the holding room. With all the other surgeries I've had, that's when I start to lose it. I hope they will give me something to relax me--especially if I have to wait in there very long. I think I can have two family members in there with me, so that will help. I'm planning on staying very busy this weekend so it doesn't just drag by. I thought my oldest daughter wasn't going to be able to be in town for the surgery; her car got trashed (windshield included) during a hailstorm in Knoxville Wednesday night. But fortunately she has found a ride home. YAY!!! Between classes and her job up there, I don't get to see her a whole lot so it was very important for her to be there.

One and a half days of Protein shakes, one day of clears and then SURGERY! I am so ready. I'm sure I will be a nervous wreck in the holding room, but I'm hoping for a little chemical help with that. I have lost about 15 pounds since I started the liquid diet. According to my scale this morning I lost 7 pounds in 24 hours, which is very hard to believe. I have done very well after the first two days, but I have noticed yesterday that my energy level has started to bottom out. I can see why they only do this for two weeks. Your body couldn't handle it for much longer. After the first couple days I also got to where I could see and smell food without it bothering me. TMI, but all the protein is giving me constipation. I'm going, but it's not too pleasant. I think I'm plenty hydrated because my urine is almost clear. I guess it's just the change in what I usually eat. My stomach hurts too. Not badly just kind of annoyingly. I figure if I can survive these two weeks with my large, insanely stretched stomach, I should be able to handle it fine for a couple of weeks after surgery. On week 3 I can at least start pureeing some Soups and stuff to get a flavor other than "sickly sweet." It's really great to have all this support here and to have so many people going through EXACTLY what I am right now.

I have been drinking these for my 2-week pre-op diet. It took about three days before I got used to them, but now I actually look forward to my Slimfast. I looked at the Slimfast High Protein but they had a ridiculous amount of carbs in them. The Low Carb actually has MORE protein than the High Protein version. I haven't tried the vanilla. I get mine at Sam's in the 15-pack.

I just looked at my post again and realize that I said, "Please do give up." I DIDN'T MEAN THAT!!!! I meant, "Please DON'T give up." I hope everybody knows that's what I meant.

It DOES get better. I started feeling better after the third day. The first couple days I had a horrible headache and my brain felt like it was in a fog. All I wanted to do when I came home from work was lay around like a zombie. I will warn you that if you work during the week, the weekends are hard. I think it's because I sleep different times and my schedule is all off from what I do Monday-Friday. So my suggestion would be to stay on as much of a schedule over the weekend as you can. As for the hunger, I am on Day 10 and I'm STILL hungry. But the difference now is that the feeling doesn't consume me. I eat a little pack of sugar free Jello or a sf popsicle and it makes me feel better. And the Protein shakes are satisfying me more. Please do give up. It will be over soon and then the best part begins!!!

Congratulations on a successful surgery! You are well on your way with your weight loss so far.

I had to be catherized at my OB-GYN office when they were testing to see if my bladder was emptying all the way. (Oh, the joys of having had children and reaching pre-menopausal age!) So I was awake when they put it in and took it out and, although I could feel it "coming and going" it was really more of just an uncomfortable sensation. If you know they are coming to take it out, USE YOUR PUMP! Then you won't care one way or the other.

Thanks for the reminder of the lip balm! VERY important product. I went to my surgeon's office's sleeve support group meeting tonight and it was so great. Everybody is so happy with their sleeve, even those who are not very far out and still having pain and sick of thin liquids. I met a lady there who is having her surgery the day after me, so we are going to look for each other in the hall when we're doing our walking. I haven't been doing any exercise because of my bad knee arthritis, but I did get cortisone injections last week so I should be good to go by surgery day. With the weight I've lost since I began my three month prep (about 20 pounds) I am already feeling lighter and walking easier. WE ARE ALL SO CLOSE!!! We may all be miserable a week from today, but let's just look forward to the week or so after that and how much better we will start to feel.

Good luck, good luck, good luck! Please drop in and let us know how you are doing when you feel like it.

I was going to take pajamas, but after hearing what other people say I think I'll just take a robe and slippers. They have wireless internet there, so I plan on taking my Nook so I can read and check my Facebook, email and this site if I feel like it. I figured I might not sleep well at night. I have lost 20 total pounds since I started the process in January. I have Aetna and it required a three month program before I could be approved for the surgery. I think I've probably lost 7-10 on the pre-op diet. I even thought to myself, if I can lose this much on my own, do I really need the surgery. But then I realize I cannot eat the rest of my life like I have been eating these two weeks. I would be miserable. And the temptation to fill my tummy would eventually win. Don't worry too much about cheating. I think a lot of people do. I thought about just doing one more meal, but I realize that I am the kind of person that would turn that into one more dinner, one more lunch, one more Breakfast. Better to stay away from it completely.

We'll be waiting for you, Kelly!

My preop diet was one week of 2 Protein shakes per day, plus one Lean Cuisine or low-carb/high protein meal. I could have unlimited sf popsicles, Jello, broth, etc. Week 2 (which I'm on now) is 4 protein shakes per day and no "food" meals. Yes, I have been hungry. The first couple of days were the worst and then this weekend was bad. I think the weekend was bad because I was off my regular work routine. Plus I was with family on Easter and that meant lots of food around. I did, however, skip my Lean Cuisine on Sunday and had 6 oz. of ham and 1/2 of green Beans, which still fell in my requirements.

I'm May 2, too!!! I am feeling all the same things you are. Where is your surgery? Mine is at Baptist Hospital in Nashville, TN. I have to be there at 7:30 and I think the surgery is around 9:00 or so. How long do you have to stay? They told me to expect two nights. How have you done with the pre-op diet? I haven't cheated, but I have dreams every night that I eat something horrible for me and then feel so guilty. But then when I wake up, I just keep chugging along. What all are you taking to the hospital? Sorry to bombard you with questions, but you are the first person I've seen on here who has the same date as me.

I'm on Day 9 of my pre-op diet and I am using the Low Carb Slimfast ready to drink shakes. They have 20 grams of protein and only 2 net grams of carbs. They're perfect for work as I can just pop them out of the fridge when it's time for one. I've only tried the creamy chocolate flavor. I am allowed either the Low Carb or High Protein, but the high protein only has 15 grams of protein and 20-something grams of carbs. Good luck!

Six days before sleeving and I'm thinking of a million questions . . . After surgery, how long until your stomach feels healed enough to wear "regular" (non-elasticized) pants? I only have a couple pair of sweatpants with elastic and one pair of shorts with elastic. Should I buy a few more pairs or are you comfortable enough in regular pants pretty quickly. Did you put on pajamas in the hospital, or just go with the hospital gown and a robe? Makeup?

You'll do fine. It is pretty gross, but it's over fairly quickly. At one point, I did tell the radiologist that I was gagging and he didn't make me drink anymore. They found a hiatal hernia, so it's a good thing that you are having the test. That way if you do have something like that, your surgeon will know ahead of time and can repair it while he is in there. This test just puts you one step closer to the new you!

MaeConnie68, Good luck today! meggieP--I hear you about the stomach size. Mine is letting me know LOUDLY that it is not being sufficiently filled to what I usually do. I just hope at church tomorrow it will be nice and quiet.

Do the horrible stomach gurgling sounds stay the entire two weeks? It has been really bad the past couple of days. And it's so LOUD! I guess this is just practice for after surgery. On the bright side, my wedding ring is now sliding all around my finger. I guess I'm going to have to take it off and put it somewhere safe until my weight stabilizes down the road. I'm afraid right now I'm going to lose it. Anybody else cold? I have been wearing a jacket in the office this week and I wonder if it's because of lack of calories or just my wacky hormones. Stay strong this weekend. Avoid all the gastronomical delights of Easter!

I am on day 4, and while the headache and tiredness have gotten some better, the hunger is still there. I work in a doctor's office and we have had reps bring lunch two days in a row. My cube is diagonal from the kitchen and it has been SO HARD. I'm trying really hard not to be grumpy and miserable at work. People are being so supportive that I don't want to be mean. By the time I get home from work in the afternoons, I am ready to put on my pjs and get in bed. And this week I actually get one Lean Cuisine a day. Next week just four protein shakes. I dread that! We can do it, though!!! Every one of us! Think of the payoff in the end.

I also host our Easter family dinner, and this year I cancelled. I will be on Day 7 of my pre-op diet and I was afraid I wouldn't have the energy or desire to go all out for a big family dinner. So my mom, thinking that it's heresy to NOT have Easter dinner, is having it at her house. I will go and take my Lean Cuisine (my last day of that before a week of ONLY liquids) and she is making decaf tea sweetened with Splenda. I'm hoping by Day 7 I will be past the headache and lethargy and not a complete grouch. We can all do this!!! I am so determined not to cheat so that my liver will be picture perfect by surgery date. Let's just all keep each other encouraged for these two weeks!

MeMeMEEE, my daughter (20) worked at Aerie for a year before the mall flooded (we live in Nashville). She spent all her money there and I just thought it was all the cutest stuff'! I hadn't even thought about being able to shop there for myself. Is it weird that I'm excited about buying panties that do NOT come in a 6-pack????? My husband was concerned about how much money I would have to spend on all new clothes once I lost the weight. I explained that it would still probably be cheaper than what I'm spending now at Lane Bryant. I can shop sales, clearance racks, discount stores, consignment instead of always having to buy full-price stuff at the "big ladies" specialty stores.