mnbsleeve

Ted, LOVED your song!!! I'm also on pre-op diet, sugery scheduled June 6. I'm super anxious and your song just cracked me up! Thank you! Good luck with your journey. I look forward to reading about your progress!

Hi Dogg, I don't really have any advice since I'm self pay (surgery scheduled June 6th), but I like what people are saying here. I've read lots of posts where people are initially denied but then everything comes through. So don't loose hope!!!! Stay with it and just think of it as just another hoop you need to jump. You can do it!!!!

Thank you Disney!!! Wow! Your sister's story is amazing! I'm assuming the pregnancy was a surprise! My two kids are grown up as well and it's hard to imagine a baby again ... but... how cool is that!!! :-) I mostly worry about the first couple of weeks after surgery. I fear I won't be able to get anything done, which is not good. I am prepared for a lighter load but not zero work. Each term is hefty. There just wasn't a "good time" or better time and I didn't want to keep postponing the surgery because I would have to have waited till I graduated.... then post doc stuff ...so when? I really wanted to get on with this. There's always a reason to put myself off. You know! I really appreciate you reaffirming my decsion. Thank you again and my congratulations to sis!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! What a great accomplishment!!! I hope to join you in the near future. My surgery date is set for June 6th! Keep up the good work and enjoy the fruits of your labor!

Heather!!!!! Thank you for your kind post!!!! I love the "jewels of June" :-)

What I have found helpfull is a heart rate monitor. There are lots of them out there and some very good ones for just about $40. Polar makes very good low end ones and it's all you need. You enter your stats, like age, weight, etc, and it automatically calculates your optimal range for hear rate. When you excercise it tracks your heart rate and lets you know if you are below or above and it helps keep you in that healthy burning zone. (If you're too low, speed up and if your heart rate is too high, slow down a bit). It also keeps track of the calories you burn, based on this heart rate. Just be sure to adjust the weight as you loose since it's part of the calculation. I have also heard people talk about the "body bugg" which I believe works similarly but may be more expensive. I've never used this nor know much about it. Just thought I put it out there in case some one else can comment. Good luck with your work outs! :-)

Hi folks, I've been a lurker mostly till now and I can't thank this community enough for all the information and support. I have decided to move forward with a VSG but I don't know how to work around ... well, my life!!! I work and I have recently gone back to school. I have a mandatory 1 week trip in late July, it is a conference. I must fly out of state. My surgeon can have my scheduled in about 4 weeks but I would be about 4 weeks post recovery for this trip. I am wondering of those who have gone through this, is this a realistic thing? Should I wait till after the conference. It seems like I should however, due to other simmilar constraints, if I wait, I will not be able to schedule it till about early September. Any thoughts? What have been your experiences with energy, travel, and food management at about one month out. Thank you so much in advance to this entire wonderful community! Nan

Thanks Amanda!!! Actually that's exactly what I am talking about. I am in the middle of working of some research/writing with huge deadlines, most of these deadlines unfortunately will not go away any time soon. So basically I need to be up and running as soon as possible or the alternative is to wait three to four years till I'm done with dissertation LOL! Don't really want to do that. Your post is encouraging. Sounds like you were still quite productive soon after and that after 4 weeks basically 100%. Thank you again!!! Everyone has been incredibly helpfull. I truly appreciate it. I will post here as soon as I get my date! :-)

Wow, that's great Nichelle! Thank you so much for your imput! Sounds like you had/have plenty of energy!

Thank you Bea! This is quite helpfull. I didn't even think about eating meals with others LOL! You're right though, a statement of "I'm not that hungry" followed by a small order of cottage cheese or brothy soup should cover!!! LOL Also, I can probably avoid several of the group meals since there will lots of people and they will think I've dined with an other group. I could go up to my room and have my shake etc. But thank you for bringing this up! I would not have thought about planning this aspect. I also appreciate your comments about your energy level. This is my biggest concern: that I will be pooped out and not wanting to do much. Of course, the first week or two is understandable because of healing, adapting etc. My concerns are more later. Thanks again!!!

Thank you Candace! My flight will be about 6 hours total. It's a couple of flights from California to Virginia. I really like your idea of moving around. I was concerned about not having access to any Protein drinks during this time. In fact, it will be several hours by the time I get in and am able to have anything really. (Can't really bring any shakes/drinks on plane). But it sounds like eating before hand and then when I get in should be okay! I really like your idea of moving around as soon as I can to keep the circulation going. Good thinking Candace! Thanks again!!!

THANK YOU SO MUCH. This is very helpfull. How do you find your focus and thinking?! One of my concerns is my ability to continue reading and writing and focussing on lectures. It's quite sedentary work so "fatigue" per se doesn't worry me as much. Nan