Neoteric Verve

Let's do this!

Great job, Wishes!! How is your day-to-day? I hope you had a easy go of things.

I too waited too long. Just had mine out in Aug 2010. I was dumb enough to wait until I was vomiting bile. NOT GOOD. But you have nothing to fear at all. The "lap chole" is the most routine procedure that general surgeons do. I went home the same day.

Day before the surgery (of course) Polyethylene Glycol 3350/Gatorade Colonoscopy Preparation If the patient has kidney disease or severe heart or liver disease, the patient should NOT use this preparation. <br style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "> The patient should plan to start this bowel cleansing preparation the day before the scheduled procedure. Plan to be near a bathroom from the time the preparation is started until the end of the evening. The patient’s bowels may begin to move in about thirty to sixty (30–60) minutes. Feelings of nausea and bloating are common and resolve with time. An A+D type ointment applied to the rectal area can help with any irritation in that area. The goal is for the patient’s stool to be clear or light yellow Water. Supplies: Two (2) bisacodyl tablets, which are available at any pharmacy. No prescription needed. Polyethylene glycol 3350 powder, which is available at any pharmacy. No prescription needed. Also sold under the name MiraLAX. Choice A: Buy one (1) 238-gram bottle of polyethylene glycol 3350 powder<br style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">or<br style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "> Choice B: Buy two (2) 119-gram bottles of polyethylene glycol 3350 powder Note: The 255-gram bottle of generic polyethylene glycol 3350 powder (or GlycoLax) currently requires a prescription. Be sure to get the non-prescription polyethylene glycol 3350[*]Two (2) 32-ounce bottles of Gatorade G2 (64 ounces total). It must be Gatorade G2. Do not substitute. Gatorade G2 is the only acceptable drink for mixing with the bowel preparation. Optional Supplies: A+D type ointment for rectal irritation. One day before the procedure, refer to the booklet titled “Colonoscopy: A Guide for Patients” for complete procedure information. ____ Between 12 noon and 5 pm the day before the colonoscopy, take two (2) bisacodyl tablets by mouth with water. Do not crush or chew. Do not take within one (1) hour of taking an antacid. The first bowel movement should occur one to six (1–6) hours after taking the tablets. ____ After the first bowel movement, or by 6:00 pm, for Choice A, mix one-half of a 238-gram (3/4 cup) of polyethylene glycol 3350 powder in 32 ounces of Gatorade G2. Drink this over one to two (1–2) hours. For Choice B, mix one (1) of the 119-gram bottles with 32 ounces of Gatorade G2. Drink this over one to two (1–2) hours. ____ Take the second dose the morning of your colonoscopy. To determine when to start the morning preparation, allow at least four (4) hours for the preparation, and add the driving time to the endoscopy unit. The closer this second dose of the preparation is taken to the actual procedure, the better the preparation will be! Mix the remaining one-half bottle of polyethylene glycol 3350 powder in another 32 ounces of Gatorade G2 or mix the second 119-gram bottle polyethylene glycol with 32 ounces of Gatorade G2. Drink this over one to two (1–2) hours. Take other Clear liquids between doses of the bowel preparation. Drinking at least one (1) gallon of clear liquids during the evening will improve the quality of bowel cleansing. See the colonoscopy booklet for allowed liquids. Stop drinking liquids two (2) hours before the scheduled appointment time.

AnnaChelle I wish you all the best today!

Ok. In one week from today I'll be Sleeved. I've got some concerns. What happens to my appetite? How much of it goes away? Will I REALLY feel and be full on so much less? How much of a stranglehold will I discover food had over my life? Will carbs be a formidable adversary? Some say if I'm this jittery I should postpone. I am not delaying this at all. I didn't feel any of these emotions when I had my gallbladder removed last year. I was very gung ho. I scheduled an appointment with my therapist the day before surgery. Got my time off from work. What else should I do? I got me some Gas-X strips, a heating pad, recliner, automatic blood pressure cuff and order a few compression suits. Aside from that my cupboards are stocked with broths, Soups, two 5lb tubs of Protein powder, almond milk (delicious) and Greek yogurt. Got anymore suggestions?

Thank you. I love every last one of you!!! It really alleviates a lot of anxiety to read that everyone has had some or all of my concerns. I'm so looking forward to not being the biggest man in the room in the future. As you all have said, this board is truly salvation to the frantic. I certainly do appreciate the kind words! They mean so much. VST by far is so damn great!!! I can't remember how I found you all but I'm so glad I did. The time is right. The time is now. By this time next Friday I will be Sleeved. I need this and doubt is not going to delay this. I really love all the support. My gratitude is immeasurable. I will be seeing you all on that famed "Loser's Bench" next week!

Ms Wishes, am I reading correctly in that you've dropped 40+lb since surgery on the 1st? HOLY S*** that's incredible!!! PM me and give me details...

Today is my pre-op diet day one. I am at 06:00 going through the hows any whys. I have read that this is the hardest part of the Sleeve process. I've been on clear liquid diets before but only for a day or two. Not ten days. I'm told that I can have 4 Protein shakes and a salad. Daily. The goal is minimal calories to reduce "fatty liver". Are the pre-ops usually this strict or is it surgeon-specific? Others in his (my surgeon) office say that keeping calories low is mist important not necessarily what you eat. Well I can't imagine shrinking a liver on an Atkins-style diet. Zone diet maybe but right now I just want to keep the calories way down. What has everyone's ceiling been?

Thanks everyone. And good luck, Penguin Lover. I think that I will indeed do a low carb diet up until two days out. Then switch to the clear liquids two days out. Bowel Prep day before and NPO after midnight. I am anxious!!!!

Congratulations!! How do you feel now being a little while out from surgery?

Now I've been told that so long as we maintain our Protein intake we shouldn't lose muscle mass. This is rather puzzling to me as I am currently at 45% bodyfat. All told this means I have approximately 240lb of lean body mass. I know this includes bones, organs and muscle tissue. This makes sense to me as it does take some heft to haul 400+lb around. What I am trying to wrap my mind around is losing the fat and sitting there with 240lb of lbm and say 40lb of bodyfat. I'd be healthy but I never imagined being 280lb and ok. I'm just gonna be a big guy I guess. No wonder my surgeon said 210lb is not in my cards.... Does any of this make sense to anyone? I wanted to be slim..

Now I've been told that so long as we maintain our protein intake we shouldn't lose muscle mass. This is rather puzzling to me as I am currently at 45% bodyfat. All told this means I have approximately 240lb of lean body mass. I know this includes bones, organs and muscle tissue. This makes sense to me as it does take some heft to haul 400+lb around. What I am trying to wrap my mind around is losing the fat and sitting there with 240lb of lbm and say 40lb of bodyfat. I'd be healthy but I never imagined being 280lb and ok. I'm just gonna be a big guy I guess. No wonder my surgeon said 210lb is not in my cards.... Does any of this make sense to anyone? I wanted to be slim.. Source: Lean Body Mass

Thanks for this. It just seemed illogical that I could be in shape at 280lb. I know football players are this size often. My playing days are long over and I thought I could be a "fitness guy" at around 220lb. I'm thinking long term in that at 280lb with 14% bf would I be a healthy senior citizen?

Two words sum up all of my emotions. I worry that this is not the way. I worry about what will become of my relationship. I'm worried my new body will illicit changes in me I never imagined. I worry because the procedure is irreversible. There is no turning back. I'm also worried that if I stay the way I am life will get progressively worse. I'm scared. Scared to stay where I am. Scared to move forward. The closer I get to September the more I worry in silence. I fear this unknown. I'm 36 years old and weigh over 400 pounds. I'll certainly not live a long life at 400 pounds. Not many 400 pound 80 year old men around. This should be enough to keep me focused and motivated. I am worried, nervous, constantly second-guessing this decision. I'm scared.... Source: I'm scared

I'm slated for a September Sleeve. Here's the dilemma. Fall classes begin on August 29. Should I postpone classes until Spring semester and concentrate more on adapting to life with the Sleeve or plow ahead into class? I also work three, 12-hr shifts (sometimes 4 shifts) weekly. I know work and school is a tough combination as is. But will the added factor of "Sleeve Assimilation" be too much to deal with? My philosophy is that after the fall term, I'll have a better understanding of life post-VSG. Would taking a semester off be beneficial? What are your thoughts? Deadline to drop classes is August 26.

I am on the flight deck waiting to be cleared for takeoff!!! September 23rd is not that far away.

Keep goin', Pete!!!! You and others in the pre-op phase give me hope as I start my pre-op tomorrow. Officially it starts then but I have been eating very light. Where (weight-wise) did you start at the beginning of the prep diet? You're down 30lb on the pre diet? Ferris Bueller you're my hero, LOL!!! Way to go, P!!! BRAVO!

Here's an article I found on caffeine withdrawal. Beware the perils of caffeine withdrawal Susan Todd loves her daily coffee fix. "I can drink four or five cups, easily,comfortably," said Todd, 59, of Clinton Township, Michigan. But if she skips her regular dose of caffeine, Todd warned, watch out. "I feel lousy all over. It's not that anything hurts," she explained. "I just feel sluggish, and a cup of caffeine will cure that." Todd is among the estimated 80 to 90 percent of North American adults and children who consume caffeine products every day. Experts estimate about half that number will experience headaches and other symptoms from caffeine withdrawal syndrome. There are a numberof reasons why someone might need to reduce or stop their daily caffeine intake.Experts tell pregnant women not to consume more than 200 milligrams of caffeinea day (about one 12-ounce cup of coffee). Caffeinated products are notrecommended for people who are prone to panic attacks or those who suffer fromanxiety. Some surgical patients may also experience the symptoms of caffeinewithdrawal syndrome on the day of surgery, because they are told not to eat ordrink anything. Researchers atJohns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, recognized the condition as adisorder five years ago after reviewing decades of studies. They concluded thehigher the caffeine intake, the more likely a patient was to suffer from severewithdrawal symptoms when denied the ingredient. Researchers also reported that some caffeine users considered themselves addicted to caffeine because they were unable to quit or cut down on their usage. Michael Kuhar,chief of the division of neuroscience at the Yerkes National Primate ResearchCenter at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, prefers to use the word"dependent" rather than "addicted." Even though he called caffeine a drug, Kuhar wouldn't go so far as saying it has reached the statusof cocaine or heroin. According toKuhar, caffeine is a mild stimulant. "If you take a cup of caffeine you'relikely to feel good and energized," he said. Miss that cup of"Joe" or can of cola and don't be surprised if you start feelingfunny, Kuhar warned. He said some people complain of "headache, fatigue,sleepiness, inability to focus and concentrate." Others report experiencing flu- like symptoms, irritability, depression and anxiety after skipping aslittle as one cup of coffee a day. Kuhar explainedthat caffeine blocks receptors in the brain that can dilate blood vesselscausing headaches. "Withdrawal symptoms can start from 12 to 20 hoursafter your last cup of coffee and peak about two days later and can last aboutas long as a week," Kuhar added. It is not justcoffee that can lead to caffeine withdrawal. While a 6-ounce cup of brewed coffee contains about 100 milligrams of caffeine, tea and cola have about 40milligrams each, a bar of milk chocolate has about 10 milligrams and hot chocolate has about 7 milligrams. Kuhar said that means adults as well as children may be suffering daily physiological and personality effects of caffeine withdrawal. He recommended that people who are motivated to give up caffeine, or cut back on consumption,do so very carefully. "The thing to do is what we do with so many drugs --basically you wean yourself off slowly," Kuhar suggested. "That doesn't mean it is going to be easy at every step, but it should be easier thangoing cold turkey." Johns Hopkinsresearchers also endorsed a stepped approach to quitting caffeine. Theyinstruct patients to gradually substitute decaffeinated products ornoncaffeinated products over time in order to reduce the likelihood of experiencing withdrawal symptoms. Kuhar suggested the process also can begin with reducing caffeine consumption by a half to a whole cup a day. Technology consultant ***** Spillane, 42, of St. Petersburg, Florida, started a step-down program after years of consuming up to three cups of coffee each day. He felthe was "drinking way too much caffeine." Spillane said heknew right away that he was suffering from caffeine withdrawal when he started getting severe headaches. His wife told him he was cranky most of the time. He now drinks tea instead, and occasionally sneaks a cup of coffee. Looking back, he was going through withdrawal was "tough for a while," but he's feeling better these days and he's glad he's not so dependent on caffeine.

I don't think it's so much the carbonation or stomach stretching. Caffeine stimulates hunger (albeit not as much as Ghrelin) and thus tells your body it must eat. One caveat is that the doctors office says green tea is acceptable, yet my understanding is that tea in general contains more caffeine than colas do. Go figure, I'd ask for a definitive answer.

I was told that given my past, I may be susceptible to two addictions as my body changes. Sexual and gambling. I bring this up to illustrate a point my therapist said. I became this size as a defense mechanism to compensate for the loss or nonexistence of something else. While I can't speak foe everyone I will speak for myself. I use/used food as a coping mechanism. Stress from all aspects of my life. Home, work, school, family, inlaws.... You name it there's stress involved. Food Sex Gambling All will trigger the release of endorphins to give a feeling of satisfaction that isn't being met elsewhere. People, please address the issues (if any) as to why you're the size you are. Without a viable resolution, the underlying reasons can and often do transfer to another vice. The void that food fills has to be met head on and dealt with. Food addiction is dangerous as is. There are other things out there as bad or worse. Take the time to speak with a trained therapist if possible and address the issues. When the endorphins can't be made via eating the mind will seek out any other avenues to get that "rush". Take care, VST We're here to change our bodies, now take care of your mind too! Source: My therapist said.....

I've yet to be sleeved and I was concerned about the loss of lean body mass while on a low carb, high Protein diet post surgery. Yes working out would easily stave this off but I wanted to share this article I found in case others here had similar concerns.... Ketosis and Muscle Loss Posted: 9th February 2011 by Scott One of the many fallacies that people often hear about when they first begin to hear about low carb, ketogenic or Atkins diets is that it will cause you to lose muscle. Asking these questions and getting the actual science is the most important thing you can do in your life to not be a victim of bad science. Most of our understanding about health and diet these days come from advertisers and doctors who don’t really know enough about the subject to give anyone advice. The average doctor only has 23.9 hours of nutritional training in medical school. I spent more time setting up this website and several months more just studying the science behind Ketogenic diets. When Ketosis is studied by most medical professionals it is studied as part of starvation. During starvation the body goes into ketosis and begins to use fat for energy while burning up muscle to create enough glucose to provide the energy the brain needs. This process changes over time but to sum it up, during starvation your muscle becomes a source of glucose. This IS muscle loss. Over time you will have muscle atrophy if you continue to not eat. THIS IS NOT A KETOGENIC DIET…this is a fast or you need to find some food cause you’re starving!! A Ketogenic diet is NOT a diet that causes muscle loss. Let me repeat…A KETOGENIC DIET DOES NOT CAUSE MUSCLE ATROPHY!! A Ketogenic diet is a protein sparing diet. What this means is that if you are consuming the adequate amount of protein on a ketogenic diet you do not experience muscle loss. If you are consuming enough protein in your daily diet the body will use that, instead of muscle, to create the necessary glycogen your body needs. HOLY COW SCOTT, YOU JUST ADMITTED THAT THE BODY NEEDS CARBS! YOU BETTER START SINGING THE PRAISES OF THE VEGANS AND GIVE UP ALL RATIONAL THOUGHT AND INDIVIDUALISM! No, I didn’t. There are plenty of documented societies that lived without carbs in their diet and were very healthy. The body can create what it needs for glycogen through the use of protein. But the most important part of the protein sparing is the decrease in glycogen needs in the body that occur over time. As the body adapts to the decrease in carbohydrate intake it begins to use ketones as its fuel source (1,2). This gradual adaptation occurs in the brain and in the body. Most ketogenic dieters that are involved in Crossfit have noted that adaptation took about six weeks for performance to return to normal during a High Intensity Interval workout. After six weeks their performance went through the roof according to them. Matt Lalonde, the crossfit affiliate owner and Harvard Biochemist did a 3 month Ketogenic diet and lost body fat while gaining 10 lbs of lean muscle mass. Some people love the idea of turning their fat to muscle. Problem is that this does not occur. Fat is burned as energy and the majority of muscle is made up of glutamine which is the most abundant protein in the body. Of course there are plenty of other amino acids, Vitamins, minerals and essential fats that make up new muscle. To make sure you’re not losing muscle while on a Ketogenic diet make sure you eat plenty of protein and if you are trying to build muscle make sure you increase the amount of fat you are taking in. The new cell walls will be made up of fat so bring on the BACON! 1. “Ellenberg and Rifkin’s Diabetes Mellitus: Theory and Practice 5th ed.” Ed. Daniel Porte and Robert Sherwin. Appleton and Lange, 1997.2. How metabolism affects clinical problems Medical Times (1970) 98: 106-122 .

Hi, Sandi. You are correct about ketosis. 50g of carbs will alleviate this. The only thing is that in ketosis is that you do lose more bodyfat whilst in it. I theorize that maybe one month on and one month off will be good. Need to research that more. Citracal is needed for the first month or two post surgery. As for the Vitamins, I currently take Opti-Men 2-3 times daily. Post surgery I am gonna crush them into a powder and incorporate them into my Protein shakes. But only until my stitching heals. After that I reason that I can resume normal pill form. Yes, granted the stomach is quite smaller than before but a multi isn't going to be erased from my regimine. Prevacid is PRN (as needed). Ketogenic is a term referring to a ketone based diet, hence the term "in ketosis." This is caused by the consumption of ultra low carbohydrates - under 100 grams per day for sure, but most often I think, under 30-40 grams - in order to force the body into ketosis. Ketosis is the point where there is not enough glucose to fuel the system, particularly the 100 grams or so it takes to fuel the brain, which forces the liver to produce ketones for fuel. After a period of time, between 1-4 days normally, the brain adapts to using the ketones for fuel. After a longer period of time, between 2 and 4 weeks, the body begins to efficiently use bodyfat for fuel and decreases the use of ketones to fuel the muscles.