tiffnie

Congrats on your date! My surgery is on Monday the 27th!! I had my "last supper" on Friday, which was sushi, one of the only things I cannot live without Well forever anyway, I know its gonna be a long while before I can eat carbs again. But I didnt let myself feel guilty because I was very good about restricting carbs and fatty foods for about the entire month of December. EEEEK Im so nervous about my date! I feel like Im going through the motions but Im not allowing myself to get all emotional and daydream about life after VSG. Im not sure why , but I dont even feel comfortable talking about it with friends/family for too long or I start to freak out LOL. Is that unhealthy? Or does everyone go through that?

Hello, Has anyone had surgery at Scripps? Im not sure of the name of the surgeon but he's an older Japanese gentleman. I would like to know how long the hospital stay usually is, as well as when I actually need to check in. Also, are there accommodations for family? Last, is there any special pre-op diet that PB requires us to go on? I was just told by the surgeon to restrict my meals to 2 a day plus a Protein shake. Thanks!!!

Hello I am getting sleeved on Dec 27, and am starting to prepare for my post op diet. So far the only thing I really have is a sample set of Chike protein supplements. Im reading on different posts that tastes change after surgery so not to invest in one type of protein drink, so should I just gather a whole bunch of samples? Also, I would like to know if I can get some assistance in creating a kind of checklist of items that "post oppers" have used through the clear liquid, full liquid and mushy stages, as well as any good recipes or tricks that you have discovered. I am a creature of habit and I don't have much variety in my diet, but I know things are going to change A LOT so I want to be prepared with plenty of options Thanks a bunch!!

Hello! I would love to keep in email contact. Mine is tiffany.reyes@hotmail.com. Anyone wanna be Facebook buddies? facebook.com/tiffies... even though I havent exactly announced my VSG to the FB world yet

AHHHH We are getting so close!! So I did start a semi liquid diet, but I am also going though finals for my last semester of nursing school AND NCLEX review, and decided to keep my sanity for a bit longer and just go low carb and low fat. I am getting the protein shakes in for breakfast, then I keep it to soups for lunch and dinner, but not straight liquid mostly veggies and meat/fish. So I think I am in a bit of denial about how close the surgery really is. I know I need to get everything ready as far as foods for after surgery but I havent yet. Also, regarding vitamins, what are you taking for post op? I think Im going to go with the Centrum chewables, but what about the calcuim, B vitamins, etc? Are those ok in pill form? Oh happy day!! Almost there

OK So I am about 2 weeks away from my sleeve!!!! Surgeons orders are that I go on a liquid diet 2 days pre op. I see that others are told to do one 2 weeks pre-op, and I decided to go with that because I want to lose a couple more pounds and get my liver into shape. Today is day 1 and I am STARVING!! I dont know what to do, I am currently drinking a Chike strawberry Protein shake w half a banana blended in. Earlier I had some beef broth, but I cheated and had some microavable Broccoli w cheese sauce as well (not too bad on the cals). This morning for Breakfast I had plain oatmeal. So, I am realizing that I have no idea what constitutes a pre-op liquid diet. Are we talking clear, full, anything at all liquid? (Obviously I know an ice cream shake doesnt count So my question is: What guidelines am I supposed to follow pre-op? Is the diet simply to get me used to liquids? Cause I dont know how Im gonna survive these 2 weeks Thanks, Ill be getting back to my shake now

Thanks for the advice! I honestly dont know what kind of shape my liver is in. I know that I have more cholesterol then I had a year ago, I was normal then and now I am definitely into the high range. I just dont want to take any chances with the weight, I weighed myself yesterday and I was 8 lbs less than what the surgeons scale said, but it has been fluctuating every week. The thing is that I am a snacker, it almost doesnt matter what Im eating. I might do 2 shakes, maybe some broccoli etc to snack and a low cal high protein dinner. MMMM even broccoli is starting to sound delish

Congrats! You are lucky to get in at WLA Kaiser, I wanted to be sleeved there but they werent accepting new patients, so I ended up being referred to San Diego. Good luck!

Hi all, Im about a month pre op and am working on curbing my bad eating habits, etc. I got to thinking about something I was told in my Options class about people developing cross addictions after surgery. I was wondering what I would have to do to get the same feeling of comfort and security that I now get from food. I am also in the habit of rewarding myself with food, so I know that might be a problem, even though I know thats really common. I honestly couldnt think of an answer besides shopping or...shopping. I keep reading posts from people who have had VSG that they just dont crave food anymore, but that is kind of hard for me to wrap my brain around. So if you don't really want to eat, what do you do? Right now, if Im bored or have free time, my husband and I go out to eat. Then maybe we'll see a movie or walk somewhere. So my questions are: has anyone suffered from cross addiction to an unhealthy degree? Also, if that desire to eat is still there what do you do to curb it? I can see myself becoming manic trying to fill every second of my day so I don't have to think about food food food! Cause thats the way I feel now Thanks

So awesome Soon you wont even have to shop at LB or Torrid, plus size clothes can be so expensive sometimes, even though those stores have lots of cute stuff. Its just amazing all the options that we are going to have. Ive always loved the skinny jeans with calf length boots look, but my legs are way too big to pull that off...for now Also cant wait to buy my very own little black dress complete with heels...

Yes we can definitely go shopping for fabulous new clothes Ive been going to the mall and scoping out all the skinny clothes, wondering what my "style" would be if I could wear ANYTHING, the whole time thinking really, I'll be able to shop anywhere???....the possibilities are endless:D

Wow, sounds tough but you'll make it through! I will also be starting a 2 week liquid diet, its not mandatory but I want to lose a few more pounds and make sure my liver is in good shape. Right now Im starting to prepare what I need, looking around for different types of protein and basically gathering the different foods I know I will need. Good luck with your surgery!!

So you'll be treating yourself to lots and lots of nice smaller clothes Awesome idea, I think I can might use something like that for my rewards system

HA so you know that trick too LOL HEELS! Right now Im a bit of a purse collector but I think heels might be my new mini obsession. And maybe scarves, I always feel wierd now when I wear them, but when I lose my weight Im gonna rock the accessories Your hubby will probably be more than happy to have you all glammed up and looking pretty, especially when youre on his arm

Aggg Black Friday! Cyber Monday! I just keep telling myself "Next year, next year!" Mad money is a good idea, I say for every 10 lbs lost buy yourself something nice just because, no guilt! But really, theres nothing wrong with loving and appreciating our new bodies and showing them off a bit. I think the first things Im gonna buy are some nice accessories, like heels!

I agree, this is an awesome guide. I was looking for some advice as well and this completely covered it for me. My surgeons guide didn't even have half the info included in this one. I printed it out and I just keep it around, when I have nothing to do I flip through it, you can never be too prepared. Glad it helped you out and GOOD LUCK! Tiffany

I think I am a bit of a shopaholic at heart as well, but I usually stick to the safe clothes that arent too flashy. I love love to window shop but I would feel out of place wearing a lot of the fashions that I see as meant for thin people. I think that once the weight starts coming off there will be so many more options and then I might have a little bit of a problem But then again, I feel like I deserve to splurge (just a little) if it makes me feel good about my new body. I gauge my shopping by being honest with how much Im really going to use the product and if I can afford it. A lot of the time for me it is an emotional thing, so I let myself pick out everything that catches my eye, but as I continue shopping I go through things again and again and weed out the ones that don't look so nice the next time around. And I always go into a store with a rough idea of how much I am going to spend, and stick by it. I usually only end up with one or two things that I know I love.

Hello! Here is a link that I came across in another forum, it has SO MUCH info about pre and post surgery, including different meal ideas, checklists for pre and post op, tips, advice and all kinds of other stuff! http://www.northwestobesitysurgery.com/pdf/sleeve-gastrectomy-diet.pdf Good luck!

Thank you thank you for the wonderful insight!! This is exactly the advice that I was looking for, its nice to know that you are able to maintain so much control over your food/shopping addictions and turn all the energy you were putting into food into something as positive as volunteering. You truly are an inspiration Thank you I think Im going to print out your post and put it in the folder with my surgery notes BTW I love lia sophia, used to sell it but didnt have the confidence to really get out there. Maybe Ill pick it up again post op

Here's a bit of advice I found for preparing for surgery http://gastricbypasstruth.com/before-gastric-bypass-surgery/pre-gastric-bypass-surgery-checklist/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Getting your “ducks in a row” before going to the hospital can make your return home that much smoother. Here’s a checklist of the things you’ll want to have in order before you go: Take your before pictures and measurements. In the months to come you’re going to have a hard time gauging your progress. For example, my family had pictures made for a church directory about 3 months after my surgery. I was in tears when I saw the photo and couldn’t see any difference. But when I compared that photo to my “before” pic, I could really see it and felt much better.Also, the measurements are for those times that the scale stops moving. And it will. But often during those times you continue to lose inches. Knowing this can save a whole lot of sanity. Get the house really really clean. Cuz you’re not going to be able to work on it when you get back, so the cleaner you start the longer it will take to get to “disaster” stage. Get all the laundry done in advance because you won’t be lifting for at least a couple of weeks. Get help lined up. You really won’t want to be alone the first several days after surgery. And if you have children, you absolutely MUST have someone else to watch them. The first week you’ll be sleeping a lot, interrupted only by bouts of walking slowly around the couch and constantly sipping Water. Your hormones will be haywire and you’ll be very emotional. You will be in no condition to supervise children. See the page on Hell Week, and plan accordingly. Stock up on post-op supplies. Get samples of Protein powders and drinks, as your tastes will change post-op and what you like now may go to waste. Have lots of sugar-free popsicles, broth or bouillion cubes, pureed Soups with no chunks, Crystal Light or other sugar-free drink mixes, etc. You’ll also want a blender to mix Protein Drinks. Pack your hospital bag. You’ll want to take things like chapstick and slippers, but don’t bother with pretty nightgowns or robes. Women (especially if you’re “well endowed”) may want to bring a bra that closes in the front and is easy to get on. Just ask for an extra gown to drape over your back so no one sees your backside while you’re walking. Do bring: walkman/ iPod, loose clothing to wear home, and maybe your own pillow. Don’t bother to bring: books, work, etc. You really won’t have time to read. Start a journal. It will help with the brain surgery you have to perform on your self after the doc finishes with your insides. It will help you put the wild range of emotions you’re going to feel in perspective. And recording your journey will help you see later just how far you’ve come. Record some goals, both short and long term. Make them something besides “I want to lose a pound a day for the next 5 months” as that may not be realistic. But do decide where you’d like to be at the end of this journey. What weight, what level of activity, what type of life. Be sure these goals are realistic and are things that weight loss will actually impact. For example, losing weight may make you more confident, but it won’t by itself make you stop whining and complaining about life. If you have goals that weight loss alone won’t achieve, now is the time to also plan how you’ll attack them. What will you do to make them happen in your life? You’re going to be focused on improving yourself for the next year anyway, why not go all out? Savor your last moments of sanity. OK, that may be a bit strong, but the point is you’re about to embark on a very wild ride. Life as you know it is about to change. This is the time for the deep breath before the plunge. There is no such thing as being over-prepared. It’s much better to have something and not need it than to need something and not have it.

Wow Youre way ahead of me lol So Im just gonna go around picking up samples here and there, also maybe a few different types of Crystal Light or Special K w Protein, etc. I think I will invest in a full sized container of the tasteless Protein powder, I dont think that my taste buds will be THAT picky Good luck with surgery!

Hi Estrellita! I did Options at Sunset too, we might have been in the same class... I was Track 37, Monday nights. Nice to see that you are doing well

Hello! My fiancee just finished up his Options classes at Kaiser BP, and I must say you guys are so lucky to have Options there! I did Options at Sunset and it was 6 months of classes once a week; at BP I think its something like 3 months every other week The program is very insightful and helpful, just go with it 100% because they really are giving you the tools that you will need to be successful at weight loss. And FYI the surgeons are serious about you losing the weight before surgery. I didnt so much choose the sleeve as it was chosen for me. I was told by the surgeon that RNY is preferable for patients with no history of abdominal surgery and sleeve is preferable for patients with no history of GERD or acid reflux. I had a c-section 3 years ago so sleeve it is! But I do prefer the sleeve anyway, it just doesn't seem as invasive to me. As for lap band, my impression was that Kaiser really discourages it. The surgery date depends on how soon you meet the goal weight, where you choose to go, and when you finish the program. I would have had the surgery last July, but I missed one Options class so I had to wait 2 months to make it up, by that time the nearest surgery date was Dec 2009. Then I had to reschedule that because I was a full time nursing student and my school would not give me the time off needed. So finally I am scheduled for Dec 27 2010. Long story short, don't miss class, do what they need you to do, make your appointments and do your labs asap. You would probably be looking at anywhere from 2-6 months of waiting, but it flies by. GOOD LUCK!!