LoserMama

I am on day 1 of liquid diet and this is basically what I did too, with a last night at Tucanos, a brazilian grilled meat type restaurant, so even that while I ate a bit more than I should it was low carb -- all meat and cheese except two tiny cheese bread ball things.

Me too, I just had my first protein shake for breakfast. I get sleeved next Wednesday, so surreal to me. And I have the same kind of experience with polar reactions -- mom thinks I'm crazy and ending my life next week. Friends and hubby very supportive, and in fact has decided he wants to eat like I do as much as possible to be supportive, he's such a great guy. I didn't ask for that, that's just the way he is. Congrats to all who have been sleeve and happy healing. Babigirl, haven't heard from you sicne being sleeved are you ok?

I am in the odd situation of working from home for a large company. I do go into an office occasionally, but the people I see I don't actually work with. its weird.So I've told two people I work with, but most don't know and won't need to know, because they've never seen me in real life, so by the time I ever meet them, all they will ever know is what i look like at that point. The other people who have seen me, it will probably be enough time that I can just simply say "I lost weight."

The questions I have on my list (not that these will be your concern) that I didn't ask him at my last visit because it was so early in the process... are: Can i have my gallbladder removed at the same time? (can any tests be done pre-op to evaluate current gallbladder health prior to surgery?) How do you close the stomach? Staples only or are there stitches too? What size will my new stomach be (bougie size)? Do you ever progress patients to full liquids faster (my nutritionist plan says a week to 10 days of Clear Liquids.) if you see any other issues (like hiatal hernia) when you go in, will you correct this at the same time? Since you will be gone after my surgery, what will happen if there are issues, who will do rounds and discharge me? (this is definitely unique to my situation) is it possible for me to be early in the day? What kind of drains will be used? will they be left in and if so, when do they get removed after surgery? Will it be okay for me to be traveling at 3 weeks post surgery? I've heard I could be in the hospital 1 or 2 nights, what is typical?

Yes, the isopure zero is super good, I hope I like it after surgery. It tastes kind of like weak koolaid. and none of that weird whey aftertaste. it does have an aftertaste, but liveable and nothign like the shakes.

this is great, so great to hear an update of a real meal out "from the other side." Thanks!

I know what you mean! I liken it to buying a house or having a baby, this is a major life change, and in my life, I've had some of those major life changes not work out like I hoped so I am overcautious. In this case, it literally, truly, isn't over until the fat lady sings. LOL. I'm not telling many people for fear something happens and I don't have surgery, and I'm scheduled for next week. I'm worried about having the surgery (what if something happens?) and worried I'll have complications or worry I'll be the one text book case for whom sleeve has no effect. We'll get through it.

I haven't yet been sleeved, but as a person who has need accommodations for refrigeration for meds and breastmilk for many years, and I travel a lot, I have yet to have a hotel that wasn't able to accommodate my need for a fridge. So that part should be helpful. Like you, i expect to be traveling within 3-4 weeks after surgery, so I am planning on ensuring I have a fridge and microwave in my room, and either using grocery delivery service to bring some basics to my hotel when I've arrived, pack a few non perishable things that can travel. If you wanted, you could pack perishable stuff ina cooler with ice and put it through security too. I used to do this with breastmilk to get the milk I'd pumped home safely. You could do that with perishable foods as well, since it goes through security, they let it through. looks like you could take Protein drinks on, too -- have a prescription for medical liquids if you wanted to bring RTD Protein Drinks, but I don't plan on trying it, too much hassle. (see in this PDF the bit about nutrition drinks) http://www.tsa.gov/assets/pdf/special_needs_memo.pdf

Major healing vibes to all of the December Sleevers already sleeved. Its really starting to be real. I have all of my shakes and drinks and jellos from costco now for my preop. I understand that I may have bought stuff that my stomach/taste buds won't like after surgery, but I wanted to have enough on hand to get me through without having to go shopping. I have two cases of isopure zero carb clear drink, a box of new whey protein bullets (12), two cases of costco protein shakes, as well as unjury chicken soup, unjury unflavored, body fortress chocolate, target vanilla and a bunch of samples from vitalady, nectar, and click. Hoping something in that mix will appeal post-op and if none of it does, well, then, at some point maybe they will get used. I had a birthday party for two of my kids on Saturday night and made the mistake of mentioning to family that I was pleased that I had dropped two clothing sizes in this three month period. And of course that started them in on the "you don't really need surgery, just keep doing what you are doing." Its hard hearing that because there is a part of me that thinks it too, but I just think ultimately I would go back to my old ways without something to reinforce me, like the sleeve, to really let good habits develop and tehn get back to a normal size which will hopefully help to have the desire to want to maintain and sculpt my new body. My mother thinks its unfathomable that I needed to lose about 130 lbs from where I was to where I need to be to get to the top of the range for BMI. She says "well, that must be to get you to be skinny like a supermodel, don't be unrealistic" and I have to tell her that 150 lbs at 5'7" is nowhere near "skinny"...man, when I got married, I weighed 130! (and thought I was fat!) Anyway....definitely not a supportive mom. She's 80 and convinced I am going to die in surgery or live an unhappy life afterwards becasue I can't eat whatever I want. Sigh. Glad hubby and friends are supportive.

Yay FavoredOne, you and me next week! (And many others I know! Exciting! Ela2012, I hope you are able to get the dec 28 date but Jan 3 is coming quite quickly too!! Man, though, couldn't they give you a better idea to confirm so you don't have to do the pre-op liquid for any longer than necessary? Eeks! my big long pre-op class at the hospital is this wednesday. Kinda excited (what a nerd!)

Man, i want to print out this whole list. many of mine are repeats, but: 1. I want to fit in an airplane seat comfortably without an extender. 2. I want to be able to not feel like i need to use the handicapped stall in the bathroom to have enough room. 3. I want hygiene to be easier. 4. I want to chafe less if I'm really active. 5. I want to be able to go skiing with my kids (we live 30 minutes from the slopes, haven't skiied since I was a teenager) 6. I want to be confident I can fit on amusement park rides. 7. I don't want to worry about whether a booth will be too tight. 8. I want to stop needing to use a CPAP. 9. I would like my diabetes to be gone, and get rid of all my assorted diabetes stuff. 10. I would like to not always look for shoes I can slip on. 11. I would like to be able to easily paint my toenails. 12. I want to have energy to play with all my kids. 13. I want to buy lingerie at victorias secret. 14. i want my original wedding rings to fit again. 15. I would like to run a 5k. 16. I would like to join a dance class. 17. At church, I would like to be able to kneel properly without leaning back on the seat. 18. I would like my furniture and bed not to have sagging where I sit or lay.

Congrats, that is awesome!

LMAO --amen to that I can't quite imagine that, though. I didn't feel "pretty" when at a normal weight, so I don't think I'm going to get a lot of attention even if at a normal weight.

I'll have to pick up the jay robb, too, but I have to say, the isopure zero carb ROCKS the house. I picked up a couple at vitaminshoppe, and they were great, so I ordered a case of orange and grape from bodybuilding.com (right here in my own home town) as well as a smaller pack of the alpine punch to try it. I also got a 12 pack of the new whey protein bullets, figure I might be able to get those down in the early days easier since there is less volume but more protein. Those seem to have less of the whey/protein shake feel/taste/smell.

How do you get yourself past the smell and aftertaste of the powders? I am a little over a month from surgery, but had my big post-op nutrition counseling session, and got several samples of things from the dietician and also went down the pharmacy and picked up some additionals. I have some stuff I purchased in the pantry early on --body fortress brand from walmart, I think, and the target brand as well. both are just meh. I tried the nectar strawberry kiwi today, and it tastes ok, but the smell, even with a shaker cup with a lid, just is awful, and the aftertaste...bleah. Does this get easier with time, just get used to it?

I would like to have my husband stay home with me the first week or so post surgery, we have 4 kids, 2 of whom are small (4 and 2) and I'll need his help for me and for them I think at least that first week. His workplace says he has to fill out FMLA paperwork for that purpose. Do you think my doctor will sign off on something for him? Does anyone have experience with something like this? I am wondering if they are going to think I'm crazy for requesting that :)

OMG, its december, people! And our first people are coming out of surgery--congrats newgirlie! Oh my, that is quite a journey to be sleeved -- will you stay in Mumbai a while after surgery before you take the long trip back?

Funny the variation. My doc's assistant told me at my BMI and with sleeve I shouldn't have to do a pre-op diet, but when I went for my appointment with the dietician, she gave me one -- boooo!

Cool Rick, thanks for sharing your experience. Was hoping to hear doc would sign off on something like that. Thanks all!

So, here is an off shoot question. my hubby wants to be supportive of me and eat as I do as much as he can during pre/post-op. he doesn't have much weight to lose, maybe 20-25 lbs at most. if he takes my bariatric vitamins and does a modified version of the full liquid diet, would it be harmful to him if he does that for, well, i guess it would be a total of 4 weeks if he does it as long as I do. I appreciate he wants to be supportive, but I don't want him to get sick. He rarely eats more than one meal a day anyway. Probably not the best way to do things, either.

I am planning on two weeks, I work from home and have some flexibility if i need to extend it or arrange my day to fit in a nap, so that is my plan. What kind of work do you do? Maybe the doc suggested that based on your type of work?

That was beautiful and very complete, thank you.

I wish I could have thin oatmeal or cream of wheat! I was told I can't have either in the whole post-op 3 months...I actually quite like those, the nut said those get gummy. I think I must have the most restrictive program out there, from what I am reading :) Funny too, because the surgeons PA, who I've seen for the supervised diet visits for the last 3 months told me I wouldn't even have a pre-op liquid diet required, and that I'd have shorter periods for the various post-op phases because its sleeve, but the dietician seems to be pretty conservative.

See, I want to ask my doc to do this, because I don't want to have to mess with another surgery in three or four months. That was on my question for my pre-op visit a week before surgery, so I am going to ask if they can do that ultrasound to check it out. I'd love to kill two birds with one stone (no pun intended) Any downside to having it removed?

reading this, makes me feel like our pre-op and post-op period is like our version of rehab....ouch. I start on 12/14, I only have a week preop, but I have 4 weeks of liquid only post op ;(