lizzyshade

Congrats on your choice! I hope I have the strength to make it myself. How awesome to be able to say you have lost 57lbs! A great example, Thanks

What a journey so far, started 01/09/12 with a sleep study and has progressed to today where I am on my 13th day of liquid only diet.To date I have had a sleep study, 1st medical consult, nutrition visit, physical therapy class, blood work, more blood work, psych personality profile (568 questionnaire), psychiatric consult with profile results, weekly personal therapy for food behavior modification and food as an addiction, 1st surgery consult, hematology consult, and an endoscopy 05/10. Tomorrow I have a pre-op class, then Tues. 05/15 my 2nd and hopefully final surgical consult. Surgery is scheduled for Tues. 05/22/12... only 8 days to go! I am supposed to lose 20lbs by the 22nd and so far I am down 10lbs. My only nutrition being fat free milk with protein powder and water. Today was the most challenging, being Mother's Day and the meals that usually involved. Substituted dinner out with Starbucks skinny decaf sugar-free iced late, so still felt like a treat, but not the same. Hope that gets easier. I'm have so many mixed emotions that seem to be on a roller coaster at any given time. I'm so excited, then have doubts, can't wait, then scared, picturing half of me, then worried I will go through this and fail...ect. Thankfully this forum has given me a place to read that other's are or have experienced this same thing, so I don't feel so alone. My family have all expressed their concerns and made sure to tell me I am and will be loved even if I don't' do this and lose weight. My husband has been my biggest champion even though he is nervous about it all. It's nice to know that even if I stayed the same he thinks I'm beautiful and loves me, for me. I'm so thankful to have such wonderful support. I'm also thankful to my forever friend Heather who has shared my weight struggle and beat hers with the sleeve a year and a half ago. What a great example and mentor during this process. When I have doubt's I think of her and know I am making the right choice. Welcome to my sleeve journey!

Thank you for your encouragement and advice. I did purchase small containers and utensils. I know I will have to be very careful with portion control, since that is part of why I am here. I will try to remember the line, "nothing tastes better than being thin."

Spent 2 hours at a Pre-Op surgery class today. A lot of information given regarding what to expect during surgery, hospital stay, and the post-op diet. It will be 2 weeks of liquids, 2 weeks of puree, and 2 weeks of soft food then I will progress to a normal high protein, veggie/fruit diet for life. Carbs and sugar foods will be a rare treat if I can even tolerate them at all. This two weeks on liquid only has made it very apparent that much of the time my husband and I spend together is spent out to eat or getting food to prepare and eating. There is a sadness to leave the old routine behind that is hard to explain. I know it will be worth it, but there is a sense of loss that not only I am dealing with, but also my husband. He's been very supportive, but has said he wishes I would wake up on surgery date and just change my mind not to go through with it. I need to do this for me, for so many reasons, and I hope one day my family will be happy that I did. 7 days to go!

I'm so excited for you! Self discovery is an ever evolving process that I am also working on. My surgery is in 8 days and the emotions are crazy. You'd think after all we've been through to get to this point it would be easier, but it's not. I can't wait to follow your progress with you, a stranger, but a cheerleader in the background. Here's to our success!

Thank you for the information. I have been worried about the pureed part of the diet coming up. Now I have some good ideas, Thanks.

Yes, Tuesday 22nd, so excited!

Thank you. I have a blood disorder & splenectomy so I am a risk too. Nice to read you are doing so well. It's scary, but feeling stronger today.

Ending day 5 on liquid only diet. Feeling full but kind a week. I added protein powder and that has helped but I have 16 days to go. I'm having all kinds of doubts. I'm scared, feeling like a failure because I couldn't beat my weight on my own. Scared because my kids and husband told me they will support me, but wish I wouldn't go through with it. I have felt so determined up to this point, but now my mind is riddled with all kinds of scenarios and doubts about the long term effects of this choice. I have so many reasons for wanting to be thinner and healthier, but I'm nervous my new body will still not be enough. I'll look good in my clothes but not with them off and that is part of the reason I want to do this. I want to feel more comfortable in my skin and with my husband. I want to fit in seat-belts, movie seats, and restaurant booths comfortably. I want to buy clothes at a regular store and feel attractive. I don't want diabetes and HTN. But today the wants have not outweighed my fears. Anyone else feel as confused at this point as I am?

I can't thank you all enough for your comments of encouragement! I really needed to some positive feedback. I am more emotional than normal it seems. I will continue on, I know I need to do this. Again, thank you for your support!

Mine is schedule for Thurs. the 10th. I'm nervous too. My daughter had one and her throat hurt for days. I have to work the next day and can't afford to take any more time off since surgery is scheduled for the 22nd. Those of you that already had it done, were you able to work fine the next day?

Day 4 on milk pre-op diet. Feeling a little weak. Added a scoop of protein powder today. This has been an eye opener to my relationship with food.

I finally have a surgery date: May 22! Milk diet starts in the morning. I need to lose 20lb by 5/16. I think I am as nervous as I am excited.

I may not be able to have the sleeve done orthoscopically. How much longer is the recovery rate?

Sending positive energy your way!

Thanks, everything helps!

Sorry this was not a quick reply. I hope you are feeling better by now. Hypoglycemia can be serious, so please call you doctor if you are still not feeling well. I'm praying you are OK tonight!

In regards to having your period during surgery: If you are on a birth control pill talk with your doctor about taking the pill through your Pre-surgical time straight through your post surgical recovery time to avoid the whole thing all together. If you are not on the pill you could also plan ahead and get on it for a couple of months to avoid the period worry all together. Seasonale is an example of a bcp that is packaged with 84 active and seven inactive tablets so you only have a period quarterly (every 4 months).

Thank you for this topic! I have made a list of what I will need and am really glad about the small firm pillow suggestion. I used one with anther surgery and it really helped. Thank you again!

This a a great thread! Thank you for being brave enough to address binge eating. I'm worried about having food cravings that I can't satisfy after surgery. I started counseling recently for behavior modification to address the unhealthy eating habits and events in my life that have led to my weight gain. Surgery is such a drastic measure that I want to be sure I will be able to keep it off. I'm so scared, but so excited too!