MinaT

Congrats Zoobdude and Janedeaux3, I added you both to the June Sleevers Compilation list located at http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/39508-june-sleevers-compilation-good-luck-well-wishes/

What an awesome experience and thank you so much for sharing it with us. The closer I get to surgery the more I need reassuring and comforting stories to keep my mind balanced. I understand all the risks, I understand there are complications, I understand that it's not easy and I may be one that has complications, I am so aware of them and am going into this with wide eyes, but hearing positive and uplifting stories that some day things will be better, makes me so happy. I hope you have a great NSV every day!!!

Congrats on the surgery date!!! June 4th here, pre-op shakes are getting easier to deal with, and I'm excited too! There are quite a few of us in June and a lot on June 4th. I made a list of all June Sleevers called June Sleevers Compilation - Good Luck & Well Wishes located at http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/39508-june-sleevers-compilation-good-luck-well-wishes/ Good Luck to you Underconstruction!!! Three days from today, keep us posted on how you are doing!!!! MsInzee, good luck to you and Ih ope you get a date soon!

Egg drop soup is a great idea, Tuesday is almost here and hopefully you can get in to the doctors and they can come up with some solution. Still in my prayers.

Welcome Holycow1234, added you to the June Sleever's Compilation list of all June sleevers located http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/39508-june-sleevers-compilation-good-luck-well-wishes/

I agree with following your Dr.'s advice, but common sense says having caffeine which is a diuretic after surgery is probably not a good idea. I may end up drinking if I can tolerate down the road, but I'm thinking I've done it this long, why start back up.

I love it hearing when someone is doing great!! Way to go and congrats!

No caffeine!!! Geaux, seriously no Caffeine, I about died when I heard that roflmao! One thing with Myfitnesspal.com since you know how it works. If I followed their suggestion for Protein, Carbs, sodium and calories I would end up gaining weight! Almost all doctors recommend the same thing with gastric sleeve and that's 80 grams of protein, 45-75 of carbohydrates and try to stay at 800-1200 calories a day (if you exercise and it tells you to add more calories and it says your aren't eating enough) ignore it. I quit doing Desserts like yogurt etc. and I started incorporating Peanut Butter on a teaspoon. I always ate my meat first, chew like 20 times and then go for your vegetables second, then and only then eat your carbs. Also, you have to learn not to drink with your dinner. I was a "choker" especially when I went out to eat. Something about eating in public, I always end up choking on my food and I am used to drinking Water with my meal. I learned that about an hour before dinner if I drank something hot like hot peppermint decaff tea I would be less hungry. I learned once I took away my drink with dinner, I chewed slower and chewed more thoroughly. I learned to wait at least 1/2 hour after I eat to then drink my water. These are all suggestions that were given to me in my packet and I spent 6 months practicing them. Not all doctors are that thorough, but it's worked for me when other things haven't. The reason for no caffeine is that it promotes stomach ulcers and more importantly, it causes dehydration. After surgery it's a struggle to get all your Fluid intake in and your liquid Protein in. Dehydration is a real problem. It's easier to quit caffeine before surgery than right after surgery because most people have withdrawals and headaches. I waited until I got approved to quit, so I had time to get used to it before I started on pre-op shake. Surgery is a week from tomorrow. A bit tired of drinking protein shakes and I decided not to have a big Memorial Bash because truthfully it would be hard having a huge party while on protein shakes, but my parents are going to swing by tomorrow to do some wii bowling. Good luck to you and can't wait to hear how your plan is going to go. All bariatric centers are different, mine seems to be one of the strictest compared to most. After surgery 2 weeks of Clear liquids, then 4-6 of full liquids then pureed, then soft, then regular. With pre-op diet, that's 10 weeks of no real solids.

sleep apnea, high blood pressure and pre-diabetic after having gestational diabetes is three comorbidities. The GERD isn't considered a comorbidity and actually after the sleeve it could exacerbate it if you eat the wrong things, so this is something you will need to know up front. The doctor can shoot off another quick letter relisting the the sleep apnea documentation and they can again reiterate there are 3 real comorbidities and it should be an easy decision. If not you are allowed to appeal and the office can get it right the second go round. Best of Luck and I hope you hear back soon.

Hey, today is about over somewhere, so really it is only 4 more days!!! How nice your Mom is coming to stay with you!! That will be helpful. I understand how hard it is when a husband changes jobs, but it's for a better job and in the long run it's worth it! My first time I went to a bariatric clinic and did the intake and had the psych eval and my husband lost his job, I ended up quitting the program. He's switched jobs several times over the past few years and he's finally settled. Luckily he will be able to take surgery day off on Monday, Tues & Wed. he's going to work 1/2 days and I'm suppose to come home Thursday so he took Thursday & Friday off. My son has one more week of school left and he'll be off for a month before 2nd semester of summer college starts, so I'm grateful. Good luck with the cleaning, I'm going to make myself a delicious cup of strawberry New Direction (Elmer's Glue) and then do the gazelle again.

I normally drink Pure Protein 100% whey Protein Frosty chocolate. I have had that for Breakfast every day for the past six months and even my son who is in college likes it. I have read one poster say they didn't like it, but everyone has different taste. I pop a scoop in my magic bullet, add skim milk and ice cubes and it's delicious, cold and chocolaty. Unfortunately, the surgeon gave us 42 packages of New Direction shakes and to me they are sticky tasting and since I'm in ketosis with no food just these shakes I feel like I'm drinking Chocolate flavored elmers glue. I miss my Pure Protein. You can buy it from Target in a big jug. After surgery most people have to be on clear fluids and my surgeon recommends Isopure which you can purchase from GNC. It has 40 grams of protein there's berry flavored, grape, ice tea with lemon (tastes like wheat grass) and admittedly they aren't the best tasting. I have mandatory two weeks of clear liquids. I'll probably purchase unflavored 100% Whey Protein Isolate and mix in chicken broth to get more protein in too. I can't wait until the full liquid phase so I can get back to the Pure Protein or Muscle Milk, which tastes better than the new Direction. Walmart has different types too EAS etc. make sure it says 100% Whey Protein Isolate on it. Good luck to you, and oh gosh, what a time for Aunt to visit, but better now than during surgery!

I have severe edema problems and I have had it on and off my entire life, even when I was at not overweight. My feet and hands would swell. I have Lupus, and neurological issues so this is something that I fight with. I take furosemide (Lasex) but I will have to go off of next right before surgery, but eventually I may have to go back on it when it's safe for me to be on after surgery. I would check with your internist and have him run a blood test, just to see what s(he) thinks. Perhaps upping the Water will help and watch your sodium intake. Good luck to you.

Thank you Skane, I think insanity has it's privileges lately, that's how I feel, up & down, nervous, excited, sick of Protein shakes. Luckily I haven't had any other bathroom incidents and haven't had to throw anymore pants away lol. Karen, I hate being on this site non-stop, but I keep coming back. I go exercise come back and read, every time I read of someone having a hard time, I start pacing. We're working on getting the pool ready for the season today and I really wish it was ready because I would spend some time outside doing that, but I keep thinking knowledge is power. I feel manic, and I'm not bipolar. One minute I'm calm the next I start obsessing about what I need to do prior to surgery, I need to pick up Isopure for after surgery, I need to pack my bags, heck I have already taken off my nail polish on my toes! I bought a small fan to bring to the hospital so sleeping will be more comfortable, I have my lip balm ready. I've cleaned out my closets in the house, I still need my eyebrows done and I am going to color my hair Thursday and Friday I'm going for a haircut for surgery on Monday. I charted out all my bills that need to be paid for the first two weeks and am having most automatically deducted, because my husband doesn't do them. I have charts, sheets on where everything is and I don't even know what possessed me to do the June Compilation List - but I did it cause well I think I organized everything in my house already, but I'm sure I'll find more chores to do. I know what you are talking about for sure! BigGirlVee, after day 4 my headache went away, which is good. My scale died this morning so I have no clue what I have lost, as the days creep closer, the more anxious I think I'm becoming. June 1st is 5 days away and I can hardly believe it. The first of the June 2012 Club will be on the other side with a bunch of us to follow starting Thursday!!!

I'm so sorry about the complications you are having. I have had complications post-op on other surgeries and I'm praying this time I won't, but I realize it's a possibility. My family also realizes I have had serious complications in the past. I will say some prayers your fever breaks and you will start feeling better soon.

Speaking of scale, mine died! I'm seven days out pre-op shake and the batteries died. My parents are coming by tomorrow and said they have 4 triple A batteries so I really have no clue. I stepped on my scale this morning and it said I gained 2 pounds then it did something weird. I could not have gained 2 pounds on 600 calories a day with all the exercise I am doing just having 3 Protein shakes a day. I stepped on it again and it said I was 231.5, then it v'd out. I stepped on it again and it died. So I guess I will have to wait until tomorrow.

It's hard as a mother and wife to have to cook for others, especially since I am on the pre-op shake right now. I've been through a six month program so far, and they have had time to adjust to things, I started cooking less carb foods and more Protein and my husband and son has benefited by it. I felt responsible for the family's and extended family like my parents and brother's happiness, and as the matriarch, the party thrower it's always been feeding my family big meals, Pasta, sausage, bread, salad, and dessert. I get orders from the family for homemade potato dumpling Soup and chop suey and I make literally 2 - 12 quart pots of things at a time. I've changed the way I have had my family parties. For the last six months I have been making more protein, and vegetables and cutting down on the carbs, instead of making 5 pounds of broasted potatoes, I would make one box of low sodium rice a roni and a HUGE amount of brussel sprouts and salad, so there was only a little rice to go around lol. I'm sure your husband realizes how much your life is going to change after surgery. Hopefully he will be supportive and realize that sitting on the couch eating oreos in front of you isn't going to be supportive. If you eat the stuff he is eating, you will get sick after surgery. Things are going to have to change and your lives are going to have to center around new things besides food for you to be healthy. After surgery perhaps start lowering his carb intake when you are cooking, and ask him to help you with your exercise by walking with you. I'm worried because my husband is sedentary and even in his upper 40's he's big in online video games, my son plays them and I used to play a lot with them to be with them and do family things. I started exercising while they were playing and now I'm asking them to spend some time walking with me. Both of them are benefiting. As a single person, going out and eating and socializing isn't too much of an issue. You order a hamburger with no bun, egg salad on lettuce, turkey burger with no bun, switch to wine (when you are allowed to drink) you can still have fun in settings because there is always protein choices and you don't have to chose what another person is eating, just yourself. Keeping yourself busy as a single person though is hard though, but use the time to explore and learn new and adventurous things. Good luck to you. Perhaps finding a clever way to change your husband's diet and telling him you love him and need his support and talking things over again before surgery is what you guys need to do.

You are going to get there...one day at a time. Congrats to you for taking this step and I know exactly how you are feeling and what you are going through. I was upset I had to wait over a month for my first visit, I was very upset when I found out I had to do a six-month supervised appointments, I didn't want to go to WLS Is it Right for me Seminar, or the mandatory one group meeting, I had nutritionist meetings to attend near the end, upper GI, blood work, etc. After the six months, the waiting game waiting for insurance approval almost drove me insane lol. Finding out that my surgery would be June 4th had me almost hysterical when I was approved end of April I thought great....but I had to attend two more classes, then I had to get tested for something called H-pylori a week before I started pre-op shakes. I've been on pre-op shakes 7 days and I feel like next Monday is going to take FOREVER. But in retrospect, the time has flown by and I lost almost 70 pounds before the darn surgery. I can give you some suggestions that have helped me and I'm sure others have suggestions. Not everything works for everyone, but this is what I did. Sign up for http://myfitnesspal.com It's a way to keep track of your food, and it does all the work for you. No more figuring out how much calories are in a Arby's, Red Lobster, etc. You will be able to see how many carbs, how much Protein, sodium, potassium is in everything. It has a special section for keeping track of your Water. Have a cup of water click a button. Exercise, it keeps track of your exercise. You can spend time learning how it works and spend time looking up restaurants you frequent and figure out how to change things in advance to a high protein, lower carb. I also started incorporating Breakfast into my life. I never ate breakfast or lunch, I just ate a ton at dinner and then woke up in the middle of the night hungry. I started out with Slim Fast High Protein Shakes and then moved over to Pure Protein 100% whey Protein Shakes Frosty chocolate. Everyone has different tastes. I eliminated my favorite beverages from my life, Simply Lime, Simply Lemon, Simply Orange and Sierra Mist Natural and all pop. When I finished my six months and I got approved, I finally gave up the most important thing in my life, coffee. I switched to decaff and guess what, I can still go potty in the morning and I only felt crappy 2 days. I almost thought about not going through with program when they told me at the beginning I would have to give up coffee. I had over a month wait for my first appointment and put a little thought process in advance. By my first appointment in November I had lost a little bit already and started keeping a food journal. Something that in 48 years I could not do, on any diet. Myfitnesspal.com has an app for the phone. I went out for a beer with the family and I found the Cider and logged it in snack, went to Red Lobster and woah and behold the meals and foods were already in there. It's good to be honest with yourself first, nobody has to see it but you, you can keep it private. You are going to have days you overindulge during this six months, but you are ultimately accountable. When you go in for monthly meetings, and there's improvement and the scale moves, you will be so proud. Also, if exercise is hard, stand in one place and walk a little bit and move your arms. Do it every day until you can do it 10 minutes, 20 minutes. I had a hard time walking up the stairs because of the lupus and my hips and knees. I am scheduled for surgery on June 4th and I can walk 1-1/2 miles and I can spend an entire hour doing the Gazelle. I felt like I was going to die after 5 minutes the first time I got on there. The more fit and more committed I am pre-op I am hoping that my post-op will be easier to deal with. In about two weeks I will probably have regretted my decision to have the sleeve, as I am recuperating, but then again, I am also sure that a month or two out, I will be so glad I took this journey! Best of luck to you, and I'm sure others may have good advice.

Day 7 of liquid diet here, I woke up at 5:30 to a cat (who isn't allowed on my bed) on my bed throwing up. I was highly grossed out and woke up a bit cranky. A week from tomorrow surgery seems like a lifetime. Truth is reading stories of people having a hard time yesterday sort of brought me down, but I know everyone is different and my normal tenacity should pull me out of it. I know it's going to be a tough month after surgery, it's not going to be easy peasy. A year down the road people seem to forget exactly how hard it is, so I have to realize that people having a tough time perhaps thought it would be easier than it is and I'm balancing reality (it's probably going to suck some) with positivity (it's going to suck but I can deal with it!) I hope everyone is doing well and we're coming down to the wire. In five days we all start the Official June 2012 sleevers club.

Well if it revolves around food and you are going to go out with him again before pre-op shake order a broth type Soup and eat the broth (if it's chicken noodle) skim around the noodles, order your turkey burger with cheese and extra lettuce, tomato, pickles & onions (or since its a date forego the onions lol) remove the bun and use a fork and eat like it's a turkey burger salad. Always eat the meat first, the vegetables second and forego the chips for something like coleslaw or the appetizer soup. When your lunch date is over, suggest a walk somewhere. You get to date, eat and get exercise in. Good luck to you !

I suffer migraines and even have received occipital nerve blocks and botox in my head and neck for them, but I still get them. I am allergic to Imitrex and other medications and the only medicine that helps me is Excederin Migraine. If mine get bad, I take a warm shower and then get into a cold dark room and throw a cold pack on my neck and a cool washcloth across my eyes, normally with a fan on and I chill my head down. The warm shower usually makes it so my head cools off faster. I often use Vicks Vaporub across my forehead (expect to wash your pillow case). It's a few of the things that has helped me. I have suffered from these since the age of 5. I hope it goes away soon.

I was using slim-fast high Protein with skim milk, but I read that 100% whey Protein is the preferred shake. I started using Pure Protein 100% Whey Protein shakes from Target, they come in large container. I had a shake for Breakfast during my six month pre-approval surgery phase . It's better for you to have a Protein Shake for breakfast than nothing, so it worked out well for me. Everyone's tastes are different. Slim fast for a small little container is about 8-9 bucks. the Pure Protein 100% Whey Protein Frosty chocolate Shake is in a huge tub for about $28.00 at target. It's cheaper in the long run to buy the big tub and it's a better quality Whey Protein than Slim Fast. added* I received the Magic Bullet for a gift and I love it. For me it's been awesome,you can throw ice in it and it will come in handy when you are on the pureed phase. If you have any special occasion coming up, perhaps ask for it for your birthday or whatever, it's worth it.

Thanks kb, I am comfortable and have no fears that my liver won't be fine since I'm on the two week liquid diet. I had been on a six month pre-approval diet phase diet of low carb (45-75gms ) and high Protein (80gm) and getting about 800-1000 calories a day for that period where my average loss was 8 - 10 pounds a month. I feel as though I'm not going to end up with the huge pre-op shake loss of 15-20 pounds like others have had, but I'm glad to know I can handle the high protein low carb diet once I advance to solids in about 2 months lol. These pre-op shakes are only averaging 200-400 calories less than the last six months and an average of about 15-20 less carbs. I suppose I shouldn't be concerned with the weight loss during this phase, though since I'm not eating solids, mentally it would be nice to see a bigger drop in the scale. I feel like I deserve some sort of payback for having to drink three liquid shakes that are starting to remind me of drinking sticky chocolate flavored Elmers glue.

I haven't been sleeved yet, but for 2 weeks postop I will be on clear liquids and then 3 - 6 weeks after that I will still be on full liquids just progressing to pureed foods. I would have to say that the banana chips and sour worm, were really not good choices today. Perhaps try sticking with protein liquids. Are you keeping track of your protein and carb intake?

I have a pool and I swim at a fitness club in the winter, it was my first question! I was told 4 - 6 weeks, depending on how I heal.

I think the first few days were the roughest, it seems to be getting easier Butterfly so I hope that's some help that a few days down the road it won't be so bad. Our pre-liquid is the same, but I'm on New Directions (which is the same, just a different name). I added you to our June Sleevers Compilation - Good Luck & Well Wishes thread of all the June sleevers that I have been able to find which in the 2012 - June 2012 Sleevers section located here: http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/39508-june-sleevers-compilation-good-luck-well-wishes/