suzcomptime

Mine is set for 5/21 Maine. Usual stay is 2 days. 2 weeks from work if you have a desk job, longer if you have a job with lifting, etc. Start walking immediately. Still need to get chest xray & blood work, probably do that the end of next week. Pre-op testing is 5/14, liquids start 5/7. It seems so far away still.

My plan says Protein drinks and Clear liquids so for me "No" but I've seen some patients whose Dr. allows them some solid food so you'll have to check with your Dr. or the nutritionist that works with the Dr. Office.

The Firefox browser also has add-ons that will spell check anything you type in a text box. In fact, that may be where my squiggly red lines are coming from when I miss spell a word in this text box.

As you are typing the message, it underlines in red squiggly the words that are misspelled. I don't see the spell check icon though so maybe it tells you it's wrong but doesn't give you suggestions.

I will also utilize my own closet for awhile, have lots of size 16's some still with tags. Once I go below that (amazing to think about), I will shop Goodwill until I feel settled. For now if I get a shopping bug, I buy something toward my surgery (nighty, different Soups, hot pad, small mesh strainer, etc) or shoes.

Nothing was said about shots for me, a friend at work just had surgery in March and she did not have shots either. I was told to walk often to prevent clots. I am wondering about gall bladder medication after surgery. I read that some people take it because with rapid weight loss of any kind we are susceptible to gall stones. I need to ask my Dr. about that.

8 oz of chicken is like 2 -1/2 servings. I don't think that is the amount that they would want us to eat. I would think that maybe some greek yogurt for snack in the morning and afternoon and maybe a Protein drink to help so you don't have to eat so much meat but 8 oz is more than a normal person's serving and we should be eating less than normal. Unless I read something wrong. My sample menu says: Breakfast: 1/2 c cottage cheese or 1 egg with 1 oz cheese. Lunch: 2 oz meat 1/4-1/2c veggies Snack; Protein shake Dinner: 3 oz meat 1/4-1/2c veggies I think that gets 70-75 protein which is my range.

Hmmmm, I can't imagine being on Clear liquids for two weeks. To me clear liquids does not include Protein shakes. The definition of clear liquids in my WLS booklet is: sugar free Jello, chicken or beef broth, Decaf tea, flavored Water, and sugar free popsicles and of course water. I am only on clear liquids 1 day before surgery and day 2 after surgery (1 day). I am on liquids which include Protein Shakes and the list above for two weeks before surgery and 2 weeks after. I would double check to make sure they really mean clear liquids for two weeks....protein shakes don't really fall under clear liquids.

My instructions are to start back with my multivitamin and supplements after my 2 week post op appt with my Dr.

The bariatric advantage calcium chewables are very powdery, I had chocolate, they came in cinnamon as well which is probably what fluffylibra30 is talking about. The ones I really like are the Bariatric Advantage Chewy bites which are little square that taste like candy...probably the ones cattracks is referring to because they come in lemon, raspberry chocolate and caramel. I have the caramel and that is just what they taste like. Only 250 calcium though...the chalky ones are cheaper and have 500 per tablet but the chewy bites one are like having a candy treat.

Good to know the chewable is available. Thanks

I bought some Biotin and started taking it, in case it helps. I don't have surgery until 5/21. I have heard that hair loss does not happen until a few months out....close to 6 months I think and then after a few months it starts growing back thick again. I also heard that keeping up your amount of protein is important to reduce the amount of hair loss. I'm not sure if it is avoidable but I will try to keep up my protein and take the biotin. The Biotin pill is very tiny, but not chewable so we will see how it works after surgery....I think I have to wait for my 2 week checkup to get cleared to start my vitamins back up and hopefully I can take that one along with everything else.

You don't indicate how old you are in your profile so I'm not sure if it might be an injury or arthritis. I have a bad knee....for a long time I just put up with it but finally went to a Orthopedic Dr. who determined it was arthritis from an old motorcycle accident injury. I'm sure my extra weight did not help either. I would recommend that if you continue with knee problems that you have it checked out so that you can get the proper treatment. I take glucosamine supplements which do seem to help. There are also specific exercises for strengthening the muscles around your knee. Squats may be hard on your knee as well, depending on what is actually going on with it. There are other knee issues besides arthritis and the treatments would vary. I would not jog, that will be harder on your knee than walking although once I lose weight and strengthen my leg muscles, I would love to think I could run again.

Good luck and wishing you a speedy recovery.

My nutritionist told me to get some baby food prunes and have on hand for constipation that may occur after my surgery.

Yes, the above is a good question along with how long are you on the clear liquid stage? I am only on Clear Liquids one day before surgery and from 2nd day after surgery until release from hospital. I am on liquids for two weeks prior and from hospital discharge until 2 weeks after....but not clear liquids.

I have my pre-surgery endoscopy next Wednesday at 11am. My husband's cousin just called and wants us to go to a comedian Bob Marley show that evening. I am not sure if I will still be feeling the effects of the anesthesia at that time or not. Anyone with experience with the test, care to comment how you felt about 6 hours after endoscopy? Thanks

I just wanted to thank everyone. I had almost said "No" to going because I wasn't sure how long the effects lasted but your info helped me decide to have our friends prebuy the tickes. I felt fine as soon as I got home around 12:30....a 1 hour nap in the afternoon and ready for the show which was hilarious....glad I went.

This was a hard point for me as well, (the tie in with memory and learning) as I have a job where I have to be on my toes about details and because I am also taking college courses. However, I also read articles about the possibility of a connection with obesity/diabetes and Alzheimer's. The article involved GB patients not VSG but it sounds to me that there is a Alzheimers risk if I don't have the surgery and cannot lose weight. My mother and her twin sister are both insulin dependent Type II diabetes and have similar weight struggles to me. I am having this surgery because I know that the same is right around the corner if something doesn't happen. It seems like there is an increased risk of Alzheimers if I continue to be obese and develop the inevitable diabetes. That doesn't mean I don't rethink my decision at times. Each of us has to read and research and make our personal decision (and cross our fingers). Good luck to you. Article about Obesity and Type 2 diabetes increasing the chance of getting Alzheimer's disease.

Well, I've already found two on that search list that must be a mistake. Two that I checked said zero carbs and they were dishes that were highly unlikely to be zero. I guess if it lists the carbs it's probably OK, but if it says 0, it probably is not.

If you want variety you can also check out some of the Lean Cuisines. Sometimes I want something quick for a meal and so I keep some on hand but only buy ones that are 20 carbs or less. There are a few and that if you subtract the Fiber to get the net carbs, I've seen them less than 10 carbs. You have to look through the choices. I think I've found 5 or 6 that I like that are less than 20. If that is my main meal, than having 20 for the other two meals isn't too bad. If you go here http://www.leancuisine.com/Products/Search.aspx?CarbsMax=23&CarbsMin=0&ViewAll=True you can search by carbs, fats etc. I searched for anything from 0 to 23 carbs and there were 9 options.

EWWWWW

I learned a long time ago that I had to be the one to say NO because even though my friends at work know I am trying to eat healthy there is always some office celebration going on or someone bringing in food for us. People equate food with love and caring so their heart is in the right place but many of us pay the price for all this "love". My closest office staff don't push me, they know I'm trying. My mantra for the last year or so when someone brings in a dessert or sweet: "Let me smell it". I smell whatever it is and that is my treat and I am fine to walk away. A few times I have said just let me have one bite and so I eat that bite very slowly. Maybe the small amounts and eating slowly was practice for my new lifestyle although the cake would not be a good source of Protein nutrition. My date is 5 weeks and 2 days....seems like a life time. I don't have the negative reaction from people, but I haven't really told family mainly because I had a family member have serious complications about 6 years ago from GB surgery and so when I brought up that I was considering lapband it did not go over well with my kids. Since then I have zipped it and realize that they don't need the stress of worrying about it. Once I have the surgery, I will tell them and anyone else who wants to know. I figure if someone else is inspired by my success than I want them to know, maybe it will help them to make a decision to change.

I would like to try kayaking. Now my balance is so off that I don't think I could get sat down in one without flipping it. Also playing volleyball or softball or basketball......all things I loved as a child/young adult. Participating in group exercises without worrying how I look at my size (jazzercize, zumba, Water aerobics). Less knee pain Decreased urinary incontinence OH YEAH! Excursion to find great photography, that might include hiking, mountain hiking More energy to do big projects around the house (stripping wallpaper, redoing sheetrock, landscaping) Learning to dive I'm sure I'll think of more.

I believe the it is important to use so that at the time of surgery your body has the best chance to recover the quickest. Many people think it is just about getting a good night's sleep but there is more to it. Just do your best to get used to it before surgery and hope that someday after surgery you might not need it any more. I have never been tested, but I am encouraging my husband to be tested and he said he would if I would. HAHA Hopefully some people with CPAP experience can advise you on the transition period. Many friends have posted that they feel so much better once they got used to the CPAP, that it gave them more energy and alertness during the day.