StormWarning

Best of luck to the both of you. I hope your surgeries go very well and smooth for y'all and I hope recovery is a breeze. Best of luck and you will be in my thoughts and prayers. Please keep us updated when you are able. *The losers side is waiting for ya*

I am very excited. Can't wait. 8 more days and I get to begin a new. My boys are cheering me on, my husband is my rock that I can lean on. Even my mother has come around to things. I guess she figured that I am going to do this with or without her support. I am thankful that it is now with her support cause it was really killing me. My dad is planning for Aug 29th already. That is the day I will get to start soft foods if all goes well, so he wants me make me some of his famous beans. Things could not be better. I have to say the closer to the date I get, the longer on the diet the harder it gets for me. I am now 12 days on diet, I have messed up a few times, but nothing big.

Just some ideas that are posted in my post surgery guide. Hope it helps. Good Luck! LOW CARB ‐ LOW FAT‐ LOW SUGAR ‐ HIGH PROTEIN! • Soft foods are comprised of: things that are easily chewed and will mush up in your mouth easily. For example: • Scrambled or soft cooked eggs • Cottage cheese • Cottage Cheese w/pureed fruit ( containers of 4 oz that you can mix into the cottage cheese) • Refried Beans • Tuna, salmon, chicken, or egg salad mixed well with low‐fat mayo • Chicken leg or thigh meat • Soft cooked veggies • mac n cheese • Whole wheat grains‐ pasta/rice • meats that are cooked to really soft consistency‐ crock pot, pressure cooker • soft cooked or stewed fruits • oatmeal, cream of wheat, grits • moist meatloaf, turkey loaf • Soups that have easy to chew veggies n meats

So sorry to hear Carla, but it's best to get this out of the way first. I sincerely hope things aren't as bad as they are thinking. You will remain in my thoughts and prayers. Please keep us updated.

I knew you would pop in eventually. How ya feeling today? Throat any better? How'd them mushy soft foods go so far?

Hi Emmy, and welcome to the boards. Nice to finally meet you. I am Jennifer (Jenn) I do believe we already spoke through email. Our days if approaching fast. There is a thread about Dr. Alvarez if you wish to view it. http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/45010-dr-alvarez-august-sleevers/ A friend of mine SweetSusie has already had her surgery (July 7th) she responds to those posts. There is also an august sleevers group: It is a very big, long group But tons of people with the same feelings/emotions. Check it out if you wish. http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/38113-august-sleevers-where-yas-at/ Anyway glad to have you on the boards. Hope you find tons of nice people.

Name- Jenn (Jennifer) Age- 33 Location- Texas highest weight/current weight/ goal weight- 330ish/314/160 Anything else you'd like to share? I am married to the love of my life for almost 17 years (december) I am a mom to two handsome young men ages 15 and 11. I work on my parents ranch when I am needed; it is my job to keep things running smoothly and learn the ropes as it will be up to me to keep up with things when my dad is no longer with us (I could not be taught by anyone better). When I am not out working with my parents I am at home tending to the homefront.

HOLY SMOKES!!!! I never even paid attention to how big this thread has gotten. Thanks OTR for blessing us with your presence.. lol

Yep definitely a stall here. Although I kept questioning myself if that was even possible. I am stuck on 314. I really was hoping/trying to be 300 or less for surgery, but I am not going to be myself up over it, I have lost 8lbs so far, shrunk some inches although I do know how many cause it never occured to me to take measurements.

I already use it. I have both actually the dark and the clear. There is tons of perks of Living in Texas!! There is always someone going to Mexico so naturally I send them with my shopping list for spices, medicines and what not. etc.

Have you watched the video part of your emails? There is a discharge video, medicine video that will explain all the antibiotics and pain medicines. As far as the heparin I had emailed susan about it the beginning of July. I will copy my question and her response. I see many people say they are having to do lovenox injections at home. Is this something Dr. Alvarez does with some of his patients? If so, is there a way to purchase these things in Mexico to get them cheaper? Her response: They start the Heparin before, during and after... you are also up and walking the hallways as soon as you are up to it... you aren't elderly and bed ridden and that is where clots come into play... so you won't need Lovenox injections at home and this is something we don't do. We have never had a blood clot. Walking is the best thing. If you don't have or cant find the email about the videos PM me your email address and I will gladly forward mine. They are unpublished youtube videos so we aren't able to view them online. As far as the leg wrappings, yes they are done with ace bandages but I thought I saw someone say that while in the OR they have the auto compression things on ya. Can't be for certain though. Also is anyone having facial problems with breaking out? I don't what it is, maybe stress, or the new diet but this last week I have started breaking out in my face. YUK. I want it gone.

No I haven't heard since yesterday. I was relieved to know it was just strep but dang that is allot to deal with so soon after surgery. She really is a trooper though. I try not to text her phone cause I never know when she is busy working,, so I always wait for her to message here on the boards. Last night I was kinda in my own lil funk so I didn;'t send out a message to her. So glad to hear your niece is doing well. How did I miss your niece being sleeved? Have been walking in this funk for a few days? Here I thought I was acting pretty normal, hmm maybe Im not. Yes, this would be wonderful. And Dr. Alvarez has some awesome reunions. I couldn't stay for the one in MAY, my mom had my kids and my lil man was feeling bad so after the seminar, after speaking personally with Dr. A. and Susan we decided to head home. Maybe he will choose to do a cruise again or vegas.

Thats great. You will for sure get to meet Mczoo. Joyce may miss Icandothis, as well as me. I was just looking at the calendar. The days we are expected to arrive are the days they are expected to leave. So we may just miss each other. I hope it doesn't work that way though. Joyce you are going to do great, and I wanna see if I can stuff myself into your luggage and go early.. PFFT.. who the bleep am i kidding, i couldnt even get one leg into your luggage. OH well it was a nice thought for a brief moment. Guess I will have to just wait my turn!!

I too will be at Dr. Alvarez on the 6th. I will miss joyce by one day. She will leave the day before I arrive. I do however get to meet another member of the forum (Icandothis) when I arrive- if she hasn't left beforehand. Dr. Alvarez is awesome; especially in person. You won't be sorry. Best of luck to you in your journey. I am sure we will all keep you updated on how things are going for us.

Dr. Alvarez actually gives us injection of Heparin after we are under for surgery to help prevent any clots from forming.- just a precaution. Our days are really starting to move faster now. I am so sorry I dont get to meet you Allnewme but atleast I do get to meet Icandothis.

Congratulations!! I am sure you have a whole range of emotions flowing through you right now, but I am sure everything will move just as planned. I hope your surgery is smooth and your recovery is speedy and not so bad. Sorry your hubby has to work, but glad that you will have family there with you. I can imagine you will not be sleeping much tonight. Please keep us updated on your outcome as soon as you able. You will be in my thoughts and prayers. Best of luck to you.

Hi all. My name is Jenn. (Jennifer) I am 33 class of 95. I can relate to alot of the posts. I had the huge waterfall (wave) bangs, and it took allot of hairspray to get those to stand up all day. I am having my surgery Aug 6th, its coming soon, but not fast enough. Nice to meet other 30's folks.

Sorry to hear about your date change. I know how hard it is to get everything in order. Also glad to hear you have a new date. Your day will come before you know it. Keep your head up. BTW, I really love the hair!! Looks great.

Hormones are stored in body fat. As you start burning that fat, those hormones are released. This causes all sorts of emotions and can even lead to depression. Since I have no actually had surgery yet, I cannot tell you how long this will last, but I do hope things get easier for you soon. I can say that my pre-op diet that I am doing and the little weight loss I have had has come with a few emotions.

I just came across this recipe today. Can't believe I missed it. It's really crazy, I am on a pre-op diet, and yet I find myself printing recipes for my future days when I will again be able to enjoy food. This recipe is definitely making my list. Thanks for sharing.