mullet head

Like my doc told us, there is no such thing as MINIMALLY EVASIVE surgery...it is not EZ, the first couple/three days will not be pleasant...but you will feel better every day. It has been a life changing event for me!! Good luck!! surgery date: Oct, 12, 2011

I use the carnation instant Breakfast (no sugar) and add a scoop of chocolate why Protein isolate...never had a problem getting this stuff down. Also had the EAS/slim fast (carb control) for "snacks"...i personally did not care for the isopure drinks!! surgery date: Oct 12, 2011

Don't worry about the sipping thing or getting enough Protein just yet, you will not be able to get enough protein the first day or two, don't sweat it...as as far as sipping, it will take some "practice", your body will give you the best feed back. Until then, get a bunch of those medicine cups, my hospital gave me a ton of them!! i used them to "judge" my sips, but like i said, it will be difficult the first day or two... Not sure how you are doing the kid/pet thing the day after surgery...I have not heard of ANYONE having surgery and getting home the same day...I guess it is possible, but Idunno...the day after surgery is typically making sure your ok and most importantly, NO leaks...I was still fairly medicated the next day...you may want to consider making other arrangements... good luck... surgery date: Oct 12, 2011

Has anyone felt this way??? Uhhhhhhhhhh, Ya, I am sure most of us here have felt that way wheather anyone wants to admit it our not. My biggest fear was losing my "identity". Let me explain. I identified myself, and others identified me as the guy that has the BBQ's, football, basketball parties, superbowl, thanksgiving, xmas, new years, yadda, yadda, yadda...pretty much my entire adult life has been centered around food and booze!!! So when someone comes around and says you are going to give it up and have a better life, you can understand the "skeptisism"... But the reality is it was very painfull to lug myself around all day, it was very difficult to be active with my kids, I have high blood pressure, knees and hips that feel like rusty gates and had a stroke 2 years ago... So lets see....when i weigh (pardon the pun) everything out...it was an absolute no brainer...the reasons I had to not have the surgery where very selfish reasons, or at least thats how I felt. I also strongly believed my clock was ticking...I knew I was headed in the wrong direction and needed help... Once you come to that realization, the decision is not that difficult...and here is the bonus prize, in the end...YOU ARE STILL THE EXACT SOME PERSON!! Granted for the first several months, it is a very drastic change, but eventually you get it all back...the only drawback is that "you get it all back", meaning you can regress back to old habits and old ways and end up sickandtired all over again... Surgery is a great tool but its only a tool, not a savior fix all thing... Good luck on decision!!! oh ya, almost forgot, find a good support group and use it!! surgery date: Oct 12, 2011

Sounds like you already started losing!! Be sure to WALK, WALK, WALK!!! Your body will get used to the reduce calorie diet and compensate!! You will also face several "stalls" on the way, my scale and I were not on talking terms for about a week!! I have settled on weighing twice a week, wed and sun!! GOOD LUCK!! surgery date: Oct 12, 2011

I have but one regret...that I did not do this sooner!!!! :biggrin: surgery date : 12 Oct 2011

definitley medicine cups and freezing Water bottles, helped me out a ton!!! surgery date: 12 Oct 2011

Out of control...are you kidding me...I was the poster child for out of control and boy did I have a food funeral...but when the surgery prep diet started (10 days for me), I was able to flip the switch and get serious. I guess because I was not in denial, I know what I was doing, I had all my liquid diet stuff ready to go at the house BEFORE my diet started so I could jump into it with no distractions of going to the store and figuring out what I was going to eat...be prepared!! surgery date Oct 12, 2011

Good luck to both of yall...the first couple of days are gonna test ya, don't get discouraged!! Every day it gets a little better!!! MH Surgery date: Oct 12, 2011

Ditto on San Antonio!! Surgery Date: Oct 12, 2011

whew!! thought I was going through MANapause!!

Yes, I have always been told they definitely count!! Along with all the other things previously posted, even meds!!

YES, YES, YES... I count on the carnation instant breakfast almost every morning...BUT...it must be sugar free. Like LindaS I mix mine with 16 oz of skim milk and add a scoop of chocalate flavored Protein mix, end up with about 30g of protein for breakfast. I usally have a EAS (carb control) mid morning for an additional 17-25g of protein. I have not tried the unflavored protein yet but have some unjury on order, heard it was pretty good to mix in Soups and stuff... surgery date: Oct 12, 2011

Agree with PJ, if you don't have to hurry back, don't, I was sleeved on Oct 12 (Wed) and went back to work the following Mon Oct 24...I "could" have gone back sooner but was able to take the additional time off to settle in after surgery. No real "side effects" other than soreness at main surgical point and being a little tired.

Dr. Dickerson, LTC, US Army Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC), San Antonio TX Great surgeon, kinda of a radical in the sense that he did not believe in crushing pills or putting a drain in or having you do the swallow-xray leak test the next day. I would highly recommend him to anyone!!

Best advice is too be PATIENT...everyone will recover in different ways. I felt pretty good going into surgery and the first night or two, I was really wondering what the heck I had done to myself and was having regrets... Like other have said, you will feel some discomfort...mine was in the form of the gas they pump you up with in order to work in your belly. For the first 2 days I could not drink hardly at all, every sip (micro-sip) made what felt like a big bubble in my chest like you had to burp but couldnt... Trust me, it gets MUCH better every day!!! I was a totally new person by the 4-5th day and could have returned to work but wanted to be fully "recovered" from surgery so was able to be off for about 10 days total. BTW, my doc did not put in a drain or have me do the swallow, xray leak test... Good luck on your journey!! MH surgery date: Oct 12, 2011

New to forum...been looking online for something like this, sooooooooo glad I found yall!! I had my VSG on Oct 12, 2011, 15 days out and feel great!! I had some serious doubts on days 1-3 but things gradually got better as all those before me said they would. I never thought I would be so happy to puree up a can of Soup, glad to be out of "liquid" stage, very curious how I will handle "real" food. I am currently on a little stall...I was happy to see that I was not alone and that this to will pass, just stick with the plan and quit beating up the scale!! A little background, I have had "weight" issues pretty much my whole life as far as I can remember. I have yo-yo'd my weight over the years fairly substantially. I had a stroke in June of 09, thankfully have had a full recovery. I lost some weight after that ordeal, but since have put it all back on +. My primary doc pointed me this direction and my journey began...I have lost 35lbs so far and like I said, feel great and looking forward to progressing to "real" food! I have 2 young daughters and look forward to spending as much time with them on this planet as I can!!! Look forward to the info on this forum and providing any info I can!! -mullet head

Pre-surgery jitters are totally normal...find (and use) a good support group, only you will know what desicion is best for you. I had pretty good jitters after making my surgery date, but once I got on the pre-op diet I just remained focused on the outcome and the tremendous benefits that come with it!!! Good luck!! surgery date: Oct 12, 2011