traceyinflorida

That is an awesome story! Congratulations! I can't wait to go back to Universal's Islands of Adventures. The last time I was there, I had to stuff myself into the Harry Potter ride and almost had to get off because it made me very clausterphobic since I was pinned in so tightly. I also was completely humiliated because I was too big to ride the Incredible Hulk ride, even in the wide seat. Glad you enjoyed your trip to Disney!!

I went for pulmonology and cardiology in the same place (same doctor specialized in both) They listened to my lungs and heart, asked me some questions, did an ekg and I was done. I was a little surprised because I thought it would be more involved. I imagine every office is different. I did not have to undergo a sleep study to be cleared for surgery (thank God!) Their office was computerized, so my clearance was sent to doctor's office the next day. I would be sure to let the office know when you go in that your surgery date is dependent on how quickly you get clearance and ask what you can expect for a turn around time. Always be your own advocate!

You look beautiful! What a great accomplishment and I am sure a great feeling! Not only will you look gorgeous on your trip to Europe, but I am sure you will have so much more energy to enjoy it too! Have fun and congratulations!!

I have had two food dreams so far. Both times I was eating all the wrong things and too much of it and feeling really guilty. I was happy to wake up and find that I did not really do it!

When I was in my liquid phase post op I felt exactly the same way. Whenever the craving for taste and texture got bad enough, I would chew a little bit and spit it out. For me, just doing that once for something I was feeling deprived of would do the trick. Later, I found out in our support group that our bariatric coordinator, who is a bariatric nurse and a RNY recipient herself, totally advocates that. I am sure if you were doing it constantly, then that might be a red flag of an eating disorder, but to do it once in a while while coping with learning a new way to eat I imagine is fine.

Awesome job! Congratulations, you look great! Here's to your continued success!!

Awesome! Congratulations!!

Someone once told me that you need to take care of yourself and take time for yourself so that you will be better for them. I never listened and I ended up at the weight I was and miserable. You need to take care of yourself so that you have more energy and great health to keep up with your young family. Do not feel guilty about this. Can you walk or go to the gym during your lunch break (does anyone get those any more)? Could you get up early and go to the gym before work? Can the kids go to bed a half hour later to give you extended time with them? Regardless, everyone will adjust and you will be a better mom for it in the long run. Hang in there.

Marty, I made sure to write that down in my things to remember book about the liquid diet. I lost 15 lbs in two weeks. While I am hoping I never gain any weight back, I wrote down a message to myself, that if I should ever happen to start gaining an extra 10 lbs or so , to remember that the liquid diet works wonders!!

I too would be interested in owning an accurate scale. Mine is digital and is always about 6lbs less than the doctor's office scales. Also, if I don't like the weight, I can just get back on and it gives me a different weight, lol!

I wish I had found this forum before I got sleeved, because I was TERRIFIED! I can't count the number of times I was ready to back out, including the day I was walking into the hospital. I kept thinking, it's not too late, I can just turn around and go home. Now after reading this forum for several weeks, I realize that almost everyone feels this way. What helped me was sitting down and reviewing my reasons for doing this, which was also suggested by O.T.R.Sleever earlier in this topic. I have a list entitled "Things I Hate About Being Fat" It starts out with a message to myself saying, when the going gets tough and you think you can't do this, read this list." I also have a list of "Things I look forward to being able to do when I am thinner and healthier" I looked at them every time I got scared. It helped ALOT. Hang in there. Keep yourself busy for the next five days and know that you have a huge group of people out here that are pulling for you and that will support you before and after!!

Oh, I just re-read...10 days, not two weeks! That's four less days! Yay for you! You can do it!!

Keep telling yourself that this is a finite period of time, two weeks and then surgery and you won't feel hungry again. The yucky, head ache feelings go away after a few days. I think that's your body saying goodbye to the sugar and carbs. I know I was miserable, tired and my head killed me. For me, after the first three days, I no longer craved carbs or sugar and it did get much easier. Just try to stay busy with other things, drink lots of water and keep reminding yourself that this is NOT FOREVER, just two weeks. Also, when you are tempted to cheat, remind yourself that you are doing this for a safe and healthy surgery. The other big motivator will be that your scale will start to go down! That helps A LOT when you are feeling deprived. Hang in there! YOU'VE GOT THIS!!

My doctor told me about a medicine he will prescribe at my six week visit to help prevent issues with my gallbladder from losing weight so quickly. He said it may not be necessary, but I told him I would rather take it and be safe than have to face another surgery down the road which was his same feeling. That appointment is next week. When I find out what it is, I will post it on here. In the meantime, keep drinking your fluids and take your prevacid. I had some of the same type of pain both pre-op when I had reflux and occassionally in the first few weeks post op. The prevacid should help.

According to my nutritionist, anything less than 5 grams of sugar and carbs is okay. If it is much over, then not. However, everyone seems to have different guidelines. If you are looking for a ready to drink protein shake, I have tried the EAS carb control shake. Low sugar and carbs, 17 grams of protein and tastes pretty good.

I went to my first info session two years before I finally had the surgery!! While there, I was so ready to do it. But later on, when I had time to really think on it, I started to think, well if I have to make that big of changes in my eating, why not just try it on my own. I ended up gaining more weight!! When I finally decided to go for it, I was so dissapointed that my insurance required 6 months of diet and exercise counseling before being considered. IF I had it to do over, I would have started the process two years ago and gone through with the surgery then. Take it one step at a time. Go to the info session and see what you think. Investigate your insurance coverage, see what you think. If you have a period of supervised nutrition counseling to go through, do it and see how it goes. At any point you can decide not to do it, but at least get the ball rolling. So far, I haven't met anyone who has regretted doing this....

I too found it really hard when everyone around you is eating the foods you love and you can't. The first two weeks were the worst for me because I was SO sick of the liquid phase. I just wanted texture and flavor in the worst way. A couple of times I would take a bite of something, chew it up and spit it out. That helped. What I found helped me the most was that I wrote down all the reasons I hated being the fat person I was when this journey started. I also wrote down all the things I was looking forward to being thin. When the going gets rough, I break out that list and remind myself the REASONS that I am doing this. The good news is that once you get past the first month, your food choices open up. It feels like a really long time getting there, but the victories on the scale, and the non scale victories like your clothes getting looser help you realize that it is all worth it!! Hang in there, you are not alone!

I was on a trip during week three post op. This was supposed to be week two of my pureed phase. It was too difficult and I hated my food pureed, so I CAREFULLY bumped things up a bit. I switched to soft fish that I could mash up with a little tartar sauce or other sauce to make it moist. I also ate shrimp and scallops cut into tiny pieces and chewed well (luckily we were traveling along the east coast, so fish was fresh and readily available) For breakfast I would either have an egg or a protein shake. Now that I am in week 4, lowfat string cheese or cheddar cheese as a snack, protein shakes, fish, had a slice of turkey cold cut rolled with slice of lowfat cheese that went down very well, tuna salad, egg salad and chicken salad. I have the book "Before and After" by Susan Maria Leach that has a ton of healthy, but tasty recipes for every stage that fit all the bariatric guidelines of low carb, low sugar. I am going to break that book out and start trying those recipes. Just go slow and listen to your body. I overate by a tablespoon a couple of times and seriously regretted it!

It's normal to be tired and emotional. Make sure you take it easy and listen to your body. I slept a lot the first week. The bariatric nurse also told me that it is not unusual to feel overly emotional either. If it persists or becomes difficult to deal with, call your doctor. They may prescribe some happy pills to help you through it. I too was surprised at how easy recovery was once I was out of the hospital. At my 10 day post op visit I told my doctor that he was a miracle worker because, other than the changes in eating, I would never know I had just undergone a major surgery! It keeps getting better. Make sure you rest today and I hope your recovery continues to go smoothly!

The Unjury unflavored protein powder works in most things. I have added it to broth with decent results. With any protein powder, you are going to have to wait for your coffee to cool a bit before adding the powder because it breaks down over a certain temp. I am a bit of a fanatic over my coffee, so I don't think I would enjoy it with any protein powder in it because it will make it thicker and cloudy. I have traded in my morning coffee for a morning protein shake for the time being.

I did it. I only cheated once and I lost 15 lbs. I waited too long for the surgery to chance screwing it up by not following the pre-op diet. I was afraid that if I didn't do it right, I would be told they had to post pone the surgery or worse, I would cause a complication during surgery. The first four days was brutal, but after that it became pretty easy once the carbs and sugar are out of your system. Good luck!

Well here is a first EVER for me. I am one month post-op. I have always had a closet full of clothes that do not fit, because they have become too tight on me. I keep them anyway, for the day that I finally lost weight. Of course prior to surgery, I never saw that day. I was down to just a few outfits that fit comfortably. A couple weeks post surgery, I had to put those original clothes that fit into the give away pile and my wardrobe was starting to open up to me again. While on a two week trip, I noticed that the clothes I had brought were getting progressively looser to the point of falling off. Some of those shorts and pants have been added to the give away pile. To my great surprise upon returning home, all of my clothes that had been too tight are now huge on me!! I have been doing a complete closet cleanout ever since! Fortunately a friend had given me some of her 18W pants and tops. I thought I would never see that size again. They now fit me!! Woo hoo! I guess I had better enjoy them while I can because at this rate, they may soon end up in the give away pile as well. Then who knows what I will wear, but it will be a good problem to have!! Woo hoo!!

I hear ya! I cannot wait to be able to shop the regular ladies departments and clothing stores! Congratulations on your surgery four days ago!

Congratulations! I thought about it for a long time too and now that I am 1 month post-op, I wonder what I was waiting for!! Good luck to you! You will love this!

Including my 2 week pre-op diet, I have lost 36 pounds since surgery. I had lost an additional 10 from my highest weight during my obligatory 6 months of diet counseling for a total of 46 pounds!