nurse_ally

My PCP was also very supportive of me. He admitted that he didn't know much about the sleeve, but come to find out one of the other dr's in his office has actually HAD the sleeve and has reached her goal weight! I went for my first check up with him today after surgery on July 1 and everything was fine, he was amazed at how well I'm doing. I feel like any good doctor will support you in this decision giving how well it can affect your health overall. Oh, he also didn't make a big deal out of me going to Mexico to have the sleeve. He trusted that I had researched the heck out of the dr. and facility, and was cool with it all.

Kelly, I had surgery with Dr. Aceves on July 1 and my experience was very similar to yours, all the way down to the drain removal...it was WEIRD!! But my experience with Dr. A and his staff was nothing short of stellar. And isn't Jennifer a sweetheart? I met her when I was there, too She got sleeved two days after me, I believe? I also agree with you on the clear liquid thing, it's tough! We had a busy night last night and I had to get McDonald's for my kids' dinner and I was really about to cry when the heavenly scent of chicken mcnuggets hit the air. But it'll all be worth it, and I feel alot better today. Yesterday was just one of those days when I thought about food ALL the time. Anyway, just wanted to second the opinion on Dr. Aceves for anyone considering him and his facility. It was a wonderful experience. DJackson, I would have been fine to stop and visit family the day after I was released from the hospital. I just hope you're not driving, because every little bump in the road is a tad uncomfortable for a couple days. Just make sure you don't do anything strenuous like spend a whole day shopping or something. As long as you just sit around and visit, you should be ok. Hope your surgery goes as well as mine did, and I can't wait to hear how you're feeling post op

Tiffy - thanks for the encouragement. If I can keep telling myself it'll get better I think I'll be ok. Only 2 more days till full liquids which means Cream of Wheat which equals heaven in a bowl Papillon - I know just what you mean! My mom made one of my favorite dinners for herself, my daughter and grandson last night and I really just wanted to tell them all to go away. I'll just keep looking forward to the milestone days that I can advance my diet and I'll be ok.

I'm trying to figure out why in the world you have a catheter and why it's still in? And also, why didn't they take the drain out before you left the hospital? I was sleeved 7/01/10 and they pulled my drain before I left the hospital. I have to say, it was one of the weirdest things I've ever felt. It went down waaaaay farther than I thought it did. Not necessarily painful, but definitely weird. As far as the catheter goes, I didn't have one so I have no idea what it feels like to get one pulled. I am an RN though, and I've never had a patient tell me it hurt when I pulled their catheter.

When does the gas go away? That gas that makes you feel hungry, but you're really not hungry because it's GAS??? Ugh! The GasX strips help, but will I have to take them for the rest of my life?

Bahahaha!! Tiffy is so right!! I'm glad to know that the gas is temporary. Jennifer, the 7 pounds was what I lost during my preop diet. I haven't weighed since a week ago Monday, I don't even own a scale. My plan is to weigh myself every Monday when I go to work on the same scale to see what I've lost. I despise scales and refuse to own one, I would totally be one of those people whose life gets consumed by it. But I'll sure let ya know when I find out Monday! I already feel like I may have lost a bit!

Well, I had surgery with Dr. Aceves on 7/01 which was a piece of cake. The worst part for me was having that drain pulled out, and it wasn't even painful, just...creepy feeling. But now I'm home and asking myself, is everything ok? I just had a mug full of broth, isn't that too much? Will my new tummy hold more than 6 oz. because it's Clear liquids and they go through so much quicker? I'm kind of freaking out because I'm feeling so good, what if Dr. Aceves got in there and forgot to cut out my stomach? Anyway, the only other problem I've had is some gas, and that's managable with my Gas X strips. Anyone who can help put my mind at ease, thanks a mil.... Allison

Hard to believe that in 48 hours I'll be in Mexico just a few hours away from my surgery. I'm still not scared or nervous, but I just feel somehow underprepared or something. I can't wait for this, I know it's the right thing for me to do, I just wish it were over and I was back home with my babies. Hm...kinda melancholy at the moment...

I'm with ya, LaToya! Thursday is my day, too! I'm just prepared for anything and everything, not being able to stuff myself with cruddy food will be wonderful! I almost hope that my tastes will change so I won't be craving Taco Bell and Taco Bueno anymore! We'll see though...I can't wait!!

I'm leaving this Wednesday to go get sleeved with Dr. Aceves and I'm going all by myself. My aunt was coming with me but couldn't get off work. Strangely, I'm not the least bit nervous about going alone. There was someone else on this forum, I can't remember who, but they went alone also and said they didn't have any problems at all. In fact, it was better that way because the travel buddy would have been totally bored. If you're not going to schedule until early August, I'll let you all know how my solo experience goes. I'm so excited for this solo adventure!

What do I do if there are medications I take that don't come in liquid form? I take Cymbalta and it's in a capsule that can't be crushed and doesn't come in liquid. I've tried before to wean myself off of it and it was HELL. Has anyone else come up against this issue??

Okay, I'm an RN and I have a fabulous trick that's worked for my SUPER constipated cancer patients. Drink 8 oz of very warm prune juice followed by 8oz of hot coffee black. I know it sounds disgusting to some (I happen to love prune juice), but it will get the job done. I had a poor guy the other night who hadn't pooped in a week, I gave him my little cocktail and by morning he'd had a HUGE BM. If you can't do the 8oz, just get down as much as you can, any amount will help.

Started my low-carb, high-protein pre-op diet today. In a week, my surgery will be over and I'll be on the road to recovery. I'm so excited I can't stand it, and just hope this week will go by quickly!!

I'm scheduled with Dr. Aceves on July 1, and personally, I can't WAIT!! For some reason, I don't have the least bit of anxiety or fear, just total peace that I'm doing the right thing for my health. The only thing I really fear or have any anxiety about is when I think those "what if it doesn't work for me" thoughts. There are so many success stories, but I still let that self-doubt creep in sometimes. I know it's silly, but that's my biggest fear. What sort of things are you nervous about? Do you have someone traveling to Mexico with you?

The nurse in me says it's probably really bad acid reflux. Are you taking a PPI like Nexium or Prevacid? If not, you should probably ask your doc about it.

Welcome, sunshine!! I've become addicted to this forum, too. There's just so much information, such inspiring stories, and it all makes me SO EXCITED!! July 1 can't get here fast enough!!

So funny that you should mention those bones :thumbup: I remember about 15 years ago I lost alot of weight doing Fen-Phen (or is it Phen-Fen??). I worked at a daycare and laid down in the floor with the kiddos for naptime. I was laying on my back, and lo and behold!! Hipbones!! I couldn't believe it, and I was ecstatic!! I completely understand how exhilarating seeing a bone like that can be I just hope a year from now I'll be saying hello to my old bony friends again, too. Congrats!

So I need some advice as to which protein supplements everyone prefers for my clear/liquid/mushies stages. Which are the best to mix in clears? Which ones make the best smoothies? There are so many, I just don't know which one to pick. HEEEELP!

JulyBride, I also got into the foster care thing in a special situation. I met my daughter in my youth group at church, and through a series of very sad events, she came to live with me. It's not been easy, but I truly believe it's exactly the way it's supposed to be. Good luck on your foster care journey and your weight loss journey. Part of the reason I've chosen the sleeve is so that I'll have more energy to play with my little man, and hopefully children of my own someday. Welcome, latoya79, BEARKAT, NC Redneck, and sunshinegirl64!! Looks like we're all in this together!

Jennifer - I am a pretty young lookin' granny, huh! :crying: Actually, I have a 16 year old foster daughter that I'm in the process of adopting (should be final by the end of the month - yay!), and she had my sweet grandbaby when she was 14. So, at the ripe old age of 33, I'm a *gulp* grandma. I bought my plane tickets today, I'm so excited!! Now all I need to do is get my loan finalized for the surgery and I'll be set as far as finances & travel plans. There's a wellness store my mom knows about (she's an oncology nurse, too, like me) and I'll be going there to get my Protein supplements and Vitamins. There's also something she's told me about that you drink twice a day for 5 days before surgery that's supposed to help your body heal more quickly and fight infection, when I find out the name of it I'll post it on here in case anyone wants to research it for themselves. Now, I'm off to go find a nice, comfortable dress to travel in. Welcome, JulyBride!! It's funny that you're waiting for the honeymoon until it's cold so you can get out of northern Michigan, I think I'd love to go TO northern Michigan for my honeymoon. Get a nice cabin in the woods, get snowed in for a few days...woo hoo! Being an Okie girl, I only get snow in small amounts and would LOVE to actually see something deeper than 2 inches for a change.

I'm not bringing anyone either. I have a 17 month old grandson who is VERY attached to my mom and I, and there's no way we could BOTH leave him here, it just wouldn't be fair to him. He's too little to understand. My aunt was going to come with me, but she can't get off work in time to come with me. Actually, I'm really excited about coming alone. I look at it as a huge adventure, and I'm excited to meet you, too! I haven't gotten any supplements yet, I'm such a procrastinator!! There's an Isopure zero carb vanilla that I want to try, and of course, chocolate! Isopure also has clear Protein drinks that I'd like to try. I found them on GNC.com, I'll probably just order them, I can't ever find time to just go shopping. Seems like time is creeeeeeping by! I'm so ready!

Are you having second thoughts about your surgery? Why would you want a positive preg test that might sabotage the surgery? Did you know you can still have babies after you get sleeved?

Jennifer, I'm not really sure I go back to the hotel on the night of the 3rd, that was just what I got after reading the instructions one time. Guess I should go over them again, huh! :001_tt2: There's gonna be another guy getting sleeved on 6/30 (I think) down there with us, his username is CavyGuy, we'll have to make sure to check on each other and say hello. Who is traveling with you? Have you started buying Protein supplements and soft foods yet? I'm so excited!!

Kathy, it would be really neat if we were getting sleeved in the same place I know everything will go well for both of us, though. I'm like you, it seems that time is standing still for me, I want this done and I want it NOW! I'll arrive in San Diego around 11:00am on 6/30/10, the driver will pick me up at the airport and take me to the hospital for all my pre-op testing. I think I'll spend the night in the hotel that night (maybe the hospital, not sure) and have surgery the morning of 7/01. I'll spend 7/01 and 7/02 nights in the hospital, 7/03 in the hotel, and fly home to OKC on 7/04 getting home around 10:00pm. I can't wait!! Ron, welcome to our board! I'm also looking forward to being able to tie my shoes without squishing my flabby belly and getting red in the face. I'm also looking forward to shopping at Victoria's Secret again (they don't sell fat girl undies there). I look forward to going to the movies and not having to raise one of the arm rests on my chair so my hip can spill over into the next seat (or onto the person sitting in that seat). So many ways life will change for the better. Maybe I'll mourn food once I'm not able to eat it anymore, but I'm actually looking forward to not being able to eat much. Maybe because physically I feel so bad when I do overeat. I don't know, I'm just ready to have this big old stomach OUT! As far as my pre-op diet, Dr. Aceves just wants me to eat a low carb, high Protein diet the week before. No liquid diet, no clears, nothing like that. Yay me! I hope we get more July sleevers on here, this is fun getting to know everyone and go through this together!! :biggrin0:

Ouroborous, you're crackin' me up! Troy, baby batter?? I don't think I've heard that one since high school!! LOL!!