possumtrot

My last real food for a while will be in Vegas. Don't know what it will be yet but I plan on making sure it is lean protein with green veggies. killjoy I know. But then again, I've already had all my favorites: fried corn, creamed peas and new potatoes, fresh green beans. All I lack is having fried squash blossoms then I'll be good to go. Maybe they'll have those in Vegas (not likely).

Thanks Mini. As of right now all arrangements are confirmed and I'm feeling VERY good about everything. I've started collecting items needed like a heating pad, gas x, etc. Even Mom is getting excited about the whole trip. We're going a day early so we can see Hoover Dam and some other attractions. DS is insistent that we go to the Gold and Silver Pawn Shop from the tv show Pawn Stars, lol. This history buff is proud that her one and only child is getting into historical items/antiques. <vbg>

I'm quitting smoking too. Might as well do it now rather than later. I'm still in the smoking stage using Chantix but am confident this is going to do the trick. I've tried every other method out there. You're right...it IS hard but I must say it is one of the things I regret the most...starting smoking. Best of luck with your smoking cessation!

I can relate. I had a short "goodbye, favorite foods tour" immediately after getting my surgical date. Since that time though I've gotten it out of my system somewhat although if I get a chance to have a mess of fried squash blossoms I'll be ALL over that. <blush>

Thank you for your candor. As someone who is a couple weeks away from surgery I want to hear everyone's experiences. Post-op issues are what I am concerned about too, so by relating your experience you help me learn. It is greatly appreciated.

I will be having surgery with Dr. Tom Umbach in Las Vegas.

That is what I'll be doing too, but of course now I'm second guessing myself... If I change my mind my surgery date will have to change too which is okay if necessary, although I'm geared up for 7/16 right now, lol. Did you find that going to the hotel was okay? My mom will be travelling with me now and I'm hoping that I'll be sleeping (fingers crossed). I have a fairly high pain tolerance and didn't have gas pain from my oovarectomy. guess it's the gas pain that is the most troublesome for people immediately out of surgery?

Those who used Dr. Umbach, did you have your procedure done in the hospital or at his clinic?

I'm sorry I don't have any advice or help for you but I believe pre- and post- surgery counselling/psych support is going to be an important component in my own journey. I am a stress eater and have been known to eat things and not even remember doing it. So for me it is important to have another tool in my weightloss kit to help figure out why I do that and how to make it stop. My job is high stress and since I cannot afford to quit and have no income, I've got to overcome this stress reflex of overeating in order to help get the biggest "bang for my buck" with the surgery. Also, this is a life-altering event (the surgery) and I want to make sure I'm staying true to course and not sabbotaging myself with stress eating. Best wishes on your journey...so glad to talk to others who have so much in common with me now I've made the decision to DO IT. Oh, and I am a wee bit jealous of anyone vacationing in FL, lol!

I will be going to Las Vegas for surgery too. Good to know you felt well enough afterwards to go to Hoover Dam as I would like to see it too. Thank you for the detailed account. It makes me feel even better about my choice. So many positive things are happening along this journey that I can't help but feel it is the RIGHT decision! Your pictures are awesome.

Can't help but think this is "meant to be". I had been dreading telling my dr. and he was enthusiastic. Just got off the phone to tell my mom about the surgery date. She is uber supportive and wants to go with to take care of me. Makes me wonder why I feel such dread telling folks...guess I'm just afraid someone important to me and this journey will be unsupportive and I don't want to hear it? I feel so much better after telling Mom. I'd rather have her with me than my son (sorry boy) so we'll see how this works out. I'm having a major cleaning frenzy digging deep into the corners and am sure I'll be exhausted by this evening. But it will be nice to have a spick and span house! All we'll have to do is maintain it for the next couple of weeks so I can come back to a relatively clean house. Yay!

Chancie, you are truly inspirational. I'm new here, so would anyone care to tell me what NSV stands for? tia

Great list! Did you find you needed all those things in the day or two after surgery? Did you feel well enough to walk around anywhere for short bits? There is someplace we want to go see and I am hoping that by the 3rd day after surgery I might feel well enough to go. Is this a pipedream? I had an ovary removed a few years ago and I would have felt good enough after that, so I'm wondering how similar things might be.

I'm a few days behind everyone else. Will be sleeved 7/16 in the states. It's coming up fast folks!

I'll be thinking of you...best wishes! My surgery is a couple of weeks away and even that seems so close, so I can only imagine what you're feeling. Hoping you have a safe and uneventful surgery and quick recovery.

You are inspirational. Thanks for sharing your story!

I'm self pay so guess that is why it's all going so quickly. ..no hoops. I have bc/bs too but my policy states there is no way in Hades they will pay for bariatric surgery so I'm not even trying. Luckily I fell into a bit of "extra" money so I can finally afford to take this step forward in life. Tests are sleep test, ekg, blood work, I think that's all. There is a psychiatric test form to fill out and fax but will just fax everything all at the same time. I haven't ridden in quite a long time as I figure it wasn't fair to my horses to sit on their backs. They're currently not minding being out of work but I know they will appreciate the extra attention once I get astride. We have 5 so this is an expensive thing to do and I cannot really justify the expense if all we're going to do is feed and pay vet bills on them. Winston Churchill said "There's something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of man." He was so right! They're part of my personal identity. Just cannot imagine life without them. Good luck with your insurance. :wink0:We pay enough in premiums that they should have to pay when we need it!

Wow...way to go on the pre-op weight loss! You're rocking it already!

Good to know about the not being able to drink after surgery...thanks for the info. Hope you are continuing to feel as good as possible!

PCP visit was a breeze. I went in expecting to have to justify my decision to be sleeved but was pleasantly surprised by his support. whew That just made things a little easier. Got the test orders so will complete them later this week. Now, though, it seems like I'm feeling like a farewell to my favorite foods tour. Had fresh greenbeans w/ham and potatoes, fried corn, Chinese, etc. I'm beginning to see how really attached to food I am mentally. No wonder I'm so large.

My liquid diet starts the 2nd. Good luck! It's nice to "meet" another person going through this at the same time.

Welcome home and thank you for letting us know how things are going. About the fidgety feeling, I haven't been sleeved yet but did have that same feeling after having an ovary removed. I chalked it up to feeling good, having the right amount of pain med, and that nesting feeling...but I couldn't do anything. All of a sudden those dust bunnies that have become household pets were on my top pest list, lol. Oddly enough, as I healed enough to take care of those types of things my concern about them waned to pre-surgery levels.:blushing:

'Grats! I'm excited about getting a surgical date too. It's almost overwhelming to think of everything that needs to be done first, isn't it?

Just got my surgery date and packet...2 weeks of protein drinks to replace 2 meals and 1 meal daily of lean meat and green veggies. I've already cut carbs to a min. (try to use the formula of converting grams of carbs into tsp. of sugar). Packet states to chew everything at least 20 times before swallowing. I guess it is to get that habit forming before you *have* to do it.

Oh My...this is moving fast. I now have a surgery date...July 16!!! I'm a bit speechless. Now I'm realizing there is so much to do between now and then. Wow. My son is going to go with me. He likes to travel and dh will stay home and take care of the dogs, cats and horses. I already had gotten a 9 a.m. appt. with my PCP to get a Chantix prescription, so now I have the packet the dr. sent to show/give him so we can get the tests done. I just ordered the Protein drinks I'll need for the pre-op diet. Wowzers. My head is spinning!