My Big Day 3/15/2011

Thinking of you and hoping everything is going smooth for you. I will be in your shoes this time next week. In fact by this time i will be in recovery as my surgery is at 730 and my total or time should be an hr bc my surgeon says he does the surgery in 30 to 45 mins. will be looking for your posts

Really feeling sexy to my husband even though he tells me I am...also being so sexy to him that he can't resist the urge to have a second baby which I want and currently he doesn't, but that may change so I hear from others. Fitting into a pair of Seven jeans that I bought when I was thinner (thanks to Adipex) and haven't worn much...they cost $170 so I need to wear them some more. Not being held back at work, or looked over b/c of my weight.

Peanut Butter M&M's, Rest in Peace They were dear friends of mine during nursing school as I stressed out over each and every exam and downed a full size bag of them in the process. They will be missed, but they are in a better place...someone elses tummy!

Pre-op diet continued... afternoon 1 oz nuts, or 2 tbsp Peanut Butter, or 1/2 cup hummus with 4 oz vegetable dinner 4 oz Protein, 4 oz vegetable, 1/2 cup whole grain early evening 8 oz skim milk, 1/2 scoop Protein Powder, 4 oz fruit So, my pre-op diet isn't all liquids like a lot of people, but it is a big change from how I was eating. Obviously it is working so whatever your doctor has prescribed you should try your best to follow it. Good luck

Well, I have completed 3 weeks of the pre-op diet with a few small cheats. I did not go all out and eat a whole chocolate cake like my mind kept telling me I wanted to, but I did have a pinch of my husbands milky way bar one night, and a few bites of cheesy enchilada. I also went over on the ounces of steak I was supposed to eat one night b/c it was so yummy. Also, one night I skipped the whole program dinner meal and swapped it for a roast beef sub and french onion Soup....that was early on though. I have been good for the most part and I even miss some of the meals here and there b/c I don't have the time to fit them in. I have lost 16 lbs in the three weeks and hopefully I will get a few more off the following week and then my surgery is March 15th. I have to do a bowel prep (mag citrate) the night before...which I have never done before. Wondering what that will be like... Anyway, I haven't been perfect but pretty good with the diet and this week I will try to be extremely strict since I am one week from surgery. I am glad I started early and have not been treating every meal as the last supper. By the way, in case anyone is wondering here is a typical day of my pre-op diet Breakfast 8 oz skim milk, 1/2 scoop Protein powder, 4 oz fruit mid-morning premade Protein shake (been drinking premier with 30 grams protein) lunch 6-8 oz plain greek yogurt, non-fat, 4 oz fruit

I tried the unflavored for the first time tonight with crystal lite in a shaker and after I shook it up there was so much foam in the cup. I could not get it to settle...there were no clumps just foam. I could not taste it in the drink but the whole foam thing turned my stomach. How do you avoid this? I am trying things out for post-op and did not like that idea so I need other ideas...how do you mix it into the jello? Do you put it in with the hot water or wait until you mix the cold water and then mix it in?

Wow this is great progress...please tell us some of your tips of losing this fast. What do you do for exercise? What's a typical day of eating like for you? What was your post-op diet like? Was all of this weightloss post-op or was some of it from your pre-op diet? Please share the details so others can learn from your success. Thanks

I specifically came on here tonight to read back through this forum b/c I cheated tonight. I am supposed to be doing a low carb diet and I cheated a little tonight by eating a larger portion of meat than I was supposed to have (steak) and then by eating bites of my husbands cheesy enchiladas/refried beans and then eating some silly mentos that my son was eating! I am barring myself from the kitchen for the rest of the night and drinking water only and skipping my nightly protein shake supplement as I don't need it after all of the other things I had. The guilt is terrible and makes me realize the importance of having this surgery. I am 10 days from surgery so I am going to make sure to stick to the diet the rest of the time. It happens and you just have to keep trying!

Yeah my doctor says 34 to 36 fr gives a great restriction and going smaller than 34 you run the risk of more incidents of leaks...but don't question your surgeons abilities and the way the he does things b/c this really makes doctors angry...if he usually uses 44 and his patients are doing good then you have nothing to worry about. I would estimate that a 44 is about the circumference of a standard crayola marker...that is an estimate only...I know how big the 34 and 36 are and they are like a fat pencil that you used in kindergarten...you'll do great...your doctor just seems a little cautious

Try using a toddlers sippy cup to get smaller sips and do it continuously...this was a tip from my nutritionist

Here is my story of pre-op with the surgeon and I hope this gives clarity to those looking for what to expect during the pre-op visit... First item of business was the paperwork you have to fill out in the waiting area and then fees were collected by the secretary. My fees were as follows...$100 to surgeon, $300 for bariatric program fee which includes onlin support and first month of Vitamins, etc, and then $35 co-pay for my insurance(United). Next, the nurse called me back to her office to step on the grand scale for my pre-op weigh in and I was provided a print-out for my records of my weight which was 262lbs at this visit...down 9 lbs since the last time I weighed in their office. Next the nurse reviewed all of my health records/history and updated anything that needed updating. Then she gave me pre and post op orders. She reviewed them all with me. My pre-op order includes following the liver shrinking diet for the next two weeks, then day before surgery I can have light lunch but after lunch I go to Clear liquids until midnight. I have to take magnesium sulfate 260 mls (over the counter) to induce massive bowel movements the night before surgery. Then I must shower with dial (antibacterial soap) and take the prescribed sleeping pill (Ristoril) to get a good nights rest. Then I must arrive at the hospital at 530am for surgery at 730 am. I am instructed to take the prescribed Pepcid the morning of surgery with a sip of Water. After reviewing all of this info plus the post-op info I was sent to another room (exam room) where I was instructed to take my shirt and pants off, but leave panties and bra and put on a huge gown with the opening to the front. Then I got on the exam table and the surgeon walked in. (How nerve racking right?) Anyway, he said his hello and then wanted to know if I had any questions? I was honestly blank...and wish I had written down everything I wanted to know...this is my big piece of advice. Write your questions down...you will not remember it when you are in your underwear infront of your surgeon. So, he made sure to emphasize that the surgery alone will not make me lose weight and I will have to put in the work to follow the diet and exercise...ofcourse knew that. Then he listened to my lungs and heart and pushed hard on my belly in different areas and looked at my previous scars from my gallbladder surgery. The few questions I remembered were bougie size which he said will either be a 34 or 36 depending on how big my stomach is. Hospital stay...hopefully on one night but we will see depending on how I do. Weight loss of previous patients...he said very close to the same as his bypass patients (great news). I asked about leak checks and he doesn't do one intra-op only post-op the morning after surgery and that is an upper GI where you swallow contrast and they shoot an xray to see if anything is leaking out. As soon as this test is over and clear you can start on clear liquids. Anyway, the total time with the surgeon was probably 10 mins and the office was super busy! My biggest piece of advice is to write everything down and take someone with you that can help you remember the answers to your questions or write them down too! Good luck everyone...we are on our way.

ONCE I WAS SUBMITTED IT WAS EXACTLY ONE WEEK....GOOD LUCK

Make that date March 15th...got moved up a week and am the first pt of the day! Also, already had my pre-op, my pcp visit for clearance, ekg, chest xray. Only have labs to go and pre-register at the hospital. It's going to go so fast now...will be here before I know it.

I am March 15th and yes doing the pre-op diet as well which is low carb for my docor and consists of 3 protein shakes and three very small meals (like yogurt and fruit at lunch). I have already been for my pre-op and all my counseling and education and seen my primary care physician. I only have left to get my labs drawn and pre-register at the hospital. I have a very early start for my surgery as I am the first pt so I have to arrive at 530 in the morning. I am excited, nervous, anxious, hungry, overwhelmed...yeah that pretty much covers it. It's nice to know that there are several other sleevers on here that will be going in right around the same time as me. Keep up with your posts for the support you need! Good luck everyone!

Standing ovation for you!!! You are obviously on the right track and I am going to watch out for more of your posts to see what you are doing to be on the losing side of the fence. Keep up the good work and keep posting for the rest of us who are in the learning process. Awesome job!

So glad to hear that it is hard to get anything else in but protein...now wondering if you can use baby food during the pureed stage? Or what meats puree easily?

Way to go sunnyd! I am so happy for you. We are definately surgery buddies now because my surgery is the 15th, just the day before. I wasn't nervous when I got my date, just really excited. I am however nervous now after attending patient education on Friday and receiving a binder full of info on the post-op diet and exercise regimen expected of me. It is a seriously strict diet. I know it will not be hard to do given my new tool, but thinking about it makes me nervous thinking can I do this? My surgeon does not allow any carbs through 6 months out. None...the only carbs you get is from the fruit you are allowed to eat and possible a few hear and there in a low carb protein drink. Have you received your nutrition info yet? Also, on day 3 post-op my surgeon expects you to walk 20 mins, 3 times a day and start doing resistance and stretching exercises which they provide you with photos of. Every surgeon is different but it is super important to follow what your surgeon requests you do post-op. Keep me updated on your progress and once again congratulations on this very important step in your life.

I am the 15th so will only be 5 days after you guys! I will be looking forward to seeing posts from you on your progress before I go in for surgery. I am having surgery just 2 mins from my house here in Ft Lauderdale. Do you get access to computers/internet in Mexico so you can make a post about your progress? Good Luck to everyone and believe in your decision to do this and own it!

Be sure you ask that your surgeon take pictures of your fibroid to show to you after surgery! You will be amazed. I do a lot of gyn surgery where I work and we remove lots of fibroids. It's kind of crazy to see how big these things can grow and a lot of the women don't even know that they are in there until they start experiencing really heavy periods. You are going to do great with this surgery and almost always the fibroids are completely benign (non-cancerous). You may have some pain afterward as with any surgery but it will be well worth it considering you are having the panniculectomy also (how exciting). Lots of well wishes to you for your healing.

I had to change my user id again today b/c my date changed to be the date I originally had wanted! Yeah 1 week closer for me...new date is 3/15/2011. My husband's birthday and he is totally fine and excited I am doing it that day. It is kind of a gift to him b/c he will have me around longer, I will have more energy, and will look so much better for him! Mainly he knows that I am doing this for myself though b/c I have so many problems with back pain and have been through two back surgeries too many! I will be having pt education this Friday and time will fly from there I am sure. I can't wait for this change! I have already made it through 7 full days of the pre-op diet which isn't actually requirede except for two full weeks. That means by the time I have surgery I will have been on it for 5 weeks. I can't wait to find out who else shares this same date with me! Please post if you have the same date.

I am not sure if there are other posts on this subject, but I have a terrible time with my IV start. I usually get stuck multiple times by multiple people, thus developing my fear of the whole situation. I am looking for things I can do over the next 4 weeks to help improve my odds of having an easy IV stick. I have read about trying to build your arm muscles so I am beginning to work on that right away. Any other suggestions would be wonderful to help ease my anxiety over this matter. They do say that nurses make the worst patients...so I guess I fit the bill. I am going to ask myu surgeon to order a pre-op Xanax 30 mins prior to IV insertion and lidocaine for the actual insertion. I hope this doesn't make me come across as overly needy! I am very easy going...but God that Iv sticking hurts. I can take blood draws pretty easy b/c they take it from the anticubital space and the veins there are supberb but they don't like IV's there for surgery so then they work down the arm and once I had it in the inside of my wrist...that hurt like hell! Please any tips on IV's will be much appreciated...thanks!

Good luck tomorrow and hope you rest well tonight. Post again when you feel up to it to let everyone know your progress.

So excited that I got approved today after waiting only one week! I am so happy and am not hiding this from anyone. I am not doing this in secret as I am not ashamed that this is what it is going to take for me to get this weight off. Can't wait to tell my husband and talk to my awesome surgeon! Ready for this journey...

I think given your obvious fear of the catheter the doctor will still require it during surgery, which you will be asleep for and then since you are a male he will remove it before you wake up in recovery. You know why? Since you have a certain ability to use a urinal and not get up from the bed, then it will not be an issue for you to have to keep getting up to go pee. I know you are nervous about this part of your surgery, but you really shouldn't be, because I am certain the catheter will be gone before you wake up! I know this because I am a nurse in surgery and if you let your nurse and surgeon know your fear they will do your best to not have you wake up in horror with the catheter in. Hang in there and good luck with everything.

Thanks Sue, and I am definately hoping for a happy pill...glad you got one!