JoJo

Hi everyone! I hope all is well! I wanted to ask a question about alcohol. I have tried looking for the answers I needed in other posts but havent been successful. I am one week post op and doing well, already on soft solids and so far (crosses her fingers) no complications. This weekend is my husbands birthday, and he will be celebrating with friends. I would really like to be able to sip some Water and maybe 1 glass of wine but I dont want to cause problems with my pouch. I dont plan to get drunk just to Celebrate. Can anyone tell me what the complications may be by doing this? will it do anything to my staples... will it make me sick? I dont want to do it without being prepared and Im not making a habit but would like to be more informed. thanks for all your help and guidance I appreciate it!

Hi everyone! I had my surgery at about 11:30am on the 5th of May. I did well at the hospital I was told by one of the nurses I was their superstar patient because the other weight loss surgery folks weren't walking or using their breathing thingies (don't know the name of them). I walked every 2 hours. Downside is that I had trouble sleeping so I was up for 30 something hours straight until I got home today. I was trying to see how I was doing without the painkillers (lortab elixer or toridol) because for the most part I felt ok with the exception of the gas. I stopped taking the pain meds at 3am, which wasn't bad but I was regretting it come the ride home at noon lol (yes im dumb!). I have been able to get about 4 hours sleep in since Ive been home, just got off the phone with my husband so figured I would post but other than being very sore Im fine. I have been home about 7 hours have been drinking Water and about 4oz so far of Isopure punch which I love. I had Jello, tea and apple juice before leaving without any nausea. I think I will lay back down awhile and then see if I can drink some warm tea or maybe the Protein chicken Soup I bought. I just wanted to update everyone on my progress! When I left the hospital I thought... what the hell did I just do to myself! lol but I hear that is completely normal and granted I was in some pain on the ride home. Now that I am home I am feeling much much better! Hope all is well with everyone! I DID IT!!!!!

Thanks everyone I appreciate all your responses and have decided to wait. As far as the soft food goes, my doctors regimen is a bit different than everyone elses. I had no pre-op diet, and after 24hrs I was on clear to thick liquids and soft solids as soon as I could incorporate them in. I started soft solids about 4 days in with no irritation at all. I will be like this until 4 weeks out when I can eat solid foods. Again thanks for the support!

Welcome! I joined the board only a short time ago and had my surgery in las vegas on May5th! I can tell you that I had many worries etc but the people I have met on here are really great and we will all be on your side during this. I know they really helped me along and I only had a short time before my surgery date. When most people dont seem to understand or you are just reluctant to tell them you can come here and be greeted with knowledge, understanding and love! I just returned from the hospital yesterday and I am sore but already feeling much better. Good luck to you and keep us posted!!

My surgery date was scheduled originally for May 4th but got moved to May 5th today I guess the doc has an emergency. It gives me one more day to stress lol My doctor does things so much differently than what many are doing I am finding out. For instance no pre-op diet I just cant have anything after 10pm the night before. After surgery I am on clears for 24 hours and then days 2-21 its liquids to soft solids as tolerated. Finally solids at day 22. I mean I dont plan on rushing anything but Ive seen alot more restriction on the here for other sleevers. I researched my doc out and he is one of the top in the country it just seems odd that the diet varies so very much for us all. I am almost jealous of not having the pre-op diet since I wont lose any weight before hand but then again Im not complaining it sounds horrible. Hey I wish you all luck - ITS GONNA BE A GREAT MONTH!!!!

Hi everyone I hope all is well. I wasn't sure I wanted to post this as I am sure its not the first time its been posted but I didn't really know what else to do. My insurance was approved friday and I was happy -- very happy! I have been watching youtube journeys alot the last several weeks and doing what I can to prepare myself for what is to come. But what was to come wasnt really something I could prepare for and Im not sure how to get it to go away. Last night I was watching more videos and its not like they scared me everything turned out well for those I watched but I think my body and subconscious finally caught up with what was going to be happening on Wednesday (suregery date). I started feeling very sick to my stomach and had to actually go to bed it hurt so bad. I thought it was something i ate (my doctor doesnt require a pre op liquid diet). I woke up super early and couldnt go back to bed but I still felt really bad. So I began my day. I had a bite of apple to take a Vitamin even though I was completely not hungry and looking at food made me nauseous. I had to stop by the drug store for the prescribed liquid lortab and some other post surgery items and then went to the grocery store to get stocked up on what I will need over the next week or so. At the grocery everything on the shelves made me feel sick. I came home and forced myself to eat a cheese stick and yogurt but it didnt make me feel any better. I babysat my darling 1yr old niece - the one thing in the entire world that always makes me smile and feel good but I still felt bad. I was cold, my stomach hurt to move around, I was tired. But I put on a smile and did the unthinkable... I called her parents to get her early (that NEVER happens lol). My husband is out of town working and will not be here for surgery but my friend knew I definitely wanted steak for before I did this. As he was marinating etc I had to let him know that I cant eat it tonight. I turned down steak, crab legs and freaking grilled asparagus! I think I may have lost my mind!!! Anyways a good friend of mine to recently went through some weight loss and marital problems due to stress told me that I am acting just like she did. This is how she felt when she had her trouble so its most likely my nerves are shot. The thing is, Im not turning back, I need this, I want this and although I am scared its gonna happen. I dont know why my body is resisting so much. I feel helpless, I am an emotional roller coaster right now. I was crying because I felt bad I turned down dinner lol. I am usually very in control of my emotions and stuff and I am a strong woman but I am feeling beat. I want to turn this around. I want to enjoy my last (FAT) days . Im completely out of control here. Can just one person tell me Im not alone in this because at this point I am really scaring myself. well sorry for ranting. I hope you all have a lovely night and I will keep you updated on my progress. Do or die my sleeve has me Wednesday!!

Thanks again EVERYONE for all of your support! I'm still not feeling well today but better than yesterday. I dont have much energy but forced myself out of the house to run some errands and I DID manage to eat my wonderful last meal of steak and crab legs so atleast part of my appetite was back. I suspect tomorrow will be the worst or it will just be so surreal that I will be in denial. Come to think of it that may be a good thing lol You all are the best!! Thanks for making me feel so much better about this I appreciate you more than you know!! I will definitely post once I'm home and up to it!

Hi Tracy! I also take the extended release metformin and my issues went away as soon as I switched to it. I would suggest having your doc switch you if that is not what you were taking. My understanding is that the metformin is taken for more than just weight loss. Yes it helps with weight loss but it also helps to open up the cells in your body to accept insulin because right now with pcos about 1/3 to 1/2 of those cells are blocked so the insulin travels around your body wreaks havoc and then has no where to go so it deposits as fat. After surgery you may not need it but until surgery it wont hurt to have the doc prescribe the extended release metformin. Extended release is just a time release med instead of dumping all of the metformin into your system at once. Its less of a shock.

Thanks everyone for your kind words, I definitely needed the encouragement. I have decided not to investigate this operation or videos anymore than needed until my surgery. I am going to try my best to not think about it the next two days (yeah right good luck to me there!). Its good to know that I am not alone. My body just needs to get on board with this thing because its happening no matter what! I think your right about it happening fast, I think deep down until my surgery was approved I was happy to embark on my new journey but worried it wouldn't go through and I really needed it to and then after it finally went through my body was like WOW this is a for sure thing and its in a week! I thought the emotional rollercoaster came post surgery boy was I wrong lol I do have to go into the center today to get some supplements and things I will see what they think maybe there is something they can give me to calm my nerves that was really good advice. Im hoping I feel some sense of relief after surgery but I think that may be wishful thinking on my part. I probably wont feel relieved until about 2 weeks post op. I really do love this site. Thanks to all of you!

I actually had to bring it up to my doctor and get his opinion. Because apparently I did more homework than HE did! I actually had to remind him of the basics behind pcos and tell him why I thought carbs were bad for my condition. Finally he said your right! I tell ya I dont know what they teach these people! I stuck to atkins for 6mths solid with no temptation but only lost 20lbs. I then of course did what we all do and gave up. I gained only 5lbs back however. I still try my best to cut down on carbs but I have to admit I havent been very good at it this last year or so. Im so glad that I am on a journey that may help with this situation! Good luck to us all!!!

Thanks to both of you for sharing your fears and accomplishments. I too have PCOS and Hypothyroidism and I too have been very concerned that I will be the one fat girl that will not loose weight after the surgery. Its encouraging to hear how well someone experiencing some of the same medical issues as me has been able to turn it all around and be healthy and happy! Its also good to hear that I am not the only one having these fears. I am scheduled to get sleeved on 5/4. I wish all the best to both of you and hope to see more of your progress! Good Luck!

AMAZING! YOU LOOK GREAT!

You look Great!!!

Hi there everyone! My name is Billie Jo and I just registered to the site yesterday. I have to say that I have found many inspiring stories here and I joined because I believe this could truly be the only place I can go where everyone will understand just how incredible this journey really will be. Yes I will get thinner, healthier, but its about a lifestyle that will change everything about me. Mind, Body, and Soul. Nobody understands like those going through the same thing right? I'm not really sure what I'm supposed to say here so I guess I will just share my story... and my fears. I am 35 years old, 5'6" and 333lbs, the heaviest I have ever been. I have PCOS, and an under-active thyroid. I have always been overweight but ever since I developed the thyroid issue I have gained weight rapidly and havent had much luck shutting it off. My mother and sister in law had the bypass several years ago and my sister in law gained much of it back by not continuing to follow her dietary requirements. My mother kept the weight off but ended up very weak because she failed to exercise or take in the Protein requirements to keep her healthy. When you go in - you go in ALL THE WAY or you let yourself down. I have decided I am ready to take that leap. I went to a seminar on the surgery options about 2 years ago and then my insurance ran out and I was unable to move forward. Last month I decided to go for it. Luckily my insurance's only requirements are to have a medical condition that could improve with the surgery, and have a BMI over 50 for the last 5 years... HA! that was the easier test I ever passed! This month I attended all the nutrition classes, psych eval, testing etc needed and now I am just waiting on the insurance approval. I have a tentative pre-op appointment date of 4/27 and a surgery date of 5/4!! And I have to say I am super excited to be on the losing side of the surgery! I have been reading this book 'before & after' by Susan Leach and its very inspiring. Her mantra seems to be 'nothing tastes as good as thin' I have to AGREE and I think that will help through also. I have only 2 worries about all of this. One is the anesthesia, as I have never had any type of surgery so that scares me and then the second fear is not losing. What happens if I do all of this and then never lose weight lol is feeling this way normal? I just cannot ever in a million years see myself getting down to a manageable size let alone thin. I fear I will always be this way. I would imagine that there are others that had that fear too and were able to overcome. I will too. So I am putting myself out here and telling you things some of my closest friends dont even know because aside from my husband you are probably the only ones that would ever understand. I look forward to sharing more in time. And I wish all of you luck whether at the beginning or end of your journeys!