BarbH

I am now a December sleever. My date is December 3, just one week away. Hating my preop diet, but also excited. I was originally an August sleever but had to reschedule due to an infection.

I am on day 4 of 10 of my preop. Clear liquids and 3 protien shakes a day. It is terribly hard. I did cheat on day 2- took the kids to the movies and had about one handful of popcorn.

I am a newbie here. I can't believe I finally have a surgery day. I started this journey 3 years ago. I was encouraged by my primary physician to see a bariatric surgeon. However, most wanted to do gastric bypass and this was just not the surgery for me. I was also only 2 years cancer free at the time and really was not ready for another surgery. Apparently I was meant to wait, because I never even heard the word "sleeve" mentioned during these initial consultations. I am having my surgery in Langhorne PA by Dr. Medvetz. I have come to enjoy my support group and the people at the hospital. I was glad to see the what to pack list and am having preadmission testing this week. Barb

for those of you on facebook who heard about my surgery being scheduled here is the update. I am now home from the hospital where I was admitted for pyelonephritis. I called Barix to reschedule and was told my surgeon is no longer operating there, she is moving to a different facility. The other surgeon at the practice has only done half a dozen sleeves, so I will not be having him operate on me. Dr Medvetz will be running the bariatric program at a hospital closer to my house which is also a Blue Cross center of distinction and an ASBM center of excellence. She had performed well over a hunderd sleeves, so surgery is postponed until October at the new hospital which also has back up of an ICU and ER. I am beginning to think that the pyelo was a sign, because I have never had a surgery without some complication.

I am day 9 of 10 on the clears plus 3 shakes a day. This weekend was hard, hubby was home and I was off from work. Saturday we did the shopping for the house- I also have 2 daughters. I ended up having shrimp bisque that I strained so it was just the broth. On day 3 or so I felt terrible- headache from lack of caffiene, muscle aches and weakness. My nutritionist recommended powerade zero or gatorade no cal and it worked like a charm- 2 glasses and I felt remarkablly better. My doctor avised against slim fast unless I bought the low calorie so I am using Nectar by Syntrax and a whey/soy protien I picked up at the grocery store which has 115 calories and 25 grams of protein in a serving. I find the shakes taste better in skim milk and since this is allowed, I am filling up on them. I actually had trouble getting 3 down yesterday since I had the soup. I guess it does eventually reduce your stomach size.

Started my preop diet yesterday. 2 days almost down, 8 to go. It is not as bad as I thought, at least so far. My boss made my jello jigglers with sugar free jello for my birthday and I have been munching on those through out the day. What is PB2? I currently am using the the nectar protien and like it pretty well. I also have bullion, decaf tea and crystal light all here at my desk.

I like Nectar brand shakes. I have had the lemonade, grapefruit and cappuccino. All are fat free, carb free and taste more like a juice than a shake. Of course for an extra treat, I mix the cappuccino with skim milk, add a couple ice cubes and toss in the blender. Frozen, caffiene free capuccino. Yum. I really don't like the ones that taste like shakes either. These are available on Amazon, a little pricey but worth it if I can get it down

Can I join the party?? My sleeve date is August 1 and I start my preop diet the 22 of July. My birthday is the 23 so my last meal will be where ever hubby takes me 2 days early. I am definitely having wine with that meal!!. I am having my surgery in Middletown PA, just north of Philadelphia. My surgeon is Dr. Medvetz at Barix.

I began this journey towards a healthier life in March. Finally I have a date, August 1, 2012. Today I spent the morning at the Barix clinic in Pennsylvania. I had preadmission testing. After agreeing to give them my first born child if I couldn't pay my bill, (haha, no one wants a .22 year old journalism major), the fun began. I stepped on the scale. I was down 6 pounds from my consult. This is only about 1 1/2 pounds a month, but apparently was not expected. Everyone who entered my room started with "Wow, you've lost weight already." I thought this was the expectation, after all we all want a tinier liver before surgery. In my exam room I was given a gown that actually met in the back. Wow, love a bariatric specialty hospital. Next came the blood draw. My phlebotomist was excellent. As she says, "I do this every day" Thank God, because I really hate when people go fishing for my veins. Next the nurse came in to do an H & P, however the computer put a hate on her, so on to xrays. Had a total of 5 takes for 2 pictures, the first was fine, view 2- into the developer too soon. Repeat of view 2- artifact on the film from the developer. Shot 3 of the second view, I coughed which is not a good idea during a chest xray. Shot 4 after juice and a break=success. Next up- Respiratory therapy. First up, she did my EKG- no I am not confused, small hospital- every one has multiple jobs. Lesson for the day- Powder and EKG tabs don't mix. Then on to spirometer practice. You get to bring this home to practice before surgery. One more thing on the list- looks like a hooka attached to a piston. Next pulmonary function tests or PFTs. Does anyone ever realize how hard it is to exhale forcefully over 10 seconds? Apparently the 4th time was the charm. Yeah! Jen the nurse is back and has conquered the computer gremlin. She does a history, then gives me my preadmission and discharge instructions. What a great system. Patients should know what to expect before every surgery. My next visitor is Elana. She is the dietician. I am now the proud receipent of a glossy magazine style book with all my rules and recipes for taking care of my sleeve. She also reviews how to read a label and gives protien shake samples. I wish you could sample all, because some taste like medicine instead of food. My last hurdle- the independent physician exam. The good news, I passed, the bad, I still have low iron and ferritin levels as well as low B-12 levels. Back on supplements. How can someone who weighs almost 300 lbs now have enough nutrients? One of life's ironies I guess. After 3 hours I am on my way with a very heavy tote bag, B-12 tablets and overwhelming information. Now to digest everything in the next 2 weeks.

I don't think the overeating is uncommon. I went up 6 lbs after my consultation and scared myself. My surgeon said I didn't have to lose weight, but she would not operate if I gained weight. So I promptly started watching what I ate and cut out fast food. Boom those 6.lbs gone. Then I lost another 6 in the remaining 3 months before my preadmission testing. Everyone said- Wow you lost weight. I never knew 6 lousey pounds could be so important, because my BMS went from almost 50 to 48- I didn't need an arterial blood gas today. However, everyone's journey is personal and if it was easy to maintain weight loss and If we didn't all love food we would not be having surgery to make our lives better. Good luck with your food funeral and you will gain control soon. You can only do your best. Just follow your surgeons and nutrtionist's advice. Only they can tell you how much you need to loose to get to surgery. But I do recognize your feelings. My big upset today- I realized my 10 days of Clear liquids starts one day before my birthday on Monday. I just informed my husband he is taking me for dinner and a glass of wine Friday night.

I am pre surgery, but found that as I aged, I went from an hourglass to an apple. I have also had several stomach surgeries so feel that some of this is lack of muscle use. My trainer and nutritionist both insist that the weight goes evenly and comes off evenly, but women spend more time walking than doing crunches, so you see improvement in those areas first. Keep the faith, as you continue to work your diet and exercise, you will lose the belly fat, it's just being stubborn.

Congratulations!! When is your date? My journey from consultation to surgery date took 4 months, but will be worth it. Good luck

Nice to meet you. Good luck with your sleeve. I feel as if after a cancer dx, any surgery is fine. With your colon ca history, a sleeve is probably a just the right procedure. Barb