Shannalee

Good luck You'll be in my prayers.

I must be the odd man out because I am looking forward to my 6 week pre-op diet. I plan to get rid of everything in the house except for what I can eat and all the ingredients for my shakes. I guess I'm just wanting to get to the surgery that doing the 6 week diet will help me get there. Of course you'll have to check back with me half way in and see if I still feel the same way

I plan to be off work for the cleared liquid part of my pre-op diet. I have the same fear that I will have a complete meltdown before my surgery....mostly withdrawing from things.

I'm almost there. Got a call from my insurance yesterday on a different matter (about my knees) and that's when I told them that I was in the process of getting the surgery but hadn't turned in for approval. She asked me a few questions and then told me that unofficially I should have no issue getting approved. Then I got a call from my case worker at the surgery center and we talked about the fact that I am actually almost done. I have my sleep study this weekend and should know the results before the end of next week. She is going to turn in my insurance approval on March 11th and I should start my 6 week pre-op diet a week or two later. She is actually going to put me on the surgery calendar for May 7th but thinks that there is an earlier date. I will know more in a few days. As I get closer to my date more and more people are asking me about it and after almost 6 months prep I am more confident in explaining what will happen. I actually have this excited but scared way about it. The guy I go to lunch with told me this today and I didn't realize it. The more that I think about he is right. This is a life changing event and the closer I get to it the more I think about what it will be life 6 or even 12 months down the road. OMG...I am almost there but I have to say that I am real anxious about the whole thing. I have been telling people at work how weird it is going to be. I am going to be changing every week and the thought actually scares me. Not in a bad way but in a new and exciting way.

I do feel like I am trying to run before I learn to walk. I have been hearing that people do feel better only after a few weeks and I can't wait for that feeling. This is a change that will benefit me the rest of my life. I need to remember that the next time I really get anxious about the surgery. Thanks you

I hope to start my pre-op diet here in a few weeks and I have been struggling with everything especially soda. I know that I can't have it after so I'm trying to get in as much as I can. I know that I shouldn't and stay away but I just can't. I really hope that things change after the surgery because I don't want food to rule my day as it does now. I strive to be like Gurlygirlrcr80 and think like JenP. Oh the mind games we play as we get closer to our surgery date. You are not alone as I think we all struggle with being anxious during this process.

Mine will be 6 weeks but my mom's was only a week. I think it all depends on the doctors but it's shouldn't be that long. Mine will consist of: Wk1&2 - 2 meals & 1 Protein drink Wk3&4 - 1 meal & 2 Protein drinks Wk5&6 - 3 protein drinks That seems like a lot but my doc told me that I will lose a bunch before the surgery (BMI will still be in the 60's) that it will help. Each program is different but give your docs office a call and see what it will consist of. It might help to know before so you can get ready for it like I have. My 6 weeks starts in a few weeks and so far I have start cutting back my food. Good luck

So my therapist mentioned that maybe I should write "good bye" letters to all the foods that I will no longer have. I've been thinking about it but was wondering if others have done this & if it worked?

Boy I am having an off couple of weeks. Not sure what is going on with me but it has been tough and it’s not getting any better. Of course I know it will but it sure doesn't feel like it :/ I’m struggling with food, working out, and everything else. I have my 2nd nurse’s visit next Friday and I’m scared that I've gained weight. Not sure what will happen if I do but I will be honest with my nurse and let her know that it has been a struggle. I have to give myself some credit in that I have changed a lot of behaviors that I normally would be doing but the one that keeps popping its ugly head is soda. Soda seems to be my Kryptonite and knocks me down each time. In my head I have this constant battle where a line has been drawn. On one end there is the thought that I can have soda until the surgery because I know I can’t have it after. Then on the other side I know that if I stop soda now I will feel better and know that I am making a change for the better. Man, my head feels like a war zone!!!!!!! Then I have the wonderful pleasure of watching my mom go through the surgery this coming Tuesday. I am praying everything goes great and that she is successful but I am having issues with her process and mine. I know that we are going through different journeys but I feel so angry that she doesn't have to go through as long of a pre-op diet as I will. When we talk and I want to talk about how I am struggling all she does is talk about herself. Take for example today, I stayed home from work yesterday because I spiked a fever of 102 and my knee was killing me. She called me last night when I was sleeping so I called her back this afternoon. The first minute she asked how I was doing and before I could finish she was talking about her progress and how many more days she has. She has also been driving my sister & my dad crazy. I know I should be happy but I just don’t have the energy to. I’m sure I will eventually but right now I’m a horrible daughter. I need to get out of this funk and realize that I am doing this to be healthier and live longer. I want to be able to do the things I used to do and enjoy my life. I want to experience my true self and the way I am right now is not true. Things will get better and things will start to look up but until then I just have to take it day by day but today it’s hour by hour.

I am so frustrated with and the way my supervised diet is going. I have my 2nd weigh-in in 2 weeks & I know I've gain a few pounds. Started drinking soda again....some are reg & some are diet. I almost want to tell my nurse that I should be on the diet for a few more months but not sure. I know I'll get out of this funk but I just don't know. I think everything really has to do with the pain in my knees. I had some shots today to help & I have 3 more to go. I just really want this over & on my way to a new & healthier me Sorry for the rant but I really needed it. I haven't blogged forever either...maybe I need to make sure I do that to help me!

Thanks

Had my psych eval today....probably flunked it. Guess we'll find out next week when I meet the doc. Anyone have issues after they took the test?

I am right there with you. I had to fly cross country in November and I started freaking out about the long distance and who was sitting next to me as early as October. While my work paid for my initial ticket I had to fork out a lot of money to buy an extra seat. Actually I beleive this incident really sealed the deal with me getting the surgery. In a way I really hated the whole experience but in another way it did help me come to the realization that I needed help and this was it. I will fly again and when I do I will enjoy everything you mentioned and more

There really isn't much you need to do to prepare. Mine had about 165 questions and they all were true or false. They ranged everywhere but every once in a while one would pop out that would take me a second to answer or I was in between. One thing I can say is try not to over think the question. I think when I didn't do this I was able to truthfully answer the question. Some questions mostly deal with feelings but also actions. Like are you more a leader or more a follower? Do you allow yourself to get pushed around? Are you telling the truth when you are answering these questions? Thing like that.....just be truthful and don't over think it. I am learning that overthinking something can get you in trouble I had my hour session with the doc yesterday and he gave me a great review and said that I was ready for this. I am so happy that I passed this part. I always get so nervous when it comes to my head. I'm just happy I can move on to the next portion.....lab work!!!!!

I was reading CNN.com and came across this story...very encouraging http://www.cnn.com/video/?hpt=hp_t3#/video/us/2013/01/15/400lb-to-triathlete.wkow

It might be a little early to ask this question because I won't be having my surgery until May 2013 but I am 422 pounds and have been a little obsessed with researching everything I can about running. I've never done it but would really like to start when I have lost the weight. My question is......has anyone lost a lot of weight and been able to start running?

So mine had 165 questions & I think it only took me 20 minutes. I have an appointment this week with the doc about the questions. I don't know...I feel a little off about this part. I guess we'll see when I talk with the doc.

I have been saying to myself that I need to take it slow. My issue in the past was that I would dive right in and then something would happen. I think that over time the running will be part of the exercise but I do love walking too so that's what it will be in the beginning. Thanks for the tip on the shoes. I actually wear sneakers all day everyday because they help with the impact on my knees. I don't spend as much but I have a feeling when I do start to walk more that I will be buying better sneakers. My head has all these ideas for what I want to do for exercise after the surgery but I need to continue to remind myself that it took be this long to get all the weight on and it's gonna take sometime to get it off. Like JustJenn said....it's a marathon, not a sprint I just have to remind myself that everyday.

Doesn't surprise me that people do that....I am one of them. Last nights episode was just not good. You would think that after these contestaints watching previous seasons would know that the first workout would be like that. I just hope tonights episode is a little less whining and more about winning

Thanks for the advice....I will have to remember that. I know at first I will want to dive right in but walking will be my friend for a while. The good thing about where I live there is a trail that is beautiful and almost, I think, 50 miles long. I know I won't be able to walk it all in one shot but I have plenty areas to start from.

You know in the beginning when the BL started just how much unprepared everyone was but that was expected because not everyone knew what to expect. Now it surprises me that when people get to the ranch they just want to give up. Haven't they seen the show and know that the first week is worse than hell. I don't know...I go back and forth watching it. I might watch it this time because of the kids.

I think it all depends in how I am feeling at the time when it is one. Sometimes I can watch one season and be ok but then they air another right after and then I'm not interested. My sister says that it's not a good program to watch because you tend to eat badly while your watching and she is right. I am usually eating during the program and that's not good.

I forgot about that program. My sister has used it and she loved it. She has mentioned that it's a great tool to start running. I just don't know what it feelings like to be able to run and see what everyone I know is enjoying. I have a co-worker that is starting to really get ready for a 50k that we have every year and how he is preparing has really made me interested in it. He is aware of the surgery and very supportive so it would be cool if once I am down to a comfortable weight and have trained maybe I could attempt the 25k at the same time. I can't even imagine but I have added this to my reverse bucket list

I'm not sure but it might not be. All depends on the doc & insurance & when you did it. You might have to do one with your surgeon but check with them early so if you did have to do another one you're not waiting forever.