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LOL

I am sorry that your anxiety about this is so high. I was just sleeved yesterday and my recovery has been pretty easy and nearly pain-free so far. If you'd like to read about my experience, it is here: http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/65606-my-experience-so-farnow-with-details/ -- it's pretty long and detailed because I was also letting people know about the Mexico experience, but I broke it into paragraphs and it should be pretty easy to skip to the surgery and post-op parts.

I, too, am sorry this has been difficult for you. Like others have said, it really is more common for recovery to be mild. I was just sleeved yesterday and it has been mostly easy and virtually pain-free. I was advised before surgery to get up and walk as soon as possible after surgery to help the anesthesia wear off--the anesthesia can cause nausea and vomiting if it stays in your system too long. Even though I got up and walked as soon as I was brought back to my room, they had kept me in the recovery room for 2 hours already and I wound up feeling nauseous after walking back and forth in the hallway about 15 times--I did not vomit, though, and I felt better when I laid back down. They also gave me something in my IV to help with the nausea.

I flew to TJ today. I'm currently on only clear liquids, surgery tomorrow. My saving grace to get through the clear liquid stage has been Isopure, btw. I bought the ready-to-drink 20 oz bottles, which have 40 grams of protein each. They keep me sated for about 4 hours (for me, every 10 grams of whey protein seems to keep me satisfied for an hour). They are expensive and I know a lot of people don't like the taste, but I have found that some flavors are better than others. The cheapest place that I have found them is luckyvitamin.com and they sell a flavor assortment--a dozen bottles, 6 flavors. Anyway, I went to school before I went to the airport, so it had been more than 4 hours since my Isopure by the time I got to the airport and I was STARVING, especially as I started to pass all the restaurants. And, of course, my departing gate was directly across from a Burger King. It turns out I was prepared, though. I actually bought Unjury chicken soup flavor in packets for this very purpose. I brought 4 with me so that I would have enough for the airport coming and going. I also brought a food thermometer so that I could make sure that the water is the proper temperature for the Unjury. I went to Starbucks and bought a 16 oz cup of hot water (they charged me 30 cents), which is enough for 2 packets of Unjury--like I said, I was STARVING--then I went to a table and pulled out the thermometer and the Unjury. The water was way too hot, but luckily, I had also bought a bottle of cold water before I got to Starbucks and, also luckily, they gave me 2 cups. I was too impatient to wait for the water to cool down on its own, so I poured half of the hot water into one of the cups then added cold until it got to the right temp (then poured some back so that it was back to 8 oz), added the Unjury and I was in heaven. I then repeated the process for the rest of the water and consumed the 2nd packet, for a total of 42 grams of protein. It helped me to survive the temptations at the airport and on the airplane (they came around with pretzels and they were selling food) and make the hour long car trip from the airport to the hotel. So, if you think that you might be hungry at the airport or during your flight or soon after and you're on clear liquids, I highly suggest bringing something like the Unjury chicken soup packets with you.

I was sleeved today, actually. Surgery was successful with no issues and I'm doing well. I've walked the halls a few times, burped a bit, and don't feel much pain at all--gas or otherwise. I'll be writing up a more detailed account of the experience later.

I'm out of surgery, which was successful with no issues. I have walked the halls. I'm really sleepy now, so I'll write more later.

Best of luck to you! My surgery is today too! Leaving for the hospital in an hour.

Thanks for all the well-wishes and prayers! I just woke up from sleeping for about 4 hours, but hopefully I'll be able to get a little more sleep before I get picked up to go to the hospital in 4 hours. I'll definitely be posting about how I'm doing and how things went as soon as I can after surgery.

Yeah, I'm flying home Monday. Best of luck to you too! There is wi-fi at the hotel and in the hospital.

Thank you!

Do you know how long you would have to wait for the new insurance to cover your surgery? How long it would take to get approved? Ultimately, the decision is up to you, but having insurance that will cover your surgery and your after care is pretty nice.

I'm here! I'm in TJ, actually :-) My flight got in about 2-1/2 hours ago and it took about an hour to get to the hotel because it was rush hour. After checking in, I took a bunch of pictures of the room (it's nice)--can't post them from my iPad, but I will when I get back then called room service for complimentary broth and popsicle. Now that I've eaten (well, sort of), I'm settling in and catching up on VST. I'll try to get a good night's sleep, but I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to sleep. I found out I'm the only surgery with Dr. Ortiz tomorrow, so I'm pretty happy.

Tomorrow is the big day! Wish me luck!

Tomorrow is the big day for me! Wish me luck!

I didn't weigh every day during my pre-op diet, but I think I might have stalled before I got to clears. Clears definitely got the scale moving again.

I use a natural breath spray made with colloidal silver, which kills germs and seems to kill the odor. It also has organic peppermint oil, so it tastes good: http://www.uncleharrys.com/store/product_info.php/breath-freshener-spray-p-1456

Thanks very much!

In another thread about medical alert bracelets, someone mentioned that they were told to have the following inscribed: GASTRIC SLEEVE NO BLIND NG TUBE NO NSAIDS That's what I plan to have on mine.

My surgery is 2 days away, so I am not yet sure how I will respond to meat post-op, but in general I don't necessarily like to eat meat all the time. Do you mind if I ask how you get in enough protein if you are not eating meat or any animal products?

I am not sure about the biotin, but the biotin I have is only 1000 mcg. The guidelines I have been given for B12 is only 500 mcg orally daily or a 1000 mcg injection (from your doctor) monthly.

First of all, congrats!!! My surgery is in 2 days, so I can't speak from experience--yet--but I think that I would focus on making exercise a lifelong habit (finding out which physical activities I enjoy the most and discovering new ones) because I think that regular exercise is a key component to maintaining the weight loss. I also know that when I exercise regularly I tend to eat healthier because for whatever reasons my body craves healthier foods. Plus, there's the added benefit that your body will look even nicer when it's toned. Besides the fitness stuff, I would want to find the right balance in my diet to maintain my weight loss and beyond that, just enjoy life!

It is what they use as a guide to make the size of your new stomach. During surgery, the bougie is put down your esophagus to your stomach. The surgeon is then able to use it as a guide to staple/cut along side of it to form your new sleeve.

The difference between a 36 and a 32 is so small, hardly noticeable really, so I wouldn't worry about it if I were you. Go with your first choice. I'm attaching a picture of the equivalent sizes to give you an idea.