SerendipityHappens

I feel your frustration, I stalled for almost three weeks during my long preop too. I know it's normal, but it's still hard when it's happening to YOU!

YAY! I'm relaxing in the TJ Marriott right now without a care in the world! Wishing you a calm and uneventful surgery!

I did an 800 calorie high Protein VLCD for 14 weeks before my actual preop started. Between my pre-pre-op and my regular preop, I lost 45 pounds. I was just sleeved on wednesday and I feel fantastic. My doctors said my liver was perfect and the surgery was very easy. Also, just moving around after surgery I think is easier having that 45 pounds gone.. Also, My doctor had a bmi cut off of 49.. anyone with a BMI of 49 or above had to pay an extra thousand dollars.. So that was an extra incentive for me to reduce my BMI! Also I feel like living like this for so long has really helped me prepare mentally for the sleeve. I wasn't always perfect and I did take a few "vacation days" during the diet where I ate normally (NOT BINGING)for a few days before starting another round of the VLCD.

I'm down 70 pounds from my highest weight and nobody really notices. The first 25 pounds went really slow, but the next 45 pounds, I lost in just three and a half months doing the preop diet.. and still not a lot of notices. At my size it takes a LOT of weight lost before people notice.. I guess it's hard to tell the difference between "really REALLY fat" and just "really fat" Meh.. they'll notice soon enough!

I haven't advanced to yogurt yet... but I generally just make my own yogurt and then it can be sweetened with some stevia or mashed banana or torani syrup.

I was sleeved by Doctor Valenzuela with Dr Cabrera assisting on 3/13 I feel GREAT. Mi Doctor was just fine.It's clean and has the necessary equipment. The EKG machine was from the stone ages, but it worked! I was up and walking very soon after my surgery and I did feel nauseated. Staff kept up with my medications to help with pain and nausea and I did my part by walking as much as possible. The day after my surgery my IV blew through the vein and they couldn't find a new vein. I had been having trouble with the IV stopping all night long and they had repositioned it already a few times. Once I had my leak test the day after surgery, they said I didn't have to have the IV back in if I could get a lot of fluids down and if I would feel comfortable swallowing pills. Fortunately I had no problem drinking right from the start and could drink 4 ounces of Water in 15 minutes with careful sipping and determination. So I didn't have to have my IV back in. YAY! I really felt like the doctors cared about their patients. I felt at ease the whole time and I had no problem putting my trust in Dr Valenzuela to do my surgery.

Sarah, I'm just jumping in the shower now.. Peeeewwwwwww, I'm a stinky, stinky girl... and Then I'll be up to collect you for our rounds!

Your mess up does not negate all of the hard work you have already put into your preop and will continue to put in to your preop diet. Would it have been better if you didn't mess up? I'm sure.. but it's not going to ruin everything. The only issue you may have is that you might feel a bit extra hungry during the next few days as your body grows accustomed to the preop diet again. Don't worry. You CAN do this. You are stronger than your cravings for food!

Are you on an acid reducer?

My biggest recommendation is to ASK for what you want. They don't just bring you drinks you have to ask for them. Also I went by myself so when just out of surgery and I was still very tired and not wanting to walk a lot, I asked the nurse to come and remind me to walk. Which she did gladly. Also you sometimes have to ASK what is going on, what you can have, what's happening next, etc. If your drain does not have a clip ask for one so you can clip to your clothes so it does not swing.. when it swings around it kind of hurts. Bring earplugs. The traffic outside is loud and they're constantly honking their horns.

Why not make almond milk yogurt? The process is pretty much the same as making regular yogurt except you have to strain it a bit to thicken it.

So my understanding is that I'll be provided with chicken broth and two waters per day... How exactly do I get my broth and waters?

Excellent.. I didn't know if the package included these items delivered via room service or if I had to go somewhere and get them. Thank you!

My doc said my stomach size was on the high end of normal. Stomachs are actually surprisingly huge! one of the other patients had someone take pics during his surgery and it showed them pulling out the stomach! OMG ginormous!

Lol, they wouldn't let us go down stairs either! I had to stay on my teeny tiny little floor. I'm feeling SO MUCH BETTER today without any nausea or internal pain.. only some slight discomfort from the incisions. Dr Louisiana took out my drain today and that helped a lot. I'm at the Marriott now and I'm resting comfortably. no pain except gas! (not gas from surgery but the actual gas in my stomach and intestine.. I am LOVING the gas-x strips) I'm sooooo happy we're both on the other side of this now and we BOTH made our preop goals. let me just take a moment to say "WE ROCK"

My flight arrived at San Diego Airport 20 minutes early and Victor was already there to meet me. I just went to baggage claim and called him. He told me to go outside and read the location sign letter so he could find me. When we were on the way, the told me he was not taking me to the Marriott and instead he was taking me straight to the hospital. They told me at the hospital I was scheduled for 6AM surgery so I should get all my testing done that night and be ready to go in for surgery early. The phlebotomist was able to get my blood drawn very easily and then I had my ekg. I met with the internist for the hospital and he took my health history again and reviewed my testing with me. He told me I was in very good health for surgery and had the same risks as a non obese person so that made me feel very comfortable. Early in the morning a nurse entered my room and told me it was time for my IV. He had a very difficult time finding my vein and had to get help... the other nurse also had a difficult time but finally was successful. Then the anesthesiologist came in to talk to me and answer any questions.. he made me feel completely at ease. Dr Valenzuela came in next and introduced herself and assured me that she got a good night sleep and had a good cup of coffee already. I also asked her if I needed a catheter and she said no.. because the surgery is so fast that she doesn't use one. Halleluiah! I was wheeled down to surgery room and they put some compression socks on me and the anesthesiologist put something in my IV that "might make me a little sleepy" The next thing I remember was waking up in a LOT of pain and confusion. I remember Lotti, a fellow VST member was in the bed beside me and she smiled at me but I was still very confused and apparently I was moaning and groaning a lot. Once they got be back to my room I was already feeling a bit better. I was up and walking right away in order to help with the shoulder pains. The first day was ok. much better than expected- No pain but a LOT of nausea especially when I would walk. That night, I started having contractions in my stomach. It felt like food poisoning. When there was no contraction I was fine, but when the contractions came it sent me through the ceiling. These pains lasted through the night and into the next morning. Also I kept having problems with my IV. They changed positions of it a few times but finally they took it out after my leak test when I was cleared to drink. Throughout all of this I had many doctors and nurses checking in on me. Both of my surgeons, and the hospital internist and another doctor too. The doctors all assured me that the surgery went perfectly and that I would be feeling better very soon. The hospital is very small and they are doing some construction or something because there is a lot of banging.. fortunately I brought ear plugs. The hospital is very clean. and there's a private shower in each room and you are allowed to shower daily which is fabulous. I can say that this experience has not been easy, I'm definitely having some pain in my stomach in the form of contractions... but it's going to be soooo worth it. I feel so much better from just this morning now that I'm drinking and I expect each day to just get better and better. Overall I'm really happy with my experience here. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Mexico Bariatric, MiDoctor Hospital, or Doctors Cabrera and Valenzuela. If anyone has any questions please feel free to ask.

I can only do aspartame sparingly so having it in my protein powder is a no-go. I stick with Jay Robb. 110 calories for 26 grams of high quality whey protein isolate. Sweetened with stevia..Mixes easily by just stirring with a spoon. no grittiness. does not taste like feet.

I have to agree with this statement.. It is MUCH more helpful than the post-op instructions my doctor gave me. I'm following the MU plan which is more conservative than my doctor's plan but it's so much more specific which I like.

Glad you're ok Jeni.. We were waiting and waiting and kept checking your room for you to come back from surgery Finally the Mom next door went down stairs to look for you and discovered you had been moved to the 3rd floor!

I'm at mi doctor right now and was just sleeved by Cabrera and Valenzuela yesterday. So far it's been great. Yes, I've had some pain but that's going to happen when you cut out 80% of one of your organs! The doctors are very caring. They've been back a few times to check on me and there are other doctors here that check on you too. I'm told I'll be relased tomorrow at 10 to go back to the marriott. I'm not at ALL hungry, I just want to drink drink drink!

I was sleeved 3/13 also. Yes I have very bad nausea especially when I moved around It got better once I was able to take fluid. Also I was having super painful contractions in my stomach... apparently stomach was not as thrilled with the operation as I was. I'm feeling sooo much better now though. I've drank over 40 ounces of fluid so far and it's going down nicely with just a little burping.

everythuin wentn fine. tooo tired and nauseated to write now. tanks everyon

Jeni, It's 3:30 AM local time and I'm WIDE awake! I hope my doctors are sleeping better than I am!

Thanks Kat!!! I am SOOOOO ready to be past this. Not afraid, but VERY anxious as you can see, I'm wide awake at 3:30 AM local time!

YAY!!!!! I'm with you in spirit. I was admitted last night for early morning surgery today.. OMG.. did I just say TODAY??? WOW!!!!! I've barely slept a wink!