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PREMIER PROTEIN http://www.samsclub.com/sams/premier-van-rtd-12ct/prod6670577.ip

I have used for pre-op and also post operatively, Premier Protein, which gives 30 grams of protein and only 1 gram of sugar in an 11 ounce container with a nice screw top in case I can't finish the whole thing at one time. I buy it by the case at my local Sams Club and pay $18.98 for a dozen. Price has only gone up 10 cents in the last year. Comes in vanilla or chocolate. I use the chocolate mostly but have used the vanilla for fruit shakes or just plain for a change. Two Protein drinks a day plus my new eating habits and my sleeve surgery has me feeling successful. When I decided to do the surgery I was 283. ( My normal weight was 150) but certain circumstances left me a cripple for over 10 years so I gained weight no matter what I ate. After hearing about the sleeve option, I was 276 the first time I saw the doctor and now I am 211. I probably could have lost more but had my sleeve in March 2013 and then a total hip replacement in August 2013 and that slowed my progress. After 3 days in the hospital for my hip, I then went to rehab for 37 days post surgery, so in the rehab it was nearly impossible to stick very closely to the food I needed because the kitchen either didn't cook what I needed or didn't have what I needed. Thank goodness my friend was bringing me this protein so I could stick with that regimen. These little shakes are great when you want chocolate or feel any hunger. I put them in my NutriBullet, add PB2 I buy on Amazon (I get the large bag that is shrink wrapped) and 2 ice cubes and it's very satisfying. Try this, it's a great option.

Hope all goes well, you are in our prayers, you'll do great.

Well, I had no family where I live so my friend took me to the hospital at 5 a.m. (which was an hour away). The hospital met us at the driveway entrance w/ a wheelchair for me, they took my duffle bag and they took it into the surgery prep area with me where I changed from clothes to gown. When they realized I was alone, they took it with us and put it down below under the hospital bed on a little shelf and when I woke up it was right there on a little table next to my bed. Just write down or remember the name of the person you last gave it to just in case. I also did not take my tablet or cell phone, too worried it would get stolen. A friend of mine who also had this surgery left her real cell phone at home and for the surgery bought a throw away Trac phone and one month's service, entering in the contacts area only the most important phone numbers for people she wanted to call once she woke up. Hope this helps and good luck

Hi guys, I had my Sleeve on 3-13-13 and was home the afternoon of 3-15-13. So far am doing great. When you get ready for your hospital stay DO NOT POLISH FINGER OR TOE NAILS with any polish as they will make you take it off immediately. This is because they watch the colors of your nails while you are being operated on because any color change of your finger or toe nails can give them a sign that you are in trouble during the surgery. I took one bottle of clear nail polish with me, which I put on POST SURGICAL once I felt better on Day 2. Make sure you take plenty of Chapstick, too, as your lips really suffer going through this. If you take Gas-X strips with you, they won't let you use it because they will not allow you to use any over the counter medications when you are there, but I did take some with me and used one on the way home from the hospital after I was discharged. I also took a sleep mask (black cushioned with a velco closure) I found on Amazon because I knew I might have a hard time sleeping if I wanted a daytime nap. The earplugs were also useful because hospitals are so noisy. Also took a small pillow so I could hold it on my tummy over the 6 incisions once I stood up and starting walking. Now that I have lost 50 lbs., my orthopedic surgeon can replace my hip and knee and I will be able to walk again for the first time in years without excruiating pain and agony. So excited. This Sleeve surgery has made it all possible for me and I have gone from an impossible situation to orthopedic surgery in just 124 days.

Well, just went for my 6 week check up since my Sleeve. I am down 41 lbs. and THRILLED. The new way of eating takes a bit to time to adapt and so glad I can have chocolate peanut butter shakes and can drink various fluids without any trouble tolerating water to V8 juice. My friend had trouble with some types of vegetable juice but I am not experiencing this. I just started eating cereral, crackers, salads, fresh fruits, fresh veggies, most meats (not beef, not ham) so am eating mostly chicken or fish if I am going to have meat. Puddings and soups are lifesavers as unflavored proteins can be easily mixed in. (if you use UNJURY protein powder, make sure soup is not over 140 degrees F or it will clump, so cook and then cool to that temp and then mix it). I can also now eat Premier Protein Nutrition Bars (I like chocolate peanut butter or double chocolate crunch) and I nibble on a few almonds along with it. Still can't eat an entire nutrition bar all at once, can finish about 2/3 of it, but I am getting in my proteins, so happy about that. Dr. just said I can now go to the pool, so that will help alot because I have to have a knee and hip replacement and then back surgery so walking and biking is out of the realm of possibility. Spending about an hour floating on a "noodle" and riding it like a bicylce in the pool and feel tired and exhilirated that I can enjoy this FINALLY. I can tell you that whatever I eat, I am full after 3-5 bites no matter what I am eating. I am sipping noncarbonated beverages all day and evening and just barely getting in 64 ounces about 75% of the time. I feel so good having lost 41 lbs already considering I have been stuck in a chair for several years due to the hip, knee and back problems, but they tell me if I lose 9 more pounds I can have my hip done and that will give me tremendous relief. So feeling pretty darn good. Just had my lab work and have gone from 5 medications to 1 medication,(just Synthyroid) no more high blood pressure, now averaging a wonderful 110/70 with no meds and it's been like that since 2 weeks post surgical. No more cholesterol problems, no more pre-diabetes, etc. No more sleep meds and so glad I took this path. Hope you all are having great results also.

Well, just checking in. My sleeve was on Mar 13th and just had my first post surgery Dr. visit with surgeon. He removed me from blood pressure meds, cholesterol meds, sleep meds, and all I have to take is Synthroid for my thyroid now. So happy about this because the cholesterol meds were horrible. My blood pressure has gone from 226 over 150 down to a low of 100/70 but no higher than 121/70 over the last 3 weeks. I have lost a total of 30 lbs. and well on my way to 40 lbs. My incisions are nicely healed, 4 of them almost gone completely and the other 2 just still a bit pink but not too awfully sore. I have not had any horrors with the gas, the bloats, or depression like some people I have read about and basically the biggest challenge is being diligent to get down 60-80 grams of protein daily, which right now is not too hard because I am using the liquids (Premier Protein, choc and van. available at Sams Club - case of 12, each 11 oz, for around $20, worth every penny). I have progressed from the clear liquids, week 1, into and through the week 2 of full liquids, and now have been able to add protein smoothies and applesauce and baby food. Wasn't crazy about the baby food available - tastes horrid, so I have made my own thanks to my wonderful NUTRIBULLET. That sucker is great. I have also incorporated the following organic foods and am adding a little bit to my Nutribullet smoothies and this is giving me a lot of nutrition along with the vitamins (Centrum adult chewables are good) Here's what I have incorporated into my fruit protein smoothies: (all organic, all available to http://www.nuts.com) Mangosteen powder, Gogi berries, Tart Cherry powder, Cacao nibs and powder, Chia seeds, Medjool Dates (if you need to sweeten something, just remove pit and put in the drink), Maca powder and Spirulina powder. You can find recipes online just about anywhere for smoothies and other health concoctions to use in your blender or Nutribullet. I just like the Nurtibullet because I can instantly make delicious homemade fruit puree for the baby food phase (made pureed bananas for part of breakfast and pureed fresh pineapple to go along with lunch protein shake.) I also bought some fresh Kale and snip off pieces with a scissors and added it to a carrot, cucumber and apple smoothie I made (cucumbers is a diaretic) and the Kale turns to a little green but it's delicious. One thing I have noted since coming home from the hospital about TASTE. If I make something as sweet as I would have been comfortable eating before the surgery, now that is WAY TOO SWEET, so before you make a smoothie with fresh fruits, vegs, etc. TEST IT so you don't add a Medjool Date and get it way too sweet. One other thing, if you are using any UNFLAVORED "UNJURY" brand protein powder in soups, etc., or the Chicken flavored in hot water, if the temperature of the beverage or liquid is over 140* the protein powder will CLUMP and it will be horrible, so get yourself a Thermometer so when you are heating it up it won't be TOO hot and ruin your "meal". I got the Taylor Digital from Amazon. Works well. http://www.amazon.com/Taylor-Compact-Waterproof-Digital-Thermometer/dp/B00009WE4B/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1364872298&sr=8-4&keywords=taylor+thermometer+digital Well that's it for now. Hope everyone else is doing great. I am so glad I did this. It wasn't half as bad as I had worried it would be. BUT word to the wise: BE PREPARED. Make sure when you come home from hospital your house is ready, no bad foods in the house, no temptations. With the small amount you will be eating, you need to be sure to get 60-80 grams of GOOD HEALTHY protein, not junk or food with refined sugar, or high fructose corn syrups, etc.

My Dr said 60-80 grams of protein daily and if any of it is in liquid form, it can be counted towards the 64 ounces of fluids that is needed EVERY DAY. Without it, many things can get hard, like digestion, and you can also get dehydrated easily.

My Dr said Tylenol was OK, liquid ONLY and use caution w/ quantity of course. I couldn't get it done one day so I mixed it in some Raspberry Crystal Light and it helped alot.

I had a miserable cough from the moment I woke up (sore throat due to the tube in throat during surgery which you don't even know they did cause you are asleep when they do it) and it lasted until I was home about a week. I used Ricola SUGAR FREE Lemon Mint Herb Throat Drops, very soothing, especially just as I was going to bed. :^)

You are probably just a little stressed. Read, watch TV or even better, maybe write in a notebook, maybe a journal .... you could be budding author!!! LOL

On my Day 8 post surg, when I switched from CLEAR LIQUIDS ONLY to FULL LIQUIDS. I decided to try a cream soup. I had on hand, WALMART brand Broccili and Cheese soup, 99% fat free. There were small pieces of broccoli so after I cooked it, I used my Quisinart Immersion Blender and zapped all the pieces into oblivion. Worked like a charm. I added to it AFTER cooking (not more than 140 degrees hot) one measure of UNJURY brand unflavored protein. To make it, I used Walmart's LACTOSE FREE Reduced Fat Milk. (4 0z. and then 4 oz. water) It keeps about a month in the frig unlike regular milk. It was DELICIOUS. I had about 4 ounces and it was just wonderful - tasty, creamy, very satisfying. For the protein shakes I am using Premier Protein vanilla and chocolate, pre-mixed, 11 oz each available at Sams Club in a 12 pack for $19.98.

I was finally sleeved on Mar 13 and doing really well. Not nearly as bad as I had worried it would be. In this thread above I had posted a list of what I thought I would need in the hospital and also some things I would use when I came home. I over estimated what I would need so back to clean up the lists. I am going to break it down between what I ultimately DID need in the hospital and then another list of what I am using at home now that I am starting my 2nd week post surgery tomorrow. BUT … a word about worries and fears. DON’T let it get to you. Looking back, I was more nervous and frightened that I really needed to be. Things went so very smoothly and I have had neither extraordinary amount of post surgical abdominal gas because the meds in the IVs took care of that and the pain I had been so concerned about also was not as bad as I was thinking it would be. They did have a little button I could push for a shot of morphine early on, but I was off that by the second afternoon post surg. For me, it was so much better than I had thought it would be and that is saying something since I have a low pain threshold and am a wimp. Here is the list I had above. I have added notes in CAPS that show how much I used this in the hospital for the 3 days I was there. I didn’t need half of what I had anticipated but some of the things I took to the hospital, I have used at home in my first week of recovery at home since Wed, March 13. MY PREVIOUS LIST with NEW NOTES IN CAPS: (FROM MARCH 3, 2013 POST) Clothes Sleep Mask & Earplugs for hospital (GOOD TO TAKE) Robe w/ snaps (DIDN’T NEED, THEY PUT AN EXTRA GOWN ON ME BACKWARDS WHEN I WENT WALKING BECAUSE THE IVs WERE IN BOTH HANDS FOR 2 DAYS AND I COULDN’T GET MY ROBE ON) Loose under garments (GOOD TO TAKE) Warm socks w/ grippers (some hospitals give‘em to you) (YES, THEY GAVE THEM TO ME) Easy slip off/on Slippers (optional) (DIDN’T NEED BECAUSE OF THE SOCKS WITH THE GRIPPERS) Loose fitting clothes to wear there & on way home (I WORE THE SAME TOP AND BOTTOM WITH LOOSE FITTING WAIST LINE ON THE WAY THERE AND ON THE WAY HOME – DON’T WEAR ANYTHING BIDDING AT ALL) Personal Items My Tablet (DIDN’T TAKE BECAUSE OF CONCERN OF THEFT) My Cell Phone (DIDN’T TAKE BECAUSE OF CONCERN OF THEFT) INSTEAD THE HOSPITAL GAVE ME A LITTLE CARD WITH A CENTRAL PHONE NUMBER WHERE THOSE GAVE A 4 DIGIT CODE TO COULD CALL AND GET AN UPDATE ON MY CONDITION AT ANY TIME JUST BY PROVIDING THE 4 DIGIT CODE. THEY COULD ALSO BE TRANSFERRED TO THE PHONE IN MY ROOM IF I WAS FAR ENOUGH ALONG IN THE PROCESS TO TAKE A CALL) Chargers/Cords (DIDN’T TAKE BECAUSE I DIDN’T TAKE TABLET OR PHONE) 1 book or a few magazines – nothing heavy (YES, TAKE IT, I HAD TO SIT IN A ROOM FOR 40 MINUTES AND WAIT TO GO INTO SURGERY) Glasses cleaner (YES, NEEDED THIS, I TOOK A TRAVEL SIZE BOTTLE) 2 small pillows (1 for head, 1 for tummy when you take walks) (COULD NOT HAVE DONE WITHOUT THIS. WORKED LIKE A CHARM, LESSENED PAIN, MADE IT EASIER TO STAND UP AND WALK, ALSO USED BEHIND MY BACK AS HOSPITAL PILLOWS ARE TOO SOFT FOR ME) Body pillow (optional) (DIDN’T NEED) Camera (WORRIED ABOUT THEFT, SO DIDN’T TAKE BUT DOING PHOTOS AT HOME TO POST) Nose spray if you need it ( I NEEDED IT BECAUSE I HAD JUST RECOVERED FROM A BAD UPPER RESPIRATORY BUG) Prescriptions (DON’T TAKE AS ALL MEDS WERE GIVEN TO ME BY IV, EVEN MY SYNTHROID, CHOLESTEROL AND BLOOD PRESSURE MEDICATIONS) Toothbrush / Paste / Very basic simple makeup (TAKE IT, MAKE IT FLAVORED TOOTHPASTER BECAUSE YOUR MOUTH WILL FEEL LIKE SOMEONE TOOK A DUMP IN IT AND YOU MAY NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DRINK UNTIL THEY DO A “LEAK TEST” IN RADIOLOGY, WHICH USUALLY HAPPENS ON DAY 2) Shampoo / Conditioner / Travel brush/comb (ONLY NEEDED BRUSH/COMB, DIDN’T NEED SHAMPOO BECAUSE WITH THE IVs FOR 3 DAYS, WASHING MY HAIR WASN’T POSSIBLE) Blow Dryer (if you must) (DIDN’T TAKE) Sugar free Vita C Throat Lozenges (Check with your Surgeon) (MY SURGEON SAID “NO” AND COULD ONLY START USING SUGAR FREE ONES AFTER I GOT HOME) Tinted Lip Balm - Burts Bees has many colors and flavors, very soothing (THIS ABSOLUTELY SAVED ME THE FIRST 2 DAYS) Gas X Strips for post surgical gas/bloating -(Cinnamon/peppermint) (DR. WOULDN’T ALLOW BUT SAID “OK” ONCE I GOT HOME) Astringent & facial cleanser (LIFE SAVER, GLAD I HAD THIS) 5 Facial makeup remover wipes (LIFE SAVER, GLAD I HAD THIS) Heating Pad for pain relief post surgical to use with your pillow in bed (HOSPITAL SAID “NO” COULD NOT BRING IN BUT IF I WANTED ONE, I COULD ASK THE NURSE AND THEY WOULD GET ONE FOR ME – I DID USE THE FIRST 2 DAYS I WAS HOME) My Glasses (YES, NEEDED THEM TO SIGN DOCUMENTS) Immonium (DR SAID “NO” BUT COULD USE IF NEEDED ONCE I GOT HOME. STILL HAVEN’T NEEDED THIS AFTER A WHOLE WEEK HOME) Listerine mouth strips for fresh breath (DR. SAID “NO” BUT I DID USE THEM IN THE CAR ON THE WAY HOME AND AT HOME NOW) Sugar Free Ricola drops as you could have a sore throat (I BOUGHT LEMON MIST RICCOLA HERB THROAT DROPS, SUGAR FREE – AND GLAD I DID BUT COULDN’T USE AT HOSPITAL, BUT DID USE ON THE WAY HOME AND HAVE USED THEM FIRST 2 DAYS I WAS HOME - THROAT SLIGHTLY SORE DUE TO THE TUB DOWN THE THROAT) Deodorant (SO GLAD I HAD THIS) Disposable Wipes I can use instead of taking a shower the 1st day or 2 (DIDN’T NEED THESE, NURSE GAVE ME WIPES) Tweezers & mirror (YES, NEEDED THIS) Comfy Sports bra for post surgical comfort so boobs don't irritate any incision areas (YES, NEEDED THIS AND IT HELPED A LOT, BUT HAD TO WAIT TO PUT IT ON UNTIL THEY CHANGED MY IVs OR I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET IT ON) My own Puffs tissue (TOOK IT BUT THE HOSPITAL KLEENEX WAS OK SO I DIDN’T’ NEED IT) 2 Light weight soft fleecy full size throws as hospital blankets are horrid. (I ONLY TOOK ONE WITH ME AND USED IT EVERY SINGLE MOMENT AS IT WAS VERY COMFORTING AND SOFT INSTEAD OF SCRATHY AND TOO WARM LIKE THE HOSPITAL BLANKETS. JUST WASH, DRY AND PUT IN A BIG ZIP LOCK BAG SO THE NURSE KNOWS IT’S VERY CLEAN) Try to take as many travel size items as possible. Use a small rolling overnight case. Mine has a pop up telescoping handle. (EVERYTHING I TOOK WAS TRAVEL SIZE, MY SMALL ROLLING BAG WORKED GREAT, ESPECIALLY DURING CHECKOUT) LIST OF OPTIONAL THINGS I BOUGHT TO EITHER TAKE WITH ME OR USE WHEN I GOT HOME Cuisinart Immersion Blender - to liquify foods so I can freeze small amounts in ice cube trays and not buy tasteless baby food (though any blender will do) (I AM USING THIS AT HOME THIS WEEK TO MAKE AND FREEZE MY OWN “BABY FOOD” – ALSO GREAT FOR MAKING THE FRUIT IN YOGURT ALMOST INVISIBLE, AND PULVERIZE OTHER FOODS TO PREPARE FOR THAT STAGE) http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-CSB-76BC-SmartStick-200-Watt-Immersion/dp/B000EGA6QI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1363829494&sr=8-1&keywords=Cuisinart+Immersion+Blender OXO Tot 12 Piece Baby Block Set Use to make tiny portions of frozen mashed beans, carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, apples, mashed potatoes, etc. They have 2 & 4 oz. containers on freezer trays, also can be put in microwave frozen to warm them up - http://www.oxo.com/p-1230-12-piece-baby-blockstrade-set.aspx OXO Good Grips 4-Piece Mini Measuring Beaker Set – makes measuring so easy – ( GREAT FOR MEASURING LIQUID PAIN MEDS OR MEASURING AS YOU MAKE SMALL AMOUNTS OF FOOD )- http://www.oxo.com/p-1206-4-piece-mini-measuring-beaker-set.aspx?gcsct=0ChMImJr3q9WMtgIVkDbmCh3kFwAAEAA Gas-X Thin Extra Strength Strips With Cinnamon Flavor – helps w/gas and bloating Post op in the hospital – melts on your tongue so you don't have to drag along a whole bottle of Gas-X liquid – (COULDN’T USE AT HOSPITAL BUT DID USE ON THE WAY HOME AND 1ST WEEK HOME) http://www.walmart.com/ip/Gas-X-Extra-Strength-Peppermint-Thin-Strips-Antigas-18-ct/10294111 HoMedics OT-TRVL Ortho + Therapy Memory Foam Travel Pillow with Carry Case, 15" x 11" x 4.5"- hospital pillows are horrid. Use 1 for your head & 1 to hold your tummy on your post surg walks at hospital – (COULD NOT HAVE DONE WITHOUT THESE, THEY ARE GREAT) http://www.amazon.com/HoMedics-OT-TRVL-Therapy-Memory-Travel/dp/B001GS6PUY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1363831698&sr=8-1&keywords=HoMedics+OT-TRVL+Ortho+%2B+Therapy+Memory+Foam+Travel+Pillow+with+Carry+Case%2C+15%22+x+11%22+x+4.5%22- BlenderBottle Classic 28 oz.- Comes w/ wire mixer ball makes mixing UNJURY protein powder easy to mix (get a 2 pack at SamsClub) (USED AT HOME 1ST WEEK OUT, WILL USE ONE AT MY OFFICE WHEN I GO BACK TO WORK - YOU CAN ALSO GET IN 20 OZ. SIZE)) http://www.samsclub.com/sams/blender-bottle-2-pk/prod5050919.ip?navAction= PB2 Regular & Chocolate Powdered Peanut Butter- 85% Less Fat and Calories - 6.5 Oz Each - 2 Pack – great in protein drinks or spread on apple or banana slices when you can eat those things, plus delicious in homemade protein shakes - or put some in your Premier Protein 11 oz. protein drink - (NOT USING YET BUT WILL SOON. MY FRIEND USES THIS AND I HAVE TASTED, DELICIOUS) http://www.amazon.com/Regular-Chocolate-Powdered-Butter--Calories/dp/B005G0GRQ0/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1363830014&sr=8-4&keywords=PB2+Regular+%26+Chocolate+Powdered+Peanut+Butter- Pill Crusher -Pill Pulverizer in case you have a hard time taking pills – (USED 1ST DAY I GOT HOME, ONE OF THE BEST PILL CRUSHERS I HAVE EVER SEEN ) http://www.amazon.com/CM-Pill-Crusher--Pill-Pulverizer/dp/B000J14PR4/ref=sr_1_cc_2?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1363830095&sr=1-2-catcorr&keywords=PILL+PULVERIZER Listerine PocketPaks Coolmint, 24ct Breath Strips to keep breathe fresh at the hospital - (DR. SAID “NO” AT HOSPITAL, BUT I DID USE THEM IN THE CAR ON THE WAY HOME AND AT HOME NOW) http://www.amazon.com/Listerine-Pocketpaks-Cool-Mint-Count/dp/B00013TQP6/ref=sr_1_4?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1363830309&sr=1-4&keywords=listerine+pocketpaks Kitrics Perfect Portions Digital Scale with Nutrition Facts Display - counts everything you eat, gives calories based on weight, proteins, carbs, fats, etc. - (USING FOR EVERYTHING – THIS IS A GREAT SCALE AND NUTRITION INFO COUNTER) http://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Portions-0452-Digital-Nutrition/dp/B001E1B9H2/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1363830395&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=Kitrics+Perfect+Portions+Digital+Scale+with+Nutrition+Facts+Display Jokari Healthy Steps Portion Control Diet / Weight Loss 10pc Utensil Kitchen Tool Set - for easy portion control once your food regimen normalizes down the road - (NOW THAT I AM HOME, ONCE I START REAL FOOD, THIS IS GOING TO BE INVALUABLE, A WONDERFUL SET WHICH WILL HELP ME KEEP PORTIONS IN THE RIGHT AMOUNT – PRICEY, BUT WILL BE WELL WORTH IT PORTIONS SIZES ARE MARKED ON THE UTENSIL ) http://www.amazon.com/Healthy-Steps-Portion-Control-Utensil/dp/B005WCF1KU/ref=sr_1_4?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1363830577&sr=1-4&keywords=JOKARI+SET Mr. Coffee Mug Warmer for home – keeps your soft mashed foods warm while you are eating them in the beginning because it takes you a while to eat them and they can easily get cold. (ALREADY USING THIS SINCE DAY 1 HOME TO KEEP MY TEA AND CHICKEN BROTH NICE AND WARM – SAVES COUNTLESS TRIPS TO MICROWAVE TO REHEAT BECAUSE IT TAKES A WHILE TO CONSUME SMALL AMOUNTS IN THE BEGINNING ) http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Coffee-MWBLK-Mug-Warmer/dp/B000CO89T8/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1363830631&sr=1-1&keywords=Mr.+Coffee+Mug+Warmer Large heavily feathered colorful Mardi Gras mask - The Dr. takes a photo of patient on the last Dr appointment before surgery. With todays internet, one of these days that sucker could end up out there by hacking or some sort of accident. At my support group, they wear interesting masks when they get their photo taken on that day. One of my friends actually wore a HUGE lifelike HORSES HEAD from a costume shop. I'm just going for the feathered look that will obscure most of my face. http://www.mardigrasoutlet.com/C8D4/Feather-Masks.html

Having gone on presurg diet required by Dr and been sleeved on 3-13-13, now home and feeling fairly good, I can tell you the reason for the presurg is to drastically reduce the size of your liver so surgery is much easier for the Dr. When us chubbies eat all that bad food, our livers get really big because of all the fat, etc. and that can cause problems during surgery sometimes, so the presurg diet shrinks it and makes it all easier. Also the reason you don't want to have anything but CLEAR FLUIDS for a couple days before surgery is you don't want your colon to be full of foods that require digestion processes because after surgery you could crap all over yourself either in bed or they may have to get you up and to the bathroom multiple times until you get rid of it all. My Dr says the reason I had such an easy time was I followed these instructions to the letter.

What is it that Roosevelt said? "You have nothing to fear but fear itself." When I registered for this forum about a month ago, I felt the same way. Here I am, was sleeved on 3-13-13 Wednesday, home by Friday night 3-15-13 and feeling halfway decent. They knock you out, do their thing, you spend the first day in kind of a blur after coming out of surgery. Second day, not too bad, as on the first day when you are in Recovery, you are still dopey, and when you get to your room, you have a little button to push that zaps you with morphine, so you pretty much feel ok, except you are still foggy, nodding off to sleep, not caring what is going on until they get you up to walk. MAKE SURE YOU TAKE A LITTLE PILLOW THE SIZE OF YOUR TUMMY to the hospital and when they get you up, hold the pillow on your tummy, take a deep breath and then go for your walk. Then they get you ingesting clear liquids (jello, tea, coffee, broth) after they do a leak test in Radiology to make sure when you drink something it's going through your body like it's supposed to. That was a piece of cake. (well, not real cake LOL) Then you go home when they discharge you and you begin your journey. I was 276 when I joined this site, after the presurg diet, which I had to stay on for 5 weeks because just before surgery I came down with a horrible upper respiratory bug that meant we had to reschedule from Feb 20, then to Feb 27 and then ultimately til Mar 13. That was the hardest but I am now 6 days out from my sleeve day and I am now 254. I have vowed not to weigh myself again til I see my Dr for my first visit post op which is Mar 28 and then I will report back. Overall, this was not HORRIBLY DIFFICULT, it was, considering the life change it will bring, the best damn thing I have probably ever done for myself so sleep soundly tonight. Your life affirming decision will to do this probably will not be regretted. I keep saying "Why did I wait so long?" I chose the sleeve definitely because I bought the book THE SLEEVED LIFE at Amazon and there were MANY reasons the SLEEVE was appealing over the band and the full RouenY bypass. Get the book - it was CHEAP.