Macy6

I think it is a mix. I imagine that not everyone is compliant 100% and there is a definite variety in stages, foods allowed and the speed that people go thru stages. Peanut butter is on my no list all together (not that I necessarily think anything is wrong with it, but just to show that even between us there is a difference) I think it is about trying to be compliant, and getting in your protein. Talk to your Dr./NUT and see what works for you.

It seems like it is probably not the best choice, unless you let it sit and go flat. Some other good choices are, ginger based teas, or hard candies to suck on. (they could be found at whole food, natural stores i.e. Sprouts etc...) Try drinking your water, and protein drinks at room temperature instead of chilled. Other teas; peppermint and chamomile could help too. If it is bad enough you may want to call your surgeon and see what they recommend.

Look great! Look at you with the belt to accent your trim waist! Congratulations

My NUT says soft foods two weeks out. It seems like everyone is different though.

First off you are FAR from a failure! You did this! YOU DID THIS... for you! You didn't do it to change over night, you didn't do it to be in a size 20-16-12-8-4 in a week... month... or even year. YOU deserve this, and you will do it! The worst thing you could do right now is to give up, don't cancel your account! My surgeon has emphasized many times how important it is to maintain that support system after. I have not had surgery, so I am not going to even try to give you advice, but I would say that looking at your post that you really need to try to bump up your protein. You admit that things aren't 100% but it is taking baby steps to get there. Make sure you are journaling what you eat, watch for the liquid calories. Check for weight loss support groups in your area, the one my bariatric program runs is open to the public, and the nutritionist and nurse both attend the group. Find a nutritionist who you can see, maybe your PCP can recommend someone. I know you are frustrated, but hang in there!

I had mine today too. Sounds similar to yours and others. I had 375 questions that were T/F dealing with mental illness etc. he did say I scored slightly elevated in depression and anxiety (I know I'm being treated by my PCP) but interestingly enough he told me in his experience those in that situation tend to do much better following surgery, because they tend to be more motivated. I was like.....ooooo K. I had the 168ish medical related questions. He was telling me that its compared to others who have had bariatric surgery and based on the way they answered and your answers gives an idea on how you will do during recovery, weight loss, maintenance, and overall listening to the advice of your surgeon and NUT. he did recommend the use of counseling because of my depression but did not mandate it. Said I was a prime candidate and gave me the green light. I do have to meet with him one more time, my surgeon has you go early on in case there is something he needs you to work on and again within 3 months of surgery.

I didn't walk for high school and have regretted it since. I am the same as you, finish mid year, no mid year graduation and have to drive 4 hours for graduation (we are a satellite school based 4 hrs away from the main campus and they only do main campus graduations) I absolutely 100% will walk. I have worked far too hard to not sit thru a long winded ceremony where I turn my tassel and leave :-) I say do it, you have earned it!

I agree with all of thee above. If you trust and had a good relationship with your surgeon then go back. My surgeon told me that a majority of his surgeries last year were band to sleeve/bypass revisions.

If everything goes well it will probably be late July to August.

Do you think it is selfish? Do you feel like once you have the baby you will give up and most likely gain the weight back? I honestly feel we all have our reasons for WLS. I want to be healthy, I really do, but I would be lying if I didn't say that I secretly searched for clothes online, and longingly looked at the shoes in the store and dream of the day I can wear them. I would say that I hope that once you loose the weight you realize how great you feel, and how badly you want to stay that way, not only for you, but that baby. Do I think it is selfish? No, I would imagine you aren't the first and definitely not the last.

Oh yuck, I have to call and make my appointment. I overloaded myself with other appointments so I was waiting to finish most of them before moving on.

My NUT said 2 weeks strained liquids, 10 weeks soft/mush, if it squishes with a fork it's safe. I find all the differences interesting. Makes me curious how they decide what they decide.

Hi, my name is Macy. I am a senior in Nursing school with an expected graduation date of December 2nd. Looking at mid to late summer for an estimated surgery date. I am not sure how it will work with my school schedule, so I am weighing the possibility of waiting until after graduation too.

I don't think there is anything wrong with it. I think what is important is that you are keeping both sides in the loop about what is going on, that you are following the instructions of your physician, and as long as you are happy its a go. I believe there is a lot to know about herbs etc... they were around a lot longer than Western medicine, as long as you are also taking into account the recommendations of your physician.

My NUT said "anything you can smush with a fork" lol. Not sure if that helps, but basically if I can squish it, and it goes thru the tines then it counts for the soft stage.

First off congratulations on your tremendous loss! It is wonderful. I think it is difficult when you establish a relationship that is based off of a situation and then you have to change. I am not saying that you two necessarily have always had a "fat" relationship, but when we get comfortable in a situation, and then there is a change it is really difficult to deal with. I pulled away from my best friend after she got married, for a long time I tried to remain as close as before but the reality was, as much as we needed each other, they were seeking couples to do things with and I never fit that mold. I grew tired of being the fifth wheel (because I always was invited, but I was always alone) We are still friends, but not as close as we were. My brother and sister in law met in a bad situation, they both dealt with substance abuse issues and the first year of their relationship was completely surrounded by drugs, alcohol and partying. When the haze lifted and they decided to get clean and do better they had to establish a new relationship, nothing was the same, their friends were different, their fun time was different, but they found new friends and new fun times and turned it around into a lot of outdoor activities and have managed to turn it into a 3 year court ship and 4 year marriage. It doesn't have to be over, it may take a big fight from you. Don't let her get you down, don't let her comments get you down either. My best friend has always been quite a bit thinner than me. I have never come close to her size, and I thought the other day how weird the day will be that I can share her clothes, or even potentially be smaller. I think it is important to let them know we are the same, and how important they are in our lives.

I'm about 4 months out from surgery. I have been working to eat around 1500 calories, 5/6 200-300 calorie, high protein low carb, meals a day. I want to loose a good 30-40# before surgery. I feel the first reason is safety, the lower the BMI the better. Second, the lower the number the less I have to loose and the closer the sleeve will assist me in getting to my goal. Third, going from 1500 to eventually 1200 and 1000 for pre op diet then 600-800 post op is going to be easier than jumping from 2000-3000 a day down to 1000 pre op. this time also gives me an opportunity to "screw up". It also gives me an opportunity to retrain myself into some of the areas I will need to be good at after surgery. No more skipping meals, scarfing meals, and over eating meals.

Hang in there. I am sorry it is so hard right now but I am sure you will turn a corner soon!

I have never heard of coughing causing vaginal spotting. Were you not getting periods due to your weight? It is only 3 weeks but it is possible that you might start getting them since you have lost weight. I would for sure call your Dr. but consider that taking things like Mucinex without being able to take in a lot of fluids could possibly make things even worse right now.

I know they are all so different. I have looked through my packet and the one I do is 10days and you drink three protein shakes a day and have two small high protein, low carb meals. It comes out to around 1000 calories. There is a list of approved snacks; SF Jello, SF Popsicle... Anyway the nutritionist told me if I needed to touch the snacks that I had to call her first. Are you set up with a nutritionist? I am sure that it would be fine to replace a protein shake with a low carb, high protein meal but you may just want to call and ask.

My first visit was very informational! I walked in with about 22 questions for the surgeon, and only had to ask around 15 by the time he told me his story. Beyond meeting him I met the wonderful office staff, his fantastic nurse and finished off with the patient navigator, who gave me my to do list. My surgeon told me what he recommended for me, the sleeve (I actually walked in thinking bypass) they took my weight, height, BMI. Set their weight loss goal for me, and he told me his expectations for me (loose 5# and do my homework) The patient navigator sat down with me, introduced me to the NUT and helped me set up most of my appointments. I am now slowly getting thru all those appointments. I spent an hour and a half in the Psych office today filling out paperwork and questionnaires (575 True/False questions) I was going crazy by the time I left. I have met with the NUT, I have an appointment next week with the Psychologist and exercise physiologist. I still need to do my blood work, EKG and barium swallow. (I have a history of anxiety related PVCs and GERD so he said better safe than sorry) I won't see my surgeon again until my pre op appointment, so I made sure I asked everything I wanted to know, I know I can always go thru the patient navigator to get answers but I wanted to walk out comfortable with him, and my choice. One of the requirements from my surgeon is to read the book "The Expert's Guide to Weight Loss Surgery" by Garth Davis M.D. He has a chapter about questions you should ask your surgeon and that was how I came up with my questions. Some of my questions were.... Approximately how many cases are done by your practice each year? What is your conversion to open rate? Am I awake when the catheter is put in? (I am a nursing student and have done an OR rotation and knew that they are generally put in under, but I really wanted to make sure!) What is the average hospital stay? Will I have drains? What are your complication and mortality rates? What is the most common complication you have seen with this surgery? Do you recommend certain vitamins? (my NUT gave me a ton of samples) Like I said he answered a lot before I even asked, but he was completely open to any question. He told me that he wanted me to be comfortable with him and if I needed to know his favorite football team, favorite food, or where he vacations then he would answer that for me. Good Luck!

How are you doing now?

Have you ever asked? I had gone in to see my PCP about my depression and she asked what I felt was the root of it and I blubered on about school, home, my weight and she says "have you considered bariatric surgery? I think you'd be the perfect candidate" and 5 days later I was sitting in a seminar and 6 weeks later I have been poked, prodded, and screened in every which way possible. In the years I had seen her and other physicians in the same office no one has every said a word to me about my weight, but the moment I opened up about it they were ready to work with me. I hope it goes well! I agree, be confident, know what you want. In my case my PCP is nearly as important as my surgeon. She is the one holding my hand thru this, not to mention she gets to see me every 3-4 weeks for 6 months.

Good Luck! I am sure you can do it. My surgeon is requiring a 5 lb loss (Yeah I dunno either) but I was told when I start my 10 day pre surgery non liquid, sometimes liquid, kinda liquid diet, that I would be weighed before and on the last day and if I don't loose, that my surgery would be cancelled.

I just bought my son the Crush and Hawaiian Punch water enhancers in the same section you buy Mio. They also have Kool Aid and Dasani water enhancers. He seems to really like them.