Vixynne

Good luck to you tomorrow, and congratulations on taking this step to a new life of health and happiness! (And turn-about is fair play--if your support group has a follow up meeting, make sure it's about sports, hunting and how to craft the perfect pick-up lines!)

Hi, Teeny--I'm on the South Coast, being sleeved on 7/1 at Tobey Hospital in Wareham.

I'm just under two weeks until my surgery, and my old blender is such an ancient artifact that I knew I'd need an updated one. So, yesterday I went ahead and invested in the Ninja Max Kitchen System. I got mine at Bed, Bath & Beyond, and with a 20%-off coupon it was only about $75 more than a NutriBullet. The system I purchased came with food processor attachments, a 9-cup blender jar, as well as 2 individual-serving travel cups. Last night, I decided to jump into smoothie making. Here's what I put together to make a pretty durn yummy green one. Since it was an experiment, I was a little too gung-ho to make a small sample, and ended up making a full 9 cups (!!!) of smoothie. Luckily, it was a hit with the kids, who helped me drink some of it! * baby spinach (about three good handfuls--I didn't measure) * frozen pineapple (about a cup, give or take) * 3 sliced "gourmet cucumbers"--much smaller than a standard cuke, probably about the same food amount as a half cucumber * 2 kiwi fruits, quartered * honeydew melon (about 1/2 c.) * 1 1/2 cups of ice cubes * a couple of splashes of white grape juice (didn't measure, but probably not more than 3/4 of a cup) * 1 cup Chobani nonfat vanilla yogurt * vanilla Protein powder--2 scoops (I use Syntrax Nectar), use more or less to your taste/protein needs * 3 tablespoons of raw organic hemp seeds for extra protein Fired up the Ninja, and within about 20 seconds, it was finished. No chunks, bits or lumps. It came out a vibrant green--I was thinking of adding cantaloupe, but I was afraid the orange melon would have made it a little too brown for my kids to buy into, so I skipped it this time around. The blender jar went into the fridge and it was my before-bed beverage, as well as my Breakfast this morning. Really good stuff!

I don't do "patient" well, LOL. When I completed my individual counseling sessions, the psychologist told me "once you finish one of the three workshops, your application is submitted to your insurance, and you should get an approval letter after that, THEN we schedule your surgery date." A normal, patient human would have accepted that and waited calmly. Not me! The day after I finished my first workshop, I called my surgeon's office to find out if the application was submitted. I was told yes, it was. (Yay!) Then I was told that the approval letter should arrive within three days. I watched my mailbox like a hawk, and sure enough, I had the approval letter in TWO days. I called my surgeon's office the next business day to bug them about setting up a surgery date. The squeaky wheel gets the grease--I was booked into July 1st immediately, and if I wasn't still teaching on the 26th of June, I could have been a June sleever! For my personality type, waiting is torture. I found that being polite and proactive really moved the process along in my favor; and nobody I spoke to seemed upset or irritated with my questions and requests. For me, it was well worth being the squeaky wheel. "Scuse me...hey, pssst.."

I just bought a container of Syntrax Medical unflavored Protein and I don't think it has a strong flavor at all. I wouldn't use it in something too bland (like adding it to unflavored yogurt), but in something that's got a good flavor, I can't taste it, and it dissolves instantly, without chunks or grit. Here's a link where the price is $15.90 plus shipping--which totals out to what I paid for it in a local health/bariatric supply store. http://www.allstarhealth.com/f/syntrax-nectar_medical.htm

Add to unflavored Greek yogurt for a change of pace (when you're tired of vanilla, Torani has Hazelnut or Caramel, or Watermelon, or Mango, or...) I just bought a Ninja blender, which can shred ice cubes down to shavings, like a Sno-Cone. I think a cupful of "snow" with a little flavored syrup would make a yummy treat--and a good way to get your fluids if you're recently post-op and struggling.

This is perfect--thank you!

Frogychick, how about Crystal Light? I've seen a few comments around the boards that say adding that (or Dasani Flavor Drops, or Mio flavoring) changes the water's surface tension and makes it easier to tolerate. Have you tried any of those? I've seen other posts recommending hot or warm if room temp doesn't work for you. What does your surgeon say about it?

I'm welling up with happy tears for you! What an amazing victory--congratulations!! It's just the first of many, many more to come!

Oh, and crossposting this info from another thread: If you are looking for good prices on the DaVinci or Torani sugar free syrups, this website has 'em cheapcheap! http://www.lollicupstore.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=sugar+free+syrup&x=0&y=0

I just added a surgery date ticker. TWO WEEKS. Fourteen short, short days!It's gettin' real, up in here! Holy wowzers. Anybody besides me feeling the nervous butterflies starting to grow into bats?

This is fantastic--I just started using 2 of the Torani sugar free syrups, I didn't realize WalMart carries 'em, and that website will be a big help! Thank you!

There's a kind of "mom & pop" health store a couple of towns over from me--like GNC but with an emphasis on bariatric needs. They carry the Celebrate brand of Vitamins, every Protein powder you could imagine, and lots of post-op protein-rich prepared foods. I noticed the Torani sugar free syrups on my last shopping trip there. I'm pretty sure you can get them on Amazon as well if you don't mind paying the shipping--or maybe try the Torani website (http://www.torani.com/) to see which stores near you might carry the sugar free versions. My local grocery store has the full-sugar versions, but not the sugar free ones. I'll have to search up the pre-op hospital list on here, good idea! I have a basic list in my bariatric binder from my surgeon, but mostly they just say "leave valuables at home". There's no way I'm spending 2 days in a hospital without my laptop, or at least my phone! *twitch twitch* The magnesium citrate requirement was tucked away in a section of my surgery binder under "pre-op preparation"--I almost missed it. My grocery store carried it in the antacid/stomach medicine section, I think it was a little over a dollar. I'm reaaaaally not eager to chug that bottle of goo and then park myself in the bathroom for several hours! Bleah. At least school will be out by that time, so I won't have to worry about asking someone to watch my classroom! That would NOT be good. Definitely going blender shopping ASAP!

Taking a hefty amount of sublingual B12 (1500 mcg) each day completely helped me to walk away cold turkey from all caffeine. Not a single twinge of headache, and tons more energy even without my usual caffeine dose. I recommend it highly! I'm a month out from being a horrible coffee/diet soda drinker, and I can truthfully say I don't miss either of them. Never thought I'd say that!

How about flax seed oil--does that have the same happy effects?

Here's what I found for nutritional info online, for a generic egg drop soup recipe: http://www.fatsecret.com/calories-nutrition/generic/egg-drop-soup If you don't have a nutritionist, just give your surgeon's office a quick call; they can tell you how much this would affect your liver's shrinkage. I'm guessing a serving every couple of days won't hurt much, but better to ask the experts for sure. Let us know what they tell you!

Another thing I need to plan for! My household blender from 1988 is ready for replacement before I start making post-op smoothies...I was going to invest in a Ninja blender--but even if I could justify the $200+ hit to my budget, the website says it takes 5-6 WEEKS to arrive. I should have planned better! I could pick up the smaller Ninja set from Bed, Bath & Beyond or Tarjay, I suppose, or get a Nutribullet for smaller portions. What are you ladies doing about blending smoothies post-op?

I gave up caffeine about a month ago, and I found that upping my B12 from 500mcg to 1500mcg made a huuuuuuuuge difference. I had no headaches from withdrawal, and honestly I don't even miss the caffeine! That lil' Vitamin is my new miracle drug! So far I have all my Vitamins stockpiled, and I bought some nice thick "cream of _______" soups for when I get home. By the time I'm sent home from the hospital I'll be on full liquids, so I figured I'd better stock up now. I still have some shopping to do in that area, though. I bought my magnesium citrate (the clear-you-out-completely liquid), which I have to drink the day before surgery. Not looking forward to that process, LOL... What else, what else...my brain keeps shorting out! I need to make a good list (and then not lose it)! Editing to add: I have three shaker-bottles, and I've bought several boxes of almond milk (vanilla flavored, SoDelicious Plus Protein brand) to mix my shakes with. I've been drinking at least one shake a day, usually at Breakfast. My faves so far are Syntrax Nectar's Double-Stuffed Cookie and Vanilla Bean Torte. If my tastes change post-op, I'm in trouble, because I have plenty of both of those flavors. I grabbed two bottles of Torani sugar free flavor syrups, in caramel and coconut--and let me tell ya, adding a half capful of caramel syrup to the vanilla Protein Shake is sooooooo good, it feels like a guilty pleasure! I also bought some unflavored Protein powder (Syntrax brand). I'm considering the chicken broth flavor from unjury, but since I'll be off of clears by the time I'm released from the hospital, it almost seems like I'm better off skipping that for now. I've got cream of wheat on hand, but probably need a bit more of the plain version--with two kids in the house, most of our hot cereals are pretty sugary; that's gotta change! I still need things like plain Greek yogurt and cottage cheese; that'll get stockpiled sometime next week. Oh--and eggs! Man, I reaaaaally need to make that list. And that doesn't even begin to touch the "what should I take to the hospital" brainscramble!

I'm going to be sleeved on July 1st--I can't believe it's really going to happen! This forum and all the wonderful people here have been a HUGE help in preparing for this major life change; thank you for educating me and keeping me from climbing the walls. I know I'll be needing your support and encouragement long after The Big Day...right now I'm just thrilled to have a date I can mark on the calendar as my own personal Independence Day! My servitude to food is nearing its end at last. Woot!!

This is me, right now...the day of surgery it'll be more like:

Yikes! Maybe it's time to get a new PCP? I can understand her wanting to share her opinions about the surgery, but in the end, it's your body! Even if choosing a new primary sets you back a little timewise (and I can't imagine it would, at least not by much, since you've already gotten everything done), it will be well worth it to be allowed to finally move forward! Good luck--keep us posted.

If I feel well enough to be out and about for the 4th, I won't have any problems holding a plate with a little food on it that I'm not eating. People won't pay that much attention, really (especially after the liquid refreshments start flowing)! Most likely, the 4th will be a quiet one for me. But NEXT year? Girrrrrl, imma rock a fantastic look and not even care about the food!

The hoops I jumped through were pretty basic ones--I have Harvard Pilgrim Health Care medical insurance (Massachusetts). You can read all about 'em in my signature. My beginning info seminar was in April, and my surgery date is July 1st!

I'll be sleeved just two days before you, Diva! Can you believe how fast it's getting here?? *squee*