chickadee73

My doctor was Garcia. I'm doing all right, but I developed thrush from the antibiotics, I'm still very swollen (surgery was Tuesday and I'm holding about 16lbs of water), and a little soreness and diarrhea. Other than that, I'm perfect lol. The hospital is florence Oasis and hotel is Marriott. The Marriott was nice, the hospital was a little third-world. Lobby and exterior were nice, but patient rooms were pretty bare. The stuffed tummy was a nice touch.

If so, check in here with first name and sugery date and I'll look for you in the halls! I'm Katrina and my surgery is August 27. Would love to "see" who all will be there at the same time! The information is all spread out on the boards in different posts and I'm having trouble remembering who is with me.

Sorry I missed your post -- I leave tomorrow, but would have loved to have dinner and chat. Best wishes and speedy recovery to you!

Also -- please check in when you have a moment and let me know how you all are doing -- especially Tracey who was sick to her stomach. I have been thinking about you all!

Thanks Medic. Traceys -- heal fast and well, and keep in touch. Right now, I have one of the red pills they gave us stuck in my throat and drinking hot water isn't helping. Be careful with those things. I leave in the morning -- Samuel was supposed to call at 9 pm to let us know when he'd be here and he still hasn't called. *sigh* I am ready to go home!

You got that right -- this ain't no joke! The nurses were genuinely kind, thank goodness.

Anyone who has tried it both ways and has an opinion? I already have unflavored and thought I'd just add it to broth, but I've heard such good things about the Unjury chicken soup.

Chapter 1: My plane leaves at 7:15 am tomorrow, which means I must be up at around 4 am. Too excited and nervous to sleep. After all my whining, I actually did fantastic on the pre-op diet and lost 8 lbs. I am the only patient on Tuesday for Dr. Garcia and will have pre-op tests at 10 am and surgery at noon. Hoping for a surgeon with steady hands and a *yawn* boring recovery. Hope I haven't forgotten anything. If I have, I will get familiar with the WalMart that everyone talks about that is right down the street. Wish me luck, and watch for Chapter 2 tomorrow after I arrive in San Diego and get settled at the Marriott.

How do we find our driver at the airport? Is there a good restaurant where both me and my support person can eat the day of arrival that is near the Marriott in TJ? Best things to do if you arrive in the morning the day before surgery an have loads of time to kill? Any problems bring food over the border? Name the one thing you wish you HAD brought? Name one thing you brought and didn't need? Best piece of advice?

At least that's how I feel right now. I am on day 6 of my pre-op "warm up" diet. I am only supposed to do it for a week, but I started early because my BMI is borderline for 2 weeks, just cutting carbs and sugar. I suck at it. My hores are moaning and I am so PMSy and hungry. I've made some good decisions and done better than usual, but I am still eating too often and too large of portions of the "allowable" foods. This is why I'm in terrible shape to begin -- if I could diet and stick to it, I wouldn't need surgery daggumit. I start the REAL diet, two protein shakes and a light supper of chicken and salad, on Tuesday. I'm feeling out of control and hopeless about sticking to it. I get almost frantic with hunger, and everyone said it would get better, but it is not. I'm so discouraged. AND ready to gnaw on anything in sight. Hungry now and can't relax to sleep. How do you people DO it? I have so much respect for those who are doing it and doing it well. You guys rock my socks. I hope some of your willpower wears off on me.

It's going better, FYI. Food tastes so much better and I appreciate it infinitely more when I'm truly hungry.

I'm going to be sleeved next week on Tuesday by Garcia and am staying two nights in hotel afterward and the rest of the long weekend in San Diego just to give myself a little more time before flying five or six hours home.

Depends on when I weigh myself lol. This morning, naked, without an ounce of food or water in me, it showed 7 lbs. After work, with clothes but no shoes, it only showed 4 lbs. STILL. First time the scale has gone down in many moons! I'll take it.

SweetT23, how's the pre-op diet going for you? I'm craving sweets, but not giving in.

Well, today was the first day I stuck to it. I don't know what worked, but I did it. Shake breakfast, shake lunch, grilled raw veggies and a tiny piece of salmon for dinner. Several times in the afternoon I reached for something, but I tied a knot in it and tried to just hang on. After dinner when I craved something sweet, I convinced my dear husband to take me on a motorcycle ride to distract me. One day down, seven to go until surgery. Thanks for the kick in the butt an the support ... I needed both.

This is really great advice. Thank you for understanding and having good, reasonable ideas.

Big Daddy, I have gained about five lbs since scheduling the surgery two months ago, and really am right on the edge of having to do a two week pre-op diet. I figured it was in my best interest to slowly wean myself off the things I don't need, so I stopped caffeine about the same time I scheduled the surgery. No problem there. These past six days, I tried to let go of sugar, increase protein, and cut portions. I cut my portions, get hungry two hours later, and eat a protein bar or a shake that probably should be my entire meal. I'm sorry to be whiny. I am going to suck it up and try again tomorrow. Maybe going to work will keep my mind off being hungry most of the day. Thanks for your kindness, those who posted.

I found ThinkThin bars too. I am HARD to impress with the taste of these bars, and I love them. Had a ThinkThin crunch bar for breakfast this morning. Some of them, unfortunately, are pretty high in fat and calories, because of the nuts. One had 20 grams of protein though. 190 calories, 12 g fat.

I'm warming up to my pre op diet this week (it officially starts Tuesday) and stopped by Starbucks. Had a scoop on protein powder in a green tea frappaccino and couldn't even taste the protein. Gives me hope.

Islandlife, look forward to seeing you there, perhaps! Coco, good luck! I was in the same place as you a few months ago, researching and finding information.

Congrats! You look great!

In 10 days, I will be flying to San Diego and heading for the border. *panics* I am so scaredexcitednervousreadyflippingouthopeful!

Medic, I definitely want it, I'll PM you! Loved reading and following your journey. Learned a few things and got a good heads-up on the hotel checkin situation. Thank you!

Poooooop. Is there such a thing as Nutella in moderation? Like one spoonful a day instead of every 30 minutes?.