MindiJean

I have three appointments on Monday for pre-surgical testing, as well as my 2.5 yr cancer scans, chest x-rays and oncology consult. I know that they're doing the scans, an ekg, a physical, blood tests, etc. What was the ETC for you? What else do I have to look forward to for the testing? Already had a meeting with the trainer. Meeting the anesthesiologist and nurse practitioner and nutritionist again. Writing down every single med, taking my book with me about the surgery, my laptop and my hubby is taking his I-Pad. What else do we need? Should I safely assume that it's time to shave my legs and pits (winter is on it's way!!)?

I haven't even looked for other threads about Facebook. If anyone wants to be FB friends through this journey, you can friend me at Mindi Sheldon Piasecki

I have no pre-op or post-op liquid diet. Just high Protein and low carb a week before. Every surgeon is different. And I am going to a Center of Excellence Bariatric Center, so I'm trusting what they tell me to do!

Probably WAY too much info, but.....two years ago I had chemo and then had my bladder removed due to bladder cancer....and had a new bladder built out of my intestines. Long story even longer....my digestive system is now, and probably forever, messed up. Thus, I always have stool softeners as well as anti-diarrhea medicine on hand. There are times in a week that I take one thing one day, the other the next. But thanks!! I'll make sure I have Miralax on hand, much quicker than the stool softener I usually use.

I think I will be making my own with Crystal Light Pure. Can't find any made without artificial sweeteners.

Our Barney has the same attitude. He will sit where he thinks it's appropriate. Period. This is a photo of our very first Pug. We adopted him when he was found wandering around with the Saint Bernard. We wanted a Saint, we adopted both and fell in love with Pugs. Otis the Pug and Buska the Saint.

Pureed day one, for two weeks. Soft food, two to four weeks, then regular food at 4 weeks.

I will never ever get another Pug puppy again. I don't have the energy for it. Our Barney was a nightmare for the first four years of his life!! Only older dogs for us from now on! There are Pug rescues all over the place!

I have no pre-op liquid diet, just high protein low carb the week before. And they start me on pureed foods before hospital discharge. Everyone's diets are so different!

Pugs, unfortunately, have many medical issues. I'm so sorry about your baby girl!! The most common is luxating patella. We've fostered many Pugs who need surgery to fix one or more of their knees. Expensive surgery. I've know a few with liver shunt which causes seizures. Usually not in such a young Pug though?

I can't have artificial sweeteners either, they give me a migraine. If you're looking for Protein drinks, Jay Robb has some that use Stevia, which I CAN use.

We have two Pugs, Barney is the fawn in the photo. He is 9 years old. We got him when he was a puppy. We also have "Mrs" who is a black Pug. She is 13 years old. She is a "failed foster". We fostered Pugs for years and just fell in love with Mrs when we fostered her, so we kept her! We also have a white Boxer named Mister Petey Picard, he's deaf, he has cancer and his kidneys are failing. They estimate that he is 9 years old. We adopted him from the local animal shelter when they were going to put him down because of all his issues. They didn't think he would live long. Two years later, he's still as crazy as ever! Now that I made a way long answer to your simple question.....Tell me about your Pug?

I'm not sure if there is already a thread here for cancer survivors or people who currently have cancer, with the sleeve or pre-sleeve? Would love to know that I'm not alone! I am a bladder cancer survivor. I have my 2.5 year scans coming up next week, along with all my pre-testing for my sleeve surgery. I have my story all printed up already because it's a long one...but I wanted to see if others have gone through cancer here? I believe it puts things into a different perspective if you've come through cancer. I was diagnosed with bladder cancer when I was 42. We found out that I was pregnant, surprise! We had already lost two babies, our son Daniel in the second trimester and then an early loss. We are foster parents and had already had three failed adoptions as well. When we found out I was pregnant, they did an ultrasound. They could not see the baby, but did find numerous tumors in my bladder. There started a whirlwind of tests, day surgeries, chemo, and finally major 12 hour surgery in March 2011, to remove my bladder and rebuild a "fake" bladder inside of me. 2.5 years later, I'm recovering still, have a hernia the size of a basketball due to the surgery, and need to lose some weight before I can have my "big" hernia surgery to fix my hernia, and start living again. My story This is what we consider to be our "last chance" at having a child in our lives. I'm 45 now. I've lost three children and two years ago lost my bladder and uterus to cancer. We've fostered children for years and had four failed adoptions. Last chance adoption. If we can afford it. My life reads like a soap opera. When I was 11, my sisters and I were hit by a car while waiting for the school bus. My little sister Kathy didn't survive. I was raised by a wonderful Mom and an abusive alcoholic Father. And then I married an abusive, drug addicted husband. Stayed with him for 12 years until I had the strength to leave. In 2001, I met Mark, the most wonderful man ever. We married in 2003. In 2005, at the age of 37, Mark and I conceived our first child. In 2006, I gave birth to our son Daniel, too early for him to survive. Later that year, we lost our second child. Fast forward to 2010 (time spent between 2006 and 2010 resulted in our becoming foster parents and having three failed adoptions). At the age of 42, I found out I was pregnant. Went for an ultrasound, where they found numerous tumors in my bladder. I lost the baby and started chemotherapy in Dec 2010. In March 2011, I had my bladder surgically removed, along with my uterus....losing any chance of having our own baby. But, in the end, I was/am currently cancer-free. We named our third baby "Angel" for saving my life. We became licensed as foster parents again, and had a 15 month old baby girl placed with us. On March 1, 2013, after living with us for over a year, baby girl was taken and given to an Aunt in another state. Failed adoption number 4. Through all of this, my husband Mark has been the best friend, nurse, Father, husband, caretaker ever. He deserves to have a child. WE deserve to have a child. We've looked into adoption and have started the process, which could take years.

I had my teaching today via telephone conference, as the appointment that I had for Monday wasn't going to work. Got lots of answers to my questions today! Hubby will be staying in the hospital room with me. Private rooms, separate bed/cot for hubby. I'm not to start any Vitamins until after surgery, and then I can chew two Flinstones vitamins. They expect me to be off of my Metformin, probably my two insulins and my blood pressure meds before I leave the hospital. I will drink Clear liquids day of surgery, and the pureed regular foods day two before being discharged. They prefer we do NO Protein shakes. All my protein is to be obtained through foods. Two weeks pureed and then soft solids for two weeks (using my teeth as the blender). I can use egg white protein to add to pureed foods. I am scheduled for laproscopic surgery and it's meant to take one hour. No central line for this surgery? That makes me relieved. I got a massive infection and septic shock from my last central line. Most people are sent home day after surgery. But I am approved for longer if I don't feel up to leaving. I'm ready to go now! Hurry up November 20!!!

It's amazing how strong one can be when there is no other option. You guys are awesome!!

I've mixed mine with tuna before but never crab.....that sounds AWESOME!!! Thanks for the suggestion!!

I love my cottage cheese with chives, but I think that is a 4% milkfat? You could just add dried chives and puree? I also always need some salt and pepper.

When I was going through chemo, I lost about 2/3 of my hair. Mostly all in one day. Here are some tricks that I used that seemed to help. 10,000 Biotin every day. Do not comb or brush your hair. Finger comb. Do not use any heated appliances on your hair. No blow dryers, no curling irons, etc. Do not have any treatments added to your hair. No straightening, no coloring or perming. Get some Aloe Vera juice and spray your scalp with it at least once a day. It conditions the scalp. No hats. No barrettes. Nothing that is likely to pull at your hair. Hope that helps!

My pre-op is one day of smaller portions of protein. No liquid diets with my surgeon. Post-op is pureed foods from day one, before leaving hospital.

I find it hard to believe that no one else has had cancer?

I found it!! http://www.cornellweightlosssurgery.org/pdf/dietary_guidelines_sleeve_gastrectomy.pdf

Is there any kind/type/brand of baby food that is okay tasting with decent Protein? Thinking that keeping some on hand post surgery might make life easier, if any of it tastes okay?

It's for two to four weeks after. Cornell has a very similar diet for their program. I believe that Cornell doesn't discharge until you can eat soft foods or pureed. Checking that now.