Roo101769

I got the IVC filter placed when I had my last embolism, so already covered there. I actually stop taking my warfarin (oral) today. On Friday I begin injections, twice a day for three days. Then post op I resume injections another 4 days AND resume oral warfarin. ( oral takes 3+ days to reach full effectiveness in our systems) I am not thrilled with doing the shots ( since I have to self administer) but....I will do it because I have to. I have done a lot to get this surgery I really didn't like, but it is all worth it in the long run!

BT dubs...I am getting sleeved on 10/21. I am on day 6 of my 10 day pre op liquid diet. Hasn't been easy but I am doing it. I am going to do all of it, and get where I dream of being! Good luck to you, I am sure you will be there too!!!

Earlier this year I had my second episode of DVT/PE. (deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism) PE can easily and quickly kill, so I am a very fortunate person to sit here and tell you this. When all was said and done I learned I will be on warfarin (blood thinners) for the rest of my life. There are a couple things you have to monitor and mostly give up while on them...anything rich in vitamin K and alcohol. Vitamin K is the natural anti thinner, it builds your blood. Therefore it will work against your medicine. Since your INR levels have to be monitored and meds adjusted frequently, you really don't want things jumping up and down. Alcohol thins the blood. So drinking on top of taking the meds can cause bleeding in excess. Not changing my consumption of vitamin K wasn't too much of a change as I was not a very healthy eater. ( If I had lived on green leafy foods I would not be needing the sleeve!) But I am a social drinker. I do enjoy a glass of wine now and then. I like to go out for celebrations and have a cocktail. I enjoy a cold beer on a hot day. Being told I could not do that anymore really was harder than anything. I am not an alcoholic, and I don't even drink that often. But it was the idea of being told "no"... Shortly after this all happened I did have drinks. It was Memorial Day weekend and I had friends and family over. I had a couple cocktails and thought "I can do this". But next time I was in for a blood test for my INR my levels were off and my meds had to be adjusted. ( plus I got a lecture) So no, I can't do it. Over the months I have come to accept it and move on.. One reason I chose the sleeve is because there is so much less "never agains". I realize it will be a while, after I am through the weight loss phase. But I know that, at some time in my life, I will be able to have things I really miss and enjoy again. I won't make them my everyday, they will be for rare and special occasions. I want to be healthy and eat healthy. Yet I know that, if I truly want to taste a long missed food, I will be able to again. I will just use my newfound better judgment and eat much less than I once had...

My diet has a lot more selection. Cream soups, broths, yogurt, sf jello, sf pudding, sf ice cream, smooth cooked oatmeal or cream of wheat, cottage cheese, fruit juice, v8 and protein shakes. The day before surgery, in the early afternoon, I switch to clear liquid diet until midnight. I have had to go "#1" a LOT more while "#2" has become a lot less frequent. No need for bowl prep pre op due to this diet. So far it's not been too bad. All worth what waits at the finish line!

Hooray, hooray, hooray!!! I am so happy for you!!! That was me a couple of weeks ago. I can't believe how fast it goes from there.. My surgery is next Monday- 10/21. I am super excited. I wish you all the best and hope it is easy peasy for you too!!!

I am on day 5 of my 10 day liquid diet. Day 1 wasn't too bad. Day 2 was HARD because I was around a buffet of food at a funeral. Day 3 I had a small slip and ate two sugar cookies. ( Boxed kind,for Halloween. Pretty small) Day 4 I thought I would die in the A.M. I had my EDG test and could not eat or drink anything prior. ( test was at 1:30pm!) I survived, and fed on my liquids after. Today has been the easiest I have to say. Seems like I am "over the hump". I have fairly little appetite today. What I have consumed has more than filled me up. Now granted it is not an Unjury diet, every doctor does something different. But I hope my story gives you a little hope that it will be ok for you....Good luck!!!

I can't believe I am less than a week away from surgery. Yesterday was my EDG, which was my last pre op test. Have to admit I was a little nervous about it, fear of the unknown type thing. But it was easy peasy. I did wake up with a cough and a bit of a sore throat. They said I coughed during, so I don't know if the numbing stuff didn't work or what. It felt numb when he sprayed it, but when I woke up I could feel everything. They had me drinking in recovery, although I had read it could take several hours for the gag reflex to return. Oh well, leave it to me to be different! The doctor said I did actually have a SMALL hiatal hernia, although it was not seen on the upper GI. So not sure if it is something he will want to repair in surgery or just not worry about it. I guess in the grand scheme of things I don't really care, but it would be nice if it didn't need fixed just to save an incision and maybe a little less recovery post op. It will be what it will be. I see my surgeon on Thursday so I will ask him then. I have come up with one or two questions to ask, but over all I am as ready as I will ever be! My good friend who drove me to the test yesterday is a couple weeks behind me on his journey to having the sleeve. It was good to talk with someone so close to me who is on the same path. I am sort of his guide as I will be ahead of him and can explain the steps. We have agreed to take one last set of "before" pictures, as we both plan to NEVER return to where we are now again! ( we have taken so many "before" pics over the years) I am kind of at a calm place right now. I have no doubt that, as time for surgery closes in, I will become a bigger bundle of nerves. But I know this is what is right for me. I know it won't be easy. I also know it is worth every bit of effort I put into it. Right now I have been enjoying what bit of weight I have lost. I can only imagine how I will feel once serious weight starts dropping off!! I look forward to being on the losers bench!

Not sure what the Bravo PH recording is...I did see a few photos of my insides, but that is all I know of.

And my surgery is 10/21. I am not sure if I will be able to go out with my daughter on Halloween, but I hope so!

I woke up easily. It wasn't like full sedation where you are groggy and have to work yourself out of it. I was asleep, then I was awake. But I do understand why they don't want you to drive or operate machinery for a while (12 hrs) after. Even though I was alert and everything, I would drop off asleep at the drop of a hat. I wasn't really feeling tired, but then I would wake up and realize I had fallen asleep. It happened a few times. And I slept pretty well last night. But if you are up and walking around you should be fine to go out with the Trick-or-Treaters. Of course I came home and got my belly full of liquids (10 day liquid diet) after not having ANYTHING to eat or drink most of the day! ( which might be part of why I nodded off so quickly)

Hi! Yep, T minus one week and counting!!! Today is my scope...In fact it is time to be heading that way. Good luck!! I can't wait.....

I have to confess...Day 3 I had a little slip. My daughter wanted some little Halloween sugar cookies and I had the box in my hands...I ate two. While I do not think this will derail my surgery, I do wish I had maintained. ( if for no other reason than to prove to myself I can do it) Oh well, today is another day. Actually today absolutely stinks! I have my EDG scope at 1:30pm. No food/water until after. Really? Now THIS is a test of my willpower......Ugh LOL

Today is my second day of pre op liquid diet. ( 10 day total). It was a very huge test today..Went to a funeral and reception after. There was a TON of food! I had a protein shake and sf applesauce. Man that was hard! Tonight I have been listening (and feeling) all kinds of rumbles going crazy in there. I have a ton of gas from unknown origins...Oh well, guess it is just par for the course. On to day 3!

I'm not a teen, I am the 21st. LOL I satrted a 10 day pre op liquid diet on Friday. Day one was ok. Day two was hard, was around a lot of food at a funeral. (But I made it). Today I have a headache. Not sure if related, but I assume it is. Also grumpy today. Tomorrow I have my EDG so I can't have anything until it is done. ( which isn't until 1:30pm!) That is going to be tough.. Good luck to all the October sleevers-hope we all have great success!!!

My surgery is 10/21, but I do not have a time yet. My schedule for surgery is as follows...Today-start 10 day diet. ( Switch to clear liquids ONLY day before surgery at 2pm until midnight. No bowel prep needed due to diet.) Monday is EDG. Wednesday -stop oral warfarin ( I am a lifer on blood thinners due to repeated DVTs) Thursday (my birthday)- see Dr. Bruce for final pre op appointment. Friday- start Lovenox injections. Monday- SURGERY!!! After that....heal, feel better, be healthy and lose this weight!!!

I can't believe I am here, but I am. Today is day one of my 10 day pre op liquid diet. When I started this journey it seemed like a distant thought to actually get to surgery. But now...I am just 10 days away! The liquid diet doesn't really scare me or bother me. First of all I have been working hard on what I eat for a while now. ( On 8/1 I decided to change over to high protein, low fat/calorie/carb in preparation for the sleeve) While I have struggled and have had "cheats", over all I have adapted a better way of eating. Enough to lose 24lbs from just changing what I eat and no real extra exercise! And my doctor's 10 day liquid diet is more about mush than liquids. ( allows cream soups, cottage cheese, SF pudding and jello, even smooth cooked cereals like oatmeal or cream of wheat) So I know I won't "starve" doing this. I have had a fleeting moment or two thinking about chewing something crunchy, but that passed quickly. ( If it gets too bad I will knawel on some ice or something! lol) Monday I have my very last pre op test- the EDG. Have to admit I am not exactly looking forward to it. But I have my eyes on the prize and will deal. Yesterday was upper GI and barium sort of blows...but I survived. (Side note- no hernia but "slight" reflux. I argue that because I was full of gas from the air crystals and needed a good burp. No wonder water sort of came back while drinking laying on my back full of gas!) We had a class to FULLY explain what to expect throughout and to once again make sure everyone understands everything. It amazed me how many people have still ignored what they were told by the NUT or their surgeon. I personally plan to make every effort to be successful with this opportunity. In fact, the nurse teaching the class came up to me after and said "you really seem to know a lot about this (surgery)". You bet your bippy!! I did my research. I wanted to know EVERYTHING so I could make a fully informed decision, which I did. Anyway, I am on my way. Last night my daughter asked " will you still be mommy when you get skinny?" ( She is 4) I explained to her I may look different, but I will always be the same mommy. Then I said no, I will be different. I said I will be able to run and play and do all sorts of things I can't do right now. So I will be a BETTER mommy! I am so excited to be that mommy!!!!!!!!!!

I just went to a class yesterday that was taught by a bariatric nurse. She said caffeine can inhibit calcium absorption post op, so limit yourself to 8oz a day unless decaf. ( Even decaf has SOME caffeine) She actually encouraged drinking milk, just make it skim. She told us post op that they do not focus on calorie or carb restriction. The thing the monitor is protein intake ( ALWAYS #1 ) and sugar. She said no more than 5-7 grams of sugar in a serving /meal. That was it. Maybe she was concentrating on RIGHT after surgery, the few weeks after. But it still makes sense for further along. I would have to agree with you and not your NUT here. I think we all should honestly know what is "good" and "bad" for ourselves, we just have to be true to ourselves. If you have questions I would either seek guidance online ( for nutritional information) or ask your surgeon to refer you to a different NUT. ( One who isn't so "nuts"!)

One of my oldest and dearest friends is a gay male who is also obese. In fact, he is a few weeks behind me in getting the sleeve. I will discuss this article with him to get his opinions. He was truly blessed to find a loving partner over 16years ago, who has been with him through "thick and thin". ( His partner is actually average sized) What I find interesting is his partner is against him having the surgery. I believe it is due to religious beliefs about the medical world in general, but I also wonder if there isn't some part of him that is afraid my friend won't stay with him if he loses all his excess weight. I have said it loud and long that weight discrimination and bigotry is pretty much the last tolerated and accepted form of abuse. Be it gay, straight, bi or even celibate. Society as a whole dislikes fat people and has no problems letting it be known.

Things are really gearing up for my surgery on 10/21. I have my pre admission testing on Thursday and Monday is my EGD. My problem is two part..The main thing is my sitter. I have a daughter who is almost 5. During the day she goes to a sitter while I am at work. She has been with this lady since she was 6 weeks old and, honestly, my sitter is like family. That is why my daughter is supposed to stay with her while I am in the hospital having surgery, and a day or two after. Well here is my problem...My sitter has a sister who is in end stage of her battle with cancer. She is in Hospice care now and it is just a matter of time. My sitter needs to be with her family when the end comes, so she may have to go at a moments notice. Normally that would not be a huge issue, but with these major appointments coming up it really is. I do not have a large extended family. I do not have a back up sitter available and will have to scramble big time should the sister pass during the daytime. My only option is MY 94 year old grandma who has dementia, and let's face it- that is no option! I have already missed nearly two months work earlier this year due to health issues, and have been lucky they are ok'ing another week for surgery. I cannot take additional time because of no sitter! Plus, the way my PATs are scheduled Thursday it will take most of the day. ( Have to check in one hospital at 8:45 for gallbladder ultrasound, upper GI series, EKG, and blood work. Then have to go to a DIFFERENT hospital by 12:45 to attend a mandatory class until 3pm) Now the second part of my issue is my EGD next Monday. You are NOT allowed to drive yourself home as they administer propofol during the test. I have someone to give me a ride to the hospital, but my sitter's daughter was going to be my ride home. (this wasn't even a certainty) Well now, if her aunt passes away, I cannot be certain she will be available to give me the ride. I am so close to the finish line and rescheduling is NOT an option. I am just a bit panicked about what is going to happen. I do feel great empathy for my sitter and the loss she is about to experience. I wish more than anything her sister wasn't ill and she didn't have to go through all of this. ( Her mother died earlier this year. That too caused a lot of disruption and scrambling to find someone to watch my child.) My sitter was actually one of the first people to discuss the possibility of me having bariatric surgery years ago, so she is supportive. It is just the fact my support network is extremely limited and when one person is unavailable, it creates a huge domino effect. Right now my mind is reeling trying to think of alternate possibilities, and not having much success. I could sure use some positive energy and thoughts right now. I am not doubting my path at all, just worried about how it will all come together.

All good suggestions, thank you. I should mention my sitter has a large family who all has been available to help with the sister who is passing. (so she doesn't have t go it alone) To be honest, she has come to terms with it and is dealing very well. But she does have to be there when the time comes.. It just gives me limited options. Another large problem. My daughter's father is not actively involved in her life. All we have is child support. So far I have NOT received my support for October. ( I usually have it by now. It is not even showing received by the CSEA at this point...) I do not make enough at my job to support us entirely. I have bills to pay, including extra expenses for the surgery. Right now finances are VERY tight, until I get that support. So paying someone else to watch my daughter is going to be difficult at best. ( I pay my sitter two weeks at a time, on my pay days) Like I said, a rock and a hard place. I did come up with an idea I am going to check on. Someone I have known from my high school days that I have stayed friendly with through FB. She once offered to have Rowen come play with her daughter ( same age) to give me a break. I am hoping maybe she and I can work something out..But again, thank you all. This situation is just stressful. And we already know how much stress is involved at this stage of the game...

Has your husband been losing weight too? He looks quite a bit thinner in the after picture. That would be super and he IS very supportive. Bonus for you!!! And you look great. I cannot wait to be a loser! LOL Keep up the fabulous new you!!!

I haven't had my sleeve done yet, but I had a catheter when I had a C section in 2008. There is a little mild discomfort when they insert it. Right after you have the weirdest sensation. You feel yourself urinating and think it is going to get all over, but of course it does not. Then your body sort of "gets used to it" and you no longer can feel your bladder emptying into it. Removal was easy, they just gently pull it out. No discomfort in that. While I would be happy not having to get another, if it happens I am not worried by it.

T minus 2 weeks and counting. I cannot wait to be making a post exactly like this!!! LOL

I am pre op ( sleeve date 10/21) but have been watching what I eat and trying to change to the "post op" lifestyle. I found it is so much easier for me to eat out if I go online first and check out the menu and nutritional values. That way I can make my decision and stick with it. A lot easier to eat healthy if you aren't hungry and looking at all the other delish options! Also love the idea about getting the to go box at the start and portioning your food.

#10 made me LOL - thanks!!!