Diana49

Can anyone recommend a liquid brand of glucosamine chondroitin MSM? I take Osteo Bi-flex brand in pill form now for joint pain, but they do not appear to make the formula in liquid form. I take two a day, and they are big horse pills, which will be a problem swallowing after surgery.

I"m at 12:30 today. Best wishes to all other 4th'ers!

Oh boy, that zoo is gigantic and expensive, and there is a lot to see if you have just a couple of hours. Pretty exhausting too. maybe you could rent four wheeled scooters ( electric convenience vehicles) at the entrance. You might check that check that out. GOOD LUCK WITH SURGERY!

Hi - Tomorrow is surgery day for me too. Still kinda hard to believe. I have decided I don't much like sugar free Popsicles, sugar free jello, or Crystal Lite. I think it must be aspartame. I do better with Splenda. I am ordering some Baja Bob's drink mixes from netrition.com. And Propel Vitamin Water over ice is good. BEST OF LUCK TOMORROW! Diana49

Me too. GOOD LUCK! Diana49

Is your surgery on the 4th, like mine? I sure am glad my doctor doesn't require that kind of pre-surgery diet! I just have to do three days with a couple of protein shakes, some protein snacks, and a dinner of 6 oz lean poultry or fish and 2 cups of salad greens with fat free vinaigrette. Then fast after midnight the night before surgery. Anyway, my sympathies. It is cruel and unusual punishment to make you do clear liquids before surgery when you still have your appetite!

I bet you are excited and nervous. GOOD LUCK! Where are you? I will be sleeved sometime mid-day on Wed. the 4th in Houston, Texas. It doesn't feel quite real to me yet. Just told my three grown sons and their wives, and everyone is on board and supportive.

Can anyone recommend a liquid brand of glucosamine chondroitin MSM? I take Osteo Bi-flex brand in pill form now for joint pain, but they do not appear to make the formula in liquid form. I take two a day, and they are big horse pills, which will be a problem swallowing after surgery.

Thanks ... That's the second recommendation I've received for that one.

Can anyone recommend a liquid brand of glucosamine chondroitin MSM? I take Osteo Bi-flex brand in pill form now for joint pain, but they do not appear to make the formula in liquid form. I take two a day, and they are big horse pills, which will be a problem swallowing after surgery.

I am sitting here chuckling. I thought maybe you were getting married to someone named Newhouse between now and surgery. Not only did I think that a strange way to spend a honeymoon, but I wanted to inquire as to what substance you were on to be so calm in the face of your wedding and life altering surgery! :-) Diana49 My surgery is the 4th and I am pretty much obsessing.

Thanks! GOOD LUCK TO YOU TOO.

QUESTION for those having surgery in Mexico: What will you do about aftercare?

Hi everybody, I am noticing that everyone talks about a pre-surgery liquid diet of varying lengths of time. My doctor has me on just three days of a liver shrinking diet right before surgery, and even that is not all liquid. It is Protein Shakes for two meals, two small Protein Snacks, and one meal of 6 oz. lean fish or chicken plus salad with fat free vinaigrette . I sure wonder why there is so much variation. Other than this three day regimen, I am supposed to be practicing eating slowly, chewing forever, giving up carbonated beverages, cutting back on portions and fats and processed foods and not eating sweets. And getting some exercise. That's it. Diana49

Hi Diana, The link works, but the group is closed and locked. How would we join? Diana49

Hi SLF1027, I'm in Houston too, surgery scheduled for September 4th at Methodist Willowbrook with Dexter Turnquest. Do you mind sharing your surgeon's name? ~ Diana49

I have noticed that many of us are saying we are excited but nervous, but I haven't seen anyone talk much about what they are excited about, or especially what they are nervous about. I share the excitement and the anxiety about my surgery on September 4th. I will start with what scares me. I am sometimes pretty horrified that I am actually about to have the majority of one of my organs cut out of my body and thrown away ... an organ that has no illness or damage, that in fact, functions all too well. I have never had surgery and have all my original organs and other parts that I was born with. I don't like the idea of having my insides shoved around and cut into. I don't like the idea of being knocked unconscious by what amounts to poison while putting myself into the care of strangers. I wonder if I might regret this, and I know the decision is irrevocable. I wonder if the change in what I can and cannot eat will be overwhelming, since so much of life centers around gatherings that involve food. My family gathers for birthdays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, visits from the Manhattan contingent, barbecues and swimming parties, Labor Day, Memorial Day, celebrations, graduations, births and any other occasion or non- occasion we can think of. Many of these have traditionally happened at my house, though we are trying to spread the responsibility around more lately. Am I going to feel like serving the typical holiday meals? Will I look forward to special meals on special occasions? Will I still enjoy food, or at least enjoy it again someday, months or years after surgery? Will I ever again be able to have a margarita in a restaurant where they don't have sugar free? A Beef Fajita in a flour tortilla?? Gourmet veggie pizza? Nachos? My annual piece of pecan pie on Thanksgiving? On the PLUS side though: I am excited that I hope to have less arthritis pain and more energy and stamina, so I can walk longer trails in beautiful areas, managing to see more of nature that refreshes my soul. I hope to have more energy for activity with my six grandkids, ages nine to one. I want to be able to pack and plan and travel without exhaustion and to walk long distances to explore new places and museums and cities. I want to be able to get around in Manhattan with fewer cabs when I am visiting one of my three sons and his family. I want to throw out ALL the clothes in my overstuffed closet, and just start over and have fewer things and know what is there and be able to FIND them. I want to have the energy to do all that and more. I would love to hear others hopes and fears about this surgery too. Diana49