CarryOn7

To anyone who has had the surgery who swims or does water aerobics, how long did you wait till you got back in the pool? Yes I know you have to wait till everything is healed so you can get in the pool, & yes I know everyone is different. my Surgeon says that he would like me to wait a month, the physical therapist said 8-12 weeks. I enjoy doing both & I also know when my body hurts to stop. any advise? I am just trying to figure out a plan, plans change & things arise. Thanks.

That helps a lot. I was thinking when I felt I could I would. The PT said something about recovery, but I quit listening after she said that. I think she wants people to go to her class. Either way I figure I'm the only one who knows what my limitations are. I also know to wait till no incisions are open. I just find such peace in the water.

Looking forward to everyone's stories of surgery. may everyone have a speedy recovery Looking forward to the New self!

There are a few people, its 1 of many reasons why I am not talking about my upcoming surgery to to many people.

I made the mistake of reading the August Sleevers. Argh not good reads. I shouldn't have read it, now my tummy is doing flip's. I know that no ones surgery is the same. Just like none of us are the same. Will people who have surgery for September give their stories of surgery, I know it'll take a day or 2. I am fully aware of things that can happen, and somewhat to be prepared for it, & I also know if complications arise then it's better to be at the hospital rather than at home wondering. I figure tomorrow I had better make some "just in case" plans for home & work. Then if I don't use the plan it'll be ok. It's not going to detour me. I know where I want & need to be. Good luck all, I hope everyone has a speedy recovery!

It's ok, I figure I have to deal with this stuff sooner or later. I think after my surgery things might be better as people know what's going on. I just have to learn to deal with it all & keep my head up & keep moving forward. I know where I want to be. Oh well thanks for the ear(s) We will all be better off in the end, I figure one day I will look back & just shake my head.

Is anyone else having a Long weekend? I haven't said much to anyone but a good friend & my hubby & kids. So I'm trying to be act like nothing is out of the normal. We went with friend last night to dinner. Where I had a side salad no dressing. I had a Protein shake about an hour before. Where they notice I wasn't eating much. Then they all asked why I wasn't drinking anything. I just played it off that I wasn't feeling so well. Now we are getting ready for a BBQ I plan on just eating from the veggie tray we are taking. This time I have an insulated cup that will have my shake. I just don't think I should have to explain myself to anyone. I don't want to hear about their friends, cousins, boyfriends, uncle that they think had this procedure. That had a hard time. I'm on my day 7 of my 2 week liver shrinkage diet. I'm not going to mess this up. Not this close to the finish line of getting the procedure. My Doctor has a very strict rule if you don't lose so much weight, you will be rescheduled. Honestly nothing sounds that good to me anyway. After the 4th-5th day my bread cravings left. (It has always been my weakness.) kudos to anyone that has to do the pre-op diet around the holiday's. oh well only 1.5 more days of the Holiday weekend... rant over. *Side note I found how to release my cravings to breads, sounds weird but I baked, I didn't bake breads, close cupcakes my kids have asked for, for awhile. The smell was enough to help. I didn't even lick my fingers. I did not taste a drop nor a crumb. I was happy my kids are super happy.

Take a deep breath. There will be lots of hard challenges with having the surgery. Enjoy what you can & make the Best of the day.

there are topical products if you have bad headaches or migraines. 1 is called "fever patches" they are found by the liquid child medicine (they work wonders, many not take a migraine away but it dulls it) the only problem is you want to be home they are a gel on fabric that you put on your forehead, they last about 4 hours. 2 "activon" its a topical gel for arthritic & joint pain, again works wonders but doesn't take migraines fully away. these leave a shiny gleam to your forehead, but when your head really hurts you really don't care. 3 "peppermint essential oil" I have mixed a drop or 2 with just a bit of vicks to not have it run. I asked at one of my Doctor appointment's, where I get massive migraine a lot. these 3 things I have used well before this, I am not a fan of pain killers. luckily I haven't needed any of these yet. I did have a caffeine headache a couple days ago, I put 1/2 packet of Crystal Light with Engery into a bottle of Water, it took the headache away quickly. you could even use a full packet, my Dr prefers no caffeine during pre-op. Some Dr's just say no fizzy drinks. Best of Luck

I'm having my surgery that day as well, In Idaho

I thought this was funny. Today is day 5 of my Pre-Op Diet. I haven't cheated, except a 1/2 packet of Crystal Light Grape Energy a couple days ago. (My Surgeon Prefers No caffeine) Any way this morning my body was up early & I was Really looking forward to eating my Chewable Multivitamin & Chewable Calcium. I've had both of these is the past & Yuck normally. It's funny how when your mind is made up it finds something to like the taste of. I know it's cheezy, but I found it funny. Have a Good day All! We are one day closer to a Renewed Life!

I have been lost in thought for awhile, running all kinds of emotions. So I thought I will do my old standby. Make a List... a List of Why I am wanting to keep my head up & not cheat, not give in to my belly... all its moaning & groaning of thinking it wants something Sweet or Salty... or something besides Shakes, protein, veg's or a single piece of fruit.. things I want to be able to do. ~sit in a both when I go out to with my family. ~not have to worry about whom is driving, due to the seatbelt issue. ~ride any fair or amusement park ride. ~be able to go buy cloths that don't come from The Big Girl section (basically anything without a X or few) ~be able to not have fear of people asking when I'm Due. ~for that matter no terrible comments or remarks. ~to be able to actually Smile without hiding the pain of something. ~to not have to worry if I drop something & have to pick it up in public. ~be able to go swimming at a public pool without giggles. ~when family & friends gets together to not worry about a chair breaking. ~to be able to ride the dirt bike. ~to be able to wear high heels again when I feel like it. ~to do a 5K without walking. ~going skiing. ~go tubing. ~go rollerblading again. ~ride a horse without extra stress. ~go on the zip-line. ~go golfing without getting to tired. I have many more that have rolled through my head & now that I sit to type they have disappeared. This Journey is for me, for my Health & Happiness. Sometimes I just have to remember that. this was just a quick rant. I'm so ready for this change. Happy Trails to everyone on their own Journey!

Just remember how you got to this point, change is scary, but it's a good thing. It'll be worth it in the end.

That is Great! I can't wait to have some personal Victories! Hopefully this lifts your Spirit!

Good Luck on everything! so exciting!

A bit of every emotion... mostly Happy! a new life is on the horizon! :wub:

I am surprised at how well the first day of the diet went, The hardest part was Dinner when you could eat 3oz of protein. That made me hungry. But I prevailed. It didn't hurt that I registered 1 of my kids for High school & spent 5hrs over there trying to sort out a messed up schedule. I put 2 bottle of water in my bag & drank them slowly. I've had a bit of a headache but I think that is part of detoxing from Sugar & Caffeine. I did pretty good with water. Better than I thought. I just need to try to add 2 more bottles.The whole "dry meal" thing is rough on the water intake. I got 59 grams of Protein so I will take it. I need more but that's a good start. I am thinking why my Dr put his patients on a 2 week diet is to work the bugs out the best you can before hand. rather than after. its a lot of managing your time, & being accountable, I guess this is where all the other diets I have been on come into play. A learning experience. I think the second thoughts are all part of the process too. I have noticed I second guess when I want something not on my diet. I just do my best to remind myself, I have tried numerous things & crashed & burned. now it's time to succeed. move forward & just flat out do the best I can do. some days will be hard some I won't think twice about. this is just a fact of life. That's where this site comes into play. A place to vent with others that can relate. Good Luck to everyone no matter where you are on your Journey!

It's just a matter of getting the timing down, I don't think the 2 weeks will be to bad. just the word Diet really gets my body tied in knots. It will all work-out!

Day 2: This day did not go buy as smooth. Not as busy & the hunger or ghost hunger (I have plenty of storage I will be fine…) still stuck to the diet just mainly had a headache, broke-down & bought Crystal Light Grape Energy to relieve the caffeine headache.. My Surgeon prefers no caffeine during pre-op, along with avoiding ibuprofen due to it being a blood thinner, & to try not to take Tylenol. Where you get the Rx version as Post-Op., which is all, ok, just a Pain. I ended up having a hard time going to be cuz my belly thought it needed the Fast Food one of my older kids brought home, well actually just the wrappers.. MAin it was the smell that made my tummy rumble... I thought you know this is a good trail now. I can’t make them change how they eat just because of what’s going on with me. I prevailed. Surprisingly felt better for it when I walked away. Best of all no regret! Small victories. Sad thing the stuff doesn’t even taste nearly as good as my head always thinks it does. So I am Happy. I did better on water, I got right on target. Protein 64 so it’s improving. Day 3: Finally had my Blood Labs early this morning. Now I’m just Crossing my fingers that nothing major is found. The blood work wasn’t bad didn’t even feel where she poked me, no bruising either which is unusual for me. The horrific thing was the Urine Test. I awoke to Mother Natures Wrath. Ugh most embarrassing… I know I’m not the only one, one of the nurses said it’s the drastic change in my diet. Which I have had before & I am pretty sure it’ll happen again at some point. LOVELY life as a Woman!! She also told me some of the more scary stories of people.. #1 STAY AWAY FROM ALL FIZZY DRINKS. Or basically this whole process is in vain. The #2 is do not push your self to eat, like Stuffing your self most people don't eat to much for a very long time, she said that's why you go to your post-op appointments. Good thing I have already heard this info from the Dietitian & Dr. along with pretty much everyone else who I have seen. Water I got right on, well I'm drinking my last bottle before I head to bed, also & Protein I got 75!! I think it’s a lot of choices & making the best of it. I also found to curb the hunger to cut the vegetables up small so they look like a lot more, the old toddler trick worked today. It took a lot longer to eat it also. The biggest problem I found, with the dry meal rule is getting all the water in during the day. Unless you get up earlier specially when you have a lot of driving to do. It’ll work its self out. The joys of continuing to learn..

Good Luck. It's sad that this seems to be a pattern with a lot of us. I have more than spent the cost of what this surgery cost in, pills, trainers, membership fee's, gas, special foods, Dr visits for Rx's, potions & lotions... Then when I went t see my Surgeon he was looking through my family history & said yes, some is me, some is also genetics. I have asked Dr's that for years. they say well yes genetics play but you can take control. I cried in the Surgeons office. He said that it happens a lot. here's to a new life. Good Luck on your Journey.

I think it's normal to doubt. I've had some, but I know where I want to be verses where every other fail has put me. if your having huge doubts, then maybe call the Dr office & talk with someone. my Dr has a bunch of his staff who have went through this same surgery. they are huge support. they have geared me up for friends & family being nay sayers, along with people who think they know me. On of the staff told me when my head goes into doubt, to take focus away from it, read, a puzzle, something even if its the middle of the night. I haven't needed it yet, but it's good advise. find something to focus on where you know yourself & if you know your not going to sleep soon it's better than tossing & turning. Good Luck. hope you can find resolve.