HotMessPrincess

The only thing I can really tolerate is Premier Protein...and I have to chug it in the morning to get it down. LOL. I liked Muscle Milk before surgery, but after surgery it started giving me a real bad case of "The Hershies"...if you get my drift. :-) Don't trust your farts for a few weeks. You're welcome. :-)

I've had two previous major surgeries - and both times I was like a zombie for at least 6 hours after they put me in my room. I've heard that they make you get up and walk pretty quickly, which helps with gas and blood clots. I totally get that...but if I'm not mentally aware, I'm a little afraid of not being able to understand what they need me to do - or worse: falling. Can y'all describe how this was handled for your surgeries? I'm thinking maybe I just don't understand the process. (And yes, I'll be asking my doc when I see him for pre-op as well!)

Welcome and congratulations! It's certainly an exciting journey. My pre-surgery process took a startling 32 days from my initial consultation to my approval for surgery, so I was quite happy with that. I've been morbidly obese over 20 years and have considered the surgical option for the past 2 years. I'm now on Day 8 post-op and I totally agree with the wisdom of soaking up as much information as you can. Another thing I've found invaluable is these forums and a group on Facebook called The Sassy Sleevers. Reading the experiences and testimony of other sleeve patients gave me countless questions to ask my nutritionist and surgeon. It helped prepare me in a way I didn't even realize was possible when I started this process. Excited for you!

I'm so excited for you! Congrats!!! I'll be thinking good thoughts for you today. You've got this!!!

That was totally me on Day 3, 5, and 7. You sound like you have a great attitude about it. I'm lucky in that my hubby works most nights, so I didn't have to deal with people eating around me...but even being in the kitchen was hard. I pretty much quarantined myself to one room of the house and stayed there. You stay strong and tell that boyfriend that he doesn't have to understand it, but he does need to be supportive if he wants to keep his hot girlfriend around. :-)

My surgery was Tuesday...so I'm just 5 days out. I can truly relate to everything you're saying because I just went through it. Let me tell you first that I'm an obsessive worrier kind of person, so surgery was all I thought or talked about and I wound myself up into a frenzy. LOL. You're gonna do fine. Here's my input: Keep your nose to the grindstone and your eye on the prize. For me, the hardest days on the pre-op diet were days 3, 5, and 7. It was easier to follow the liquid diet at work where I was distracted, but when I got home it was much harder. I avoided the kitchen like crazy. LOL. I made it through feeling fairly numb about it all and just wishing I could get to my surgery date...like "knock me out and get it over with!" The clear liquid diet the day before surgery was hell on me because, well, there are hardly any calories to it...I was super hungry....and really stressed about having surgery. It's not a fun day. Be ready for that and have some good support. I cried when they wheeled my bed away from my husband and took me to the OR...then I worried in the hospital about the barrium swallow test I was going to have to do. Like I said I'm a worrier! It was stressful, exciting, and nerve wracking...but the doctors and nurses were GREAT and it was a good experience for me. Everyone was so caring and kind. You're normal to be worried and freaked out. Just focus on the prize and what you have to do. That's what got me through all that ridiculous worry I just described. :-) At home, day 3/4 was the worst by far. In pain, drugged up on pain meds, and the 7 day liquid diet hits my intestines with gusto. Massive diarrhea. It was all very humbling. You're going to be sore. The most important thing I can say is sip, sip, sip your hydrating fluids whenever you can. Oh and take chapstick to the hospital...and a cushy pillow to hug against your tummy on the way home. Bumps on the road are hell. Today's day 5 and I feel like my old self. I'm still hurting a little but I'm off pain meds and I got down 68 ounces of Water today. I'm sick as hell of Jello and popsicles, but that's ok...I get the Protein shakes back next week. I never thought I'd be happy to see them again, but...I am! LOL You're going to do great!!!

My surgeon let me brush my teeth as long as I didn't swallow anything, which I didn't. As far as a pre-op diet, I'd ask your surgeon... Good luck!

I need someone to make me feel better about this...because I'm a worrier. My surgeon warned me that this would probably be my worst day because swelling is at peak, etc. but I just wanted to know if there are others who experienced the same thing. My incisions are fine, there's no sign of infection, etc...I just can't get comfortable. I'm sure some of this is weakness from not being able to drink enough, etc...but there is progress. Today I got down 2 16 oz bottles of Water and yesterday I could barely do an ounce or two an hour. I'm so tired of being in pain....help.

Just had my surgery on Tuesday, linda, and I can honestly say the liquid diet was the hardest for me. I know I'm only 2 days post op and I'm still focused on healing, but the pre-op diet is brutal because you're so hungry all the time. You're coming down the home stretch. I don't want to alarm you, but for me the clear liquids day before surgery was the WORST. I pretty much just sat around the house and stared at walls. LOL. Flex your muscles and punch it right in the face, girl...you got this!

Surgery at 11:30 am (Central time) today. I'm predictably nervous, excited, thirsty, hungry, and freaked out. I know all of this is normal thanks to this forum and all the stories and experiences I've read that you've shared. I know my sleeve will probably be gurgly and sore when I wake up, but I'm really hoping I'm not HUNGRY anymore. I'm so tired of feeling hungry. Ready for a new me!

Linda, I'm on day 7 of my 7 day pre-op diet. My surgeon allows 4 Protein shakes, broth, sugar free Jello. He didn't give me a weight loss requirement...I find it odd that yours did and I agree with lilrosie that if you could lose 20 lbs in 2 weeks you wouldn't have this problem. None of us would! My surgeon gave me a list of acceptable protein shakes along with the serving size (I got that part screwed up and was only getting 52 grams of protein on days 1 and 2 because I was drinking the small shakes and not the bigger ones. Ooops!) This is HARD, sweetie. No one said it would be easy. But it's temporary. After surgery, we'll have an amazing tool with which to lose our excess weight. I totally understand the desire to cheat. I've uttered more four letter words this week than I have in a long time, but I've stuck with it. And when I want to cheat, I just keep thinking how much I'll resent myself for it later if I do. I feel like isitjustme when she said she wished she would have done hers correctly...I feel like I wouldn't let it go if I actually did cheat. So I haven't. But it's been HARD. Give yourself some credit for doing something that's by no means easy. At all. But we can do this!!! That being said, I'd take a good long hard look at whether you're really ready for this surgery. Can you tell yourself that you're going to behave differently with food after surgery when you've had such a hard time with the pre-op diet? I'm not being judgy, I promise...these are the questions I would ask myself. Another concern is that you're sick. My surgeon made it clear that having surgery when you're sick can be dangerous. You need to tell him - or maybe reschedule your surgery. Give yourself a little more time if you can. Maybe even find another surgeon that has a plan you can deal with better. Whatever you decide, I'm sending you good wishes and prayers. This is really, really hard and only those of us who've gone through it or are going through it can really understand how you're feeling. :-) Sending you all my best wishes!

Totally understand...my surgery is a day before yours. I'm all flibberty jibberty. Cyber hug!!! :-)

My surgery is Tuesday as well and I feel the same way. I just keep my eyes on the bigger prize. This liquid diet sucks, but so has 20+ years of being morbidly obese. :-)

I'm on day two of my pre-op liquid diet and as much as I hate it, I feel kind of like a bad-ass for getting through it. :-) I'm chewing a lot of sugarless gum, which my nutritionist said I could have up to the day before surgery. None on Monday because it can cause gas. Surgery is Tuesday. :-)

I knew it wouldn't be easy, but damn...I'm hungry. LOL. Does it get better? It's easier at work when I'm distracted, but I'm spending a lot more energy trying to distract myself at home. Luckily, I made a list of things to do when I start feeling miserable or having a pity party. :-)

As I understand it, it's to shrink the liver so that your surgery and recovery are easier.

Thankfully, I've already confirmed that my surgeon doesn't use drains. Phew! I'll ask him about the catheter...hopefully it's NO or it's in and out while I'm knocked out. Thank you, everyone, for all the answers. I love having these forums to ask questions...you're all really saving my sanity. Or what's left of it. :-)

Cath? As in...catheter???? Does everyone have to have those? Holy crap...that seriously freaks me out. I've never had to have one before.

I'm pre-op & I start the full liquid diet on Tuesday. Today, I felt like eating a little chips & salsa and ended up mowing through (almost) a full bag of chips because I kept thinking "Oh man, it's going to be a long time before I get to eat these again!!" I kind of felt like a crazy woman. (Well, crazier than normal). I made myself very uncomfortable and felt guilty as hell. I feel confident that I'm ready for this surgery and I'm making the right decision. Maybe that's why this took me by surprise. I have less than two weeks until surgery and I keep waffling between excitement, fear, and disbelief (in the sense that I'll actually lose weight after surgery). Sort of like it happens for everyone else, but somehow my body will be able to resist the surgery. Has anyone else experienced this stuff?

Thanks everyone! Definitely feeling better...thank God for online forums, right? LOL

Thanks, Indigo! :-) I haven't blown the plan since it doesn't start till Tuesday, but still...the behavior took me by surprise. And to be honest I am more than a little freaked about how I'm going to handle the liquid diet when it starts. I just keep reminding myself that it's only for a week...and I can do anything for a week. I'm actually in the process of writing a letter to myself that I can read whenever I have a meltdown, but I guess I didn't get it done fast enough. LOL

Just got my date today...November 26th!!!