purplefaery

That looks amazing! I'm on post-op liquids but certainly something to save for when I can eat!

I went to Unity as well! Dr Baker on November 21st! Not excited about snow, that's for sure!

You can add me! faerygreenqueen

The vast majority of psych tests are multiple choice, including all the ones I took during my psych eval. I know that this is a stressful visit, and I was worried. My personal advice? Just go in and answer their questions as honestly as possible. The main purpose of the psych eval is to evaluate if you are truly ready for this huge, life changing event. I wanted this surgery more than anything else I can think of, but I went in and was honest about my history of depression and substance abuse (I've been clean for years). I wanted the psych to have all the info he could because if I wasn't ready, I wanted him to tell me! Personally, I can imagine nothing scarier than the thought of going through all this only to fail myself again! If that was the road I was headed down, I surely wanted him to tell me that! After stressing for 2 weeks after I saw him, worrying that I was "too crazy" for surgery, I met with him again and he approved me. Best of luck to you! Know what you are getting into with the surgery and be as honest as you can and I'm sure you will be fine!

So, its a bit early for a true "success story," since I just had surgery on the 21st... but... over the last few years, every time I've dieted, I've stalled, gotten frustrated, and given up at 300 pounds. Each time I gained more weight back, of course. I started the journey at 377lbs in May. I was 303 on my surgery date. This morning, I left the threes forever! I am officially in Twoderville and plan on staying for awhile... until I get to the promised land: Onederland!

As Jersey mentioned, stalls are very common and should be expected. I would giess that you are doing well and your body is just stalling out for a bit. The link Jersey provided has been incredibly helpful to me. What were your doctor's recommendations for what to eat/drink after surgery? Have you been logging your intake? We are happy to help, however, it is very common for different surgeons to have very different guidelines.

74 lbs

So I just got home from the hospital yesterday and brought home all of my meds... all of the pills I was instructed by the nurse to dissolve in my mouth... the anti-nausea meds taste like mint and strawberry... the liquid pain killer tastes horrible, but I was warned that it would. I tried to take a pepcid last night and it tasted horrible! It has a pink coating over it. I'm just wondering if its supposed to be this way or if maybe the pharmacy gave me the wrong pills. I'll call them this morning, just thought I'd see what you guys think...

Dude, I love my ecig! I quit smoking in January cold turkey. I had a full pack in my car and used my ecig for a weekend. I tried a normal cig again Monday morning and almost choked on how bad it tasted! I swore I'd never do it again... and I didn't. I slowly decreased the nicotine in my Fluid over the next months and have been vaping nicotine free fluid since early August. Its like a pacifier at this point - just helps with the habit... though I've been noticing that's even starting to diminish now. Personally, I'd tried Chantix three times and it never stuck because I missed my friends who still smoked and the hand/mouth habit. All my smoking friends switched to the ecig and we still had social time! Made it so much easier for me! I am glad the Chantix works for some, that is awesome, it just wasn't for me. My advice? Find a high quality ecig shop - they're popping up everywhere near me. Most will let you taste all of their fluids before you buy, help you find what you're looking for, and teach you how it all works! It was like magic for me, and I can't even imagine a situation that would make me want to go back.

I know this is a silly question. Cream soups are listed on my full luquid diet for post-op. When I see this, I think of what my mom refers to as "cream of something soup." Like Campbells cream of chicken or cream of mushroom, or cream of whatever... is that the right product or am I way off base?

Oops! Duplicate!

Thanks guys... still pre-op, surgery Thursday... post op grocery shopping tonight. .. have a good idea what tp get but pretty sure old habits will lead me to buy much more than is needed...

Thanks guys... post op grocery shopping tonight. .. have a good idea what tp get but pretty sure ill buy much more than is needed...

You can add me as well if you'd like. I'm pre-op, surgery Thursday: faerygreenqueen

I agree with macman. The 6 months seem really long, but I truly feel they are important. I have been thinking about wls for a number of years. Last time I was seriously planning for it was a few years ago. I had a 6 month insurance requirement. I made it through 5 months, lost about 30 pounds and decided not to go through with it. I wasn't ready. When felt ready this time, I started again. I have followed the requirements provided by my nutritionist probably 95% of the time. I have started walking regularly. I have lost 72 pounds pre-op. This tells me I'm truly ready. Scheduled for thursday morning. My point is, yes the wait sucks, but use it as an opportunity to learn! Not only about the surgery, but about eating well, exercising, overcoming/combating cravings, etc. You'll make it and do excellent! Best of luck!

Best of luck! I'm sure you'll be fine!

When you fill out psych forms, it is always always better to just be honest. The majority of psychological tests have been developed with questions to help the reviewer determine if you're telling the truth anyway. I thought mine were really nerve wracking too - I know how it goes. The psychologist said that mine showed that I have a history of substance abuse, but don't now and he wasn't worried. He did get a little worried that mine showed "non-conforming" as a trait and asked me to tell him what I thought that meant. I told him, if things make sense and are logical and well explained, I will comply. But I am not the type to follow my friends over a cliff just because they tell me to - I think for myself. He approved me the same day. I think the psych stuff is really to determine if you are ready to make the life changes required to be successful... and honestly, if I wasn't going to really change, I would hope someone would tell me and spare me the agony of going through all this just to fail. Anyway, I strongly suggest not trying to answer the questions "right," but to answer them truthfully.

My doctor required me to lose 27 pounds before surgery. I've met his goal and exceeded it quite a bit. I actually appreciate that my insurance requires 6 months of weight loss... Last time I thought of doing this I got through 5 months before I realized I wasn't ready. This time I used it as an opportunity to learn about how my eating would change post op (not drinking with meals, trying for small bitesn etc). I'm down 70 pounds. My surgery is coming up next Thursday. The required weight loss showed me just how truly ready I am. Could I do it on my own? Maybe... but I don't want to give myself the opportunity to give up in 6 months. Surgery is my way of always reminding myself of the permanent life change I'm making.

So, I met with my doctor for the first time yesterday. I was approved for my sleeve last week after 6 months of "medically monitored weight loss." During that time, I've lost over 70 pounds (woo-hoo!) Anyway, my doctor was asking about my medical history. I have had two hernia repairs. I don't have the operative reports for the second repair, but my physician seems very concerned that they did it in a way that may have caused my intestines and stomach to create scar tissue to the mesh that may have been used for the repair. If this is the case, as my physician said, "We're done." I have heard of people having a lot of surgery and this causing scar tissue issues, but I never imagined that my history of 2 surgeries would create this problem. Has anyone else heard of this? Today, I get to scramble to get those records to my doc and hope and pray that the other surgeons didn't end up screwing me over for my sleeve. Honestly, when he told me that it was the first time in my adult life that I've cried in front of a doctor - how embarrassing for my first time meeting him! He did go ahead and schedule the surgery - November 21st - but that is pending his receipt of my records and an additional discussion we'll need to have about whether it is likely to be do-able or not... Bah, I'm just venting and frustrated.

I'm also from MN! I live in Burnsville and will be having my surgery on November 21 with Dr. Jeff Baker at Unity. I went through almost the entire program with Park Nicollet a few years ago only to realize I wasn't ready. I am now, though! I'll be thinking of you this week as you gear up for your surgery! Good luck and best wishes!

Finally got everything squared away today - my surgery date is November 21st! I'm starting to get really excited, but I'm trying not to get my hopes up as my physician is slightly worried that a previous hernia surgery will render it impossible. However, I'm moving forward and getting everything ready like it's happening. With that in mind, I'd really like to join the fb group if at all possible. Email: skinnypurplefaery@gmail.com Good luck and best wishes to everyone having surgery tomorrow!

I'm glad to hear you are doing well! Congratulations on your sleeve!

Went and picked up my records and brought them to my surgeon. Ran into my nurse clinician that I've been seeing throughout the process and she went back and talked to my physician right away. He said that it all looks good and we're going forward. While there is no guarantee that it didn't heal weird and create problems he won't see until he gets in there, we're moving forward expecting it to all work out well. So, I'm all set for November 21st and just hoping for the best! As the nurse reminded me, I have an excellent surgeon who will certainly do the surgery if he can do it safely. And if he can't, I really don't want him to anyway.

Such good news! Congratulations!

Thanks for your support guys. My doctor does work at a center of excellence and does do revisions. My huge problem is that my insuramce is changing Jan 1 and none of my options for a new plan cover bariatric surgery... :-( I just keep reminding myself that if this is supposed to happen, it will. I'll do my part to get my records and just keep planning for a surgery date of Nov 21!