VSGAnn2014

Thanks for this thread. Very useful to me.

We can always "straighten up" for a height measurement. But when we're heavier, especially with tummies that protrude, our backs bow inward to balance the tummy weight. That's why so many of us who are overweight have back pain. Then we lose the weight, our backs straighten up, our necks straighten up and voila! We're effectively taller. Congratulations!

First, yes you ARE heavy enough to benefit from and "deserve" VSG surgery. If you're willing to commit to the education and lifestyle associated with successful VSG treatment of obesity, you will do great. Keep searching. You will find your solution.

Great post, @@RNBSN786 ... never thought of it like that before (duh). Eating can't be my hobby either.

Day Two was ... fluish. Headachey. But today is Day Three, and I feel just fine Fingers crossed.

LOL! My "last supper" was ... wait for it ... Grilled tilapia Steamed broccoli Rice pilaf Impressive, huh? Seriously, I have just been there, done that "last supper" so many times already. Not interested anymore. Eventually (a year out?) I expect I'll be eating anything I want -- just in moderation. And not all in the same meal. I'm so ready to get this party started!

We just postponed a European / transatlantic cruise that would have started 10 weeks after my surgery. (Scheduling surgery has taken so much longer than I had anticipated it would take -- Ay, caramba!) My main concerns were: (1) not knowing how fast I will recover -- there are no guarantees about that and (2) I'm not thrilled about being out on the Atlantic for 8 days with no medical evacuation possibilities only three months after major surgery. Yes, I am being conservative. But I also want to get used to my sleeve and make really sure my first six months are super-effective.

We're just like dogs. We can be trained. And we can train ourselves, too. GOOD DOG! GOOD DOG!

The sugar-free version of Carnation shakes seems awfully carb-ish to me. The packet is only 60 calories, but when you add 8 ounces of milk, that takes the calories up to 150 and the Protein grams up to (is it 13?). Still, the Carnation shakes are listed as permissible on my pre-op diet sheet. Personally, I prefer other Protein Shakes. I'm doing a GNC Lean shake right now that has 170 calories and 25 grams of protein.

I forget if I've posted this here already, but when I asked my surgeon what distinguished those who lose all the weight they need to lose and keep it off vs. those who don't achieve that level of success, he practically shouted with passion: "They never stop being in touch with us and always use all the resources we offer, and they never miss any of their appointments!" This past Monday (at my last appointment with him pre-op) I had to sign an agreement saying I would keep all my post-surgical appointments at: 1 week, 1 month, 2 months, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and annually thereafter ... forever!

LOL! It's official then. BTW, the new you looks a good deal younger. Congratulations on all your hard work and accomplishments.

RJ, it's clear this thread offends you. But it's not OK for you to misquote the opening post (by me). I also wonder if you've confused me with someone else. FTR, I did NOT say that "people who ask questions are clueless." Nor did I criticize people who post repeated questions. I said: I further clarified the OP ...

My surgeon's pre-op and post-op instructions are 60-80 grams of Protein.

Hoo boy! I'll let the vegan sleevers respond to your real issues. But I'll say that every post-op diet I've seen emphasizes 60-80 grams of Protein for post-op patients. The diet most people are on for anywhere from 2 - 12 months seems to be an Atkins-style diet. Eventually, vegetables and fruits take a relative back seat to the protein. Simpler carbs - rice, Pasta, potatoes, bread -- are recommended only after "enough protein" and more complex/fibrous veggies can be eaten. FYI, don't know if you know this ... but there are vega-based protein powders.

Misty, thanks for blogging your journey.

crazyweight, I don't remember seeing the thread in which you sought help. I'm sorry you sought help and were ridiculed.

Beth, de nada. I've been scheduled for surgery finally -- in a few weeks. A lot of my anxiety has abated. Just having it on the calendar has been soothing. I know you know what I mean. Your time will come soon, I betcha.

Your post is a happy one. Makes me happy. Thank you.

I've never played any of those games.

Screw the pithy comebacks. The bitch is abusing you in your lace of employment. Report her to your boss / management. The bitch has to stop abusing you. Period.

Just a little TMI self-report on Day Two of the two-week preop diet (first week is two shakes and a Lean Cuisine). 1. Nothing awful, but it's a headache day (and I NEVER have headaches). 2. Honestly, I feel a little flu-ish, too. 3. One other thing -- they should call this "the pee diet." I must've peed 3 gallons already today. (It's my liver using up glycogen and shedding water. So that's good.) Over and out.

I don't have any solutions for you. But I feel your pain. I attended my intro lecture in July 2013. It took me a while to decide I wanted to go this route, but I had all my paperwork from my doctor submitted by mid-November 2013. And then the Hurry Up and Wait portion of the program begin. In my situation, most of the wait was because my nearest COE bariatric center was just slammed with patient applicants. Once I got into the "fast lane" (about four months ago), things went better, but even then it hasn't been fast. Before that, however, I felt I was swimming in molasses. I honestly think that the rapidly escalating popularity of the VSG is what's slowing down a lot of bariatric centers' service delivery. Prior to a year ago, the sleeve was considered a bit experimental, but was then anointed by the medical powers that be as "proven." At the same time, some patients' problems with the band were widely covered in the news, and its popularity has waned (my surgeon almost refuses to do bands anymore). As we're seeing on this forum, there's great interest in conversions from bands to sleeves. That's to say I think this is just a "pinch point" in the history of WLS. None of which helps your situation at all. I'm just saying I doubt your center is trying to ignore you personally. No matter what's involved, it's too bad you're having to wait so long. It is not fun.

My only thought is that you MUST stay hydrated -- whether you feel like drinking or not. Ghrelin (which is not very abundant in your body right now) also removes your innate desire to drink (your natural thirsty sensation). Eventually, our bodies figure all this stuff out, but right now you probably have a whole lot LESS desire to drink than the six-months-ago sick YOU would have wanted to drink.

I think the only way to start exercising is to start moving -- just a little bit. Then move just a teeny bit more. I honestly believe anyone can do anything if they just do that. Last spring when I was recliner-bound (yup, could hardly move my ass out of it), I started counting my steps in my head (one, two, three ... thirteen, fourteen ... sixty-one, sixty-two). I literally counted how many steps I was walking each day. Kept a record. I found I was walking less than 1,000 steps a day. These days, even before being sleeved (happens in a few weeks), I'm now hitting over 5,000 steps daily and sometimes 6,000 and 7,000/day. I've lost over 10 pounds in the last 8 weeks. I'm now on Day Two of the pre-op diet. I have no doubt I will survive that, too. It doesn't matter at all what you can and cannot do. Just do that today. Then tomorrow do a tiny little bit more. The next day, same thing. And along the way, be kind to yourself and don't hurt yourself. If you want some inspiration, check out this guy!

That's really great news. I'm glad you're doing so much better. And yes -- I think your opening post did give the impression you'd "eaten the whole thang." You sorta freaked us out. Onward and downward, eh?