cabstewart

On Monday I will be at the hospital at 5:15 a.m. - happy for the early time - better to get up and get it over with! I'm in NC - so weird to think that people all over the country are feeling some of the same feelings I am! Good luck to you all!

Making my hospital list of items to bring on Monday 12/16…. I have had recommendations for the following: 1) Your own pillow - also heard this helps cushion the seat belt against your tummy on the way home 2) Tooth paste/brush 3) Hair brush/comb 4) Night gown - some say yes, some say no? 5) Robe - is it a good idea to bring a robe (I assume your butt hangs out otherwise when you are up walking)? 6) Slippers - are you in hospital socks and if so, are slippers needed? I have sock monkey slippers! 7) Someone mentioned a throw for comfort- don't they give you more blankets if you need them? 8) GasX strips - do they let you use these in the hospital? 10) Chap stick 11) Your own drinks - don't they give you sugar free drinks? How much are you drinking anyway? 12) Do they let you - or are you able to take a shower? Would appreciate anyone else's perspective on what they brought or wish they had. Getting excited to get this underway. Not sleeping that well, I keep waking up wondering how it will be. May be waking up from hunger though, LOL!

Don't let her get you down. You are doing the right thing and her response is probably due more to her own insecurity than anything to do with you. You know there are always people who try to keep you down and out with them, it makes them feel better. One of my best friends who is very heavy said she didn't know if she could hang out with me anymore after I became "skinny" I know it was just her fear talking but it does hurt. You're with us and we are making positive steps to a healthier life!

I know what you mean….I don't like the taste of any I have tried. A friend who had the gastric bypass last spring tells me she is still drinking at least one a day to get enough protein in! I wasn't counting on that. The shakes taste like chocolate flavored talcum powder!

Hi Belinda: Glad you joined our group. What a great present to yourself - a new body for the new year. I too have sleep apnea, and high blood pressure - I hope we can both get rid of those issues in the new year!

Sns513: Yes, I had the headaches and they couldn't have been from caffeine because I don't drink it regularly. I changed the protein shake I was drinking to another brand and the headaches went away. I don't know if it was the drink or that my body just got used to the change? My doctor's pre-op plan is one week of a protein shake for breakfast and lunch (with special protein bars for snacks), and one lean meat and green vegetable (no carb veggies) a day. Then in the second week - which is where I am now, it is 5 shakes a day along with sugar free liquids. I've been hungrier this week. Something else you might want to try is to add liquids that replace the electrolytes such as Propel or G2 Gator aid. I am also allowed broth and tomato juice. Hang in there, it will get better!

SoPeachy28: Happy Birthday! I know its tough being on liquids on your birthday, but just think of how many birthdays you'll be adding to your life with your healthy body post op! We'll probably be in surgery with hours of each other. Good luck to you….just 3 more days!

Glad to hear that it has gone well. All the best to you.

I noticed that my weight has gone up and down a little. I am in week 2 of pre-op diet. This week is much easier to deal with, but I haven't weighed in a couple of days. I know what you mean about the hunger! Yesterday I made cupcakes for my son's birthday- and did not eat any part of them! That's a first!

MissKatt: It sounds like you are doing better. Its too bad for the pain in the beginning. I hope you feel better every day going forward. Less than one week before my surgery…..

Be careful ordering too much before surgery. Or at least check to see what their return policy is. You taste does change. In fact I asked my Auntie to make me broth from my favorite soup, an old family recipe that I LOVE. I put 1 tiny spoonful in my mouth and spit it right out. I couldn't even stomach it. You just reminded me I have some Nectar. I haven't tried it yet. I met a fellow sleever who didn't like it post op and passed it along to me. Its the lemonade one. Why do you think our tastes can change post op?

Hi Cabstewart, I'm also a 12/16 sleever! This is is the third day of my Preop and I had a hard time the first day. I felt a little dizzy and I did have something besides liquid. I too am very nervous. I was reading a post about two sisters that had surgery and one sister didn't make it a year, that is what I am truly afraid of. I've never been "under the knife" so my nerves are going haywire! I'm not having surgery to look good, I'm having it because of my co- morbidities and trying to have a better more energy filled life with my two young children. Every time we play I'm tired easily and out of breath and I feel like I'm cheating them of these moments with me because I'm overweight. I don't want to be that mom to them, and I Amos ready to live a healthier lifestyle. Looking good is just the plus of the surgery. But trust me I'm nervous, very nervous. I may need a Xanax before surgery, lol! SoPeachy28: Thanks for your reply. We will have to keep each other in our prayers. I am doing much better with the headaches lessened. I think I am allergic to something in the the Ketogenx shake mix I was drinking. I tried a couple of others such as Oh Yeah with better results. Tomorrow starts the all liquid phase for me. We're only a week away! I had a hysterectomy in 2005 - with about an 6 incision - I guess I am thinking that if I can live through that I can live though this. It seems like different people are on different diets before surgery - any idea why they are all so different? Thanks again for the encouragement!

One more for December 16th! I am very nervous. I am following the Ketogenx shake diet this week (1 shake at Breakfast, one at lunch, 2 ketogenx Protein bars for Snacks, lean meat (portion size of the palm of your hand) for dinner with 3 handfuls of low carb veggies. And about 15 plain almonds. Lots of Water. It adds up to about 940 calories per day. One week out from surgery, it goes to all liquid diet. Only problem I have had are headaches (not from caffeine as I gave that up before). I might be allergic to the whey in the Protein shakes??? My surgeon is Dr. Jon Bruce.

Hi All: I just joined tonight. My surgery is December 16th. I am 57, 5' 8.5" - down to 222 lbs from 230. I have been heavy for almost 20 years and wanted to make sure that I did not continue down the path I had been going. You know, high blood pressure, cholesterol and started to worry that diabetes would be next. I am within two weeks of surgery and it is just starting to hit me! I am drinking the shakes now. Did anyone develop headaches the first week of prep? I don't drink caffeine on a regular basis, so I don't think it is that. The nutritionist at my doctor's office said I might be allergic to whey. Just wonder what anyone experienced at this point? Looking at your list of surgery dates on page 101 - it looks like there are a lot of people having surgery on the same day as me. Is anyone else as nervous as I am right now?