finally on my way

Hi, love this idea & sign me up! My VSG date is 12-26-13. Almost 3 weeks out and doing great. So thankful for the great support and people I have come across on this forum. Look forward to getting to know you all!

I really love your outlook and totally agree with you 100%. I think alot of us have sold our selves short because of how we feel about our selves. Not truely valueing our selves & seeing our self with a very scued view. Weight does so much damage in so many ways. I have learned so much through this process. Things came up & out of me that I never gave any thought to before. Almost like you have to go through the crud of past and present to walk into this fully ready and healthy. To maximize this tool. Other wise the crud can ruin the full opportunity this gift and blessing has to offer. It was hard, really hard at times but also very healing. Will only benefit my future that I have dealt with this stuff head on. A ReNUDE me ... YOU GO GIRL!

So sorry to hear that. You know what is crazy, I had a few really hard things happen in my life just before my surgery. I had felt like this tool, the surgery as hard as it was to come to terms with.. Was a huge blessing for me. Finally I was on the correct path! The caos that occured just ahead of my surgey made me feel like everything was trying to stop it. Stand in the way of this blessing. As hard as it was I stayed determined. I am not selfish. I never put myself first but this time it was about me. I was not going to let anyone take it from me. You do need support. Keep in mind that you do not need poisonous people around you. It would only hender your recovery. I hope you have family and friends around that you can reach out to. If you are like me, it can be so hard to ask for help but now at this time you need it and deserve it! I wish you all the best, I really do! Make yourself a priority now and let any negative in your life fall away. Hang in there & let us know how you are doing ;o)

Great read. Thanks so much for posting it!

Be sure to let me know what your doc says. Curious. I won't see mine until the following week. Hope you have a great appointment ;o)

I was instructed not to use straws any more for drinking. I am so much better at getting my fluids in and hitting my fliud targets with the use of a straw... I sip sip sip much better with my straw lol Any one else ventured into use of a straw post op?

Hi Dani.o.dani, yay, so great to talk with some one my same town. I have a feeling we are not to far apart. I live in Littleton near Columbine High School. I am also married with 2 little ones. 4 year old daughter and a 19month old son. I think the pre-op diet may be hardest part of all. Hang in there! For me mixing up hot to cold was helpful. Lots of hot yummy tea and fruity crystal light. Warm soup broth in the mornings helped my hunger when I woke up. I also got some of the clear zero carb sugar free isopure drinks (40g protein). I could only have 1 per day. Some flavors were icky but the protein really helped me feel less hungry and more energetic. Also sugar free jello, made me feel like I was eating food. Ice was nice to crunch on. Stay busy. For me that was huge. If I had to much down time I thought about eating so much more. Hard to go go go when feeling more tired but with 2 kiddos they kept me going no matter what lol. As for post-op it has been great. I have done so very well. Better than I could of ever imagined. I feel so blessed. You are younger then me (I am 35) so I think that is to your benefit as well. Hang in there! Would love to keep in touch with you ;o) Support & not feeling alone in this journey has been another big help for me. Have a great day & talk to you soon

Awww mamato2 I feel for you. It is a big decision. I kept telling myself a couple ruff weeks were worth it for the rest of my life feeling good. Having this heavy life long monkey off my back was absolutely necessity for me. If you see my previous post above.... I have done SO GREAT! Way better then I ever expected or mentally prepared for. Not very sore at all, no nauseous feelings, able to hold down everything. I did not puree anything. Was taught to chew chew chew. I am 2 weeks 1 day post op and am out and about. Enjoy life feeling great! I am so happy the surgery is behind me & very excited for the future. That fact alone feels amazing. We are all different. A positive mind set is helpful going into this. You will still enjoy the things you do now, just in a new healthier way & smaller proportions. We are just a few weeks apart in this journey. Keep in touch. Support and not feeling alone in all of this helps so very much! Hang in there;o)

Thanks guys! I am hoping that it is not a permanent thing. I have defiantly needed the acid reducer the last 2 days. If it doesn't subside I will be calling my doc to touch base. I have done so well, if this is my only issue I will not let it get me down, but just be glad there is a way to deal with it. I really appreciate your replies

Hi, I am 2 weeks post-op tomorrow and all of a sudden today I have had a lot of acid build up. Had to take some Pepcid again. Hope it is temporary and maybe just apart of the healing process..? Curious if anyone else experienced this? Always appreciate all the great input, advice and thoughts. Thank you

Ha ha Seela, your funny Thankfully I have not had an explosion either lol. I really don't think I get any more air via straw.... I do however get in a lot more of my necessary liquids. Will just continue to be thoughtful about it and cautious. If a spontaneous combustion does occur , I will let you all know ASAP.

Wow that is so very AWESOME!!! Inspiring! Keep up your great effort and enjoy the new you to the fullest.

Hi, I am 2 weeks post-op tomorrow (surgery date 12/26). Reading your words was taking a page from my thoughts and emotions a few week pre-op. I have a 4 year old daughter and 19 month old son. VSG surgery was a huge decision for me in every way! I have been over weight from about the age of 8 years. Life long heart ache and I was so done. Done with weight holding me back, stealing joy from my life and determined to live a enjoyable life with my husband and children! I was so nervous a month out and oddly about a week or so before surgery I got very calm. I felt secure in my choice for the future, my health and happiness. I felt this has been a blessing in my life and the calmness was just a continuation of that blessing. The night before my surgery, Christmas night as I tucked my kids into bed I lost it. Lots of tears. I hid it from my babies but my husband found me upset .Did not help his nerves at all ... I would be gone and my surgery done before they even woke. So emotional for me. These life changing choices are never easy. This choice has such a positive ending to it, that is what I had to stay focused on through my emotional roller coaster. Very happy to tell you I did so very well. So little pain, nausea or inability to consume liquids. My post-op diet has gone more quickly then I have expected. I can not wait to be able to lift my son up again, but very soon. Hang in there, surgery is a nerve racking thing but just stay focused on why you have made your choice. I wish you all the best! Feel free to contact me for any support or questions. Always looking for great support friends myself You will rock it out lil Momma

Thank you for sharing that. Great illustration to show how things may & will fluctuate. 2 weeks post op tomorrow and I have avoided weighing myself but once a week so not to feel discouraged. Crossing my fingers for some good news tomorrow on the scale. I have always been heavy so I can not imagine loosing much of my excess weight. Real or a dream... Love your before and after photo as well. So inspiring!

I am with you, never been thin. Always heard the Oh you are so pretty..... if only you could slim down some or worse. Part of my prep for surgery were a series of classes and we dealt with underhanded compliments. Things like what you just experienced and ones to come after you loose a lot of extra weight. We know that they are not true positive compliments but don't let them get you. So not worth it. You are strong, amazing and made a choice for a positive change!

Quick update... Have cautiously used a straw for 2 days and so far so good Best part, I am getting a lot more water down. Close to 64oz a day. Much better. Thanks again for all the input

I have also had such similar thoughts. I prepared for the worst & have been surprised at how great I have felt, and have done. 11 days post op & I am already able to have small amounts of lean turkey & moist chicken. Fills me very quickly. Love your question about water consumption. I can drink quite a bit ( thankfully). I do feel my limits but often wonder??? The big juggle for me is separating solids from liquids with proper time in between. Learning to be more scheduled so not to feel full when I need to get my protein in.

Hi, I luckily only had to do a 3 day clear liquid diet. Many choices on my list, but had to be able to see through it. No sugar or caffeine. My understanding is that this is done to help shrink the liver back a bit so it is out of the way during the procedure. The more fatty the liver, the longer the pre-op diet may be. With all we have on our minds ahead of surgery maybe give your surgeon a call and ask about it. Just to put your mind at ease & so you don't feel concerned about it. You will do great! ;o)

You have done so very well. You are an inspiration and thank you for sharing! I love and appreciate your honesty as well, Keep rockin' it out

Thank you all for the input, I do appreciate it! I am going to be cautious and give myself a little more healing time but I will venture into straws cautiously in the future. Just want to get my liquids in and sip sip sip. ribearty Thanks for the links, that is so awesome and helpful!

Feeling very thankful for all the wonderful people out there who I have come in contact with on here. We all have a common goal and it is so nice to not have to go it alone. So many thoughts and questions addressed. On that note, You all rock and we are all brave for taking the steps we have taken! Have a great day and thank you

The pre-op diet is ruff. YOU CAN DO IT! Just stay focused on the future. It will be so worth it. I to had my "last meals" but I now (10 days post op) realize it was not my last of enjoyable things. I really mixed it up hot to cold and that was helpful . I also got some of the Isopure clear Protein drinks, 40grams of protein and that seemed to help the crash tired feelings. I have never been a fan of Jello, but in the pre-op diet it made me feel like I was eating a solid, as well as ice. My surgery was 12/26 so staying busy the days ahead of my surgery helped keep my mind off of eating. I fortunately only had to do 3 days of Clear Liquids.The hunger is so much better post-op. Hang in there and I wish you all the best. Have some fun with family and friends to keep your mind off of it as much as possible. I am trying to get it in my head that food is not my friend and outlet but to nourish my body and occasionally enjoy a extra yummy bite

WOW SO AWESOME!!! Congratulations and you need to Celebrate such a huge victory. You are inspiring and keep up the great work!