CherieRyde

Yep. You know what? I'm 24 hours post-op and I'm second guessing my decision. I know that once the pain is gone, I'll be happy with this. But, change is scary. This is a HUGE change. It's OK to be scared. Really ... it is.

Thanks, guys.

I was told that as long as you can much it up with your tongue, then pretty much anything goes.

I asked about this today. Apparently they tilt the bed to prevent clotting, and at times you are almost standing up. I'm going back to bed now because I hurt.

I'm still waiting for the call telling me what time my surgery is, but regardless .... tomorrow is the day. I'm SUPER excited! As of just a few minutes ago, I now weigh 237.4 pounds, I'm seeing SEVERAL NS wins, and I'm hopeful for the future. I know that this will continue to be a difficult walk as I get used to what my new parameters will be, but I have hopes that it will get easier as time goes by.

I'll ask my surgeon about this in the morning and will try to post the answer before they put me under.

Wait ... the stand us up?? Why?

Two things come to mind when I read this. First ... what kind of anesthesia did you have? Did they do a spinal block? Second .. have you considered seeing a chiropractor? Maybe you have a pinched nerve.

GRATS!! I'll be thinking of you! I just got word that my potassium levels are high and I need to have them retested. Yay.

I'm going to say that this is "normal". I know that I did the same thing for the same reasons. I also drank wine and mixed drinks as often as I could since I knew that once my pre-op diet started, I wouldn't be allowed to have any again. Now ... I'm 2 days pre-op. I've been MOSTLY good (I licked icing off of my fingers after serving my son his birthday cake). It's HARD, but will be worth it.

Go for it!

I'm CherieRyde on there as well. Feel free to add me.

According to MY scale, I've lost 6lbs in the week I've been on this pre-op diet. According to my surgeon's scale, I've only lost 4lbs. *shrugs* Either way ... it's all going to come off in the end.

My surgery is scheduled for the 30th, so I'm about as far into this as you are. My son's birthday is today, and we have a party planned for Saturday .. WITH CAKE .... and everyone is cancelling on us last minute. So, we have this HUGE cake that I'm not allowed to touch but will be tempting me. Yes, I'm going to WANT that cake. I can also probably have a small piece if I trade in my allowed starch and fat for it. But I'm not going to quit over it. Like you, I started my own version of the pre-op diet before they actually put me on it. Like you, I'm craving ALL THE THINGS that I can't have. Last weekend, my husband and son even asked me to pick up KFC for them on my way home from the store ... and I almost lost it. BUT. I know what I want at the end of all of this. I know that yes, I'll slip up. But I'm not about to give up. Don't you give up either. You can do this.

Honestly, I stick strictly to the diet my Dr's office gave me. They prescribed Protein shakes that they keep on hand in their office, and gave me a menu of other foods that I'm allowed to have, in what quantities, and how often. As long as I stick to the diet the way they've mapped it out, I'm not hungry.

I prefer the RTD Atkins Advantage. I"m still pre-op, but I got to try several kinds before starting on the stuff my Dr gave me.

I wouldn't go that far. I was LIVID when I got home, and I let him know it.

Honestly, cooking for them isn't bad for me since I also get to have a small meal once a day. So, I cook mine at the same time as theirs, and I keep the Proteins the same for all of us. The REALLY hard part was when I was grocery shopping Saturday, not allowed to eat any of the things I was buying, and knowing that they were at Portillo's nomming on our favorite Chicago Hot Dogs. As if that wasn't bad enough, I had to go back to the store Sunday, and they asked me to bring KFC home for them. When I got home, I exploded all over my hubby and told him that I'll NOT be doing that for him again. It's cruel torture having your car smell like stuff that you aren't allowed to eat. It's a learning process for everyone involved. You can do it. It's hard work, but you can do it.

I completely agree. Some things I've learned since starting this diet that may be helpful for other beginners: 1) Changes for you also mean changes for your family. Make sure they understand that. 2) Ask your spouse to do the grocery shopping. Walking through the grocery store while you aren't allowed to eat any of the things you are buying is torture. Not only that, but you'll be shopping hungry .. which means a higher grocery bill. I got the shakes and almost threw up about halfway through my shopping trip because I was so hungry. NOT fun. 3) No, you can NOT stop at a fast food place for the hubby and kids on the way home. Either they can have what's already in the house, or hubby can take the kids out for a Daddy Date at whichever restaurant they intend to go to. Again ... it's torture driving home with the bag of food in the seat next to you, filling the car with yummy smells that you aren't allowed to touch, and it makes you nauseous. I'm on day 7 now, and I have my final pre-op appointment with my surgeon in 2 hrs. I know that as of 2 days ago I'm down to 240 (according to my scale at home). I'm looking forward to seeing where I am today. Good luck!

Two of the things I've been told to expect from my weight loss is for my boobs to completely deflate, and my skin to sag a lot where the fat quickly melts away. I've been told that you have to wait at least 2 years post WLS and have to have a stable weight for a while before you can attempt to qualify for the surgeries to lift the girls and remove extra skin ... but that qualification with insurance companies is tedious. Have any of you heard about this? Have you considered this for yourself? What are the ways to get it approved? Yeah .. it's a little shallow, I guess. But right now I wear a 42H, and my back already hurts a LOT from the girls where they are. I'm nervous to think about what will happen to my back when these things deflate .......

I don't have the hernia, but I have reflux. I'm being banded on July 30, so I'm right there with you. There are so many questions swirling around in my head, but few stay in place long enough to get answers for them. LOL Anyway. Grats and good luck.

Colleen, we are on the pre-op diet prescribed by our surgeons. Meaning that 2 weeks from the day we tarted the diet, we are going into the OR for our surgery. From what I see on your profile, you've been through this yourself?

I started my pre-op on Wednesday as well, and the headaches are INSANE. Also ... no one warned me about the changes in my bowels. I expected loose stools since I'm on liquid for everything except dinner. What I DIDN'T expect was the fact that when you have to go ... it's GO NOW and not after you finish whatever task you are working on like normal. Also ... depending on what shakes you are on (my doc prescribed the New Direction weight control system) ... the odor is ...well .. think baby diapers where the baby is on soy formula. Yes ... this is TMI, but SOMEONE needs to say it. Be prepared. Stay near a toilet, or know where all of the toilets are when you go out. It'll hit on Day 3 if what I'm experiencing and if my friend's experience is anything close to the norm.

Wait. Now .. wouldn't the loose stool be the result of being on a LIQUID diet? I'm asking because it just kind of makes sense to me. I'm still pre-op and have finished day 3 of my liquid pre-op diet ... and have loose stool because I'm on a liquid diet.