Alyssa McCraw

Hey everyone, I'm set for surgery on Tuesday, 3/18. I started my liquid diet on Monday, the day before my scope procedure - they checked for a hietal hernia by taking a Fiber optic camera down my esophagus. What that means is that a second surgeon will assist during my surgery, fix the hernia, and knock about $3,000 off the price tag. Apparently 99% of obese people/those having this surgery do have this hernia, so it might be worth asking your doctor about. Anyways, I'm day five on my diet and it's getting hard. I'm not worried about caving, but I can't imagine having to go through all of today (Friday), Saturday, Sunday, then Clear liquids on Monday. I'm so tired of the Protein shakes that basically only comes in chocolate and vanilla + everything else on the diet that happens to be sweet (Jell-o, popsicles, Gatorade G2, etc.). chicken broth is a nice change because it's "salty," but even that has its limits. Milk has been good too. I just need some motivation - it's hard to know that I won't be having anything remotely solid for another two-and-a-half weeks. I know I've heard that I won't be hungry once the surgery hits, but that's so hard to see right now. Has anyone else felt this way? Alyssa

Thanks!! I'm really not nervous, just so excited to start this new chapter! This might sound crazy, but I'm kind of looking forward to the pain because they said you won't be hungry for two weeks...and one thing's for sure, I'm tired of being hungry! The only thing I'm worried about is the sting from the IV line in my hand...

Finally on the last day of full liquid...sounds crazy but I am more excited for clear liquid because I have to force myself to down those shakes. 48 hours from now I'll be sleeved!

I've been battling depression on and off since 2010. It went away for a bit, but something told me it wasn't going to be away forever. College graduation was a fun time, and I finished at the ripe age of 19! This was in 2011. That night I moved from Orlando to Nashville and began building a good career and resume in the entertainment/music business. My weight continued to spiral upwards as I started climbing the ladder of a cut-throat industry that's completely centered image...so that didn't help any. One Sunday afternoon, I got a call one day that the little record label I worked at was closing its doors immediately. At that point I was forced to move back to DFW. It took me some time readjust, but I found a good job and was happy again. Unfortunately, it didn't last long. Depression hit me hard and fast in January of 2013 and has been there all along. More weight came with that, and I think I've gained around 100 pounds since starting college in August 2009. I know I'm only 22, but this past year I've felt like a "has been" - like all my success is in the past and there's nothing to look forward to. I'm not even interested in things I used to love (music, television, film, media) and find myself saying things like, "What's the point? It doesn't matter." The only thing I feel like doing is sleeping...and before my liquid diet, eating. I was prescribed to take Lexipro in July of 2013. I suppose it's doing it's job, but the effects are starting to taper off. My surgery is on Tuesday (three more days!) and I couldn't be more excited. I feel like I might be turning over a new leaf. It's my understanding that depression can be a lifelong battle, but I'm curious to hear from you how your depression subsided after surgery and how you started to rediscover life. Tell me about your journey beforehand too. Has anyone felt this way? I hope I'm not alone.

Thanks everyone for your advice and encouragement! The last day of my full liquid is tomorrow and Monday is clear liquid.

Hey everyone, I'm set for surgery on Tuesday, 3/18. I started my liquid diet on Monday, the day before my scope procedure - they checked for a hietal hernia by taking a Fiber optic camera down my esophagus. What that means is that a second surgeon will assist during my surgery, fix the hernia, and knock about $3,000 off the price tag. Apparently 99% of obese people/those having this surgery do have this hernia, so it might be worth asking your doctor about. Anyways, I'm day five on my diet and it's getting hard. I'm not worried about caving, but I can't imagine having to go through all of today (Friday), Saturday, Sunday, then Clear liquids on Monday. I'm so tired of the Protein shakes that basically only comes in chocolate and vanilla + everything else on the diet that happens to be sweet (Jell-o, popsicles, Gatorade G2, etc.). chicken broth is a nice change because it's "salty," but even that has its limits. Milk has been good too. I just need some motivation - it's hard to know that I won't be having anything remotely solid for another two-and-a-half weeks. I know I've heard that I won't be hungry once the surgery hits, but that's so hard to see right now. Has anyone else felt this way? Alyssa