itsmekarenlee

Thinking of you! Hope it went well and you're on the mend!

oh, ok. Is that all? whew! Does it hurt going down? They keep telling us we're supposed to take sips of anything we drink. I've heard of barium swallows needing to drink a lot of liquid and I just couldn't fathom that, but that wasn't with bariatric surgery so I was hoping it would be much easier!

I dreamed I was eating a big fat juicy delicious hamburger last night. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Sigh. Oh well. Hey, at least it was calorie and fat free. lol

Jessica, we have the choice to do an all liquid or liquid plus one meal: 3oz of meat, 1 cup cooked or 2 cups raw veggies, sugar free jello, dill pickles, sugar free popsicles, coffee or tea (with sugar sub if desired. I like mine black anyway). Yesterday I was in a foul Bitch mood. I'm hungry, my kids aren't helping much with cleaning and my stupid in laws are coming next week to help, one of which has been banned because he said my house was too messy, and that was when it was clean and barren from being a brand new house. It's a long story. Anyway, Ya, I'm stressed. I took half a lorazapam a little bit ago and that's helping :-)

Jessica, we are both on preop diet. Both having surgery on the 18th so he should be sticking with the plan per instructed by dr/nut. I did talk to him last night and told him how it affected me too, not just him. He said he ate about an ounce of the chicken on Saturday, and ounce on Sunday and lat one yesterday. He just feels like he's not getting enough. I can.understand that because on every other monitored diet we've been on he gets more to eat because he is a male. With this preop though we are getting the same, around 800 cal per day. His excuse was that he stress eats. I just told him that he is only accountable for himself but we are in this together and we need to do what the dr says, not what we think. I told him that if he ever feels like he needs to have more then to come to me and we'll talk about it. I won't lecture him. We are lucky we have each other to go through this life change together after 25 yrs. :-)

I am SO mad and hurt by my husband!! I went to get the piece of chicken that I had planned on eating for dinner and it was missing. I asked all the kids and they said no, my husband said no, he even blamed our daughter's friend who was over and I'm getting angrier and angrier. Doesn't help that we are on day 3 of our stupid pre-op diet and I'm feeling cranky, tired and HUNGRY! So my anger is escalating and I figured out he ate it and he basically admitted it in not so many words. Pisses me off!!! I'm sticking to this pre-op diet to a T and he goes and cheats by eating "half of the chicken, like 2 bites" when I know I put 3 oz chicken in there to save for a meal later. I had just finished making his stir fry, putting his meal before my own only to find out he's probably not feeling as badly as I am. No wonder! I'm SO mad at him for cheating. I know we are only accountable for ourselves and this is his journey but I'm disappointed that he's already screwed up. I've had my doubts I've kept to myself about him being able to do stick with eating right and this just confirms it. So I tell him I'm even madder now and he tells me to chill out and stop being so cranky. Jerk. At least I can tell the Dr I haven't cheated and I'm working hard to stick with the plan, unlike SOME people. UGH!!!

I'm SO glad you posted this and SO glad for the responses. 11 more days until our surgeries and I'm feeling the same way but I'm also trying not to THINK about it so that I don't have a nervous breakdown.

Hi everyone, My husband and I start our liquid/1 meal diet day after tomorrow (5th). I've been trying not to think bout any of this because I get too much anxiety. But I keep thinking (and mourning?) about not being able to eat the foods that I like and taste oh so good ever again! Makes me kind of depressed. Then I start wondering if I'm doing the right thing. I hope this is normal. I hope I don't regret this decision. Otherwise I'm just trying not to think about it And today I spoke with a friend who had a RNY and she got an intestinal leak about 5 yrs after her surgery (2003) and one of my other friends did too and almost died. However, I know both of them ate foods they weren't supposed to be eating, and too much, so that's probably why. But this worries me too! Will this happen to me? Better not! lol I think I will write down why I want to be healthy and thin, just as a reminder, and keep it with me to pull out whenever I need reassurance. I have pictures of my very obese mom and sister that I look at and that's a quick jolt back to reality and why I'm doing this. I AM following exactly in her path and I just CANNOT let that happen. Two weeks. EEK! ANXIETY! I've got one of my mother in laws and her husband are flying in to help us in a week and a half and I'm totally stressing because of that too. It's a long story but he has not been allowed back here for 7 yrs because he wrote a really mean letter to me saying how 'dirty and messy' our house is and some other stuff, but we had just moved into this brand new house then and nothing was "dirty" or "messy", we didn't even have any furniture! Well, the house has been lived in now and we do have 3 kids and 3 pets so no matter what I do right now it will never be as "dirty" or "messy" as it was 7 yrs ago no matter how clean I make it. So he better keep his mouth shut about it or I will tell him to leave. We moved away from family on purpose and they keep coming to visit! ugh Two months later the other set of my in laws are coming for their annual visit I keep praying they're not able to make! They stress me out so much. I just hope I don't have a nervous breakdown in the next two weeks. On a difference subject: I am making notes for my surgeon to ask him: 1) Please don't make me pee in a cup for a pregnancy test. It is very humiliating and 'rubs it in', even when I did have a uterus and tied tubes (PCOS, infertility). No uterus and tubes and I don't ovulate anyway = no baby even remotely possible. He's doing blood work anyway so do the preg test that way if "mandatory". I hate peeing in cups. SO GROSS 2) Lidocaine before IV insertion please (they usually have to poke me 3 or so times because I'm dehydrated or all my blood is somewhere other than my hands because of my anxiety.) 3) Please have the anesthesiologist come in and give me something to relax me AS SOON AS I get there PLEASE! This is VERY important for someone who has GAD. Even waiting for an hour is killer. I know they can do this because I've had it done before. I hate it when they don't listen to me about this and just shrug it off. And then I get angry and start being a B to them and then feel guilty afterwards so PLEASE give me some happy juice. Just a little! It is going to take everything in my power NOT to take some of the Lorazapam that I have!! 4) Please have me go before my husband! (see #3) I pray he will help me with these.

I wish all Drs had the same protocol. We can have nsaids up until a week before surgery thank goodness. That will help with this detox.

I know. This fake sugar is grossed. I guess we just have to get used to it. :: sigh:: Today was our first day on our preop diet. 4 premiere protien drinks, a few mini dill pickles (yummmmm!!!), a sugar free cherry Jello, a 4 oz chicken breast with Adobo seasoning, a cup of boiled carrots, a cup of half caf coffee and 3 cups of sugar free flavored Water. I need to drink more water but 3 cups is really good start for me. So, all in all, not too difficult. So far. 12 more days,!! Surreal. Eek !!!!!!

Soooooo, today is our first day on the preop diet. 3-4 protein drinks and one meal (3oz cooked meat, one veggie from a list). Sugar free Jello "in moderation". That's like 10, right? Lol I'm wondering what can make the drinks thicker to make our stomachs not grumble for food 30 minutes later.... Otherwise I think the hardest part for me will be COOKING that meal. :/

^^ That's what mine says as well

Thanks great!! I'm loving reading your journey My husband and I start ours on the 5th (surgery on the 18th). However, I feel VERY overwhelmed with the thought of premaking food for when we'll be able to eat it. I think I'm kind of in denial. When something overwhelms me I tend to shut it out and push the thought away. But I know that I need to do SOMETHING. I just don't know what, where or how to start!

Julez, did you call? What did they say?

I bet! I wish I could share my anxiety med with you! Please update when you can :-)

Hang in there Jessica!!! You're almost there!!! :-)

That was fast!!! Wishing you a speedy recovery!

Nsaids can cause hemorrhage if taken orally but I can't see that happening if given via iv which is how they would most likely give it, especially if you're unresponsive. They can't give you a pill if you're not awake. Why no lavage (intubation for breathing)? I can understand no gavage (or anything to do with the stomach).

bra shma. I'm looking forward to the bracation! WHOO HOO! Glad you mentioned a robe. I don't have one. Wish Walmart had some nice ones and not the old lady kind. Good, something that will take my mind off of surgery- ROBE SHOPPING!!!! The longest I've stayed in a hospital was after my twins were born via emergency C-section at 33 wks and that was almost 11 yrs ago. It was sudden so I hadn't even packed my hospital bag yet. I do remember my mom letting me wear her old lady robe. Sure came in handy and at that point I didn't care what it looked like anyway! My husband and I are having our surgeries the same day. I will have to remember to pack a bike horn so I can put it on my IV pole. When we are out on our 'run' around the halls I will honk at him to get outta my way. ( we will be in our own rooms so I am looking forward to playing with the nurses and telling them that the old guy in the other room keeps coming over and sexually harassing me. Or is snoring too loud. Hmmmm.... what else...........) This could be fun........ except if we have Nurse Ratchet.

(just and fyi- here's another July post-op surgery thread if you want to join that one too http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/309656-july-2014-post-op-rny-bypass-support-group/page-6#entry3522667

2 week liver shrinkage diet starts July 4th for us. uh, ya. Not going to happen. I'm sure he won't be able to tell if we did it for 13 days instead of 14. So Protein shake for breakfast and another for lunch and lots of water/flavored Water in between and a meal according to what they allow from the list for dinner. Repeat. 11 days then 2 days of liquids only. I am thankful we are allowed that one meal. Some aren't! (in our paperwork it is written in all caps BOLD to do EXACTLY as written or surgery could be CANCELLED. Well, we are still starting on the 5th so shhhhhhh!!!! But I also wish these Dr's would get on the same page and have us all do the same pre-op diet, or not.

We have United Healthcare PPO and don't need referrals either but the Bariatric Program required a surgical clearance letter from our PCP. I like that our PCP is involved with this because the last bariatric surgery patient he had, (or knew of?) had complications and wasn't a good situation so he is very cautious. He did give us the clearance though. We are required to follow up with him two weeks after surgery as well. He and our surgeon will work together. That makes us feel better that he's in 'the know'.

As far as my worries or anxiety go for surgery in 3 weeks- I'm just trying not to think about it. The more I think the worse my anxiety is so in this case it is not healthy to think. Why I am even on this board right now reading everything- I don't know. LOL I am more worried about one of my two sets of in-laws coming to help us. It was only going to be my 72 yr old mother in law (I love her dearly) who is an Obsessive Compulsive habitual cleaner and me getting this house cleaned up so she couldn't and then found out that her husband, who was banned from coming here because of what he wrote to me in a mean letter 7 yrs ago of how "dirty" our house was (we had just moved in 2 months before and didn't even have furniture! How could it be dirty??). So ya, what the heck. Just add another anxiety inducing situation to my plate why dontcha. ugh! I will be keeping busy with making my house crystal clean (or not. They've known me for 25 yrs and the way I keep house so they can shut up or go home), making 'meals' for my husband and I for after surgery (very daunting. don't even know where to start or what to do yet. ::sigh: and taking all of my anxiety pills. Good luck to all of us!

oh, and regarding the hair loss- I have thyroid issues and my hair lady recommended Nexxus Shampoo/conditioner Youth Renewal Rejuvenating in the pink bottle. I buy it at Walmart. My hair used to come out in clumps and clog the drain but since using this I only have a few hairs falling out now and am also getting new growth!! My hair feel thicker too. I know this sounds like a commercial but seriously, this stuff is awesome!

I'm kind of worried about the lovenox too. I got an injection after my hysterectomy 8 months ago only because the leg compressions weren't working right and were annoying to me. But afterwards my heart was beating so fast for a while! Could that have been from the Lovenox? I also had to have 2 units of blood transfused during surgery. Don't know if that matters or not.