Kfree401

Hallelujah! I'm not the only one thinking hard about food and what is the best approach. I just had a milkshake about a week ago and it was marvelous! I haven't had one in a few years and so I decided to go for it. I didn't feel guilty, but I did feel uncomfortably full, so I think I can call that particular craving done. I have about 4 weeks before I start my 2 week pre op liquid diet, so my plan is to treat myself maybe once a week to something that I know will be gone for a long time, maybe forever. I am planning to use this time to transition to caffeine free and sugar free drinks as well. Any other suggestions or tips you can think of in regards to saying goodbye to the unhealthy relationship to food?

Ok, so this is the current thing I'm obsessing about. Still a month away from starting my 2 week pre op liquid diet, but want to make sure that I'm prepared. Is stevia okay to sweeten thing with? I can't imagine eating oatmeal without some sweetness added. And as for broths, are you making your own? I looked at a few kinds of broth or bullion cubes, but they have MSG which is a big trigger for migraines for me. I did see that Swanson's brand of prepared broth is MSG-free but, yuk! Is that what you add your spices to? It's just bland chicken or vegetable. Has anyone tried an unflavored protein powder that work in broths? I'm sorry this is so long, but I'm worried about this and want to feel more prepared.

Hi, I'm Kelley and I am scheduled for surgery September 3rd also. I'm about half way through all of my appointments. Wow, I have never been to so many different kinds of appointments in my life! I am self pay because my insurance doesn't cover any form of weight loss surgery, but it has covered some of the screening process like sleep study, EGD, etc., so I haven't had the long journey a lot of you have already traveled. I have a 2 week liquid diet pre-op, that will start 8/20. Currently my obsessive thought are swirling around that, and the 3 week post op liquid diet. Yikes! 5 weeks on nothing but liquids? I can promise you that I struggled with the 1 day liquids only before my EGD and have never gone even more than 1 day on liquids only. Am I the only one freaking out over this?

Hi, my name is Kelley and I have been an RN for 14 years. I have only ever worked in peds. First as PICU then critical care internal staffing, so PICU, NICU, ER, etc. for the last 5 years I've been in our endocrinology sub- specialty clinic. I have not been sleeved yet, and don't have a surgery date. Still going through that process. I laughed when I read some of the comments in this thread, because my husband swears I'm the worst patient ever! I am glad to have found this thread and will keep in touch as things progress.

lsereno, where do you buy the Pete's Italian Rost decaf? I'm going to start trying different decafs before my surgery. Hopefully my taste buds won't change too much after being sleeved, as I've read here that some people really do have a lot of changes with WLS

Thanks all for the encouragement and advice. I think going the weaning method will be best for me. I definitely get the dreaded "no caffeine" headache. This also reminded me I will have to go the decaf tea route as well. As a true Texas girl, I switch to iced tea at lunch and that's all I really drink. Methinks some pre op planning and changes are in order.

I can't believe that this piece of information just hit me. I've read it in my post op diet plan, WLS comments, etc., but it just sank into my brain. Decaf coffee seems to be allowed, but really? I don't mind telling you, I'm really freaking out here. I NEED my morning cuppa! Out of all the things I've read so far, this one is kicking my rear! Please, please tell me how you survived. I need a little bit of encouragement here, because right now I'm mentally hitting the brakes on this journey! I'll look forward to reading any advice tomorrow morning as I REALLY enjoy my cup of loaded coffee on my patio!

I am a smoker and have set a goal to quit before I get sleeved. I want to lose this weight because I want to be a healthier version of me! Just can't see going through all this and continuing the dreadful, stinky, expense, socially unacceptable habit! Sound like I'm ready?

It's ironic, I know, that I am replying to a post which will not be read by the original person posting. I did feel, however, that I wanted to chime in with the rest of y'all and say that I love this site. I haven't gotten my sleeve yet, and am probably a month or two out. I am so interested in what others on this journey have to say about the whole process. Who knows what will be useful to me? I surely don't, but I'm an information sponge at this point! What would be the point if everyone had the exact same experience? Just sayin'!

So relieved to hear back from you AvaFern. I was actually a little anxious to be able to get back online tonight. I was really afraid I might have offended you and others with what might seem negative. It does sound as if you have done your research very well. And our family has since found out that the 5-6 hour time limit is all any reputable surgeon and anesthesiologist would consider for an elective surgery. I am going through the process myself to get sleeved. I hope to get over all the necessary hurdles in the next few months. I wish you all the best and I will keep following your journey!

AvaFern, please, please find out everything that you can about your surgeon. I almost feel like I shouldn't say this because I don't want to unduly alarm you, but I feel compelled, so here I go...my beautiful 49 year old sister died 3 days after having all of the same procedures done at one time. She was a successful sleever and she decided to go for this body sculpting about 2 years after her sleeve. She was in surgery for about 10 hours and they removed about 1500 ml of fat. She went home from the hospital and went into cardiac arrest the very next day. A very fine team of skilled doctors and nurses could not save her. Maybe there are a lot of details that you have left out about your decision-making process, but it sounds like you went in for a consultation with a few modest requests and left with a long list of stuff to be done. I am really not trying to discourage you with my horror story, I'm only begging you to be as fully informed as possible. Please make sure you are going into this with your eyes wide open. I can't change what happened to her, but I think it's important to share her tragedy with other good people so that plastic surgeons (not all are greedy and unethical) can't harm innocents. My heart is heavy as I write this, and I'm wavering as I prepare to post the message, but as I said earlier, I feel compelled to do so. Good luck and may your journey take you where you are happy.

I have just started this journey to WLS. I have had my initial consultation with the weight loss team. Blood work, PFT, EKG, etc. done. I have an my initial consultation with the doc in a few weeks. I am excited to find this site so that I can read about others going through the same things. I was told during my original appointment that this surgery could happen as early as late July, but we shall see. I have set my first goal all ready. I WiILL stop smoking before I have the surgery. I want to stop and it makes absolutely no sense at all to take this drastic step for a healthier me and keep smoking. So wish me luck with that part!