une nouvelle vie

I live in Columbus so I was released after 4 hours to a local hotel. They said to come back in the morning if I was unsure of anything or having issues or just to go straight home if I was feeling okay. I felt pretty good and went home. I hope your surgery goes as well as mine. Out of the 30ish pain pills he gave me I took exactly 3. I took 3 anti-nausea pills as well. My pain never reached more than a 6 out of 10 and after 48 hours it didn't hurt at all. I think my paperwork said 23 hours in one place and up to 2 days in another place. I was up and walking within 1.5 hours of waking up and was feeling ready to go at 4 hours.

I didn't have a liver ultrasound. I asked about that and an endoscopy because I kept hearing that people were having them done. Dr Curry told me that he went by my bloodwork both by my primary care physician over the years and the bloodwork he had drawn at my nutrition class. I believe the liver enzyme part of the bloodwork gives him a good indication of the liver size and function. I was nervous that he would have to convert to an open procedure for me because I am mostly all stomach and I've had prior abdominal surgery and feared the scar tissue and my abdomen size would keep him from doign it laproscopically. Nope, everything was perfect. I woke up in a little pain but completely managable and (I was at JourneyLite) left 4 hours later. If he thought you needed extra testing, I am sure he'd do it. He's on top of things. He's done a LOT of surgeries. He really helped my fear when I asked him "How many sleeve patients have you lost at JourneyLite?" and he looked me right in the eye and said "I've never lost a sleeve patient anywhere and there's no way I'm starting with you." He's going to take care of you.

No, not really liquid but not what I call SOLID either. The eggs are powdered and you add Water to them and they turn into regular scrambled eggs. There's also oatmeal but I didn't get any of that but it's regular oatmeal after you add the water. The soups are mostly liquidy. Cream of tomato, cream of broccoli, cream of chicken...etc. I really liked the chicken noodle and the chicken and wild rice, There are tiny noodles in them. There was also a chili that I didn't try. So they're not totally liquidy, but not solid food as I think of it. Then again, that's how I got up to almost 450 pounds The shakes/pudding are one and the same. If you add 4 ounces of water it's a pudding, add 8 oz it's a shake. There are drinks like berry fizz and mango but personally I stayed away from those pre-op because I wanted to have something that felt more like food. There are also Hot Drinks, but again, I stayed away. I mostly had eggs and soups every day. I had a Protein bar once a day. I had so much left over because I usually ate only 5 a day, sometimes 4. I turned mine in to swap for the Fruit Drinks and a couple of packages of Protein Bars after surgery because I figure those will help me with protein. Each item has between 12-15g of protein and very little carbs or sugar. You can have as much sugar free Jello, sugar free popsicles, and broths in between meals as you want. I did that to supplement. I got a lot of sugar free jello. I also sometimes used broth instead of water to make some of the soups taste better. I won't lie to you, it's not fun but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Making your liver smaller presurgery makes for a safer surgery so it's for the best.

I'm a recent Dr Curry patient. It's like a Medifast pre-packaged/powedered diet. You must be doing a 30 day pre-op diet with him like I did. Some patients only have to do a week, some 2, some 3, some a month. I actually had about 10 or so boxes left over I wish I could have given to someone. They won't let you turn them in for a refund, but they will let you turn them in to swap for something else you like better. It does suck to pay the extra money, but it is designed to pull the sugar out of your liver so you have the safest surgery possible. When I went in for my 1st post op visit they had some new flavors and some new brand they were using in addition so I can't say what you'll get for sure but it's mostly eggs (scrambled or omelet), Soups, shakes/puddings and Protein bars although you can only have 1 Protein Bar a day. I have sleep apnea and I was TERRIFIED to be put under. Scared, scared, scared. So scared I thought about cancelling. The day of surgery when I met the anesthesiologist all my fear vanished. I hope you get the same one. He is a ray of sunshine and very good at what he does. Dr Curry's office will take good care of you.

To add to my earlier comments: I really do think it is a decision you and your surgeon should make together. Ultimately between the two of you, you can decide which is the best tool for you to use to get where you want to be. After 2 or 3 years I do believe all 3 surgeries end up pretty close together in where you end up statistically. You just need to decide based on YOUR lifetime of being you and the surgeon's expertise and view of his experience which one would be your best bet.

My surgeon had me start them 1 week after surgery, but it seems like the more I read he introduced them about a week before most other people get to start them with other doctors.

Oh how I feel you. My BMI was around the same as yours when I first saw the surgeon. He wanted me to be at a 60 BMI as well. That was in mid February. I was going to have to lose about 85 pounds. I figured it would take me all year. I got there mid June and had my surgery at the end of June and I promise you I was not hungry all the time. Sometimes I was, but most of the time I was satisfied. First thing I want to say is that just because it worked for me doesn't mean it is the "right" way or the only way. I'm not telling you to do this, just sharing. If you want to know more information, please feel free to send me a message. My nutritionist at the surgeon's office put me on a program that had me using 3 Meal Replacement shakes a day and eating two sensible dinners of Protein and green vegetables. I cut out dairy, starch and sugar. They didn't insist on a certain kind of shake, they just wanted one that had at least 10g of protein and was low in carbs and sugar. I found one that tasted prettty good when I doctored it up and drank them 3 times a day most days, only 2 times a day on some days. I ate mostly turkey, chicken, and fish as far as protein goes because (as a true volume eater) I could have more of them than I could something with more calories. 4oz of tilapia is about 100 calories. 4oz of chicken or turkey breast is about 110 or 120. I'd steam some broccoli or I'd roast some Brussels sprouts or some other veggie and I'd be good. Now, some things I did "wrong" according to my nutritionist (though she never knew I did them): I was told that in between meals and shakes I could only have something like a sugar free popsicle or SF Jello or a dill pickle but only 1 or two a day. I kept myself from gorging and feeling deprived by eating those things when I felt hungry and I didn't limit it to only once or twice a day. One thing I kept on hand AT ALL TIMES was hard boiled eggs. One large hard boiled egg has about 78 calories and 6 grams of protein with nearly zero carbs. I didn't eat the whole egg though. Instead I ate only the egg whites. One hard boiled egg white has 17 calories and 3.6g of protein. I'd peel 2 of those and eat them and feel satisfied. I'd throw the yolk outside at night for the raccoons to eat. The raccoons and stray cats around my house have a gorgeous coat but probably high cholesterol I also made a veggie Soup with a mishmash of vegetables that would only be about 35 calories or so a cup and that helped a lot. You CAN do this. If I can do it, I have to believe it can be done by anyone who wants it. It may take you longer to get your surgery than what you want but in the meantime you'll be developing better habits. I know I did. I learned to live without fast food and pizza delivery and I learned what foods were better choices. Slowly I started being satisfied on less as well because when I get simple carbs I'm like a shark on a feeding frenzy and I cut those out. Please believe in yourself. You can do it. (Jeez this got long. Sorry about that, all)

I'm 5'5" and my starting weight was 446 pounds when I first saw the surgeon. I was expecting him to say the bypass but he thought the sleeve would be best for me. I dropped 85 pounds before my surgery through diet and exercise so my surgery weight was around 360 so don't assume the bypass would be the choice. It'll all depend on your surgeon. I'd say to be 100% candid with the surgeon and tell them HOW you eat. Volume eating? Grazing? Carbs? What's your downfall? That may affect the choice. Good luck.

This for me, exactly.

Thanks for the heads up!

I was looking at fitbit and at the UP by Jawbone. I'm still undecided. I'll have to look at the One as well.

I sure hope so because that's about where I started out earlier in the year. I was 446 pounds when I started a diet the first day I saw the surgeon. I had my surgery 4 months later, 85 pounds lighter from my dieting, and I'm hoping I can make this work. To give myself the best chance I've decided to not just work on what goes in me, but what's already here - in my head. I've got books to read and I'm going to do support groups in person and online, and I'm going to see a therapist who has some experience with weight loss patients. I truly believe that nobody gets as big as I was without having some issues to work out and I intend to do my best to work them out. I also think that at my size I was nearly disabled and not really living so we may (just maybe) have that advantage over someone a lot smaller. We know what it's like to have our weight REALLY affect our lives in big ways so we have to protect this sleeve we've been given so we can't ever go back to that way of living. Good luck. I know we can do it!

No problem! It is open to anyone! Even if you had surgery elsewhere. I got a copy of the schedule today when I saw the nutritionist so I'll try to scan it when I get home and post it! Thank you! That's good to know. They were the only one I couldn't find the dates and times online for their support group. Just an FYI for anyone in Columbus: I checked with both Mount Carmel and OSU and they both report that their groups are open to anyone as well. Mount Carmel wants you to register if you're going to go by calling 614-234-LIFE but no registration is needed by OSU. The dates and times and locations are online: Mount Carmel: https://www.mountcarmelhealth.com/body.cfm?id=950&action=list&limit_eventTitle=Bariatric%20Surgery%20Support%20Group&crawl=false OSU: http://medicalcenter.osu.edu/patientcare/healthcare_services/center_for_wellness_prevention/comprehensive_weight_management/bariatric_surgery/support_groups/Pages/index.aspx

I hear you. I was three weeks post op as of Monday and I've been at the same weight for one week. I'm weighing and measuring nad documenting everything I eat and I'm almost always between 400-500 calories a day yet no weight loss. My Protein is 60-80g a day and I'm drinking between 50-64oz of Water a day. I'm hoping that when my doc releases me to go to the gym at the end of the week that'll help SOMETHING. I'll hang in there and you do too!

He was recently taken to task by congress a week or so ago for his dubious weight loss claims and advice. He's a borderline quack these days.

In the top right hand corner you see your name and to the right of that there is a little gear? Click that gear and then select "My Tickers" and create one. Once you create one you can add it to your signature and it'll appear when you post

That is so nice of you! I appreciate it.

Positive thoughts! Be well and check in when you can.

Thank you for this. It reminds me of this cool picture I just found..

I'm going to keep an eye on this thread as well. I'm 3 weeks out as of today and ready to swim. My surgeon cleared me I could at the end of this week. We're waiting a few extra days since one of my incisions was a little iffy.

The thought of it all is overwhelmnig sometimes. To know you have SO much to lose is daunting. I'm 43 and tried so many things and kept thinking I'd have time to change it. I'm 3 weeks out from my surgery and I feel like myself. I'm lucky that I've had no complications and you should stay positive that you won't either. Make a list of things you want to do after surgery. Not just the big ones like travel or be 150 pounds. Little ones like fitting in an airplane seat or more room between you and the steering wheel. Focus on those little goals you can knock off one at a time. Know that you're doing this for you so you can not just live longer, but to live better. Hang in there!

I'm only 3 weeks out so I'm not the person you're really looking for, but I'm wondering if instead of thinking of foods we can't have anynore we should look at those foods we really like (like your Crab Nachos) and try to find ways to reproduce them but in a healthier way. Find ways to change them up so that they can be healthier for us.