StarAnge13

It is so hard to go through the liquid only stage before the surgery....but I found that every time I started craving solid food or had to watch everyone else eat BBQ during the 4th......I thought about that small incision and the surgeons trying to pull my stomach out of there. I know I wanted a speedy recovery and not have to worry about complications about it. Just keep thinking those thoughts...."If I eat too much, I may not be able to do the laproscoptic surgery and then I'll have a big scar." "I don't want the doctors to open me up and realize that I have pieces of food in there." "The less I eat...the smaller the stomach that is being ripped through that tiny incision" Good luck honey and just keep looking forward.

Hiya everyone! I am also 4-5 days out and I have to agree that the pain isn't as bad as I expected it to be. Just a bit a soreness and tightness when I try to use those stomach muscles. I have learned a few things though - Don't try to take a sip of something and then lay down.... No sleeping on my side for a bit.... Only take very small sips (even if you are feeling soooo thirsty).... I can't wear a bra right now (I have an incision right between my boobs).... I think the nurses like to play scavenger hunt with the tape left over (I'm still finding places)... Catheters SUCK!! I am drinking my day away with sips of Crystal Light, decaf coffee w/drop of Almond Milk, Protein Shakes, broth, yogurt (SF) and SF hard candy. I am craving eggs, chicken and every other freaking food commercial on TV....Is this our punishment?

@@CandyPants81 ---- I was surprised that it wasn't as hard as I thought it was going to be...I knew how much I wanted this surgery and with all the stuff I had to put up with getting here...I wasn't going to let smoking for the past 30 years stop me. I did do the Vapor Pen with 0MG of nicotine and carry it around with me but I don't even reach for it much anymore. Now I am addicted to sugar free lifesavers! hahahahaaa - I did tell the surgeon's office that I had nicotine and I'm hoping that they remember that. :-)

@@Bridget1103 Awesome another PA native....and I'm also KHPE insurance. Congrats! @@MerMer30 ----- woo hoo it seems we are all scheduled for exactly 1 week away!

Hi everyone - My name is Carol and I just signed up for this site today....I'm starting to get nervous about my surgery. I started this process so long ago and each time lost my insurance during the process - the last time was back in February when I was about 5 months into my "diet" and lost my insurance - I was lucky to be able to pick up insurance from my job and found out they didn't require the 6 month diet - So I was able to start from that point on with a new Surgeon. That was April 3rd and I've been on the fast track to get this done - I'm cleared for everything so far. I was a smoker and stopped a few weeks ago.....I got too nervous that I actually bought tests from Amazon to make sure that all the metabolytes from the nicotine will be out of my system by my PAT. So, the last time I was at the surgeon - the girls up front said that my tentative date was July 16 - but then went I went back in on June 26th to sign my paperwork - doc told me that she doesn't have the OR on that week so either I could have it the 9th or the 23rd.....well...she didn't have to say it twice...I went for the 9th. Now I'm in my "clear liquids" only and I'm set for Monday, July 7th for my PAT and surgery on the 9th. But now I'm getting nervous....I'm praying that 3 weeks is enough to get all the chemicals out of my body and I don't come up positive for nicotine. The test I purchased through Amazon is a urine test - but my surgeon said that she is doing a blood test to search for it. First off....NO I'm not going back to smoking...I'm enjoying being able to taste and smell again! I also have been mixing my ISOPURE non-flavored protein powder in 1/2 cranberry juice, 1/2 water to try and flush it out. Has anyone else had to deal with this? Also, it's kinda morbid...but I also wanted to know if it's common to have your Living Will prepared and brought with you before surgery? I know I'm being paranoid but hell...I don't want to be kept alive on machines if anything bad happens. *hugs