MarieR

Scamp, this is incredibly helpful. Thank you SO much. The surgeon's office is providing the compression garments but I'm thinking that I should purchase a 2nd set of garments so that I will have a clean one to put on while the other is being washed and air dried.

Sorry for the delayed response. This is a shade over $25k.

After 4 years, I hit and maintained my goal weight. And now I'm getting rid of the skin. I will be having fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty, a panniculectomy and a medial thigh lift. Based on the descriptions of these procedures, I think I may have picked the most difficult ones to start. But I've paid the deposit and it's too late to turn back now.
So, is there anyone who can tell me how to prepare? I won't have anyone to sit with me after the 5th day; I'll be on my own. So, how do I set up my living space for successful recuperation? I've got a pillow to brace my abdomen for coughing, sneezing, or standing. I'm renting a chair that reclines and lifts the user to a standing position. I've got hospital gowns for ease of potty use at home. Anything I've missed?

Sorry for the delayed response. This is a shade over $25k.

This brings up an interesting issue for which I have been trying to prepare. I would not interpret pleasant attention from the guy who wouldn't give you the time of day before as a reflection on you. He was never justified in treating you poorly -- fat or thin. So, here's what I have been working through: We all know that there are people who are going to treat us differently (i.e. better) as we lose weight. I take that stuff very personally. I was a beautiful, brilliant, professional woman long before I decided to get sleeved. None of that has changed. There is just less of me. Nothing will PISS ME OFF more than people that I respected treating me better. Don't get me wrong. I don't want to put the weight back on to prove how beautiful, brilliant and professional I was at a heavier weight. But, I know people WILL disappoint me (even people who claim to be friends) and I will never want to speak to them again.
Is anyone else dealing with this or thinking about it?

I was sleeved on July 14 and have "only" lost 22 pounds. Have stalled for the last 5 days but i am not getting worked up about it. Of course, we'd all like to wake up 40 pounds thinner in the morning. And, of course, we know that's unrealistic.
My mindset on stalls is this: When I was gaining weight, there were times I ate a TON of food and didn't gain an ounce. I didn't see that as a failure. So, I decided for the duration of this journey that I am not going to see the non-loss as a failure either. It's just what the body does from time to time. The smartest thing we can do is keep working and stay focused on the goal.

I was sleeved on July 14 and have "only" lost 22 pounds. Have stalled for the last 5 days but i am not getting worked up about it. Of course, we'd all like to wake up 40 pounds thinner in the morning. And, of course, we know that's unrealistic.
My mindset on stalls is this: When I was gaining weight, there were times I ate a TON of food and didn't gain an ounce. I didn't see that as a failure. So, I decided for the duration of this journey that I am not going to see the non-loss as a failure either. It's just what the body does from time to time. The smartest thing we can do is keep working and stay focused on the goal.

I was sleeved on 7/14. Had a tough time for the first 4 days. Am now at pureed/mushy foods and have lost 8 lbs. But I am struggling with getting in enough Protein because of food allergies.
Fortunately, pre-op, I was not someone who ate alot of sweets but this is turning into a big problem. I am allergic to aspartame, sucralose and stevia. Just about every Protein shake has one of those artificial sweeteners. So, I am having a very tough time. I got the "unflavored" stuff thinking that I would just add it to savory things (like soups). However, you cannot add it to anything warmer than 140 degrees F. That doesn't make savory things taste bad but it does mean that food is always lukewarm. UGH!
Any ideas for how to handle this? I am at my witts end trying to get in enough protein. And, by the way, this also affects the Vitamins I can take, the liquids I can drink . . . . I can't even have sugar-free things like frozen bars or pudding pops. I'm not a whiner but I really need some ideas.

I put my soup, as is, in my Vitamix and purée it. I have been having stomach cramps with ANYthing I put in my mouth. The puréed soup did cause them to be any worse.