Becca R.

@@shizwiz -- Hey there! I'm headed to Mexico for my surgery this Friday. Looking at your list, here is what I'm doing a bit differently: I am taking loose maxi dresses. (When I had this type of surgery before, I couldn't stand ANYTHING around my waist, so I'm going with dresses to be safe.) I am taking my own liquid Lortab and Zofran for nausea. Taking Perisporin instead of Neosporin for surgical wounds. Tegaderm dressings. (Love these. Can get them at the pharmacy.) Gatorade Propel packets for Water. (No calorie electrolytes.) Gas-X strips. Pads (for diarrhea, yes, but also because sometimes you can accidentally pee after being cathed during surgery. From what I've been reading, some people have diarrhea and others are constipated. The Immodium should help!) Believe me, I understand nervous, but it sounds like you're doing all your research and will be well prepared!! --Becca

Woke up this morning with butterflies the size of bats. NERVOUS. @@wantingabetterlife -- are you nervous yet, too?? @ -- thanks for the shout out. I needed it!! So last night I had my husband draw my outline on some butcher paper and I'm going to draw a new one over the top in one year. Got me wondering what you guys are planning for before and afters??

@@wantingabetterlife -- high 5!!!! Way to go!! Anyone feel like sharing their pre-op pictures? I'll be taking mine today.

@@StephanieJ713 And AMEN. I need to have surgery like... now. Only 4 days to go...

CHECKING IN!!! How is everyone doing?? Post-op girls: updates? How are you feeling? Pre-op dieters: How's everyone doing? I would give just about anything for something crunchy!! Maybe by Christmas.

Oooof, krisrpaz. I'm deep into the liquids only pre-op and if my spouse showed up with a hamburger and fries, I would probably cry. Just sayin'... I know that a temp of up to 100.3 is normal after anesthesia, so I hope yours stays low-grade. How's the drinking going? Hi @SusieMN!

Thanks for checking in @@smb0187! I'm really, really sorry about your mother-in-law. That's awful news!! I hope she's able to get a full check up when she gets back home. Can you tell me what your pre-op testing was like? @@Revgirl -- how's it going for you?

@@Revgirl and @@smb0187 -- happy flying!!!! Check in when you can!!!

@@sprocket -- Me too! We are date buddies. I see you are going with Dr. Ortiz; which hospital are you staying at? --Becca

@@wantingabetterlife -- hehehehe. Rumbles. I haven't had my morning protein shake yet because I need to step on the scale. But I'm scared to. Isn't that ridiculous? I'm scared that somehow, even on this pre-op diet, I will have gained. These old mental habits are gonna die hard, I'm afraid.

@ -- Do they rumbles hurt, or are the just kinda "there"? I've heard a heating pad or hot water bottle can help? You fly home tomorrow, right?

Here's an image for all of us today (gotta love pinterest)...

@@StephanieJ713 -- LOVED that post! I am right there with you. I have my surgery one week from tomorrow and I wish it was a week ago already!!

@@amgarza54 -- thanks for checking in! Glad to hear that you are on starting to feel a bit better. Recovery from anesthesia is just nasty. NOT looking forward to that, but now it's behind you!! Keep us posted on how you're feeling later today? @@Revgirl -- One of the books that I read getting ready for this talked about the people around you, and how they'll react. It also talked about how important it is to have a positive mindset, and how hard that can be when people keep trying to turn something that for you is not optional, but a life-saving event, into something negative or, like you said, about them. I can't think of anything less fun. So frustrating. But I can't tell you how grateful I am to have this little group of November Mexico Sleevers. It's so nice to have a few people, all in the same place, moving forward together. @ -- HOORAY! No more drain!! My surgeon doesn't use one, and I'm so glad, because that just kinda gives me the heeby-jeebies. Glad yours is gone. I know you mentioned that you've been able to sip some Gatorade; how is the drinking going? Has there been anything where you thought, "Oof, shouldn't have done that"? Is there anything you wish you had with you down there? @@haleytrim -- I totally agree with you that even the littlest details feel helpful at this point! Share, share away our surgery pioneer girls!! Becca

Oh, I'll bet that first shower felt heavenly!! I'll bet you're so ready to get to that hotel and keep healing. You're in my thoughts a lot!

@@JennsinCA --Hi! It's nice to meet you, too. I agree that we have an advantage. Saying "no" is already something we do constantly. And like the above poster pointed out, we have long since learned that "Gluten Free" does not mean healthy AT ALL. My two week diet has me on 2 Protein shakes/day and a low-carb/high protein dinner for the first week, and then Clear liquids for the week leading up to surgery. How about you?

@ --how are you feeling today, dear? Did you have your leak test done yet? Is today the day that you head to the hotel?

@@Tootie Smiles (Pauline), thanks for seconding that suggestion! I wonder if it's from being cathed during surgery. I'm remembering now how uncomfortable it was to go to the bathroom after being catheterized after my last surgery. Ugh. I'd forgotten. Will definitely put some pads in my suitcase. Thanks!

@@Revgirl -- I get a wide range of responses from people about Mexico. Mostly negative. Then I explain about my surgeon--that he was born in Michigan, was a member of the US armed forces, etc. and they tend to chill out about that. Some people do tend to say things like "Couldn't you just do this without surgery?" But here's my story. I was overweight in high school (about 220 pounds as a Junior in high school). One day, I realized that I was the biggest girl in my high school choir and that if I gained any more weight, I wouldn't be able to wear the choir dresses. That shook me. So I started walking a mile a day and eating low-fat/high-carb (it was the 90s, after all). It took me three years, but I got down to 125 pounds. I maintained that weight loss for years, until I got pregnant with my first baby. I have 5 kids, and I gain 50 pounds each time. I fight like a devil to get the weight off, and each time--my body adapts. So the way that I lost weight the first time absolutely would not work the second time, etc. After my 4th baby, I hired a personal trainer, a nutritionist, and got my GYN and an endocrinologist on my team as well. I worked out for 2 hours a day, 6 days a week, for 10 months and ate a diet of 1500-1700 calories/day. At the end of that time, I sat down with my entire team. I had lost 0 pounds, 0 inches anywhere on my body, and my body fat percentage had increased. It was at that point that we all conferenced and decided that I was an ideal candidate for this surgery. So I had my last little baby in April, and I'm moving forward, no matter what anyone else says. SO MANY PEOPLE seem to think that people who are overweight sit around eating bags of doritos all day. I have complete strangers who make comments at the gym when they see me running and lifting weights. I have people walk up to me at costco and tell me that I should just give up fast food... which I don't eat. I'm *amazed* at the discrimination I've faced. But I know that I have tried my very hardest to avoid surgery. At this point, it's like chemo for cancer. Being obese will kill me, and this is my treatment. How about you, Revgirl?

@@amgarza54 -- Is today your day?! How are you feeling?

@@JennsinCA -- Hey there! Yup. Diagnosed celiac here. I'm having the sleeve instead of bypass to make sure that they can still do endoscopies to check on things, as necessary. I've heard that the surgery can really increase your reactions to anything you might be sensitive or allergic to (whether that's gluten or lactose), so I'm a bit nervous in that regard, but hopeful that I can just keep doing what I'm doing. I'm having surgery on the 14th, so we'll be just a few days apart from each other.

@ THANK YOU for your update!!!! I have been wondering all day how you're doing! That wait sounds downright nerve wracking. Ugh. I have a feeling that I'll be in more for more of the same. I hope you're up and walking as much as you can. Feeling so happy for you that the surgery is behind you and now you can move forward!! (I just want to get there, too!) --Becca

@wantingabetterlife--good list! Let me see how mine looks different. I'm going to be annoying and list it out so I can actually compare it to yours. Gas-X Strips Zofran for nausea and liquid Lortab for pain Tegaderm bandages Perisporin (I have found that this works better for me that neosporin on stitches.) Loose clothes and a robe A pillow fuzzy socks with grip for walking books i-pad and charger (I've read we don't need to take a converter. Hope it's true!) some herbal tea packets a small thank you for my doctor .... Now I have to think about what I need to pack for my spouse.

Hi Della, For my protein drink, I use VegaOne. Expensive, but the yummiest option that I've found. I'm planning on sticking with my go-to protein sources: beans, lentils, whole grain couscous and quinoa, soy milk, and lots of veggies are good sources of protein. Best of luck! --Becca

@amgarza54--Welcome!! I notice that you're in California, so are you headed down tomorrow? Mixed emotions is becoming a bit of an understatement with me, but I love that there are people here who will go ahead of me and help me to be better prepared (I guess that would be you).