Darcie46

I am having my gastric bypass in 2 weeks at Abbott Northwestern with Dr. Drew. From my appts there so far, seems like a very good program and well run. Very curious, as these posts are old, how did your surgeries turn out?

November 10th in Minnesota!! Starting my 2 week liquid diet tomorrow. Nervous about the upcoming days but also feeling pretty motivated to pull it off!

My 15 day liquid pre-op diet starts tomorrow. It's basically all Protein shakes, flavored Water. Allowed to have 2 Snacks a day of either: yogurt, pudding,jello or creamed soup. Capped at 1000 calories a day. Question for liquid dieters --- "creamed soup"??? What exactly is that? I'm thinking that means like Cream of Broccoli, Cream of Celery, Cream of Mushroom. Right? I bought a few but thought, this is odd. They're so high in sodium and like 1 gram of protein. Why would this be on the list? Just wondering if there were any other brilliant ideas of what you've tried as creamed Soups. Thank you!

Ah, glad someone else feels "unprepared" going into the liquid diet. I have 15 days of it, starts tomorrow. Today I had my "Oh crap, so not ready for this" moment and threw away some food that I know is going to go bad over the next 2 weeks, like left overs, my coffee creamer (AHHH!), etc. We went shopping last night for the broth, Jello, shakes, powders. Trying to feel prepared but man, oh man. When i read your post above I thought - YEP! How was Day 1? Are you sick? Tired? Crabby? They have me doing 1,000 calories and liquids only (can have 2 Snacks a day that are either jello, pudding, yogurt) but all else is Protein shakes, Water, decaf coffee. Much luck and success to you!

Phxmom, I don't think it's too unusual to be worried about the skin (excess skin). My closest friend had Gastric Bypass in July 2014 and "the skin" was what she talked about most leading up to the surgery. I think she's down about 60 lbs now. I went bra shopping with her and saw all there was to see. I gotta tell you, it really isn't that bad. Now i know she thinks it is but truly, if you think about it, we already have all that amount of skin. Right now it's filled in with weight / fat. As we change our habits, have the surgery, change our lives - the skin amount doesn't increase, it'll just be empty skin. Personally I'd rather have it empty and hanging then filled :-) There is the possibility of having surgery later to take care of skin...called body sculpting?? A lady at work will be having that soon, as she's 18 mos out and lost over 100 lbs. She claims the biggest way to get that surgery (have insurance cover) is to document on an ongoing basis the rashes you're getting, tell your doc (even primary care) at any and each appt that you're itchy, or you get occasional rashes. The documentation apparently aids in being able to proceed. You're a December date now - more time to prepare!

Hello! I am scheduled for surgery (just got the date) on November 10th and am in MN. Looking to connect with other MN folks that have or about to go through the same thing. Only a couple of days away from starting the liquid diet. Getting nervous about all aspects of it - will I get tired/crabby/sick on the liquid diet? What sort of complications might happen? Just keep swirling and really having to tell myself to focus on one thing at a time, Anyone else in MN scheduled for Nov? Or recently had it?

I am so glad someone posted about this. My surgery is on Nov 10th and being just 2 weeks out, I've contemplated about this all along. Really, as of today, only 5 people in my life know that I'm about to do this. The comments about being "such a personal decision" are SO right on. I had a really hard time telling people. Not because I am not sure about my decision, but because it is hard to re-explain, re-defend the decision. And it's like you want people to know, look, I didn't come to this overnight. This was a long process of education and decisions. I really like the suggestions of "thank you" and then giving some general answers of diet, exercise, etc. I'm sure people at work will figure it out - I'm taking the 2 weeks off work and since I'm their Supervisor, a peer of mine is being flown in to fill in for me. I know they'll figure / know that I'm clearly off for a medical reason, coming back with some obvious weight off will be telling. But the fact is, they'll think what they think. I am grateful for others sharing their same feelings on this!

Just got my date of Nov 10th. The nerves were growing like crazy - worrying about if it's the right thing, worrying about telling people. Now today I seem more at peace with it. Just taking it a day at a time. About to start my 2 week liquid diet in a couple days. Want to stay VERY focused on that.

I'm not the exact date - scheduled for November 10th. I know what you mean about scared - very, very nervous about possible complications, or what if's. I keep reminding myself that many people have this surgery every day and that they've been doing this for a long time, that all will work out.

Hello! Fairly new to this site and looking to see if there's anyone from MN still on here and active on the site. I am about to have surgery Nov 2014. Really about to hit the liquid diet phase. Getting excited and nervous.

Hello - this forum looks a little outdated. Anyone from MN out there? I am pre-op, getting very close to surgery. About to jump into the pre-op liquid diet phase!

Hello! I am fairly new to this site. Surgery to be scheduled any day now (waiting on secondary insurance approval). I am figuring on a November surgery date. Has anyone had their Gastric Bypass at Abbott Northwestern? I am working Dr. Drew. Curious if there are any others out there who had surgery there or worked with him. Getting very nervous for the 2 week pre-surgery liquid diet but knowing I can do it!

I am in South St. Paul and pre-op. Planning to have my surgery at Abbott Northwestern with Dr. Raymond Drew. Has anyone had their WLS at Abbott or with Dr. Drew? Not far from scheduling surgery, only 5 lbs to lose and 1 more psych visit to make it through.