KristenVSG2014

Thanks @@Freebird14 :-) I'm really looking forward to the surgery. It is always great to hear from people who have first hand experience with Dr. Lopez. I'm still nervous about having surgery so far from home. I hope I'm as fortunate as you to not have any complications! I'm hoping since I'm low risk and starting my pre-op diet four weeks out it will give me an advantage.

Pre-op diet Day 1 - NO PROBLEMO! I wasn't even hungry until around 5:00 but I had my salad and chicken. I got hungry again at 8:00 so I had my third Protein shake. Day 2 - Not too bad until 4:00 pm. I'm so hungry. I'm trying to hold out for 5:30 before I have dinner...I'm thinking about eating some extra veggies. Maybe broccoli. Mmmmmmmmm. I love broccoli. I'm so impatient. I wish I had a time machine and could fast forward one year. Then again, I need to "do the time" and enjoy the journey and be proud of myself. So I'm going to try that. :-)

Nov 3. I started my pre-op diet today. :-)

Measurements as of 10/2: Neck: 15" Breasts: 52" Under breasts: 45" Waist: 45" Hips: 53" Arms: 16 1/2" Thighs: 27 1/2"

Yay! Same date as me :-) Where are you having your surgery and when do you start your pre-op diet?

I arrive in San Diego at 1:05 on Sunday. Hopefully we won't need to wait too long for our driver to take us to the Marriott. It still seems so unreal and far away. I have a feeling it's going to creep up on me.

@@jonajams So my name is Kristen. I'm almost 29 years old, 5'7, currently 260 pounds with a goal of 160 pounds. My highest weight was 290 and I got down to 217 on a low calorie, high protein diet before but did not maintain. That is why I believe the sleeve is the best option for me. My husband has been very supportive and I'm so happy he's going to TJ with me because Spanish is his first language and I feel more comfortable with him there watching out for me.

Great suggestion! I'll take measurements and post those this afternoon. Thanks! :-)

Yay! Looking forward to meeting you :-) I am starting my pre-op diet today. I was thinking of starting a new thread as a diary to document my journey.

That's not pathetic at all!! I expect life to be like that right after surgery anyway. It is very sad that you don't have him to support you but you have already found the inner strength to go through with the surgery and it sounds like you have a good head on your shoulders because you know is best for you right now. Besides, you have a ton of support and people rooting for you here on this forum! Get healthy for your kids. Maybe he will come around, maybe he won't. Either way you are doing the right thing!

If you are having your surgery at Mi Doctor we can try to find each other! Mine is Nov 3.

Please let us know how surgery goes!!

Thanks. I'm counting down the days. Nov 3 is my surgery in Tijuana.

Well it's good you were able to drive. Also good that you are healthy besides the hernia. So what is the plan? Do you need to have the hernia repaired here in the States? I have made a lot of sacrifices to make this surgery happen and two weeks after sending off my check for $4,500 and booking $800+ plane tickets we found out my husband xxxxxxx. So yeah, this surgery is the only thing I have to look forward to right now. It's gotta happen.

Where do you live? If I fly all the way to Mexico after spending over $800 on plane tickets and taking off 2 weeks of work and aren't able to have my surgery I will be quite irritated. Did you have any existing symptoms from the hernia?

You need to watch Zsalynn from "My 600 Pound Life" and possibly even contact her through Facebook. She went through and is still going through the same situation/relationship.

I know! I drive through GC all the time on my way to visit my sister in St. Augustine :-)

That doesn't sound good. The only thing that wasn't "normal" for a while was finding out how much and what types of fats my body could handle. I found out sausage was a big no no. Even today eggs still cause some pain in what I now call my "gall hole". I'm guessing it is my bile ducts but it isn't too bad. A little stabby but not extreme. Maybe your coworker tried to jump into eating normally too fast?

Gallbladder attacks suck. I had them for over a year before I was diagnosed. Mine didn't manifest in the "textbook" way because the pain was dead center of my chest, directly behind the breastbone and never to the right or in my shoulder. But they rendered me useless for up to four hours after eating. I would break out in a sweat (unusual for me), have a constant deep ache behind my breastbone, nausea and occasional diarrhea. I was so ready to have the surgery when they finally diagnosed me! I had a bad reaction to the pain killers but this is normal for me. My body hates opiates. The surgery itself wasn't bad at all. Mostly soreness. But I would 100% do it all over again. I haven't had any more attacks and it's been over 4 years since my surgery.

I'm scheduled for Nov 3 in Tijuana with Dr. Lopez!

November 3 is my surgery date too! I'm very excited and can't wait to get it done.

Hi Wanda! I'm from Starke :-) I'm having my surgery November 3.

I wrote the following email to the nutritionist: "Hi Marie! My gastric sleeve surgery is scheduled with Dr. Lopez on 11/3. The instructions say he wants me on the pre-op diet for 5-14 days but the consent form says I cannot be heavier or lighter than 4 BMI points. That averages out to 20 lbs either way for me. Can you recommend how long I should do the pre-op diet? I normally carry about 8 lbs of Water weight and lose it pretty quickly when I start dieting. I am 5'7 and currently weigh 260. I recently had a ton of blood work done by my doctor and he said everything was within range except for my Vitamin D." Her response: "Hello Kristen, My name is Marie and I am the nutritionist for specialized bariatrics. I received your contact information from your patient coordinator. I wanted to introduce myself and to let you know nutrition support is provided for you through me to guide you with your weight loss program and your nutritional needs. Should you have any questions or concerns regarding your food and nutrition, you can contact me directly via email. Let me know how I can assist you with your weight loss journey. After looking at your chart and your history, I would advise to start on your pre op diet ASAP so that you can loose some weight as well as getting yourself prepared for post op recovery as well. Please start with a shake in the morning and lunch, and sensible salad plus 6-8 oz of Protein at night. Let me know if you have any additional question. Marie" Am I the only one who thinks she is crazy for telling me I need to do the diet starting now until surgery? That's over 6 weeks. I don't want to get to Mexico and not be able to have the surgery because I lost too much weight. I've already paid for the surgery and I'm getting it done. If my blood work did not show any fatty liver then why would I need to do the diet for over 6 weeks? I'm thinking maybe I should just do it for the 5 days then 3 days of Clear liquids like my instructions say. I've never had to worry about losing too much weight...what a weird issue to have!

$4,500

I have my appointment scheduled with Dr. Lopez in TJ on 11/3/14. I'm nervous and excited! Please keep us updated with your progress!