bobbyswife

@@finediva That water bottle is just a guide. You still need to not eat 30 mins before or 30 mins after meals, but if your meals are still liquid at this point, the 30 minute rule is irrelevant. My understanding is that the 30 minute rule applies to when you move to mushies and softies and beyond.

NO - DON'T TAKE ANYMORE

Do this:

I know all about the chubby-chasers. That was the lifestyle I lived for so long. Then I met my husband. He loves me if I'm 130 lbs or 330 lbs. But, he wants me to be healthy and happy. Your fiance' has issues of his own. He's attracted to big girls because it provides security to him. It's a way for him to compensate for his own failures because he knows he doesn't have the qualities or emotional stamina that a thin woman demands. It's his own insecurity that he is projecting onto you. Good for you for seeing it for face value. We will all support you.

Oh, and I'm moving to Birmingham next year

I'm scheduled for 12/18. Get the book The Emotional First Aid Kit by Cynthia Alexander. It's a GREAT book that will prepare you. It was written primarily for bypass patients, but applies to all WLS. I am also a sleevie. Good luck to you and keep us posted!

Sounds like you are "frothing". Search that term from the main sleeve forum page and you'll see lots of good info.

Hi Morgan! You'll find LOTS of good advice on this site. I'm Emily, and I'm a bariatricpal.com addict. What can I say, I spend every spare moment here. Keep in mind that you'll need to wait a minimum of 18-24 months post op to get pregnant. Other than that, it sounds like you're a good candidate for the surgery. Mine is coming up on Dec. 18th. Keep us posted with your journey! You'll find lots of love here

I use my iPhone app but when I joined I didn't use Facebook, mostly because I didn't want some people to know I was on here. You might have to rejoin using a username and password? Or, maybe try your facebook logon?

When did you have surgery? I get headaches when I don't get enough protein, but I'm still pre-op so that's only my best guess...

I've been thinking that since I have 2 months to prepare both mentally and otherwise, I would go ahead and start collecting little things for my new life. I'm traveling Mon - Thurs this week to New Orleans for work, so when I get back I'm going to take a nice box and cut off the top, then find some wrapping paper that makes me squeal with delight and put a big bow on it. This will be my gift to myself to celebrate my new birthday. I'll add things to it as I find them over the next few months. I'll start a tradition of giving myself a special gift (non-food, of course) every year on the anniversary of my new tummy! I was in the grocery store on Sunday and found the greatest little things that I think will be super helpful for post op, once I'm on semi-solids and solids. They are these adorable little 1 C. containers that come complete with a little removable ice pack that sits inside the lid. I've read that most sleevers won't come close to 1 C. of food for a long time (if ever), but these were the smallest ones I could find. I can't wait to use these little boogers, and of course the pink one is my favorite! I've also got some adorable little cocktail forks and spoons that will make me take itsy-bitsy little bites of food. I'm hoping to find more of those in cute designs. If anyone has any suggestions for my gift box to myself, I'm all ears!

hahaha! We had a great time and actually stayed in Metairie!

I can't give you any tips because I haven't started yet, but I will be at the beginning of Dec. preparing for my 12/18 surgery, just a month behind you. I am not looking forward to the 2 week pre op diet, but I know that if I can get through that I can handle anything lol. I would suggest getting yourself a journal and be prepared to write down what you're feeling. I am also about to start a good book that I've been hearing a lot about called The Emotional First Aid Kit by Cynthia Alexander.

Another one is what size bougie will the surgeon use. Recommended sizes for almost all instances (unless BMI is over 50) are 32-40. My surgeon is using a 34.

You look FANTASTIC! So happy for you! I can't wait to be where you are!

@@alwaysvegas I hope my experience is like yours!

I can't even begin to imagine the anxiety you are feeling. I am still 45 days away from surgery and I'm already a wreck sometimes. When I get nervous I read all the success stories and look at before and after pics. Please keep us posted!

It all depends on the surgeon whether or not they'll set you up that day. Be ready with LOTS of questions. Make a list of all the things you need to know. Make sure your hospital is a center of excellence and ask about complication rates, leak rates, preop diet, post op diet, every question you can come up with. You'll still be thinking of questions after your consult but take your questions and a pen and write down all the answers you get. That's what they are there for. Some sample questions: After the stapling of my sleeve, will you over-sew the staples? What is your complication rate? What is your mortality rate? More specifically, what is your sleeve leak rate? How many trocars will be used for my surgery? I have read that most leaks happen at the top, near the esophagus; are there any extra measures taken to protect against this happening? What brand of liquid Protein is used for the pre-op diet? Will you leave in a drain? Will you put me on Lovenox or other blood thinners? If I have a hernia will you repair it at the same time? Do you remove the gallbladder during surgery? There are lots more and you can find a ton of sample questions if you look for them on this site and on Google. The better informed you are, the better you will do!

Thanks for sharing! I start my pre op diet around the beginning of Dec.

It sounds like you know exactly what to do. Get off the sweets, stop drinking, eat your protein first, don't drink while you eat, and exercise. Go back to basics. Don't overthink it. Exercise is great for preventing disease, too. Start walking NOW.

My friend who is a bariatric surgery nurse and has lost 200 lbs since his surgery 18 months ago swears by them. Only ate half at a time for about 6 months but now can eat the whole thing.