Mogwaicat

Recuperating in the hospital. I'm feeling pretty good, actually. Feel like I did a few too many sit ups, but no serious pain. Still not allowed to drink anything yet, but I get to try a popsicle soon. I've done several laps around the unit, got my catheter out, but right now the worst thing is dry mouth.

Same here!

I start that tomorrow. I haven't really figured out a game plan for this. I don't like the flavor of any protein shakes I've tried so far, too sweet and weird texture. I bought some unflavored protein to put in various flavored broths to try and get through it. I might have to suck it up in the name of health.

I finished up my pre-op testing today and thought I'd write something up to help others have some idea of what to expect. Thankfully my surgeon's office does all the pre-op scheduling. I was asked to go NPO (no food/water/etc) after midnight and told to report to my hospital at 7:30am and that I would be having testing until about 10:30-11am. My nurse asked history questions, took vitals, and did an EKG. A nurse practicioner came in and completed my history and physical (which confused me, because this has now been done by my PCP, surgeon, and this NP). I had blood drawn for a CBC with diff, lipid profile, and probably a few others that I didn't catch when she rattled them off. I was then walked down to another area of the hospital where they did a gallbladder ultrasound. This isn't bad at all, it just hurt a little when she had to press hard over my lowest rib. Once completed, I had a two-view chest x-ray done. Again, this is no big deal. By far and away the worst part was the Upper GI. It wasn't -horrible-, certainly not the worst thing I've ever done, but -blech-! I was asked to swallow a med cup filled with baking soda crystals with a very small amount of Water. They taste terrible and the gassy feeling is immediate. (It's like being a kid with a vinegar/baking soda volcano...in your belly...). I was told to try not to belch and placed on a moving platform. They took pictures of my innards while I drank the most incredibly vile heavy chalky barium drink. It didn't so much have a flavor as a bizzare fake sweetness and it really stuck to my lips and mouth. They had me drink roughly 8oz of it, then I had to roll around on the table to coat my insides with it. It made me feel more than nauseous from all the gas and icky flavor. Then I had to drink about another four ounces of a thinner version of the same stuff. I pride myself on having a pretty strong stomach, but at the end I felt about two steps from losing it. Thankfully, once it was all over and I could get rid of the gassy feeling I felt better pretty much immediately. I was advised to drink lots and lots of water, barium can be binding. Last step, with enough space in scheduling for lunch, was an appointment with a physical therapist. I'm lucky enough that I don't have any physical limitations right now in spite of my size. I was shown various exercises that are recommended for the first week or so after surgery and then ways to step it up every step of the way. I went into this feeling like physical therapy would be wasted on me, but honestly she taught me a few things. It was an hour well spent!

You can add me to the ones having surgery on the 26th. I start my liquid diet on Monday.

I'm actually not sure if that world have been better for me. I might just be a big baby, but the camera down my throat is an uncomfortable thought.

From start (seminar) to surgery I've spent about eight months. My insurance required six months of nutrition visits and five years of documented weights from my primary care physician. It's been a long several months of jumping through the hoops, but I have my pre-op testing on the 8th and my surgery is scheduled for 10/26/15! I'm so excited, and so very hopeful, that this might finally help me get down to a healthy weight. I'm very lucky, I don't have any formally diagnosed comorbidities...yet. I feel like it would only be a matter of time, and I can see my blood pressure creeping up towards hypertension. Fairly extensive family history of cardiac issues, I'd really like to avoid some of those problems if I can!

October 26th for mine. So excited!