Seraya

I've been drinking regular water and Propel water(this was on our list of approved things). I make my shakes with 10 oz of liquid (easier for me to track the total doing it in tens). 7 oz cashew milk and three water. That's because when I did all cashew milk it upset my tummy so I'm easing in. I have Benefiber, I just haven't been good about using it. The thing is, I feel fine. I don't feel like I need to go, bloated, etc. but I know I'm supposed to go so... BTW, my sleeve was May 2.

Hi Jen, sorry to hear you've been having pain. I didn't have a belly button incision. I have 5, 2 on the sides about an inch higher than my Belly button, then two higher than those and one right between the boobs just below where my bra hits. We move on to purée weeks 3 and 4. Week 1 is all liquid, and week two you can add yogurt, ricotta, and pudding. I been doling the ricotta watered down a bit with water and then added a tiny bit of protein powder for flavor. Found some Delish ones and have 6 flavors to choose from, which has been really nice. Im almost worried how easy it is to drink. I can take three regular swallows without any real trouble. I have my f/u tomorrow and will ask if that's ok. My one issue has really been constipation. I feel fine, but I know I'm not supposed to go 4 days without so I took some Milk of Magnesia today, which I hate. As for hunger, yes!!!! I've been feeling hunger pangs since day 2. I'm on omeprazole so it isn't acid. I've been taking some of the anti spasm meds, which helps a bit, it it definitely feels like good old fashioned hunger. Kind of a bummer.

How's it going Jen! I'm feeling better each day. Not really even struggling to get my liquids or shakes in. Tomorrow moving on from all liquid to adding some yogurt.

Good luck. I had mine on 5/2 and each day fell better and better. Good luck!👍🏻

Hi FrankyLass. I'm so surprised they keep you four days. I could have stayed a second night but didn't want too. Being woken up every three hours for vitals, IV changes, etc wasn't something I wanted more of. I have my mom at hoping with me and I feel a little better each day. I'm only 2 days post op. 🤞🏻 for both of us that things keep inproving. Good luck.

Yeah, mine was just yesterday so this is really just 1 day post op. I have faith it will get better. I'm allowed shower already and will tonight.

Good luck. I can say even from waking today til now I keep getting better. Mostly now is just the weird feeling in my throats when I drink. Just gotta keeping moving forward as there is no other option at this point. [emoji4]🤞🏻 I hope you make it home soon.

Most of my pain is when I take a deep breath. The only other thing that really others me is trying to drink. It feels weird and my throats get all gurgly. Also, I know this happens to some people but I wish I wasn't one of them. I'm hungry. Like tummy grumbling and that sensation yo feel when your hungry. I hope that goes away soon too. I just weight myself and I'm up10 lbs from yesterday morning from the IV fluids and swelling. I know it will work itself out but 😭

That's crazy. I mean I could take a littl walk but I don't even feel like talking to anyone on the phone, let alone go to a mall. I also don't know how people do this on a Thursday then go back to work on a Monday. I'm glad it's over. Now just the drinking.

Hi Jen! I'm on the bench now too. Surgery was yesterday. Nausea more than pain was my issue. No I definitely feel the gas. Been walking, not sure how much that helps. Trouble getting the fluids in. Feel funny in my throats but shooting for 30 oz before 2 pm when come back to reassess and see if I can go home. I will say it's bee harder than I though and I look forward to feeling better each day .

Yeah. Noon the day before we have to drink 10 oz of magnesium citrate. They use it a lot in prep for colonoscopy. Plus that day is clear liquids only. Gonna be a tough one.

Hi Jen! I was thinking of you. Monday is your big day. Tuesday is mine. im doing OK though it depends on when you ask. I've been sticking to things even though sometimes I just want to pig out on a pizza or something. I don't. I know why I'm doing this and that keeps me going. I got some new protein powder that I like a lot better and I think that helps too. Night time is the harderst when I don't have the distraction of work to help take my mind off the physical and head hunger. After work is always when I I would do my biggest eating so I need some new evening habits. Been walking the dog a lot more. It's great that we are going into better weather. I live in Buffalo and definitely get seasonal depression in the winter. I'm going to the store later today for my final pre-surgical shopping for some clear broth, yogurt, and Propel water (for some reason my doc likes that). A little house cleaning and laundry, pedicure, shave my legs (LOL), and then tomorrow I pick my step mom up from the airport (she's coming to help me out). I reread my special clear liquids only diet for Monday, got my magnesium citrate for the bowel prep, and just need to pack what I want to bring to the hospital. It's getting very real. I ended up taking Monday afternoon off once I Found out about the bowel prep. good luck. Please check in and let me know how you're doing.

I'm in the same boat as many of you. I work in a tight knit office and love my coworkers dearly. My boss and I even went on vacation to Australia a few years ago and she has Me over every Christmas Eve (I have no locals family). 2010 to 2011 I lost about 160 lbs doing Optifast for a year. I never told anyone there I was doing it. I was fit and active and it was life changing. Unfortunately, I didn't really develop better eating habits and since 2011 have yo yo'd up and down and now back up 120 of those lbs. I have only told my 2 closest friends, one of whom had a sleeve a few years ago. The other is a friend who also struggle with her weight and has been my diet and exercise buddy for years. My family knows too. I told coworkers the same as many of you. Hiatal hernia to try and help my reflux and gall bladder (after Optifast I had 3 attacks but never followed through with having it out). I go back and forth about theming them and others but I just don't want anyone judging me if I struggle. I know this will be a lifelong challenge for me, I know I will have ups and downs. I have a food addiction Andy I'm a compulsive overrater. It took m 36 years to come to terms with that and start working on it. At 43, I'm ready for some help and I hope that's what the sleeve brings me. Along with the surgery I have a whole other support system from my surgeons program and I've been really happy so far with the program. I go in on Tuesday for my sleeve. I'm nervous. I wonder sometimes that this isn't crazy to cut out 80% of my stomach. But then I think about how unhappy I am. How's I have been stuggling for the last 15 years actively (though all my life on some level) with my weight. This is a long rant but I think as D-day approaches, I may getting more and more reflective. Good luck to you all and believ in your choice and who you tell. This is your life and only you have to live it.

Me too. I've only been on the liver reduction a week but at night I'm so so hungry. I counted the calories and I've been taking in less than 500 most days. No wonder I'm tired. I'm also sooo looking forward to some time off work. I feel so burned out and having trouble really concentrating the last week. I go in on Tuesday and can't wait.

Eek. Well good luck. Fingers crossed for both of us. 🤞🏻

Hi, do mind sharing why you're converting? I'm always curious since I had considered both.

Hard to believe isn't it? I have my PCP medical clearance appointment tomorrow. I was reflecting a bit about how I'm feeling about all this. Sometimes I think I'm crazy. I think about the fact that I'm voluntarily having surgery to permanently cut out/off most of my perfectly healthy stomach. It seems insane. The only thing that helps me move past that is to think of the alternative, which is not doing that. And just continuing to yo yo diet and be miserable. I wonder if anyone else has these thoughts?

Yeah, I did a liquid diet for a year and I remember that after about day 3 things got easier. I would say today I still felt hungry but not craving food as much mentally. I ordered some different protein powder to try too. My doctors office uses a lot of Bariatric Fusion, which is so so to me. Very sweet. I got some samples of Unjury and I liked it better. Just bought some Inspire brand and looking forward to trying that. Gotta have some variety I think to make things more interesting.

I love that doctor's videos on YouTube. He has a bunch of great ones, including the one you linked. I really found his explanation interesting.

Ok so far. Last night was hard but it was only day 2. I'm on 4 shakes a day plus sugar free jello or ice pops. Those help me at night when I'm hungry and has always been my snacking time. Keeping my eye on the prize helps when it gets hard. Weighed myself this morning and down 5.8 lbs in 2 days. I know it's water but it put me under 300 so I'll take it. The weekend will be interesting, work is a good distraction so I'll have to really try to keep myself busy.

Hey there. I'm on day 3 of LRD. My plan sounds similar to yours. We are allowed 2 oz. or protein and 1 cup of green veggies for dinner. With lunch shake we can have a "snack" of 1/2 cup of yogurt or applesauce, then another snack before the dinner. We can also have sugar free jello and ice pops. I'm someone who does well with consistency and few choices. So I actually opted to do all shakes. I'm doing 4 a day. It's hardest for me at night so I have some jello and last night had 2 sugar free ice pops. I also had the Unjury protein chicken soup for dinner instead of a shake. I agree, you need something that isn't cold and sweet sometimes. It tasted good but the water was too hot so I clumped up. Tonight I'll try the Bariatric Advantage brand chicken soup. Weighed myself this morning and down 5.8 lbs in two days on LRD. When it gets hard and I'm hungry, I just remind myself of what this is all for. I want to make sure I remove any barriers to a good outcome by doing my part. I can't believe how close it is to the day.

Hey May sleever crew, how is everyone doing with their liver reduction?

Well, just sharing a little update. I have my surgery on May 2. I went to the hospital for my pre-admission testing last week. Pretty simple stuff. Lots of questions, blood work, EKG and chest X-ray. Today I had my final appointment with the surgeon. He lead a group presentation for 8 of us on all the things to expect, diet, vitamins, surgery day, complications, etc. for about an hour. We did a bunch of paperwork and took a quiz to show we actually read it and didn't just sign it without looking. Then we each had our individual appointment with him for final review and questions. Tomorrow starts my liver reduction diet, basically 4 shakes a day (I should have started yesterday) so I went to the store and got all the stuff I need (basically mellow and sugar free ice pops). I have to say, it really started to feel real when he shook my hand and said he would see me in two weeks. Today is my birthday and I feel like it is right to make this the kickoff point. I had a piece of birthday cake today and it was sort of symbolic as a goodbye to old and hello to new. I see my PCP next Tuesday and then I'm all set. Oh, except for the bowel prep (I didn't have to do a stool sample). The bowel prep I start at noon the day before surgery and basically just on clear liquids. I'm working that day so a bit nervous about when that will kick in. Eek.

Well, I got my surgery date and I'm super excited. I went to my initial info session in January, my psych, nutrition, PT eval, exercise classes, support group, PCP, blood work, EGD and got my date within 1 week of finishing all that. I will have my surgery 5/2 and my pre-op appointment on 4/19, my birthday. It feels right to mark this with a birthday. It was a lot of appointments but time has really flown. Today I told my boss and put in for time off. Just talked to my step mom and she's going to come up to be with me. I have no local family and no friends I would really ask to do that so that's a relief for me to have her. I ordered some Bariatric Fusion protein drink samples to find a few flavors I like so I can have some variety. I'd love some thoughts or tips form veterans though. Favorite liquid foods you may have had for your recovery? What to bring and not bring to hospital? I've heard the following: bring GasX strips, ear plugs, headphones and iPod, small pillow to hold against your stomach, and chapstick. What else did you have or wish you had or brought and found it was useless? Thanks all!

Do THEY take the stool sample??? Or send you home to do it yourself? Oh, lord.