Rivka7NV

For about 5-7 days, you will be on a clear liquid diet. Weak tea, broth, gelatin, sugar-free popsicles and zero-calorie, non-carbonated drinks. Make sure it is at least 45 ounces. The second week after surgery, you will go to full liquids for about a week such as watered down cream soups (cream of chicken, cream of mushroom, cream of broccoli, etc.). This also includes yogurt, watered down mashed potatoes and watered down cooked cereals. I say watered down but you can use low-fat or plant milk. All foods must be at room temperature. You can have sugar free popsicles too. Of course, you must remember your protein shakes. The three most important things are protein, water, and supplements. The third week after surgery you are on protein shakes and pureed (like applesauce) meat and veggies but no more than 3 tablespoons at a time. At this stage, you might want to get a baby plate and spoon just to make you visually more comfortable with how little you are eating. Again all foods must be at room temperature. There are medical transportation companies around that will pick you up, get any post-op meds you need and get you settled in your own bed. Check to see in your area. Mine is going to do all that for me for $75.00 which to me is well worth it. I would also either hire a dog walker or board your dog with a reputable person for a few days. Even the little ones tug at the leash which will not feel good on your suture sights. By the way, don't forget to buy your vitamins (liquid or chewable but not gummy bear types) that you will need. Do you have a pillow to hold against your abdomen for coughing and sneezing? Also, you need to walk and cough then walk and cough some more to avoid clots and adhesions. My doctor has written a couple of books that you might find informative or look up some of the books mentioned in FAQ.

Just checking in to see how you are doing?

Wow, I have one month of pre-op diet to do. Here is mine. Week 4 before operation: Breakfast: Protein shake Snack: No bread. ONE SERVING of raw fruit, raw almonds or nuts or string cheese, yogurt or cottage cheese (all low fat). Lunch: A meal of meat and vegetables (no root veggies) that is less than 300 calories. Snack: Same as above Supper: Same type of meal as Lunch Snack: 1/2 protein shake 64 oz of water or zero-calorie, non-carbonated beverages. Week 3 before operation: Same as week for only one of the meals is replaced with a protein shake. Weeks 1 and 2: 8 oz protein shakes for meals 4 oz protein shakes for snacks. Some doctors want you to be on a clear liquid diet the day before surgery. Didn't you have to go to a nutritionist before you were cleared for surgery? I had to get to have 4 months of medically approved and documented dieting submitted to my surgeon, approval from my insurance company, a psych evaluation, met with a support group at least once, meet with a bariatric nutritionist, general blood work, Resting Metabolic Rate test and a test for h. pylori. I also was highly encouraged to read at least two books on WSL. Guess that is the difference between doctors.

I was told anything lose and comfortable. Anything that would pressure on your tummy, like zip up pants or jeans, is not a good idea. Maybe a comfortable summer dress or pants outfit with elastic at the waist. Since you will be potentially in public, I would wear something that would be appropriate for public wear just in case you have to stop by the pharmacy or grocery store.

I am not a medical professional but when I went through the journey of menopause, I did a lot of reading and found out that, unfortunately, it is not a straightforward process. I worked with a lady in the past that had not had her cycle in 18 months but became pregnant because her cycle had started again and she was sexually active. Perhaps your period started again because your body is finally getting the oxygen it needs for proper functioning. Or this could just be how your body is going through the menopausal journey.

So I came up with an outrageous reading on my H.pylori so my surgery is delayed by 6 weeks (actually, it will be 3 weeks by next Thursday). I had to go through a round of antibiotics and then wait a month to retest. If I retest for a normal level then I will be scheduled out one month for surgery. Right now I am practicing getting my water in, chewing my food to pudding consistency, buying all my pre-op and post-op needs (coughing pillow, shower chair, etc.), getting caregivers together for me and my dog. Additionally, I am also getting rid of furniture to make way for exercise equipment and just plain old exercise. I am journaling, meditating, listening to audio CDs and tracking my food. I look forward to my sleeve surgery but I keep wonder if there is more that I can do. Anyone of you out there going through this too or have you gone through it in the past?

Well, put a tampon in before you leave home. Let them know you are on your period and they can figure it out from there.

iMetabolic

Yep! I certainly have. I actually started this journey in 2012 but I kept telling myself if I exercise enough and eat right, I will do it without the surgery. I even went to a seminar with my girlfriend and listened to the people around me tell me horror stories about the band or the surgeries. Then one day someone pointed out to me that I have been unhappy with my body for 20 years and been trying to lose weight for 10 years. That was my 'come to Jesus' moment. I had to admit that I was unhappy and unsuccessful and that I needed more tools than Weight Watchers, Atkins, South Beach, and the Big Loser could give me. By that time, I had a BMI of 37.5 and I gave up on all my efforts. That month I gained 13+ pounds. Now I am jumping through hoops and practicing all the habits I will need to embrace my new life after surgery. Those include chewing my food to the point of pudding, drinking 64 ounces of water a day, journaling, tracking my food and reading a daily inspiration book from NAWLS (National Association of Weight Loss Surgery). I am approaching this with joy. Major tools for getting me to this point were reading and meditation. My doctor has written three books and produced about 12 CDs. I have also gone to iTunes and downloaded an hour long meditation to use as I fall asleep. I keep reminding myself that WLS is a very effective tool that I can use on my journey to a healthier weight. I would encourage you to read books, research and look into your heart. Good luck. I am rooting for you.

Heck, I never have been a big fan of water but I drink it. However, last winter we had a lot of rain and snow with massive flooding so now they are using megadoses of chlorine in the water. I fill up pitchers and jars of water and let them sit on the countertop to dispell the chlorine but it still tastes bad. I have ordered a water filter and bought several zero calorie water enhancers so I am hoping this will help with the goal of 64 oz per day. Yesterday was so hot I actually ended up drinking about 80 ozs. My WLS guy says 64 oz. of zero calories, non-carbonated, decaffeinated drinks per day. Of course, most are pretty transparent so they can even be taken right after surgery. Try the water enhancers and see if that helps. You may be finding the water repulsive because you are smelling the chlorine.

This is just another hoop to jump through for the insurance company. My surgeon's office supplied me with a form so ask and see if they have one. Go to your primary care doc and tell them you need to be on a medically supervised diet for before you qualify to have the surgery. See them monthly and take a copy of the form. During that time do try to get into the habit of something that you will have to do after your surgery such as walking 30 minutes a day, drinking 64 ounces of water, chewing your food to liquid or even putting down your eating utensils between bites.

Absolutely, you can get it repaired at the same time. I came up with one during my upper GI so I asked the nurse and they said they could repair it at the same time. Hey, it is in the same area so why not. It's not like you are asking them to do an arthroscopy on your ankle.

Let's face it. We have been living to eat not eat to live. We are addicted to food in some way or to some degree or another. Anytime someone goes into addiction recovery (alcohol, drugs, gambling) they recommend to the person in recovery that they abstain from relationships for the first year. Addiction is addiction is addiction. Getting normalized in your daily life and stabilizing your weight is far more important than being in a relationship. I am not being judgemental here and I am sorry if that is the interpretation but that was not my intent. We are fighting for our lives. If I were a recoverying alcoholic and Thanksgiving and Christmas were nothing but drunken brawls interspersed with football games and gifts then I would go on a cruise! My quality of life is my utmost priority in my psycho-social behavior. My quality of life includes losing weight. It is absolutely my highest priority.

I started on this trek in 2012. Without any co-morbidity conditions, you have to have a BMI of 40. If you have heart disease or diabetes or any other co-morbidity disorder or disease then you will become a candidate earlier - at 35. If you only need to lose 40-60 pounds then perhaps you could talk them into a lap band or balloon. Also, you will probably be required to go through a 4- 6 months medically supervised diet before qualifying. So for the next four to six months, have an appointment monthly with your physician where you talk about nothing but the weight you are and weight loss. Ask him/her to document this in your medical records. At the end of 6 months, sign a release of medical records at the surgeon's office and they will see in your medical records that you have spent 4-6 months trying to lose weight and you have not succeeded.

Mine was just a get to know you session just to get an idea of your psycho-social background and your thoughts and attitudes today and about your weight loss. They will probably ask you questions about your expectations. No biggie. Just relax and act like you are getting to know someone.

I was not speaking about personality disorders. Our personality changes with changes in our mental attitude. That is influenced in part by our physical being. If we have limited mobility because we are obese, we end up having different life experiences than the person who is physically active. There is no claim of character or personality disorders in my statement. Mentally we change as our world changes. Our world does change as we lose weight and become more active. I am not sure where the assumption of personality disorders comes in.

Tell the trusted ones and educate them that this is not the easy way out. Let them know you are on a pre-op diet and offer to give them information on what you are going through via a couple of websites. Those that make nasty comments should definitely be off your social calendar. Next time there is a group foray to a restaurant, make sure the list of people includes only your most supportive friends and family.

If you are still losing weight, then you are still changing and with your body changes come mind changes. You are not going to be the person 20, 30, 40, or even 50 pounds into the future that you are now. Therein lies the rub. The person you will be dating will be falling in love with you, or at least, attracted to you initially as you are now. If you are looking for that permanent committed love, then you are doing both of you a disservice. With weight loss comes changes in clothing styles and activities. You will probably be less sedentary but what will happen if you are dating a couch potato? You will definitely be growing apart. Also you are asking someone who does not know you at all to put up with weird eating habits. Maybe this person knows about the WLS journey and that it is not an easy way out or not. We all judge based on our knowledge and some people like learning new things and some don't. They may think passing food under your nose is funny while you find it nauseating. Save yourself some heartache and wait until you have hit goal so you can present to them the person you want to be no the one you are now. True, your eating habits will have changed little but at least you will have reached the meadow.

Just let the doc know that you have an IUD.

A chat room would be nice.

Sugar-free is always the best. Do keep in mind that xylitol and sorbitol do cause gas. Often headaches are caused by dehydration. Are you getting your 64 ounces of zero calorie beverages in each day? Try for that before going to the gum.

I have not yet had the surgery. I will be hovering around here in this support group but I have nothing to offer for the time being unless you want an excellent source of buffalo meat.

Not that I am a medical professional, but many times your blood pressure and pulse will spike because of anxiety or shock. This is temporary probably but you can help things along by doing some deep breathing and meditation.

Tell the doc and the nurse at the surgery center. They will provide you with protection during surgery. The catheter goes in a different place and they have been trained to do it in a manner which will avoid your period flow.