moondoggie1983

Thank you!!! I didn’t lose any weight for 2 days, now I’m down another pound. I figure as long as I stay on the diet, I’ll be ok weight loss or not. Ive heard some people actually gain weight on the pre-op because of all the water. But I’m feeling so much healthier already since I’ve lost 54 pounds since last August. Easier to move and a1c way down. Your 10 pounds is incredible! Awesome job! HW: 311 CW: 257 SW: We’ll see on May 10! First goal weight: 191 lbs Second goal weight: 159 lbs Goal weight: 142 lbs 5’6” 34 yo female in NC

This is all great advice! Thank you! I never would have thought about the pillowcase!!! HW: 311 CW: 257 SW: We’ll see on May 10! First goal weight: 191 lbs Second goal weight: 159 lbs Goal weight: 142 lbs 5’6” 34 yo female in NC

I can’t tell you for sure, but my surgeon said he recommended the sleeve for me. I was on glipizide, metformin 1000 and Victoza. Prior to my pre-auth for surgery I lost 50 lbs and dropped my BG levels from 8.1 to 6.2. I quit the Victoza and the glipizide after the first day of the pre-op because I was bottoming out. I wasn’t keen on the RNY, so I’m glad he said the sleeve was good for me. HW: 311 CW: 257 SW: We’ll see on May 10! First goal weight: 191 lbs Second goal weight: 159 lbs Goal weight: 142 lbs 5’6” 34 yo female in NC

I really like the Unjury unflavored. I can add it to basically anything and I get massive protein. Sprinkle it on applesauce or mashed potatoes or whatever. Right now I’m on the pre-op so I put a scoop in my soup and it’s 21g protein from the powder alone. HW: 311 CW: 257 SW: We’ll see on May 10! First goal weight: 191 lbs Second goal weight: 159 lbs Goal weight: 142 lbs 5’6” 34 yo female in NC

A couple hundred I would estimate. I don’t have it here at work, but most sections are at least 30 pages HW: 311 CW: 257 SW: We’ll see on May 10! First goal weight: 191 lbs Second goal weight: 159 lbs Goal weight: 142 lbs 5’6” 34 yo female in NC

Once I get home from work, I’ll get it and pass it along to you. HW: 311 CW: 257 SW: We’ll see on May 10! First goal weight: 191 lbs Second goal weight: 159 lbs Goal weight: 142 lbs 5’6” 34 yo female in NC

Shoot! I missed this post! [emoji23] Do you have any other pre recs? HW: 311 CW: 258 SW: We’ll see on May 10! First goal weight: 191 lbs Second goal weight: 159 lbs Goal weight: 142 lbs 5’6” 34 yo female in NC

Thank you!!!! If you ever want a section sent to you, message me. I’ll try to get it scanned. It’s got advice on everything from pre-surgery diet to using baby silverware and place ware and sample diets with goals and stuff. It’s nuts! But as a person diagnosed with serious anxiety, this book and all the info is what I needed to feel secure. Do you have your date yet? HW: 311 CW: 258 SW: We’ll see on May 10! First goal weight: 191 lbs Second goal weight: 159 lbs Goal weight: 142 lbs 5’6” 34 yo female in NC

Don’t feel duped! My place is just crazy! But it’s cool. We have monthly support groups for pre and post op and even shopping trip meetings at Whole Foods and stuff. I have terrible anxiety so i love how thorough they are. I did so much research on doctors and programs and everything. I thought for sure I’d have to go to a big city somewhere to have this done. And lo and behold I lucked out with a surgery center of excellence that people from all over go to! Right in my backyard! I lived in Gainesville previously and we of course had Shands there, but I never really vibed with any of the docs there. Took a long time, and a HUGE amount of luck, that I’m going where I’m going. Anyway, if you’re comfortable with your team, all the binders in the world won’t matter. When you find the right team and have the right support, everything will work out great. We’re all going to be on the losers bench soon! HW: 311 CW: 258 SW: We’ll see on May 10! First goal weight: 191 lbs Second goal weight: 159 lbs Goal weight: 142 lbs 5’6” 34 yo female in NC

I should scan it and post it somewhere!!! HW: 311 CW: 258 SW: We’ll see on May 10! First goal weight: 191 lbs Second goal weight: 159 lbs Goal weight: 142 lbs 5’6” 34 yo female in NC

Ok. End of day 7 of the pre-op diet. Had my EGD today and apparently everything is just beautiful according to my surgeon! Very happy about this since I’ve seen a lot of posts about hernias and polyps and such. Turns out that I’m a fun person after anesthesia. After all the worry, it was great. Went in, got the IV in my arm and a warm blanket. Got wheeled into the room and talked to anesthesiologist and surgeon. A nurse told me, “the propofol works really quickly.” I remember I doubted her for a second and then..... NOTHING. But according to my mom and the nurses I was a fun time when I woke up. I guess the first thing i said was “WGAT THE HELL HAPPENED???” And then I proceeded to laugh like a loon. [emoji23] Lets hope I feel that well when I wake up after surgery! Other than that, I did get permission from my surgeon to drop 1 or 2 Optifast items a day in favor of one to two servings of fat free soup with a scoop of Unjury powder in it. Thank god! I could only get the chocolate shake and peanut butter bars down, and I wasn’t able to get 5 in without getting nauseous. I was told it could be because of the large amount of artificial sweeteners in everything. So I had a cup of soup with everything solid stained out and a scoop of Unjury and bam! 29 grams of protein. I’ve also started adding the powder to my crystal light. 2 teaspoons gets me 8g of protein. It’s funny that I feel less worried about the whole surgery now that I’ve done a mini anesthesia. I know it won’t be a walk in the park, but I just feel more secure. Surgery on Thursday 5/10/28 at noon. Now it’s the waiting.... [emoji23] HW: 311 CW: 258 SW: We’ll see on May 10! First goal weight: 191 lbs Second goal weight: 159 lbs Goal weight: 142 lbs 5’6” 34 yo female in NC

I’ve got a case of the Optifast ready to drink shakes, baby cups, plates, bowls and silverware, unflavored Unjury powder, hail nail and skin vitamins. I already have fun measuring spoons and cups and an immersion blender. My doc gave me vitamin samples to try after surgery since things will taste different and they don’t want me to buy things I won’t like later. Cases of bottled water, boxes of crystal light and broth out the wazoo. [emoji23] I’m skipping the scale for now. After a year of nutritional visits (and a lifetime of dieting) I know what 3oz looks like. I’ve also already had my pcp and psychiatric doc call in all my non weight related meds that I’ll keep taking in either the ODT or liquid form. My doc also provides a huge binder with everything you could possibly want to know about anything and since I’ve been going through it compulsively for 18 months, I feel like I’m covered. I’m not sure if there’s anything else I need. Well, I can’t think of anything anyway. I’ve also got the great Weight Loss Surgery for Dummies book and I’ve been tracking everything on the Baritastic app. If I’m missing anything you guys think is crucial, please let me know, cause surgery is Thursday. HW: 311 CW: 258 SW: We’ll see on May 10! First goal weight: 191 lbs Second goal weight: 159 lbs Goal weight: 142 lbs 5’6” 34 yo female in NC

Thank you! It went great! All I know is I got hooked up to an IV, got a warm blanket and got wheeled into the EGD room where they inserted a bite block to keep my mouth open. The last thing I remember is them telling me that “the propofol works really fast” and then I woke up in recovery. Apparently I woke up, said “WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED???” and then laughed like a loon! [emoji23] The nurses had a good laugh at that I hear. Anyway, I apparently have a beautiful stomach according to my surgeon. No polyps, inflammation, hernias etc. HW: 311 CW: 258 SW: We’ll see on May 10! First goal weight: 191 lbs Second goal weight: 159 lbs Goal weight: 142 lbs 5’6” 34 yo female in NC

I feel that! I went in for my EGD with my surgeon this morning and had a little talk with him. He has everyone do the 14 day Optifast diet. Which isn’t all liquids. It’s 800 calories and 90 grams protein. I have no problem getting the chocolate shakes down, but the soups are terrible and it’s challenging for me to eat only one type of bar. I literally hate everything on the diet other than the chocolate shake and the peanut butter bar. Sooo... he gave me instructions to buy unflavored Unjury powered (they sell it at his office upstairs of where the EGD was done) and to mix a scoop in with a can of low fat soup. I’m still pushing 92 oz of water a day, but I just could not do the bar and shake thing 5 times a day, so I wasn’t getting my protein. Well, I had my doubts about what unflavored might actually mean, but it’s completely true. And it has way more protein in one scoop than an Optifast item! One scoop has 21 protein vs 16 for the Optifast! I just strain out the noodles or veg or rice and bam! Massive protein. This is a game changer for me. I’m glad I was honest with him! He gave me other options that would still work for me. Maybe it’s because the EGD came back beautiful with absolutely no issues, but I’m so happy I could marry that man! He’s also quite handsome so.... [emoji23] Of course 48 hours before surgery I have to do only the Optifast shakes, but I can handle that. So I guess the morale of this story is that a good surgeon will be able to work with you and that there are many different pre-surgery diets to work with. Best of luck to everyone! HW: 311 CW: 258 SW: We’ll see on May 10! First goal weight: 191 lbs Second goal weight: 159 lbs Goal weight: 142 lbs 5’6” 34 yo female in NC

Hi! I’m 5/10 as well! Day 7 of the Optifast diet today. Down 8 pounds so far. Didn’t lose any between yesterday and today, but I’m drinking at least 92 oz of water a day so I expected this to happen. Just had my EGD this morning and everything is beautiful. No hernias or polyps or anything. Ready for the next 6 days to be gone and start joining the losers bench lol HW: 311 CW: 258 SW: We’ll see on May 10! First goal weight: 191 lbs Second goal weight: 159 lbs Goal weight: 142 lbs 5’6” 34 yo female in NC

I figured the painkillers would be needed. I’m not a wuss, but you’re making 5 incisions and taking out an organ after all! They do give you pain meds, but you have to ASK for them and then remember to keep asking. I’m honestly dreading the nausea more than the pain. Now that they give you four different meds for, so hopefully it won’t be a huge problem. Thank you thank you thank you for helping me out! I hope you continue to feel better and better. Keep me posted on how you’re doing. HW: 311 CW: 258 SW: We’ll see on May 10! First goal weight: 191 lbs Second goal weight: 159 lbs Goal weight: 142 lbs 5’6” 34 yo female in NC

I’m having mine tomorrow so I’m super happy to this post and the responses since I’ve never had anesthesia before either. HW: 311 CW: 258 SW: We’ll see on May 10! First goal weight: 191 lbs Second goal weight: 159 lbs Goal weight: 142 lbs 5’6” 34 yo female in NC

Hi! We’re twins! Good to see another 5/10 exists! Lol HW: 311 CW: 258 SW: We’ll see on May 10! First goal weight: 191 lbs Second goal weight: 159 lbs Goal weight: 142 lbs 5’6” 34 yo female in NC

I never thought of the freezing thing! That’s genius! HW: 311 CW: 258 SW: We’ll see on May 10! First goal weight: 191 lbs Second goal weight: 159 lbs Goal weight: 142 lbs 5’6” 34 yo female in NC

I am apparently very poor at math! For some reason I thought you had a shorter pre-op diet than me. [emoji23] I blame it on protein shake brain fog! HW: 311 CW: 258 SW: We’ll see on May 10! First goal weight: 191 lbs Second goal weight: 159 lbs Goal weight: 142 lbs 5’6” 34 yo female in NC

Who doesn’t? She’s freaking great! [emoji23] HW: 311 CW: 258 SW: We’ll see on May 10! First goal weight: 191 lbs Second goal weight: 159 lbs Goal weight: 142 lbs 5’6” 34 yo female in NC

End of day 6. No more headaches, but pretty physically weak, not totally mentally there (like in a fog) and tired. I was cleaning the bathroom today and actually had to sit down a couple times because I was worn out. I was head hungry today (again) but caught it and had a bottle of water. Boom! Not hungry. I have shortened my work days because there’s no way I’ll be working 13 hour days running around all day (I run an escape room) and I don’t want to mess anything up since it’s a super heavy pay constant attention to EVERYTHING job. But for all that, I do feel good. I don’t want to grab anyone’s lunch anymore [emoji23] Plus I’m down 7 pounds so far. I’ve got the endoscopy tomorrow and have NO IDEA what that’s going to be like, so I’m definitely taking my anxiety and sleep meds tonight and zonking out soon. I have to be there at 7 am for an 8 am appointment which means I’ve got to leave at 6:15. All in all, it’s MUCH better than day 1 or 2. Hang in there! We can do this! HW: 311 CW: 258 SW: We’ll see on May 10! First goal weight: 191 lbs Second goal weight: 159 lbs Goal weight: 142 lbs 5’6” 34 yo female in NC

It does. I knew what they required, but by god I was going to make sure. So I sent that email and 24 hours later I had a response and 30 odd pages regarding every aspect of the surgery. When I got approved a week ago, BCBS actually sent me a nice letter in the mail telling me congratulations on making the difficult decision to become healthier, all the benefits WLS provides and a good luck to a healthier new me. HW: 311 CW: 258 SW: We’ll see on May 10! First goal weight: 191 lbs Second goal weight: 159 lbs Goal weight: 142 lbs 5’6” 34 yo female in NC

I’m glad to hear this since I’m going in for VSG on 5/10! One question though: was it gas pain or the pain from the co2 they pump in during the surgery? Also, my doctor only starts you out on Tylenol because they said most people don’t need pain meds. I think that sounds like bs. Thoughts on that? HW: 311 CW: 258 SW: We’ll see on May 10! First goal weight: 191 lbs Second goal weight: 159 lbs Goal weight: 142 lbs 5’6” 34 yo female in NC

My surgery team says try not to drink. Apparently you get super drunk on like one glass of wine. I’m still pre-op, so I’m sure there’s someone who can give you an experienced answer, but I think I’ll be avoiding alcohol for a good amount of time. That’s just me though. HW: 311 CW: 258 SW: We’ll see on May 10! First goal weight: 191 lbs Second goal weight: 159 lbs Goal weight: 142 lbs 5’6” 34 yo female in NC