lizonaplane

I haven't had surgery yet, so I'm not sure how I'll feel after, but can you see how it goes and take an incomplete if you have to, and make up the work at the semester break? I am taking 2 weeks off and then I will be working from home for another 3 weeks to ensure I will be able to take naps as I need to. I think the amount of difficulty you have with recovery is very variable. I would think about not doing school this semester and just focusing on your recovery and developing good habits, but that's just me. School is not a race.

The facebook food ads are killing me! I don't watch TV so I never see those ads, but I never noticed how many ads for food there are on facebook!!

Miralax doesn't work like other laxatives, so it doesn't really have the problem of making your bowels dependent on it, from what I understand. The only real issue is that you do have to be drinking enough water/liquids, because it works with the water in your body. I would start by taking a capful everyday (17 grams) but if you start to have loose stools, cut back to either every other day or half the amount every day. That's how it's usually taken for cancer patients (pain meds cause constipation).

I didn't have that requirement either. I have documented my weight at least once a week for the last 10 years or so, but I didn't go to the doctor last year due to COVID either. I would ask the surgery center what you can do for that. Did you maybe got to weight watchers or anything?

If restoralax is the same thing as miralax (polyethylene glycol) then you do have to take it for a while to have it work. It's very safe; they give it to kids with cancer. You kind of have to play with the dose to get it right - sometimes after a few days you'll get diarrhea and then you have to maybe go to every other day. Also, exercise helps a LOT to get things moving.

That's exactly what I mean, no standardization! Drives me batty!

I'm on day two of my pre-op diet. I can eat "real food" except very low carb and low fat, lots of protein and veggies. I have diarrhea and nausea. I'm used to eating a lot of veggies, but I'm not used to eating a ton of protein in the form of plain meat. I'm not sure if this is why I'm so nauseous but it just tastes gross! I'm exhausted too, and yesterday I had a headache. I'm craving cheese soooo baaddd

They want you to "shrink your liver". It's not meant to lose weight, although that usually/often happens. During surgery, especially laparoscopic surgery, they have to move the liver out of the way to get to the stomach. Most people having surgery have fatty/enlarged livers but eating low carb/low fat/no alcohol helps to shrink and heal the stomach. If they can't move your liver easily, they could have to do open surgery, or might actually cancel your surgery if they don't feel it's safe.

I haven't had cancer or WSL, but congrats on completing your treatment!

No, that sounds interesting! I travel a lot for work, though, so it probably wouldn't work for me.

Are you saying you take a prenatal vitamin instead of a bariatric vitamin? Or in addition to because you are pregnant/trying to get pregnant?

GooseyGirl is having surgery at the same hospital as me - MGH, I saw this in a different thread. Oddly, we have different pre-op diets!

I saw from the other post that you are also at MGH - my pre-op diet is not all liquids. That's so funny! I'm excited and terrified too

Yep! Dr. Hutton.

Are you taking your vitamins every day? There's nothing you can do about the normal amount of hair loss from surgery and weight loss, but not taking the prescribed vitamins can make it worse. Hope it gets better!

Hrm... I just looked and I do have the status update option. Maybe it has to do with what type of device or browser you are using? I'm using a PC and chrome.

Are you trying to update your "progress" i.e. your weight and stuff? That would be to go to the top of the screen where your user name is, then the arrow next to it, then click on "my surgery" then "progress". (progress is to the left on the "my surgery" screen)/

That's terrible. I used to work at MD Anderson occasionally in research but I haven't been since before the pandemic

I'm outside of Boston. Our numbers have increased a lot, but they're still lower than a lot of the country because we have higher vaccination rates.

Water's fine, come on in!

That sounds unpleasant! I hope it gets better soon. Could you try bone broth with added protein powder? I haven't had surgery yet so I don't really have suggestions, but if the sweet protein drinks aren't appealing, maybe the savory bone broth would be palatable. Good luck!

I hope you are able to get the surgery! I am scheduled for 13Sep. I am hoping COVID doesn't cancel mine.

I would seek counseling, especially if your way to cope with feelings of sadness or depression is to eat. Getting your head in the right place is essential to success in this process. Maybe you need an antidepressant; maybe you will be fine with ongoing counseling - who knows? Just see a therapist to find out what is actually necessary to get ready for the surgery. It messes with your head, from what I've been told and seen here. Partly because when your fat cells shrink, it releases estrogen, and that makes people really emotional.

I just started this morning. Enjoying my first shake. I get to have real food too, but low fat, super low carb, lots of veggies, and high protein. I had so many food funerals this weekend I am actually relieved!

I am taking 2 weeks off from work, but 4 weeks off from traveling for work (very frequent in my job). If I had taken more time, I would have needed to take short term disability and my pay would have been reduced for that time. I have talked to a lot of people that only needed one or two weeks. I know since I'll be working from home for an additional two weeks at least that I can take a short nap if I get tired. If I have to take more time due to a complication, I will just talk to HR and deal with that. My shrink the liver diet is just low carb, low fat, high protein, and lots of non-starchy veggies. No carbonation, no caffeine, and no alcohol. I think I am supposed to have a shake or yogurt in the morning for breakfast. I start that on the 30th of August.