Floridaboy

No - I wasn't instructed to and I'm not sure about the liver shrinking thing - it was never brought up to me - I mostly did it to get some momentum and a head start I guess - I did gain some weight back after the surgery but have since lost that back and on the way down. A lot of what you are instructed to do is helpful but you have to come up with something that you know you can follow - I read these boards a lot and a lot of people seemed to have this 2 week Protein shake pre-surgery, I thought I could do that so I did - its obviously not a way of life and it is difficult. I'm in a pretty good groove now - but I have to eat three meals a day no matter if I want to or not - my daughter who's a fitness freak, eats 5 times a day and that really never made any sense to me whatsoever - but it is working so who am I to argue - I bring Healthy Choice soup to work and eat it for lunch - the idea of a bowl of soup being lunch is so ridiculously foreign to me but for some reason, I'm doing ok with it - my labradoodles (who come to work) get part of the bowl though - right now as I type this, I am a few hours post oatmeal and the soup isn't calling out to me from the fridge yet - but I'm sure it will by the time its noon.

xx

I spent about two weeks, pre op, having just protein shakes - protein whey and skim or almond milk. I in the morning and I when I got home. I read about Rex Ryan, the coach of the Jets, and how he cheated a few times pre-op to treat himself and I thought I would too, but I never did - I had a few grapes here and there but that was it. My brother is visiting from Toronto and I cooked him and my girlfriend a big lobster dinner from Florida's mini season and being honest, I really wasn't tempted at all although it was kind of weird not joining them at the dinner table. You have to remember, I just got banded about 24 hours ago and the information that I was given for the first week, says no milk - so I mixed the protein powder in some cherry jello (really not bad, I don't remember eating jello since I was a kid) - I am going to try and be brave and try the protein powder with just water later today. So I'm really not a very good source for post op. Honestly - I don't really feel much like drinking anything except water right now - still a little dehydrated from the anth. I have broth and jello lined up on the kitchen counter but whether or not they will get used is a very good question. I'd just as soon be back on the protein shakes but that's the next two weeks after this.

I own a mortgage company so I sit at a desk and use the computer and answer the phone - no real standing for me but honestly, professor, other than a vague feeling of, well best way I can say it is "different" - I am having no problems at all - I could stay here all day if "she who must be obeyed" wasn't demanding I get home to the requisite fussing and pampering - for me at least, it is really not bad at all. I feel very fortunate.

Went in yesterday (Dr. Jeff Vaughn in Jupiter FL) I can't get over the professionalism of the team from intake nurse to discharge nurse - was home around 1:00 PM - slept the afternoon - ate a little Jello last night. Woke up this morning and fighting off all the folks to tell me stay home - went to work - I feel beat up, but plenty fine to sit at a desk and use the computer. If I had a physical job it might be different. I'm only going to stay a few hours but for those of you who fear post op pain etc., if you get lucky like me - (and my sympathies for the folks that have suffered) it's not bad at all. Down 21 pre-op, eager to be on my journey. Ignore the ticker

man that was quick

I'm really having some second thoughts. I went to see the nutrionist last week and since that day I've lost 11.5 pounds. I am a little tired but otherwise I am having no problems with it. I know I know - can I keep doing this - I don't know. The problem is - I am a self pay guy and I have the money - but putting out that much is going to take away some critical reserves and with the economy being the way it is - do I not owe it to myself to try one more time. I'll tell you the best thing I've done is buy the computer program to log weight, calories etc. (sorry can't remember the name of it, it's on my home laptop (Planfit or something like that - the logo is an apple core). The thought of having to log something bad really keeps me honest. I've got into doing miles again, at least once a day sometimes twice. Almost $18K is a lot of money - I've never been able to be consistent in the past so what makes me think I have a chance this time. Maybe the fear of writing that check or maybe the disappointment in having to enter a bad day's food intake on the log is enough to do it. Don't know - but I am having serious second thoughts. By the way - I have a date the 27th.

My date is the 27th. No pre-op diet with this doctor. Apprehensive about eating slowly and not "chugging" water.

I am still gathering info (chest xray and EKG to go oh and the shrink - that' should be fun) self pay in Jupiter Medical Center Jupiter FL $17.900 complete including 1 year of post op care and fills - he does finance though 30% down and if you pay in a year no interest - 2 years - prime rate - Dr. Jeff Vaughn is the surgeon - supposed to be great

thanks MM - no I'm a BB guy - looking for something that I can put on my laptop and record my progress and my thoughts as I go through this.