Need Some Encourgement

[AshleyMidwife 189]

Hello all! Tomorrow morning starts my 1 week pre op liquid diet. I am certainly looking forward to the long term effects of this surgery. But tonight I feel like I'm teetering on the edge of my normal life and the great unknown. I am feeling anxious, scared, nervous, hungry...... I need some encouragement guys. Anyone else where I am? For those of you past this phase was there anything that made you calmer? Reassured that this is the right decision? While I believe that this is the right decision for me, there are so many frightening factors : surgical complications, fear of failure, what my body will look like,......

Words of encouragement would be greatly appreciated!

[psis 13]

My surgery was November 7. I started the preop liquids on Halloween. Starting them made it more real for me so I know where you are coming from. Even though I knew in my brain that this was what I needed to do....I was still having all these thoughts about how did it come to this...having surgery to help me control my out of control self. I found a good therapist that I was able to work through alot of my feelings with but I still had a few "WTF am I doing" moments.

The hunger will pass after 2-3 days of the liquids. Get off the coffee as much as you can. I was a hard core coffee girl (espresso every morning) and now I have not had any since the pre op diet. I also think the diet (other than shrinking a potentially fatty liver) is sorta a test to see if you can do what you are instructed to do...can you control yourself for one short week?? That's the first step to taking control of your whole life. And believe me when I tell you this is a LIFE changing event. Your sleeve will never let you overeat again....period. I am only a little over 3w out and I can tell you that it is the biggest change I have ever made in my life. There have been periods of anger, frustration and yes regret. But I know in the long run, I am adding years to my life and hopefully preventing a lot of obesity related medical issues in the future.

I wish you much luck this week and remember this is the first step to something great that you are doing for yourself.

(by the way, are you a CNM....I am)

[sophiepants 489]

Woman your gonna do great!! There is always the fear of what if....your going to do amazing! In a few months you will barley remember your pre op because you will be so full of life and looking for the next adventure.

Looking forward to hearing how it goes.

Hang in there your life is about to change for the better for ever!

[ProudGrammy 8,322]

Hello all! Tomorrow morning starts my 1 week pre op liquid diet

Ashley

"they" say the pre op liquid diet can be extremely hard, taxing

my doc didn't require it, so i was "lucky"???

you "probably" know the reason doc wants you to lose weight pre WLS, it helps shrink the liver, making the procedure easier

losing a few lbs now means you don't have to lose them after the fact

anxious, scared, nervous????

all very common emotions many/most/all pre sleevers et al experience

long term effects are wonderful - no more diabetes, high blood pressure, cpap all gone!!!!

how great is that!!!!

anything that made me calmer pre op???

NO!!!! LOL

calmer - just the excitement that i know i'm beginning my new healthier, happier, longer life

99.9999% I believe that #is close, have minor/no complication - hopefully, like myself, you will have no problems

it is good your head is not in the sand, and you are aware that things can go wrong

don't second guess your wise decision on having the WLS - you sound very happy about having the procedure

Failure???? not an option!!!

follow alllll the rules

no drinking with meals

drink at least 64 oz of Water

don't drink for about an hour after you eat

eat and chew slowly and thorougly!!!!

eat dense Protein first

veggies

always measure your food

good idea to keep track of each bite you put in your mouth by using MyFitnessPal or something else that you can count calories/protein/carbs et al

sticking to the above plus more

you will lose the weight!!!!!

i have complete confidence in you

i can see you are a smart "cookie"

take care

good luck

speedy recovery

kathy

[AshleyMidwife 189]

Psis: yup! I practice at St. Joseph Medical Center in tacoma, wa.

Thanks ladies for the encouragement. Guess I'll just have to jump in!

[sophiepants 489]

Psis: yup! I practice at St. Joseph Medical Center in tacoma, wa.

Thanks ladies for the encouragement. Guess I'll just have to jump in!

Are you having your surgery there also?

[AshleyMidwife 189]

Are you having your surgery there also?

At St. Francis hospital in federal way.

[psis 13]

Best of luck to you!!!

Psis: yup! I practice at St. Joseph Medical Center in tacoma, wa.

Thanks ladies for the encouragement. Guess I'll just have to jump in!

[Idlewood4 93]

My doctor required 2 weeks preop, so I'm on day 7 for my surgery on 12/9. The first few days were hard, I think day 3 was the worst. Keep your eye on the prize, and remember the liquids are only temporary. You can do it, it's the start of a great new healthier life. My surgery can't come soon enough. You can do this. I've found these boards are awesome, you realize that there are so many people going through this. Am a nervous? sure, but also have so many obesity related health conditions, that it is worth doing. You can do it.

[mg10977 1]

Hello all! Tomorrow morning starts my 1 week pre op liquid diet. I am certainly looking forward to the long term effects of this surgery. But tonight I feel like I'm teetering on the edge of my normal life and the great unknown. I am feeling anxious, scared, nervous, hungry...... I need some encouragement guys. Anyone else where I am? For those of you past this phase was there anything that made you calmer? Reassured that this is the right decision? While I believe that this is the right decision for me, there are so many frightening factors : surgical complications, fear of failure, what my body will look like,...... Words of encouragement would be greatly appreciated!

---you will do great...I know it's gonna seem hard, but if you can get through this you can get through anything!!!!!!!

[Boomersmomma 7]

Tomorrow starts a week of clears for me also !! I am very excited, makes it seem real finally. But I have to admit I'm also a little nervous now too.

But I know .... WE CAN DO THIS!! Here is to the start of healthier, happier lives!!

[AshleyMidwife 189]

Tomorrow starts a week of clears for me also !! I am very excited, makes it seem real finally. But I have to admit I'm also a little nervous now too. But I know .... WE CAN DO THIS!! Here is to the start of healthier, happier lives!!

We can do this! Keep me updated

[Nurse_B 270]

Just finished my week on the pre op diet, surgery in the morning. For me, being distracted was the best thing for me to forget about the hunger. I got huge puzzles that my sister and I did at night to keep my brain occupied. I also made her play board games, decorated for Christmas etc. it felt more real than it has so far being on the diet. All week I had a range of thoughts from, "am I sure I can do this?, is this right for me?". Bottom line, think about the reasons you chose to do this in the first place, it helped me get through this week. It was much more emotional than I thought it would be, and confirmed what a messed up relationship I have with food. We can do this, we get a second chance to prove to ourselves we are worth it! Good luck to you, I know you will do great!!!

[AshleyMidwife 189]

Just finished my week on the pre op diet, surgery in the morning. For me, being distracted was the best thing for me to forget about the hunger. I got huge puzzles that my sister and I did at night to keep my brain occupied. I also made her play board games, decorated for Christmas etc. it felt more real than it has so far being on the diet. All week I had a range of thoughts from, "am I sure I can do this?, is this right for me?". Bottom line, think about the reasons you chose to do this in the first place, it helped me get through this week. It was much more emotional than I thought it would be, and confirmed what a messed up relationship I have with food. We can do this, we get a second chance to prove to ourselves we are worth it! Good luck to you, I know you will do great!!!

Thank you and good luck with your surgery tomorrow! I'll keep you in my thoughts and when you're able, I'd love an update! Big day tomorrow!!!

[HotMessPrincess 39]

My surgery was Tuesday...so I'm just 5 days out. I can truly relate to everything you're saying because I just went through it. Let me tell you first that I'm an obsessive worrier kind of person, so surgery was all I thought or talked about and I wound myself up into a frenzy. LOL.

You're gonna do fine. Here's my input:

Keep your nose to the grindstone and your eye on the prize. For me, the hardest days on the pre-op diet were days 3, 5, and 7. It was easier to follow the liquid diet at work where I was distracted, but when I got home it was much harder. I avoided the kitchen like crazy. LOL. I made it through feeling fairly numb about it all and just wishing I could get to my surgery date...like "knock me out and get it over with!"

The clear liquid diet the day before surgery was hell on me because, well, there are hardly any calories to it...I was super hungry....and really stressed about having surgery. It's not a fun day. Be ready for that and have some good support.

I cried when they wheeled my bed away from my husband and took me to the OR...then I worried in the hospital about the barrium swallow test I was going to have to do. Like I said I'm a worrier! It was stressful, exciting, and nerve wracking...but the doctors and nurses were GREAT and it was a good experience for me. Everyone was so caring and kind.

You're normal to be worried and freaked out. Just focus on the prize and what you have to do. That's what got me through all that ridiculous worry I just described. :-)

At home, day 3/4 was the worst by far. In pain, drugged up on pain meds, and the 7 day liquid diet hits my intestines with gusto. Massive diarrhea. It was all very humbling.

You're going to be sore. The most important thing I can say is sip, sip, sip your hydrating fluids whenever you can.

Oh and take chapstick to the hospital...and a cushy pillow to hug against your tummy on the way home. Bumps on the road are hell.

Today's day 5 and I feel like my old self. I'm still hurting a little but I'm off pain meds and I got down 68 ounces of Water today. I'm sick as hell of Jello and popsicles, but that's ok...I get the Protein shakes back next week. I never thought I'd be happy to see them again, but...I am! LOL

You're going to do great!!!