Surgery around the holidays

[Christina T. 17]

I am having the Gastric Sleeve on Dec. 30th!!! Excited, but nervous too!!! Veteran sleevers - How did you cope with the pre-op jitters? Any advice?? Also, I Celebrate Christmas and my parents and extended family live in NY. I live in MA with my boyfriend of almost 8 years, John, who is very supportive of me and my decision. It's going to be a VERY busy week, though!!! We are going down to MY parents for Christmas on 12/23, then leaving on 12/26, and heading to HIS parent's house the next day,12/27, since their celebration is never on Christmas day, usually one or two days after. Then, I will have a half day of work on 12/28, spend the other half making last min. preparations of the house, and start packing!!! I leave for Boston on 12/29, and Mon., 12/30/2014 is the big day!!! Has anyone else had surgery around the holidays before?? If so, how did you deal with that?? I will be toasting the New Year at Boston Medical Center with my 1 fl. oz. medicine cup of Water, lol!!! Any advice or personal experiences anyone can offer would be greatly appreciated!!! I come from a big, Italian family that likes their food, and John's mom is a really good cook!!! HELP, please!!!

[Kindle 8,667]

I had surgery Dec 20 last year. Attended 2 Christmas parties, a birthday party and a funeral while on my liquid preop diet. I just brought my Protein drink along and drank it along with a lot of Water at each of these "food frenzy" events. Everyone knew I was having surgery, so my strange eating behavior was not questioned. Everyone just felt bad for me and I had to reassure them that I was fine and they did not need to feel bad about eating in front of me. No sense all of us suffering! It was tough, but I was 100% committed to my decision, and that was just a part of the process. I was 5 days postop on Christmas Day, so again, I was on Grandma's couch, sipping my Protein shake and watching everyone eat a delicious meal. But I had no appetite postop, so it was actually easier. And I had a great time visiting with family and friends and watching everyone open presents. New Year's Day was the first one I woke up without a hangover in at least 25 years!

But really, I was just so excited about finally getting started with my new life, that I don't feel like I missed out on anything. I was still with friends and family, doing all the things that matter, just not stuffing my face. And this year everything is back to "normal", other than I'm 100 pounds lighter and although I can eat whatever I want, the "stuffing my face" days are over.

sounds like you will be super busy, so that's probably a good way to get through your preop jitters. Try and enjoy the holidays and know that you will be a new and healthier person this time next year!

[DivaSue 23]

I had my Surgery just 3 days after Thanksgiving. My PreOp diet was 3 Meal Replacements and one real meal. The 2 days before I did only Meal Replacements and then on thanksgiving did 2 with a larger meal with some outlaw food like stuffing! Then Friday back to just meal replacements. Didn't gain any weight. Just budgeted very carefully.

If you are doing a lot of travel, I would buy some shelf stabilized milk and a Blender Bottle. Then you can do Protein shakes in the car and on the road.

Which hospital in Boston? I live just outside, I workk at Mass Gen and had my surgery at Beth Israel.