August Surgery buddies

[Averdra 6]

I got my date as August 21.

CW 295

What all are you doing to prepare? I'm worried about starting pre-op diet too early and potentially running out of willpower in advance. I'm also looking for therapy for disordered eating to begin ASAP and continue through the process. I'm also working on not drinking during meals and thinking about how to start increasing my Water uptake. I'm also contemplating how I can prepare meals with veg and Protein for easy access.

[LadyJGrey 3]

Hi! I’m late August, too! I just had my consult yesterday, I’m having hernia repair and RNY. I’m walking and logging my diet at this point. I’m a light smoker and have a quit date of July 5, after 4th of July festivities, so I’m trying to slowly ease into everything.

[BigDane 9]

Hi, I'm also August. Just got my date 5th of August!
I'm looking so much forward to having it!

Also in on my pre-op diet, need to be at 133.2kg before my surgery.

[Lisa Gilkison 4]

Hi everybody! I am pretty new to the forums. Up until now, I was a lurker. I am working towards setting the date in mid-August. My choice is the gastric sleeve. I hope to get to know you all!

[BigDane 9]

Welcome @Lisa Gilkison ! I am also new to the site

I am also on the gastric sleeve.. Hope you are doing well!

[Lisa Gilkison 4]

I hope you are doing well, too! I am at the end of an unhealthy journey and taking the first steps in a lengthy new, healthier journey.

[Singingbarista 21]

Hi everyone! I'm scheduled for August 13, RNY.

I started at 361 lbs. and joined a weight-loss clinic 18 months ago, where they put me on something similar to the LSD. I lost about 80 lbs. and then my body decided my set point was around 270, so surgery is next.

I've been trolling this site for quite a while, even when I was wondering if I should get the surgery in the first place. To prepare, I've been experimenting with the recipes that people post, and trying various products/shakes/vitamins that have been recommended by this group and my local support group, to see what options I like.

I've also been collecting items for post-surgery, like a magic bullet and small silverware, things from the list my surgical team gave me. I tend to over-prepare to cope with stress, and this is a biggie. I'm also trying to figure out what hobbies I can distract myself with post-op - any suggestions?

[ShoppGirl 4,785]

Hello everyone. I had gastric sleeve 3.5 years ago and I am pending revision to a SADI on August 7th. I am doing quite a bit more research this time and I’m a great deal more nervous this time. I think that’s in part due to the complexity of the surgery and its risks but more so due to the fact that I am taking this a lot more seriously this time. Hopefully that makes the difference. As a second timer the best piece of advice is to keep posting here. When I started to regain I was so embarrassed that I stopped posting here and going to love support group meetings. You can see where that got me, lol. When I finally went back to my dr he said that the sleeve is a very good surgery for a lot of people but obesity is complex and some people just need an even bigger metabolic change to be successful. So here’s to hoping that the second time is a charm.

[ShoppGirl 4,785]

Ps. Ignore my ticket for now. I need to drag out passwords and all that to use my computer to update all that. The weight is correct but obviously I am preop and my goal weight that by Dr had for me before and now is 150’ I just put 180’ at my therapists suggestion because it was a more achievable goal I thought I could reach more easily and still be happy. Turns out I wasn’t happy enough but a story for another time.

[ShoppGirl 4,785]

@Averdra the bariatric therapist thing is an excellent idea. Many people on here swear by them. For most people the eating and not drinking is a pretty easy lesson to learn because most people vomit if they don’t follow that rule. I was the exception who got pretty lax about that over the years so I am mindful of that as well. A tip for easily getting in uour Protein once your past the phase eating stages is to cook a couple chicken breasts or cuts of fish, whatever protein and keep in fridge . Then make them into differnt things each night or just prepare several of the same meal and freeze leftovers. When it comes to variety, perhaps you can give me some tips. And to increase Water try varying the temp of fluids. Warm, not hot tea and broth go down easier for some people with the added bonus that they tend to make most people feel more full. Some people even find that they prefer room temp liquids post surgery. Then there are of course flavor enhancers as a last resort (the artificial sweeteners aren’t ideal so if you can avoid them by all mean do) but they are very tasty and they are making new ones everyday. Just google sugar free drink and you will see plenty that look good. Also remember that ALL fluids count towards you goal to include Soups, Jello, popsicles and even yogurt if i remember correctly.

[ShoppGirl 4,785]

@LadyJGrey Awesome plan to start the walking and the food logging now. They have a few apps to help with that if you aren’t aware. I like Baritastic. It’s free and pretty user friendly. Good luck with the quitting smoking. Everyone is differnt but my trick was to NOT throw out my cigarettes. I actually carried a full pack around everywhere I went with a lighter taped to the top to remind me that I didn’t want to smoke them.

The worst thing to me when your craving something is to think of the craving getting worse And becoming unbearable (and knowing we have to go to the store to buy some still make that even more scary) but we give in too soon to avoid the fear of it possibly getting to that absolute worse. We are stronger than we think. I told myself that I could always wait a little while longer because they were right there if it got so bad that I couldn’t take it . Surprisingly feeling like I had them right there whenever I wanted gave me the choice which was such a sense of control that it made me realize that I was so much stronger than I gave myself credit for. Everyone is differnt but it worked for me. I’m rooting for you.

[ShoppGirl 4,785]

Hello @BigDane looks like we Will be pretty much be going through the stages together. How is the preop diet going? I was told by the nurse that since he didn’t mention a preop diet I just needed to do a two day liquid diet but last time he had me do a week long liver shrink diet first. I’m just going to do that to be safe. The smaller the liver is the safer the surgery is with the added bonus it’s less weight to lose after.

[ShoppGirl 4,785]

Hello @Lisa Gilkison and welcome. Wishing you the best of luck on your journey. Do you have a date yet?

[ShoppGirl 4,785]

@Singingbarista lots Of people

lurk here for a while before they post. Congrats on your decision to do surgery. The local support groups are great too. I keep saying I’m going to get started back but life always gives me an excuse. Post op no more excuses for me though. Have you found any good recipes or shakes you can recommend? I am an anxious person so I totally get the over preparing as a coping mechanism. As long as you aren’t creating a financial hardship you’re not hurting anyone (thatS what I tell myself). As far as craft suggestions go I love to crochet. It’s easy to pick up the basics and you can make things with only knowing the most basic stitch then learn a ones whenever your heart desires. It can be a cheap hobby if you shop the sales and don’t become what we refer to as yarn snob. I actually started it because the mindless counting of stitches is very meditative And helps With anxiety. I have brought my crochet with me for many big tests and procedures. Most libraries have groups that meet weekly too so you get to meet other people that knit and crochet. You can usually find crochet hooks at thrift store even and the red heart yarn at Walmart is good enough to get you started.check out some you tube videos Or your libraries website to see when the next class is if you are interested

[Greekmom4 38]

Hi everyone, this is my first post. I will be having hernia repair and vertical gastric sleeve on 8/6/24.

SW 295.9 CW 270 GW 150

My food education class is this coming week, and I hope to learn a lot more about what I will be allowed to eat. I do know that I will be on a 2-week pre-op and 2-week post-op liquid diet. I will actually get all my Vitamins and Protein powders during my class.

I am fortunate that my insurance covers the surgery at 100% and I only had a 4 month waiting period from my first doctor visit. I stopped all caffeine, carbonated, and high calorie drinks back in April. My daily Water goal of 64oz is pretty hard to reach sometimes, but I do my best. Ironically, I do better on the days I am at work as opposed to at home.

Best of luck to those of you giving up smoking.