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Sleevers!! I'm getting sleeved in Mexico on Thursday!! I'm real scared!! My mom decided that it would be a good idea to call me and put the fear of God inside me 2 days before my surgery. Ugh, have any of you guys gone to Mexico for your surgeries?! If so how was it? Did you feel safe/unsafe? Did everything go as planned with no complications? If so, what happened. Any advice and opinions would help!! I'm real scared now and I don't want to chicken out because mama decided to put all these doubts in my head, but I'm freaking out now and I don't know what to do. PLEASE HELP!!! ANYBODY!!

So basically I had some weird throat infection the entire pre-op diet week, which I only had to actually do for 1 week. So eating nothing but full liquids was fine because I didn't feel that great anyway and slept A LOT. The hardest day, believe it or not, was the clear liquid day the day before surgery. I did okay though once I got some SF jello. It's hard finding ones that are not a deep red. I did find some pink and orange ones, though! So I didn't actually feel too horribly nervous until that morning. I wasn't due until 12:30 and the hospital is about 45 minutes away. Around 10:30 AM on Wednesday (June 27) they called to ask if I wanted to come in early because they had a cancellation. I said sure but it will only be like maybe 15 minutes earlier because I live 45 minutes away. So we ended up leaving about 11:15 because I had to wait on my mom to shower. I had already done all that and my bag was packed so I was ready! We got to the hospital about 12:15 or something. We had a hard time finding where we were suppose to go but we got it. Yay! Luckily we had gotten a parking spot that was in the first row from the door so that was nice. I grabbed my bag and my turtle pillow pet and walked in, taking my piercings out and shaking all to hell trying not to fling the pieces around and get them in the baggy I brought for them. I got to the desk and they had me to go an admission desk to sign some papers and get my wrist band and some folder with stuff in it that I still haven't actually looked at. I don't know what is in it, lol. Just some papers. Anyway so they asked us to wait in the waiting room. We did not even get our butts in a chair and they had called me in, they told my mom to wait outside because they were just going to run some tests real quick that they routinely do. So they brought me in and it looked like the same pre-op area where I was with my sister at a different hospital for a pregnancy complication. Not to sound as morbid as it may but it was strangely comforting to feel like I was in a place I had seen before. I was given a cup and asked to use the bathroom and pee in the cup for a pregnancy test. They do this routinely I guess, it's mandatory. Boy was I ever exploding cuz I filled that whole entire freakin' cup! Sorry for TMI there lol. So I go back to my waiting area and asked where to put it and the nurse says to put it on a little table at the end of what was to be my bed that another nurse was writing in my chart at. So I set it there and said MERRY CHRISTMAS! And giggled nervously. She laughed at me, too. So then I was given my robe and socks and a bag to put my clothes in and told to change and they pulled the curtain. Oh man was I shaking so bad! I got it all there and put it on the chair next to the bed and sat down, she undid the curtain and I got situated on the bed and they put a warm blanket on me. Then they had a nurse come put an IV in me and it took her forever. I have tiny veins. They put a 20 in me and said it'll be good until I'm under and they'll switch it to a 18 or whatever. They drew 2 vials of blood and then whatever. Stuck some little sticker node things on me and asked me questions like who I am and what surgery I'm having. Then the anesthesiologist asked some questions too like if I have diabetes and etc I said not that I know of. It's true, I didnt know lol. They did get a CBC and whatever else with that blood they took and I never heard much back so I guess I'm ok. So then they hooked up an IV and then came the Versed. That's the happy medicine they gave me so I can relax. At some point during the questioning they got my mom for me and she was sitting with me. But once they put the IV in they made her hug me and go back to the waiting room. This was around 1:30 by this time. And then the praying hit as tears started rolling down my face when she left the room and I started praying, HARD!! But the Versed hit and I felt okay. They rolled me to the OR and I remember looking at all the gadgets in the room thinking Hey! This is just like on TV and in videos of sleeve related things I had seen before. That was comforting, too. But I was doped up on Versed so that's probably it, too. They aligned the operating bed up to my bed and locked them all in place, then had me help myself from the bed to the operating bed. I was not scared at this point but they were laying my arms out on the little arm tables and had an oxygen mask laying lightly on my face. I was okay with that! That were touching me a lot and it felt comforting. Then they said they would be making me sleepy and I was out. I remember when I first woke up they said I'm waking up and asked me how I feel. I said owww pain. It hurts. They said they are giving me pain medication RIGHT NOW. And it felt better right then. They had given me Dilaudid when I needed the rougher med but they used Toradol for inflammation and pain in the meantime and Fenergan for nausea or whatever it's called. They gave me something else right before surgery too for like acid or whatever but I forget what it was. So I was in and out a lot. Dilaudid pretty much makes me pass out. I had gotten a swab sometime in the later evening and I think a droplet had gone down my throat and I got nauseated and started dry heaving. This lasted only a brief period because the nurse took an alcohol prep pad and waved it in front of my nose telling me to breathe deep and I did. The aroma strangely made me calm down from heaving. I didn't have true on nausea at all. Just onset of heaving. I had another 2 or 3 bouts of that that night as they gave me Dilaudid but they started giving the Fenergan with it and I was fine after that. At home I dry heaved only 2 times from pain medication and that's been it. I stopped taking that nasty garbage. So at home I just staked out on the couch as best I could. Tried sipping my liquids and pacing the house or taking my dog on mini walks. It felt good to walk! I'm now 4 days out and I feel almost just fine except for 3 things. One I feel as if maybe I am getting a cold, I have that pre-cold groggy feeling. And the other 2 are pains. One is in my shoulder from gas pain, and the other is that odd diaphragm area spasming that is horrid but luckily only lasts a couple of seconds. I had trouble getting my liquids in but I'm doing okay. I feel okay and energetic during the day. I sip a little protein, a little soup, or vitamin water zero or sobe life water or just plain water. I got some pain cramping when I had colder liquids at first but it seems to do ok now. I also really like SF chocolate pudding. Im going to try a fudgsicle later tonight. As far as food goes. I get weird cravings for things. I know it's in my head and I have to control that. But sometimes I'm just confused at my body because my stomach grumbles all the time, but it gets really loud at random times and it doesn't hurt but it pangs like that familiar feeling pre-op when I would be so hungry that my stomach would growl and pang like that. So I'm not sure if I'm hungry or what. But it's really annoying and eating a little pudding or soup does alleviate it a little. Although the noises don't stop for long at all. I also wanted to add in here that I do get a bit grossed out by some foods now that I woulda just been like "ehh" about before and not really gotten that weird gag feeling when something smells or tastes gross. I can't even eat broth of any kind and some of these "cream of" soups do the same thing. I have no idea why! I do like those soups normally so not sure what the deal is now but I'm dealing with trying out other things. I realized I can get a soup that has things in it but blend and strain it afterwards and it does actually hold the tastes of everything that was in that soup. I had a tomato and rice by Campbell's and blended and strained it out and it tasted like it. I have a bacon and bean soup that's also 98% fat free that I found and i'll do the same thing with that. It sounds good, something different. I don't have to resort to only 1 kind of soup! Just strain strain strain! Another thing I did was today my parents had something for dinner in a skillet that had green beans, onions and chicken breast chunks. It had a lot of juice that tasted really delicious that I strained out and sipped on. It was really good! Other than that, I feel great. I feel super apprehensive about the type of sips I take and how much soup or pudding or whatever I should eat. I don't know what my limit is and I definitely don't want to PUSH it. I never truly feel hungry to begin with so I'm not sure when I'm FULL if that makes sense. I haven't felt much tightness yet from eating those things but I think I read a few places that people don't always feel that tightness too much until mushy phase. So I'm not too worried about it. I'm just worried about what will happen if I do push it on accident. The only other uncomfortable thing has been a couple bouts of hiccups. Those HURT! Oh my gosh do those hurt. The pain was horrid and I had a few moments in my head that I would probably not go through this again had I known how it would feel but it didn't last that long for me so I think that maybe I do not truly think that at all. If I use this tool wisely and utilize it well to lose weight like I need to then I will be fully satisfied. I just hope that I can stay on track. I know I will.

Love yourself again A cup of food per meal Protein first Beginning of a healthy life Abide by your doctor’s orders No vomiting Don’t deprive yourself Satisfied Unfill when too tight! Clothes are too big! Confidence increases Exercise regularly Stay in contact with your doctor Support from family and friends

Hello all, on Thursday November 15, 2012 I will be officially sleeved!! It has been a long time coming and it is finally here. I feel like I am about to open up a new chapter in my life. I can't wait to feel comfortable doing the things I've always wanted to do like wearing a cute little mini dress of going to the beach in a BIKINI. That would be amazing or how about even doing the everyday things like riding in those tight seats on the airplane and amusement park rides. I can't wait for my clothes to start loosing up on me because right now they are kind of tight, lol. I can't wait to finally wear shorts without feeling mortified that my thighs look all jiggly and gross. Most of all, I just can't wait to finally feel comfortable with myself and the skin that I'm in. I'm in college right now and finishing my last semester, so I will be missing a few days of school. I hope my recovery time won't be too long because my plan is to go back to class on Monday. Any advice for me? My soon to be fellow sleevers. What to expect? Will the pain be bad? How long do I have to wait before doing physical activity, like playing basketball? Wish me luck all!!!

40 days to surgery.... and I've been keeping myself busy so that time doesn't stand still. Keeping up with caring for my skin, trying to improve it. My Clarisonic Mia came in and i've used it twice. pretty cool. Using my Ambi and Garnier lightening creme on the dark spot on my face. Not seeing much yet but it's been just a week, so I have a ways to go before I see something. My parents are coming to visit next month... they said they were coming, I just wasn't sure when or IF they were coming for sure. They will spend Christmas Eve and Day with me and then go spend time with my Aunt and the rest of the family. They live south of town, about 45 minutes from me. I didn't even have a bed for the guest room so I had to scramble to order something. I also ordered a table and some chairs since I didn't have that either. I'll be putting that together this week and finishing up the bedroom. That will be RIGHT AFTER surgery! My mom had Bypass in 2001 so she gets that I don't plan on being the life of the party. At least I will get to see them. I have no idea what to get to have here at the house... I won't be able to eat any of it. Is it bad that I am kind of relieved? I don't really like holiday food. I stuff myself with the few options that I like and then hate myself for it. This year I won't be able to do that. Anyway, on with the preparation...I tried the Celebrate NS vitamin powder you mix in with a drink........ewwwwwww. no. No way I am doing that twice a day. As far as I can tell, Dr Alvarez only requires his patients to take a multivitamin. I got some Wellesse liquid multi and also one with vitamin c and D vitamin, and also some liquid protein. I figure I'll take all of that that I can get and if I can add it to something else, that would be great. I ordered a couple of genie bras, an electric kettle (for making unjury protein soup) and a cup warmer to keep it warm since it gets cold so fast. I also ordered a warming pad... is that what you call it? I can't remember. I got one, anyway. I want to also get a binder because I heard that it helps, especially when on the plane. I am liquid dieting Sunday through Wednesday this week. Actually I started yesterday but I went to brunch first. Dinner was soup and later on I had an Atkins shake and I've been drinking my water. Thursday is our company Thanksgiving dinner and I want to have some of that but I will probably get back on mostly liquids. I still want to hit the 230's by the time I get on the plane. I will be on full liquids by December 10th.

I've noticed something and I can't quite figure it out. Every AM (usually around 7) for breakfast I have a protein shake (Syntrax Nectar) in which I add - Greek yogurt, 1 c. almond milk, 1 Del-Monte fruit cup. I blend and then sip (yes still this is a challenge). This keeps me full all AM (even through my commute where I walk and stand a lot). Usually by the time I feel hungry it is between 12:15 - 12:30 PM. However, I've tried having the same thing for lunch and it is a no go. If I have the shake for lunch (12:30 PM) I am literally starving by 3 PM. I'm not sure why this doesn't keep me full in the afternoon. I'd like to get to the point where I can do 2 shakes and a small dinner. I like the feeling after the shake (feel satisfied but not weighed down) but it is such a no go twice in one day. Anyone experience this? Any suggestions? I'm not trying to do this every day, but on my busy days I just don't always have time for a full sit down lunch.

Today I meet with my Nut. It is part of my 6 month pre-surgery requirement from Kaiser. I have a secret... I really don't like meeting with my Nut. Okay there I said it...My Nut and I were kind of thrown together. I originally met with another Nut (A). She was great. Honest but firm and helpful. She treated you like a partner and held you accountable. I had my first meeting with Nut A where she sat and helped me come up with a plan. I then had my second meeting with her where we decided I would pursue surgery. We tweaked my plan and she scheduled me for a third. That's when the problem started. She is just too darn popular. Everyone (or at least most in my area) wants to work with her. Again, she is great. However, to meet with her you literally have to schedule 2-3 months out. By the time of my 3rd appointment, she didn't have anything available for 2 months. I didn't want to add even more months to my 6 month process so I agreed to meet with another Nut (. Nut B is the exact opposite of A. She makes you feel lousy no matter how well you do. It is like she tries to not be happy. At my last appointment I lost 5 lbs. This was major for me. Not because I haven't lost weight before, but this time I didn't do anything crazy extreme. I was proud that I stuck to the plan (from Nut A) and increased my exercise. Her response? I'm going to pause here to let you know something - - that little lady almost caught big time attitude. I think time stopped for about 30 minutes as my mind processed how to not show my tail in there. I didn't get rude, rather I reminded her that I ALWAYS wear my walking shoes to each meeting because I come directly from work and have to take public transportation. You see, she is simply not easy to work with. In fact, at my last meeting with Nut B, she received a call that someone else (apparently this is common) is leaving her to work with Nut A. Instead of being phased she proceeded to insult the guy - in front of me. Wow! - - and these 2 examples are the "nicer" ones regarding my interactions with her. My point for writing this...it is a challenge that I'm having to overcome. Working with her is actually helping me to see that this really is for me...not her or anyone else...me. It gives me perspective that not everyone cares that I am losing weight. Not everyone cares that I stick to my plan. Not everyone wants to hear my crap (good or bad) regarding this change in my lifestyle. Sure, my Nut should want to be more of a partner with me but her job is to supervise my progress and provide correction to my plan when needed. Her job is to ensure that I stick this through and meet Kaiser's requirements and not to be my friend. Her stand-offish (is that even a word?) behavior helps me to keep my focus on doing this for me and not for someone else's approval. I stick with my Nut (such an appropriate name sometimes) because she does have a high success rate. Very high, even though she is not the most liked. Her people tend to be very independent and exceed their set goals. So there is a method to her madness.

Tomorrow, although I guess technically today (June 26, Tuesday) is my last pre-op day! I am sort of in a calm before the storm state of mind. I'm a bit nervous but not as much as I know I will be in that car ride to the hospital. My mom is coming with me and staying with me while we are there. Thankfully! Everything has been paid off as well, so we are A-OK on that. I had been sick all week but luckily feeling better today and will only be getting better from now on. We were a bit scared at first not knowing if this darn sore throat would be gone by the time surgery came around. It seems to be alright now, hasn't hurt much at all all day. I don't anticipate it to hurt at all tomorrow and gone completely by Wednesday. I called the RN and let her know and asked if we would be alright still for Wednesday and she says it sounds like we are going to be just fine. So glad! So I have a few things to pick up at the store tomorrow, like some sort of G2 or something packets (not crystal light! I am allergic?) to put into my water in case I have a weird intolerance. Want to be able to get in some extra electrolytes, too. Those are supposedly handy dandy for hydration. I'm also going to pick up a couple of jars of baby food. I have plenty of soup/s left over from this week that should be good for post-op. I just have to finish packing my bag. So far I put my chapstick in there and a couple of throat drops although I don't anticipate needing those. I also put my Gas-X strips in there and my tooth brush and paste. My pillow is near by my bag so I won't forget it. I bought a nice big square pillow pet that is a turtle, I love turtles. It should be ok to use for the ride home and when moving around against my belly and whatnot. There's always that feeling like I am missing something or will forget something! Gosh I hope not. Just trying to relax and remain calm and not forget anything. I hope I make it through clear liquids decently! They do list jell-o as something I can eat so I guess I can eat some of that for texture if I absolutely need to..

Well. I got it. I got my surgery date. It's for June 27th. I'm so excited. That leaves 10 days before I have to start my pre-op diet which they require me to do 7 days prior and the day before surgery has to be clear liquids only with no red dyes. I'm stoked. So I've been getting things ready. I ordered 9 sample packs from Unjury 3 each in the chocolate splendor, chicken soup and unflavored packets for $1.99 each so that was $17.91 plus S&H. Then I got a sampler kit of Syntrax Nectar packets. It comes with 11 packets in a variety of flavors including Apple Ecstasy, Cappucino, Caribbean Cooler, Chocolate truffle, Crystal Sky, Fuzzy Navel, Lemon Tea, Pink Grapefruit, Roadside Lemonade, Strawberry Kiwi, Strawberry Mousse, Twisted Cherry and Vanilla Bean Torte. It came to be the same price as the Unjury including S&H. I'm fairly impressed. I know I can find ways to like the taste of the majority of these flavors in some form or another. So I have the protein taken care of, for now. I feel better about that. I have a few samples to try here at home to get use to that taste. I don't particularly like it. But I have another shopping list I need to take care of that consists of some soy milk and yogurt, various liquids that are not a thick form, like vitamin water, etc. I need to get some broth to water down or some no sodium bouillon cubes and some SF popsicles. Lots of people seem to have lived by those and maybe still do. They also said I can find no added sugar or low sugar preserve juice from Smucker's. I guess that's pretty neat. I will look at the nutrition facts and see about those. I loves me some juice! Other than that I'm just trying to take it easy and get in any last bit of shopping I need to do directly before the next 10 days comes too fast. I have to overnight ship the last papers of the financing stuff. So once I can get that expensive crap taken care off I'll feel a lot better. Eric needs to get his side sent in, too. I just hope he can get it in with no problems. References: Unjury: http://www.unjury.com Snytrax: http://www.bestprice...k-11-packs.html

Well, not directly. I'm worried about BEING sick. I've been sick since Wednesday and trying to be careful on what kind of medication I take. I have only taken acetominophen which is NOT an NSAID which is advised against pre-op. It's the only medicine I've taken except a small 25 mg allergy pill to help with a tiny bit of congestion. My problem is mostly a sore throat. It could be strep but I wouldn't know. I don't have the money for a PCP right now because all of our funds went to the surgeon that we had extra right now and I don't have insurance at this time. I mean who would have thought this would even happen anyway? So I'm just worrying, because my throat does not hurt anymore but it is still swollen. I can see it. It's huge in there. I don't have trouble breathing or anything and it's not painful to swallow. I'm just worried it won't be better by surgery time and I don't know what else to do to try to get this swelling down. :/