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Hi! Hang in there! I feel like a kindred spirit to you, and it helps to hear what you're going through. I'm getting ready to start pre-op diet Wednesday. I'm starting it a week early because I have a "fatty liver" and am very worried it might interfere with my surgery. Spent 1/2 hour in Costco yesterday staring at all the vitamins, looking for ones that meet the requirements. The ONLY thing that was right was the B-12. None of the chewable calcium seemed to be the right formula, and I couldn't find any chewable multivitamins except gummies. They told us in the pre-op class not to buy gummies. Today I'm headed to Wal-Mart for meal replacement shakes, more vitamin shopping, and other odds and ends. It does feel weird to be buying all this "stuff" -- a lot of it pretty unappealing -- that one never imagined needing. But like you, I want to be prepared. I don't want to come home from the hospital and be thrashing around trying to get something and not know where to get it. I'll look forward to hearing how it goes for you! Like you, I believe it's going to get lots better. A summer of good change is ahead for both of us.

Girl, when them pounds start coming off and you start to feel sooo much better physically and mentally, it will have all been worth it. being nervous is perfectly normal. I said a prayer before they did the surgery and woke up dedicated to a new me.

I'm in the final stretch. I'm ending Day 2 of the pre-op liquid diet. Tomorrow, I'll be 12 days away from surgery. I'm officially counting down! I'm really not hungry on the diet. Well, tonight I was feeling it a little - but only a tiny bit, so I just had a shake and I was fine. I'm not saying it will continue to be easy, but so far it's been fine. I started working my way into the liquid diet last weekend by having shakes but also one yogurt a day as well. Since Sunday, I've lost 13lbs. I was on my period last weekend, so I know that's part of it (cuz I had gained about 3 lbs the week before when the period was starting-hope I don't offend with TMI). Now I seem stuck in wondering how much weight I'll actually lose and how fast it will happen. I've never been thin, so I have no idea what any given weight would look like on me. I think to myself, "Will I still be plus size, but more like a size 18-20? Or will I actually be SKINNY and go for a size 10?" I also think to myself "You have a higher BMI, you'll lose faster!" and then I think "You don't wanna lose too fast because you'll look awful." Deep down, I seriously fear more than anything else that I'll look like a deflated elephant when this is all said and done. I strongly feel that I'll look terrible. I can feel myself self sabotaging with these thoughts, but I can't stop them. I want to believe that this surgery has nothing to do with vanity, but if I'm honest with myself, it's almost ALL about vanity. Vanity, and the idea that if I don't do something about my weight - AND QUICK - I'm gonna be alone for the rest of my life. And again, I have to stop thinking like this. Losing weight isn't gonna find me a decent man. At best, it's gonna give me the confidence to date, but even then it's not guaranteed that I'll meet a man I want to marry. Maybe the part of me that's causing the anxiety is the part that fears this surgery will change nothing. That even if I'm successful losing weight, nothing else will really change in my life. I like to think that suddenly I'll be so much more fun and outgoing and happy and friendly - because that's how I was when I was younger and thinner - but it's not realistic to think that my personality will revert to a time that long ago. I've had low self-esteem because of my weight for a long time. Will that change? Or will I still be miserable and self-loathing (i.e. calling myself a deflated elephant). I probably need a shrink. I've had therapists before, never really connected with any of them. And this is just, idk, embarrassing for me to talk about. :\ Well, on that note, I'm off to sleep. xo

I am down about 75 pounds and still see the fat me. Yesterday I put on my new size 14 jeans, thin looking and a size xl 't' and thought I looked good. Today I have on my Red Sox "t' and it fits over the fat ass and large hips, never did and I have worn it for years above the hip area, great feeling. I don't know when we see the thinner us. Don't give up, almost swim suit season.

Hi I was Banded in July and it feels like many years ago. Do you still have pain meds to try to help? Maybe move your arm, like exercise it a little and maybe the gas will move. ​As for foods. I lived on SF Popsicles. I like Edy's the best. People drink broth and I think apple sauce was on the list. What did your dietitian tell you? I was given a huge book and it included every step of the diet. Good luck. Hopefully soon you'll be like me and forget the pains.

My surgeon makes sure all patients receive an abdominal binder while in the hospital (and then you take it home with you). It helped me the most of everything as far as minimizing pain when making positional changes or when coughing, laughing, sneezing, etc. My first one was bloody from the discharge from the drain so the nurse gave me a new one before I was released. She offered to let me keep the old one and wash it, but I felt a little queasy at the time seeing the drainage and declined. Wish I would have kept it bc it would have been nice to have a back-up while I washed the other one. I also wore it under my clothes when I went out for the first few weeks bc it made me feel like my incisions were sort of protected if someone bumped into me, etc. The binder also supported my back when my abdominal muscles felt weak right after surgery. As you can tell, I really enjoyed my abdominal binder (I feel a little like I am writing out an infomercial pitch)--and would highly recommend using one!

You are so young and so smart to have this done at your age. I am 66 and 4months out. I have lost 63 lbs that will never come back. I will be at goal when I loose the last 45 lbs coming soon. I have not been this low for 43 yrs. all the things I have missed in my life for all those years you will have it all. It will be rough for a few weeks but time flies and before you know it you look in the mirror and see a thinner you. And if you have any medical issues they will improve also. Best of luck to you and enjoy every moment of the journey.

I'm sorry:( The pre op is the worst part, after that just think of the good things to come:)

Congratulations. I go in on April 18th and can't wait to get this party started, too. I'm looking forward to all those things and more. We are beginning an exciting journey. SWEET!!