mi75

I juggled this one for a long time too. i am a nurse so i do a lot of physical work and my doc is requiring me to take several weeks off because of what i do. in the beginning i didn't tell anyone because it was my journey and i didn't need criticism. then i decided to tell my superiors because 1. i was going to have to plan for time off and they have to all arrange for coverage of my position, and 2. i was NOT ashamed of what i'm doing and although i didn't need to shout it from the rooftops, i was ok with starting to talk about it. i also told a couple very close colleagues and have been talking openly with them about it for several weeks now. then i find out that somebody (i know WHO) told a bunch of people and I have to say, i am really saddened by that. i'm not embarrassed, just sad that I thought that this is MY journey to share.... If i had it to do again, i don't think i would have told all that I have. there are two or three very close colleagues that i would have told. that's it. and i would have just applied for FMLA for 'surgical procedure'.

nectar Protein does a Grapefruit which I mix with crystal light lemonade and it is spot on for fresca! i would guess that if you could find an off-brand of stir-in drink mixes (i don't think crystal light does grapefruit) in grapefruit and mix with lemon you would have it.

i'm still pre-op but it's already bothering me... the job that i do requires me to take many weeks off from work, so my immediate co-workers had to be told. i told them on my terms, in my timing. they all watched me very closely last week through my first week of pre-op. they asked every day how i was doing, if i had lost, etc. i'm sure this week will be the same. i believe that they are trying to be supportive... post-op, i think i will not use specifics, including sizes, numbers, etc. that seems like a great approach!

i am not crazy about the Premier, i thought it was chalky for my liking. i AM crazy about Muscle Milk 100 RTD shakes. good stuff. i add some extra milk for more Protein. ditto on the yogurt, light is the best and no ADDED sugar. i'm doing the Yoplait Greek 100 variety, 13-15 Proteins per serving. whoop!

i too had my gb out in 2002. i have had fairly chronic dumping syndrome since then. my surgeon wasn't too worried, he told me that because of this i may not have such severe constipation post sleeve...

i use them even pre-op. $1.58 at my wal-mart and my fave is the smoked turkey with cojack cheese and almonds. these will be a great go-to snack for my very busy job when i simply don't get breaks at all until my lunch and (post-op) will have to eat several times before then

i continue to thank everyone for your honesty. i know the work we have all done to lose our weight. however, we are all human and we have to be realistic too! my two kids are happy and supportive and were really joyed to hear that eventually, many months into my recovery, we will be able to have an outing to their favorite place.

wishing you the very best of luck! another option to avoid carrying cash would be to run to your friend's place tonight and take some cash to them NOW to cover cab fare!

i hear ya both! i am on day 7 of my pre-op (my doc requires 14 days) and i won't lie, it is hard. i have had a couple small slips but still am managing to lose some pretty good numbers (-8.5 today). my surgeon says pre-op is way harder than post op because you still have this huge stomach just sitting there, producing hormone and waiting to be filled. my biggest piece of advice is to get your Protein shakes in faithfully. i have noted that on the days i have them on schedule, i have very slight hunger and can manage. i also mix mine with extra milk for more protein. it's hard but SO worth it. good luck to both!

good replies! i am down 8.5 lbs today, which is day 7 of my pre-op diet. i've had small cheat, but nothing that will hopefully undo the whole process. this is HARD, way harder than i expected. my surgeon has told me repeatedly that the pre-op is WAY harder than anything post-op because you still have your huge stomach sitting there, producing explosive amounts of hunger hormone, and you can't fill it. post-op that is taken out of the equation. i am hopeful that this week i will clean it up even more, get more strict and hopefully lose another 7-8 lbs before my date. this week changes up a little bit, with the last couple of days being true liquids only, and then the day before surgery having Clear Liquids BUT ok to have sugar that day, to stabalize my blood sugar for the long haul of surgery day. getting close!

Unlimited raw veggies Muscle Milk 100 mixed with milk and ice sugar free pudding Light yogurt- Yoplait Greek 100 Unsweetened applesauce Plain oatmeal (add skim milk and cinnamon) Light cottage cheese Homemade chicken broth Sugar free popcicles

i am allowed 'unlimited raw vegetables' on my pre-op diet. I asked my bariatric coordinator, but please let me ask here also. DOES GUACAMOLE COUNT? it's technically all raw, just mashed up together. however, i know that botanically avacado is considered a fruit, just like tomatoes. however, we eat both things as veg here in the US. my coordinator says 'as long as its all raw, i'm ok'. thoughts??? also- dill pickles????

i have as well. this is incredibly hard. there are several threads about cheating on the pre-op diet. hang in there!

i love everyone's honesty. thanks again. i have two small kids so i have to be realistic and know that i WILL end up at fast food type places, pizza joints, etc post-op. i know i will be eating very well the majority of the time, and it's good to know that i will have a bit of room to move if necessary!

walking will actually decrease your chances of a blood clot by exponential proportions!!! they are most common in people who do not move post-op. the generalized surgery (ALL surgeries) quote is generally 1-2%, so not high, but still the risk is there. obviously we are all obese and so our blood does not circulate the way it should to begin with. get up and get moving. best of luck to you!!!!!!

i too would question the authenticity of the research, but on another note, my hubs and i were both thin when we married and turned into food buddies together. we are both now ready to change our lives so that we can enjoy the second half of our lives together. he doesn't qualify for surgery but will be embarking in his own journey right along with me. we are excited that these changes-his program and my surgery- will bring us closer, allow us to do more together (can't do many things now because i am chronically short of breath from being so overweight), and allow us to be more active with our kids. We have a wonderful parish church where the priest has you stand up on your anniversary and do a short vow renewal. we have had several of those, and it will take much more than a little surgery and some pounds to undo those words we promised each other before our Lord.

you go girl! it's my theme song in this journey too! i will jam it on the way to the hospital next week

i would agree that EVERYONE regains SOMETHING from their lowest weight. my nut told me that once i hit my 'goal' or lowest weight, it is very natural for the body to gain a few pounds and then 'settle in' to a spot where it is a natural weight for it. my 'goal' according to surgeon is 125 but i remember how easy and natural it was around 135 and expect my body to settle there. hopefully! i don't think it's that everyone regains it ALL, just that there is a natural small gain to be expected. good luck!

i too have the strict, liquids only, plus raw veggies for 14 days. i've had one small cheat. it's HARD. but i've lost 7.5lbs in 5 days. many of my friends went to the 'other' bariatric surgeon in town and he allows his patients to do the Atkins diet for 2 wks prior to surgery. i would WAY rather have steak and eggs than shakes, shakes and more shakes! just try to do what they tell you. i'm not perfect, i'm certainly no saint, and i will tell you that this entire journey is tough, but totally worth it! good luck!

i too have had multiple EGDs (two a year for 3 years, then yearly for the past 10 yrs). the hardest part is, well nothing. really. they are incredibly easy. You get to the hospital/gastro center, they start an IV, you have to put a gown on your top only, you can keep your pants on. they take you to the room and get all the prep stuff and the doc talks to you briefly. then they spray your throat. MY ADVICE- tell them you have a strong gag reflex and they will DOUBLE spray you! it's good because it numbs you and you don't feel a thing. then they give you the happy stuff in your IV, and it seems like seconds later they are waking you up. you go to a recovery room, they give you some pop or Water to drink, the doc comes in and tells you how it went. after about 30 minutes you get dressed and leave. really simple. my hubs and i have always taken advantage of the fact that i can't go back to work (i've had sedation anesthesia) and we have my mom keeping the kids and we always go out to eat, or a movie, etc afterward!

i have been told as a generalization, 20 lbs the first month then around 10 lbs a month thereafter, not accounting for stalls. i'm still pre-op, I go in 9 days, but I have several friends & coworkers who had it and that holds true for them.

hang in there. i have 14 days of liquids total, and right now i'm on day 6. day 1 wasn't bad, day 2 was very hard, day 3 was almost intolerable. then on day 4, i woke up and had NO hunger. i've been good to go since...

janet- i am a nurse too, also have Barretts and am also getting a sleeve. I had seriously long talks with both my GI and my surgeon. for ME (this is just MY situation) the risk of a 'blind stomach' is a very real issue. (your original stomach sit there, sutured up, and un-accessable. in order to further scope it, they have to go in between your ribs and scope it). because i have barretts, plus reflux, plus some stomach issues, they both thought that sleeve was better. this way i can at least have my yearly scopes. i definitely think there are schools of thought for both options. I would encourage you to seek the medical opinions of those you trust, and those you know are excellent in their fields. I wish you the very best of luck!

i TOTALLY get it. i'm still pre-op too but last night i had a complete and total melt down about mcdonald's because the fam was eating it and i was feeling all sorry for myself and such. i posted about who eats mcdonalds and this morning i realized just how foolish it sounded. i too am a food addict. i feel like although i will probably be able to eat most things again, the timeframe is doing me in. also, i don't want to just be in waiting to indulge in the bad things. i really plan to try my very best and just do what they tell me to do. not think outside the box, not cheat (by intention), just have a bit of tunnel vision and press forward. i hope that by the time my 'real' hunger kicks back in post-op, i will be past the addictions and craving only good healthy things.

I like the New whey as well. i was advised to use two a day immediately post surgery by my nut. i am still pre-op but go in 9 days, so i'm planning. i found them at Wal-Mart for under $3 each. each 'shot' contains 46 Protein (i think- it's in my fridge). i got watermelon and acai flavored. i was told the fruit punch is good but can't find it. i also have had issues finding a protein that works. One final note- Muscle Milk is THE Protein shake that i really like. the small 100 calorie ones, mixed with some skim milk have 23 protein each (1 container + 1 cup milk). seriously tastes just like chocolate milk, no chalky flavor at all.