SpiceyMom

Yay!! I'm a little worried about that part, too. Glad you're back on the road!

Sorry about the food. Awesome about the scale. Tell me about Palak Paneer. That's about all.

I originally went to a doctor in my small town and although I'm not going to use him for the surgery, I was able to find out that in the rehab/exercise place associated with the hospital they have monthly, free, support meetings. They have bariatric psychs come and speak, NUTs, etc. Anyone can come! It might be worth it to call some of the bariatric docs in your area to see if that's offered anywhere?

Can't wait!! Congrats to you!!

Well, I'm taking our family of ten to my mom's house so I can't just come empty-handed! I'll survive! How are you doing today?

Love, love, love the honesty and information I get on this group!! You all have me so stinkin' excited to get started! It's amazing how different it feels to have HOPE that this time, it'll WORK!

Fortunately for me, my sister had WLS first. My parents have seen how well she's done (and with a band, too) but how much work it took, too. They've gone from being the 'easy way out' people to talking with my sister about how they wish I would consider WLS! They had no idea I had been considering it for quite some time. So....all that to say that you may be breaking the ice for lots of people who aren't quite courageous enough (yet) to go first. I know I'm grateful to my sister for leading the way, even if I'm not following the exact path. I know it's a pain, but I think it's wonderful that you're sharing what you've learned and not making her feel horribly for speaking out of her own insecurities. KWIM?

I'm going to Mexico! Surgery is April 28th with Dr. Alvarez. I liked the idea of being able to drive from Dallas rather than fly to San Diego (and it would actually take less time). Not that it was a primary consideration, but a nice benefit. Now I need to get going on the Protein samples, finding out what to bring to hospital, what to have ready at home, etc. I think I may need to get some meals cooked for the fam before i go, too. Keeping a family of ten fed is a challenge on the best of days...may be Herculean for the first few days, weeks (months?) after surgery! Glad to have decided on a sleeve vs. RNY, though, and to have found this forum. Great info! Sooooo hoping for a decent weight loss in the first couple of months, as i am going to a high elevation in both late June and early August. Don't want to be huffing and puffing like last year. Soooooo happy to think those days may soon be behind me for good! Now to figure out how to tell my parents I'm going to Mexico for surgery....wish my dad would come with me and get it done, too...even at 68 I think he would be great! Grinding to a halt from all this rambling....Jill

Ear inception? That's just disturbing. Infection. Sigh.

Oh, I totally thought you were funny...and spot on! I just found her daily updates a couple of days ago and went back through all the previous posts. She's incredible! She's an instant classic! She's NOT allowed to just leave us hanging while she gets an ear inception OR a life. JK, crosswinds! Glad you're here and hope you're better SOON!!!

Well, I must admit I never thought of starting it early. Once I get all my supplies I may just do that! Thanks!

Goodness, it just seems to have hit me that my days with a whole stomach are almost over! I start the prep diet on Thursday, have surgery the following Thursday. I really haven't done anything overboard. In fact, I have already been having a Protein shake for Breakfast and reasonable meals otherwise. Anyone have encouragement for staying reasonable for the next three days? A reminder that I won't always be on liquids or mushies? Please? LOL

For Easter, I am baking the ham and my mom asked me to make whoopee pies to go with her homemade ice cream. I'll be strong but...goodness! Luckily ham isn't my fave. Now, if we were talking about Tex-Mex I might be in trouble! I think I will avoid looking at the side dishes... We can DO THIS!!

Hi Bill! I love your description of missing food--I haven't started my liquid preop yet but will on Thursday. I'm missing food already and it isn't even gone yet. Eyes on the prize, bay bee!! (There is a prize, right?) Good luck in the remaining days of your preop!! This will all be a distant memory soon...we will remember our old friend Food fondly, but agree that our new friend Health is a better influence.

Good on you!! I will be in those shoes next Sunday for Easter dinner. Can't wait to buy my Easter dress next year!

Where is your blog, Tiffykins? Is it on this site or elsewhere? Very interesting article on the Ghrelin...

What are the key numbers to look at when you're deciding if a Protein drink will be useful to a sleeved person? I used a Protein powder from Unikey Health (the Fat Flush program) that I really liked but I wasn't sure how to evaluate it for my post-sleeve life. I wish I had some left over so I could see if I still liked it! Anyway, here is a link to the nutritional info: http://www.unikeyhealth.com/Supp_Whey_Vanilla Any ideas? Good, bad, ugly? I searched for it on the boards and nothing came up, which makes me think it isn't good for us but I wanted to check... Thanks from a newbie!!

Gorgeous!! So glad things are working out this time!!

I know! I'm hoping I won't turn into the Wicked Witch of the West, but I'm not making any promises! Lol Can you take any pain relievers? Would that help? Good thing we're all taking the easy way out, right?

Added to list...thanks!

Terrib, I was seeing a doctor in town, self-pay, told him I wanted it asap, he told me he would perform the surgery at a Dallas area clinic for WLS, let me make and start all the preop appts, then had the secretary tell me he didn't yet have privileges there and wouldn't for a while. That's when I started looking into Mexico. I just didn't want to start over with a different surgeon (much further from my small town), wait even longer, go to all the preop stuff, and be halfway thru summer before getting surgery. Can you sense my impatience! Lol Once I realized I could drive down and back to Alvarez with a 3.5 day turnaround, I was hooked. Also, Dr. Alvarez has done TONS more sleeves than the doc here, who prefers RNY, which is what I was originally doing based on his advice. He also has a much lower complication rate. ToDream, I likely won't be telling a lot of people about it. We will see. I do need to tell my parents, though, because I need them to babysit! And they would be justifiably mad if I left them out of knowing about a surgery. I know they'll be supportive because my sister had the band done. They'll just freak on the Mexico part. Oh well...

Love it! You can definitely see a difference! Love your smile! You look like you feel better, too. Maybe more hopeful? I already feel more hopeful and I haven't even been sleeved yet. Love these progress reports!! Thanks for posting!!!

I just got my preop diet list yesterday. I need to look it over and get it all ready. It will be worth it, Vanessa! Just keep your eyes on the prize, right? Lol ToDream, we used to live in Calgary. In fact, we were just reminiscing about the amazing drive from our home to Banff. Everything was so pristine and gorgeous. Love that crisp mountain air; miss it every summer in white-hot Texas! Sorry about the layover. At least you'll have some time for walking, right? (Trying to find the bright side!) Jill

Mexico...Dr. Alvarez. We're driving down. What about you?

Ooh! I'm the 28th! Can I be a sleeve sister, too? (Does that sound needy or what? Lol) I start my pre-op diet in a week. Glad to know it isn't a killer. My poor hubby is dreading it. He well remembers the cranky wife of Opti Fast days gone by. I am trying to psych myself up for Easter. Luckily, it isn't my favorite food holiday. Lol I am excited for all of us! Good luck!