meggiep

First of all, I suddenly found I could not really be on this forum for a few days. Once my doctor cleared me for surgery I really felt the need to pull back and pull in - which really surprised me. Of course I have still been in total get rid of the cold mode as I still have some congestion and was attacking that with every means I have. Interestingly I realized mid day yesterday that whey Protein probably has some of the same congestive properties as milk - d'uh! I have been drinking that on my liquids and in hindsight should have perhaps gotten some soy protein. The wind kicked up here this weekend so my allergies decided to say hello in a big way too- so I will let them decide tomorrow and listen to my chest again. I am at peace with what happens. I have found I still have a lot of anger that I have been brought to this point of having to remove most of my stomach FOREVER. Excited as I am , as much as I want it- I am pissed off at my lot in life that I was born to be fat most of my life and to end up here at this fork in the road. (Interesting that the word "fork" came up ;-P) Yesterday I actually had a talk with my stomach and asked my stomach to forgive me! I told her she has always been a great stomach- I have never had constipation or any other digestive problems, she has not done anything to deserve what I am about to do to her. My metabolism and my back and knee surgeries are not her fault, And I am sorry that I am going to remove most of her tomorrow, please forgive me. Then of course I had to do some soul searching- is this really what I need to do? I lost 16 pounds on this liquid diet for two weeks- can I lose the 120 pounds with this great jump off? Is this truly the right thing for me? Here's the thing- I realized as all the feelings started coming up in me for the last two days- anger, guilt towards my innocent stomach, questioning the surgery-that what I immediately wanted to do was EAT. Eat bad foods, eat candy and Cookies and ice cream and the pizza my husband bought me Friday when we thought I might be canceled. BINGO!!! Truly I don't think I had been so in touch with what drives me to eat so much as I was yesterday. And I am on this freaking liquid diet! Luckily I have a strong will so of course I didn't eat. But it was the signal I needed to know this is the right thing for me. So tomorrow- or if not tomorrow soon- I will indeed be sending my innocent stomach to the bougie guillotine- and I will do everything I can to heal her and in fact will most likely be a slave to her whims from then on in any case. SO that is meggie 17 1/2 hours before surgery. I took the 3T of milk of magnesia I was told to take at noon and for me that was the full commitment!

Tomorrow is looming for me too! It' funny- I found I needed a couple of days away from here as I really pondered what is coming. I will be thinking healing thoughts and prayers for all of you fellow 5/9s tomorrow until they knock me out- actually my surgery is at 7:30 am so if I am half conscious at 10:30 I will start then too! I already took the three tablespoons f milk of magnesia I was told to take at noon... I will say there is a slight chance I will still be canceled as my allergies kicked up a storm this weekend with all the wind and I am still congested. I will see what they say. I feel fine though so I expect to sail through! I think we should open a postop thread when the first one is able to post for Red Velvets to all post in. I can't believe it is here!

Wow- just wow. After my doctor gave me until today at 1pm to see my GP and be evaluated I have been drinking enough Water to float an armada (good practice!) hitting zicam, airborne and emergen-c....and praying. Also steaming , something I have always hated since I burn myself - then my husband pointed out all I needed to do was stand up taller! d'uh! I accidentally slept with the fan on since it was a little warm last night and woke with a congested nose- that always happens when I sleep with the fan on. I felt ., again, much much better- as I have each day since Tuesday, the only day I really felt sick during this cold. I meanwhile had decided whatever will be will be- certainly don't want to be sick for surgery and will let my doctor decide. I still sound congested and throaty, but have not had a cough or a fever. My doctor listened to my chest, looked in my ears, throat, and nose- and pronounced me fit for surgery! She will send a quick note to my surgeon but said she sees no problem! The only caveat is that if I get worse I need to notify them immediately if I am so they can cancel. WOW! WOW! WOW! I am on again for Monday! Since there are at least 10 of us here on VST I was so sad thinking I would not be with my sleeve sistahs (and brothas if there is one- no one has chimed in for that date yet). WOO HOO!!!!!!!! Today I weighed down 16 pounds since starting my liquids- and the funny thing is- my husband and son shot a wedding in Muir Woods at 8am and stopped at our favorite pizza place in SF on the way home. My husband got me a small pizza with my fave toppings in case my surgery was canceled- and that probably sealed the deal

Well.. I have had the highs and lows today. I went to my pre op nutrition seminar in Fremont and also the the ENT to have my CPAP machine checked. I had awakened feeling much much better and was really optimistic. My ENT checked my lungs while I was there because I told him my worries about tomorrow- and he said my lungs were clear and he thought I was fit for surgery. I was so elated! I waked out of the cinic feeling so great and then suddenly on the way home I felt the unmistakeable twinge of pian in my sinuses- the right one. I thought it might be a headache but by the time I got home it really seemed like a sinus. Until that point I had no doubt I would be fit and healthy on Monday as my breathing is clear today, my chest was never involved- etc. If it is indeed my sinus I would of course never consider surgery. I had no intention of doing it unless I was 100%- my main issue was being pronounced unfit five days early.... I did a steam...and am backing off on the sinus rinses as I almost think I was too aggressive doing it so much- who knows but that I drove some bacteria up there . Oh well. I will see what tomorrow brings- I have fought the good fight. This two weeks of liquids was just awful and if I think about doing it again I want to cry.

I would not let them steer you to the RNY ....I think the SLeeve is the WLS of the future and will become by far the most popular. Perhaps you can explain to your doctor you do not have much for the copay and see if they will settle for the 25k from the insurance. It never hurts to ask. However I have to say from everything I have seen here and on You Tube, if you do have to pay out it will be a wonderful investment in your future! Also, from what I have seen there are some great doctors in the US who charge way less than $25ooo.

Have you really tried working with the powders? The unflavored powder can be used in so many ways! I had Trader Joes organic tomato Soup tonight- made sure it was at 130 degrees to prevent clumping and added a scoop of unjury unflavored protein and mixed it very well with a fork. DOn't blend it as the frothiness will put you off. It was awesome and added 20 grams of protein. My time on this site has proven to me that the formula for weight loss after the sleeve is 1. get all your protein 2. drink the Water 3. low carbs 4. exercise 5. Vitamins. Maybe you need to look at this formula and see which parts of it need beefing up. Good luck to you!

Hooray! Kristy is on the loser's bench!

So glad you are on target! At least one of us didn't get sick! There are ten of us scheduled for Monday that I know of- I put the list in the latest Red Velvet thread in My Story. I sure hope I am with you Anyway we can all check in on a Red Velvet thread to let everyone know how we did.

They answered and he though at that point I could wait until Saturday to see. My throat no longer hurts, luckily. I can only hope ad pray!

I need major prayers and healing thoughts as I face having my surgery canceled. My sore throat on Monday became a cold yesterday - I spent the day in bed and started hitting the airborne and emergen-c as well as doing the sinus rinse a few times a day. I emailed my doctor asking what the policy is for doing surgery with a cold if there is no fever. Today I felt much better but I ran into my surgeon while I was at the office getting my pre-op blood work and he nearly canceled my surgery on the spot due to my husky voice. I begged him to give me the chance to get better- I am better today, I do not have a cough or fever and my son got better from his in two days. He and his nurse stood there talking "scheduling" "incovenience" "difficult contacting everyone to cancel" in order to justify canceling it today- whlie in front of them was a real person someone who fought hard to get through every requirement and jumped every hoop, who has gotten through two weeks of liquids (which I think lowered my resistance). It was devastating and I left the office in tears after he said he wanted me to see a doctor TODAY to determine if I am fit for surgery. We have a small business- wedding photography. I did EVERYTHING to get this surgery before our meager yet real season. The recession has hit us hard and we can't let the clients down who did book us because I am suddenly healing in June instead of May. I rote to my primary care who is in the same office and she said she would see me Friday at 1pm to evaluate my condition. I wrote the letter of my life to my surgeon stating my case for being given the chance to get better until at least Friday. He said yes! Now I need healing prayers, prayer circles, affirmations, mojo, magic- whatever you got!!!!!!

OH boy Red Velvets- I need your support and prayers! My cold is better today but my doctor saw me when I was at the office getting pre-op lab work done and he almost pressured me in to canceling today because of how hard it is on THEIR schedules to not know...I begged for a chance to get well and my regular doctor said she would see me at 1pm Friday to listen to my lungs. I am awaiting my surgeons decision right now.

Yay- I am so happy for you! Can't wait to hear your progress. I plan to keep the Red Velvet Gang progress reports going. DOn;t forget to check in there too. Hope the swelling goes away pronto!

So your doctor allows more on the liquid phase than most, I can't have yogurt or cottage cheese- just shakes, broth, Jello,water. You're lucky!

I think it is wrong to expect you to do liquids only with the job. Speak to your doctor about perhaps adding some chicken and a vegetable at night- keeping to the low carb thing but giving you some more substance. I have been ok on the liquids but I am nearly sedentary in my work. Take care of yourself! AT least make sure you have 4 0r 5 shakes a day- keep that Protein in there!

This is what I have so far- nine (I keep coming back and changing this!)of us on the 9th! Everyone- add your name if it is not here and should be! May 2nd lkcraig316 May 3rd Chicadee Kristy May 4th MaeConnie 68 May 5th JoJo May 6th Lots of Hope May 7th May 8th May 9th Dawn of a New Day Gusso5 kellyw74 meggieprice mel30 Michelle Ciccerello kerry iloveme May 10th Karen H. EJStorm May 11th May 12th May 13th May 14th May 15th

I too had a fun fun food week before this two weeks of liquids. I gained 4 pounds that week- ah the memories! I quickly lost it and so far 8 more pounds. My surgery is on Monday and I know what to do for optimum use of this window of losing time we are given. If I were you, I would think about doing Protein shakes, or at least low carb on June 1st so that by the 13th you at least wont feel as much of a loss of carbs. You will be dealing with enough healing and recovering and learning how to live with the sleeve- to be in major withdrawal from carbs would just add to your issues! Good luck to you!

I think you got a good answer- yes of course we could all do the diet but I am on pre-op right now and I am HUNGRY- yes, I would follow it for a while, and may lose a lot- 40, even 50 pounds but I KNOW I would not stick to it long enough to lose all the weight I want to lose, and I would gain it back plus probably some more. We get to this point where we do something like this that is extreme, that is not easy, that changes our lives forever because we know that will not work for us any more. During this two weeks of liquids people kept asking me why I don't just keep going- I know better than to even try to explain. I know the little girl inside of me was waiting to be off this diet and to eat for all the old emotional reasons- well she is going to have a tiny tummy now the help the rational me keep her in check! And that's that. You have to look at your own life and see if you could make it work without the sleeve. Only you know.

You are in my healing thoughts and prayers tonight. You are finally there! Hooray! We will anxiously await your wonderful story of how effortless and easy it was ! I will it to be so.

It makes no sense but just kind of happened- to think I will always be reminded of my pre-surgery baking :lol::rolleyes:The cake I baked is even featured in my You Tube vlog. I don't know if my doctor would say ok but I log everything and make sure to stay low on carbs. I got the banana really ripe and 1/4 of one is enough- and three strawberries- not too many carbs. I really dislike the artificial sweetener sicky sweet taste and this helps, as does coffee mixed with the chocolate ones- regular this week, decaf after surgery.

I am hungry every day. I thought it would go away but especially after my Water aerobics I am hungry. I look forward to having a small stomach! Since I have a cold my biggest issue now is that I can;t take Advil since yesterday and it is my go to drug for feeling like this. I KNOW I would feel much better if only I could take it. Power through! We CAN do this. Sorry girl- YOU are the lucky one! I am sick right now and would love to have some Soup, I'll have some broth- big whoop. You also will probably post big weight loss numbers right out of the gate whereas we may slow a bit soone having dieted so strenuously before. CInco de Mayo for you!

I am hungry every night. I have added a quarter of a banana or 3 strawberries to almost every shake except the chocolate ones- they really help cut the super sweet taste and make it more real. I have lost 12 pounds so I don't thin it has hurt me and i log everything on fatsecret.com so I make sure I keep my carbs low. So glad your sinus infection is over! I almost always get those when I get sick but I am using the sinus lavage twice a day- so you have one of those? My doctor said if you use them from the beginning of a cold they are better than antibiotics! And Dawn- since i have passed menopause luckily that wont be an issue ;-P and thank heaven yours came now! When I had my back surgery in 2004 I was on my heaviest day- it was so embarrassing!

Mine is definitely a cold. I was really tired at Water aerobics last night but with eating, or should I say drinking 500 calories a day it could have been that- but when I got home it was in my chest and I knew it. I have slept most of the day today... but good news is I was a bit better when I woke up and I think it will be a quick one. I am using my sinus lavage twice a day since everything goes to my sinuses... also adding strawberries and banana to my Protein drinks to help up my c and citamins and of course hitting the airborne and the emergen-c....and I will contact my doctor and see what could happen. Healing light to everyone!!!!!

Michelle and I- both one week from today- woke up today coming down with a cold. I had been fearing it a bit as my son came home with one and we worked together Saturday photographing a wedding- so I hit the airborne and emergen-c heavily but today I had a sore throat and tonight I feel like crap. I am praying it is a short one as canceling my surgery is NOT acceptable! How is everyone else doing? I've lost 11 pounds an am on day 8 of my liquids.... Finding the Protein drinks easier to deal with by adding 3 strawberries or 1/4 of a banana. Liking the Fuzzy Naval nectar a lot but knowing better than to stock up to much in case my tastes change after the surgery. Tonight keeping Chicadee and Kristy in my thoughts and prayers for tomorrow as well as anyone we do not know is getting sleeved tomorrow! Moderators- will you let us keep our Red Velvet stuff over here until May 15th? We can't find it when its moved! No one has posted in it since it was moved....

Love and light and healing to you! I will think about you tomorrow. You too Kristy. I will you to have effortless easy surgeries and quick healing!

OMG Michelle- I came over to Pre-Op to post THE SAME THING! I woke up today with a sore throat- thought it was allergies- but tonight I feel like crap and I know I am sick. My son had a cold and we worked together shooting a wedding Saturday. I drank airborne all weekend trying to protect myself but nope. I am so scared! It always seems to go to my lungs and get bad. I just will freak if they cancel my surgery! With one week to go....here we are! ACK! Hugs to you!!!!