meggiep

Yes, when I start I will be absolutely compliant- I know I need to be. I just didn't want hi changing the date- he kept talking about two weeks so I Know that was his intention - and the pre-op appointment is usually two weeks before the surgery so I get why he said it....it just threw me off. I have my premiere Protein drinks in the fridge already...

My scale has gone wonky after an unfortunate accident so I need to buy another one. Any recommendations? Aside from those tre expensive health o meter doctors scales...or the amazing one at my doctors office that looks like a treadmill... I don't have a ton o' bucks. Being as it is about to become the center of my universe ;-P

You slay me! I can see you flying to Mexico to try to get the rest of your stomach removed.... And I see this really is One Day at a Time.... As a pool passionate Mama I am very interested in your return to the pool. My surgeon told me I need to see him at my post op, which is 16 days after surgery to find out when I can go into the pool. I am already anxious and I haven;t left the pool yet!

I was wondering if someone would come in and tell the truth! My friend at Water aerobics had the same thing- basically hanging skin bags. She had a breast job when she had her tummy tuck. Since I have neither money for that nor insurance that covers it I will have my skin bags for a long time.... But as TIff sys- I want to say goodbye to many of my other physical attributes so that's life - and since they usually represent going to goal or under goal- let it rip!!

Today at long last was my pre-op appointment. ONe of the coolest things was how impressed my doctor was with my ist of questions- which of course stemmed from my exposure to everything here on VST! The answers (I'm sure you can figure out the questions!) Staples,reinforced staples, and sutures No catheter (YAY!) No drain (YAY!) Done with air on the spot, not done after surgery unless you have symptoms Koumadin (I think) injection before surgery and electronic massage sock thingies after and most interestingly- size 32. I feel guilty about one thing. I was told last week when I got my date thatI will be on liquids from April 25th until my surgery 5/9. So today when he said "Start your liquids now" I said nothing because, guilty though I feel, I have no plans to do it now. I have some social plans between now and then including Easter and ,,,I just am not starting until Monday, So this is really happening!

I have not had my sleeve yet so can't answer about the gas, though that agrees with what I have read/heard as well. However, my doctor says never go for a Protein drink with carbs in the double digits. Double digits protein, single digits carbs is his rule. Low carbs seems to be the best bet for losing the most during your maximum window of losing time.

Oh girl you do make me laugh! This has been one of the worst months ever for me (not related to the surgery...other stuff) and you have helped me so much. I think this is the part where eating to live comes in and replaces living to eat. I think over time it will readjust a bit but right now -work it! Use it for its purpose! 29 pounds? WOOHOO!!!!!!!!! I too need deciphering of Palak Paneer.....

I was just going to post about this in the nutrition section! The Iron is the one thing I have not been able to start and it is exactly for that reason. I am terrified of constipation because I know it makes yo feel so blah and awful. I have NEVER had that issue- even taking opiates for chronic pain I have avoided it by eating organic unsulfered apricots every single day. Well my apricots must go now so I am so worried about taking iron as I have always heard it causes bad constipation. I don't like the idea of using laxitives. It is promising what you posted about BA iron. I will have to give it a try, as certainly anemia would not feel good.

When I first came home from my doctor talking about having WLS my husband was shocked- definitely. The surgery sounded extreme to him- and he ws scared of the possible complications. However, after I went to my first visit with the surgeon and I told my husband the surgeon could see me ending up in a wheelchair followed by an early death- that was all it took for my husband to climb on board and back me up. It has been hard for him because the more I delve in to this and read all the stories here, and on You Tube, the more my lifelong pain has started to come out- causing things to be more emotional than usual around here! He has put up with all of it. I realized just how much he supports me today when he came home from costco with a Magic Bullet kit including all kinds of attachments to help me during my purees and mushies. What a sweetheart!

Don't your co-morbidities- apnea and borderline high blood pressure- perhaps get insurance approval? I would investigate that. Many insurance companies will approve you at between 35-40 BMI if you have other health conditions.

OMG! FIVE weeks of liquids? I now take back everything I have said whining about the two weeks of liquids I will start next Monday! I simply cannot imagine 5 weeks of liquids. You deserve a medal!

Are you close to your sister? I don't want to make light of your passion for getting the surgery, but I do understand why your sister is feeling that way since her wedding is a really big deal for her. Where will you be in the timeline of recovery on June 10th? Maybe there is a way you can reassure your sister that you wont let anything dissipate your enthusiasm and participation in her wedding. Remind her you don't need to eat to celebrate! Howeverm if you will have surgery so close to the date that you might not be returned to your fully energy , etc. then I hate to say it but maybe you should think about having the surgery the Monday after her wedding. It isn't that long...really.... and this could mean a lot to her. I'm a wedding photographer ;-P so pretty sensitive to what this means to people....

It is so great to have your input knowing you got to your goal. That is the main thing, right? I am mentally prepared, I think, for a stall since I have seen so many. And ladies, from here, a few weeks before the surgery- the amount you have lost in a few weeks seems AMAZING to me! Nevertheless I know it must really frustrate you so here are some giant Meggie hugs!

I love that expression "hen weekend"- can tell you are most likely from England when I hear that!

Hooray for you! That has got to feel wonderful- I love seeing the people here reach their dreams!

quote name='RHL592' timestamp='1303248903' post='139581'] I have Kaiser in N. Cal, too. I have my first consultation on May 10th and it cannot come fast enough!! So what do I do from there? I don't have to take the 12-week class? So far, I know they weigh me, I have to lose 10%, I have to schedule all the pre-op appts. (did you have to do the swallow and the sleep apnea test?) What else? Share your wealth of knowledge with me. lol It seems to me that people with conditions like PCOS that make i hard to lose weight should have a lower requirement- if you could lose the weight that easily you would not need surgery! The little devil in me thinks you could to what the manipulators on Biggest Loser do - push the Water intensely before your first weigh in so your weight is artificially high... ;-P

Well if you want to drive to Redwood City and get some- I do not lie it would be worth the trip!

Hooray for you! And yes- that is my date too! You are not alone in that eating thing- pretty common! I made a triple layer red velvet cake tonight to Celebrate all our birthdays before I start my liquid diet next Monday.... We can support each other in our journey!

It totally rung true to me when someone (maybe you?)posted in your thread about obesity that our stomachs have evolved to be this large from a time when we didn't always know where our next meal was comng from, when we had to eat a lot to hold us over, and when we also worked hard doing chores, hunting food all of it. We don't need stomachs this big, that is a fact. I really do think this surgery will become more and more common. And them maybe someday people will evolve to have smaller stomachs, naturally.

The ticker tutorial: How to insert a ticker

It's almost three weeks later and I am still amazed at myself. I am not sure if I was desperate or if I was finished or if I just wanted a vacation or what. But I really did this. It was almost like I was doing something I had forgotten to do years ago. Reorganize the hall closet. Reallocate the 401K. Steamclean the couch. Get your stomach cut out. `Oh I just love those words! That is just how I have been feeling... It seems that after you are here on VST for a while it becomes the norm to have your stomach cut apart and not the exception. So glad you are starting to feel human again!

You CAN do this- it is a gift you are giving to yourself and especially to your partner and your kids. Look at it this way- you can voluntarily do this procedure in full control of it or end up in the hospital from weight related reasons at times not in your control. Request a relaxing drug to take at home before you go in-that should help! And you will find all kinds of love and support here too. We will all be behind you helping you do it.

Congratulations! WOOOOHOOOOO indeed! Hi! My surgery is 5/9 and I am in REDWOOD CITY! I would be pleased to help you any way I can and we can support each other. I have been looking for other peninsula folk so that we might have a group to meet, etc. Congratulations! WOOOOHOOOOO indeed!

And here I am not starting my liquids until the day after Easter and I have no plans on the day to torture me like you all do. It does not seem fair to you! Then I will be liquids only for my own two looooong weeks.

I totally hear you- I swear I knew more about this surgery than anyone I met with other than my surgeon. And much of it is due to VST. I have a last group nutrition class before my surgery on 5/9 and I expect it to be a yawnfest. Thank heaven they have wi fi and I can get VST on my iPad!