thegeek

Bahaha... same boat here. I didn't even think about the fact that my 20th HS reunion is a year or two away. Just had my surgery a week ago and at 1-2lb/week, I'll be at goal weight by the time that rolls around. Sweet!! Thanks for giving me something to look forward to!

From the start, I had about 120 or so to lose... Good luck!

I had horrible upset stomach after my first Protein shake. From what I could find, here were the suggestions: 1.) use Water instead of milk 2.) "work your way up" on the amount you drink 3.) take a digestive enzyme with your shake I only tried 1 and 2 and things ended up getting _much_ better. Good luck!

Congrats! I had something similar... I called them to push it back a few weeks due to a work conflict and they pushed it forward a week and started my clear liquid diet right then! The bad thing was I didn't get any "lasts" (meal, diet coke, etc.). The good thing though was not having the worry that goes with that. All of a sudden it was there! Good luck! I'm about 10 days out from surgery and feeling great.

I had quite a few headaches the first week or so after surgery. They weren't super-painful, but definitely annoying. I was a <big> caffeine drinker before the surgery and wondered if it was just withdraw - although I hadn't had any the entire week before surgery so I would assume that's not the problem. In any event, after about a week they went away. Hope that's your experience as well!

Now that I look back at this, the clear liquid diet pre-op really wasn't that hard. Stock up on sugar-free popsicles, crystal lite, broths, etc. Hope you found a good protein drink that you like as well! To be honest, the best clear liquid broth I got from the hospital the day after surgery. It was quite flavorful (wish I would have looked to see what it was). Before you know it you'll be through your surgery and working on healing!

I was sleeved on Aug 31st as well! It's been one week now and I feel great! I actually started working again today, although that really means I hopped in the car and visited someone this morning, and will spend the rest of the afternoon in my home office. Call me crazy, but I'm scheduled to fly to California tonight for a quick overnight/morning meeting. The co-worker I'm going with is "in the know" and willing to take me to a grocery store where I can get what I need for the morning, and then it's back on a plane home. It's a short flight (1hr) so I won't be sitting around that long. And, if my bag weighs more than 8lb (which I'm going to try to keep it under that), he'll carry it for me. I did check with my Doc a couple of weeks ago and she said I should be fine for the trip. Wish me luck!

I find it a little interesting that every doctor has a different "take" on the diet before/after surgery. My doc wanted 7 days of clear liquids before surgery. I've read of others who only do 3 or 4 days of clear liquid before surgery. I've read others who are eating "soft solids" less than a week after surgery. My doc takes the conservative approach and I have 2 weeks post-op of "full liquids" before moving onto the softer solids. From what I understand, getting your liquids is the most important part, and Protein a close second. Other than that, the main goal is to "not hurt anything" while you are healing. I think that means salt & fat & sugar in "moderation" - at least during this period of the meal plan. I'm currently "eating" (in my full liquids phase): frozen Protein shakes (can't stand them just cold, have to be <really cold>, no-sugar-added yogurt (100cal), Cream of "whatever" Soup (just add a little lowry's season salt and it tastes pretty good), sugar-free popsicles, crystal lite, and cream of wheat w/ brummels and brown & sugar (I really should go to the store and find a sugar substitute). It was my brother's birthday yesterday and we went out as an extended family to a Chinese restaurant. It was funny & difficult watching them all eat a ton while I had my "cup" of eggdrop soup (and even then, I didn't eat the egg, just the soup part). The social aspects of the VSG are going to be the toughest for me, I'm guessing. Not sure if it's cheating (I'll have to ask my nut), but once this week I went to Zuppas and got some take-out soup, brought it home, blended it up, and ate that. Boy was it yummy... Good luck!

I had something similar but it really only lasted for the first 3 or 4 days after surgery. Since then things have started moving back to "normal". The pain has subsided, but there are still bubbles that work their way up after I take a sip of something. You were sleeved about 10 days before me, though - so I would have expected that you'd be feeling better by now. What does your Dr. say?

Had my VSG on Tuesday. Just posting a quick check-in. I have a few observations: The clear liquid diet wasn't near as hard as I thought it would be for the week leading up to the surgery. I might have even tried for 2 weeks to do the single-incision, but too late for that now! The day of surgery was harder than I thought it would pain-wise. Some of that was my own fault. I thought that they were giving me painkillers along with the PCA but later found out the PCA was my only painkiller. Once we figured that out, things were better. I ended up staying 2 nights in the hospital instead of the planned 1 night. I actually recommend it. I felt sooo much better after the 2nd night in the hospital. I'd say that 2nd day I had more pain than I had originally expected. The rest of the days since then have been great. I would say that after the first two days, the pain has really gone away for the most part and I'm just a little sore. Like others, I had problems eating/drinking for the first few days. Those have mostly gone away, as long as I keep it slow. I'm still struggling with Gas, using Gas-X and keeping mobile. I'm sure that will subside in a while. Thanks for all the support. This site is an excellent tool to get/give support.

I'm 5-days post-op and doing very well. They sent me home with an abdominal binder that holds everything together and makes me have good posture. My question is this: how long am I supposed to use the binder? Is it something that I'm supposed to get off as quickly as possible, or is it something I need to keep on for "at least" X days? Thanks!

I'm 6'4", 340lb, and denied by insurance because of the 1 year doctor-supervised exercise and diet plan. I have HBP, but other than that things are pretty good. I had originally intended to do the band. In talking with a few people, I found that a neighbor had a VSG and has done great since then. I also know someone else who had a band around the same time and they're not doing so well. When I told my Dr. self-pay, they steered me towards VSG instead of the band for all the regular reasons (nothing left behind, no fills, etc. etc.). I was originally scheduled for mid-Sept 2010, but a work conflict came up and I had to reschedule. While at the Drs office rescheduling, they said pushing it back would take a month or more, but they could move it forward a couple of weeks, so 08/31/2010 is my surgery date. That day was exactly 1 week before the surgery, so they said "you're officially on clear liquid diet as of right now". It was quite a surprise... but I can't complain. I was hoping to have one last "favorite meal" or even "one last swig of a diet soda". I got to skip all of the pre-clear-liquid-diet anxiety (it hadn't started yet)! 3 days into the liquid diet and it hasn't been that bad. I wish I would have tried some Protein shakes before-hand. The first one I had I almost sicked-up. It tasted great, but I think my body went into protein overload... I cut the serving-size in half, used Water instead of skim milk, and my next shake was a little more pleasant. I've never "drank" my calories, so Crystal Lite works well for me. Hate the Jello, but it works, and SF popsicles aren't that bad. chicken broth is good, and I got the thumbs-up from my Dr to have Miso Soup (sans anything chunky in it). Today's almost over - so I've got 3 more days to weather the "clear liquid diet storm". Wish me luck!

I got sleeved yesterday afternoon! It was rough for the first few hours after surgery until we got the pain under control. The night was decent. I dozed through most of it except for a 3-4am stint. Took the opp to walk and use the facilities. Today was a little rough too. Still have enough pain that I will stay one more night. My fault for not asking for more though. Had liquid lortab at 6am and didn't get another until I asked for one at 3:30pm. I have what feels like big hunger pains that come and go. Talked to my Dr and she says I should be sitting all the way up (edge of bed) when I eat. Will have to try that for dinner. It was nice to get to full liquids! For those who have had a sleeve: what was the timeframe for pain subsiding? How long until it's just achey instead of painful? Thanks!

Day 5 of the clear liquid diet done! Days 1-3 weren't that bad, but on Day 4 I "bonked". Just completely ran out of energy about half-way through the day - although that's probably my fault. I didn't have any Protein shakes days 1 and 2, and on day 3 & 4 I only had one small serving. I've upped that to the recommended serving today and feel a little better. One more day of the Clear liquids and then it will be surgery day! I've lost about 15lb on the clear liquid diet so far. Well, the starting weight was middle-of-the-day, fully clothed, and all my other weigh-ins are at home first thing in the morning. Is that normal? @educationrulz: no diet sodas, no caffeine, no carbonation, and really no sugar either. It seems to be a bit more strict than some of the other clear liquid diets that others have had. It's essentially broths, sugar-free drinks (crystal lite, propels), sf popsicles, and Protein Shakes (at least they can be mixed with 1%/skim milk, and not necessarily clear). @Carrie: I have a great support system. My wife is an avid runner and she's completely behind me. From the co-worker standpoint, there's really only one guy I work with on a regular basis (I work from home for the most part) and he's completely supportive as well. Thanks all!

Thanks all for the words of encouragement! 3 more days to go!

Day 2 of my "clear liquid diet" I got some Protein shake mixes, had one (Cookies & cream, mixed with skim milk, in the blender, and then in the freezer for a bit). After about an hour I had stomach aches like you would not believe, and almost puked it out. I've done a little reading and the recommendations were: 1.) use Water instead of milk, and 2.) try 1/2 to 1/3 of a serving, and then work your way up. I did both today (1/2 serving with water, and only a little milk) and didn't have any aches today. Hope you find something that works for you!