mountain_lover

Well today is now Dec. 11 and I decided to check out all my threads to let you all know how I am doing. I did make it to the End of my pre-op diet without cheating and I did have the surgery. Everthing went real well and I am doing ok. Before the Pre-op diet I weighed 240 pounds which I have some photos posted at that weight. Now I weight 226.6 pounds as of Dec.10 on that morning weigh-in. I am trying to walk some and I am trying to find things to Puree for my Post-op pureed diet, but not much sounds good pureed. I tried some fish that smelled so good last night and I pureed it in cream of mushroom Soup. I had to go slow because a couple of times I felt nauseous. On Wednesday I will be going to the soft food diet, foods that can be mashed with a fork. I am looking foward to that. Well I need to get some sleep, so I am going to stop here and come back to check out and reply on other threads. I am so thankful for all your prayers and concerns!! Have a great day!!

Thank you for all your thoughts, comments, and prayers!! I came home on Dec. 5 and I am doing oK. Had lots of bad Nausa, but no vomiting. The only pain that I have had is from gas pains. I try hard now to keep them down with meds and watching what I drink. I was worried at first because my weight was up to 235 the day after I got home and the night before surgery I weighed 232. But now I am told that was probably some water, so I do believe it was, because now on Dec. 10 I weigh 226.6 pounds. That was a weight loss of almost 10 pounds in 4 days. I am so happy that I got the sleeve and Dr. Husted my surgeon here in Somerset Ky. is so great. He did not do a leak test. He has a very good reputation. I thank God and my Surgeon for everything going so well. Now I have a long journey ahead of Me to try to do my part. I have not been walking as much as I should be, but I try to get in some each day. I am having a little bit of a problem trying to find things to Puree on my Pureed Diet that will last one more week. I will be on soft foods starting on Dec.16. That is also the day that I go for my two week check up. I went to see a nurse at my family doctor's office yesterday and she said so far everything looks fine. I will be posting on different threads that I have started, so if you would like you may go to statistics on my profile and read all my posts. Thank you again and I hope you all have a happy, and healthy journey with your surgery and recovery!!

Hello VegasAngel, Thank you for all your very good comments. I am so glad that I have support from all you sleevers. I will try to take it easy. I have been walking a little bit today, but it was so cold and windy outside here in Somerset Ky that I could not walk in my apartment complex. So what I did was when I went to the Somerset Mall to get My H1N1 vaccine this evening I got some exercise from waiting in line, going to the restroom and walking around a little after the vaccine. I am losing some weight even without getting alot of exercise in, so I am so anxious to see how it goes once I do start going to the Y to my swimming exercise classes and get on the eliptical machine. I am really looking forward to doing so. I dropped by the Y and let the class instructor know that I was ok and I would be returning soon. I have a two week check up with Dr. Husted on Dec. 16. I hope he gives me the OK to go back to swim classes, but even if he does, I am going to take it easy. I sure don't want to mess anything up now after all the progress that has been made. Have a great day! WoW you are almost half way to your goal Weight. You are doing so great.

Hello Chancie, You are doing great, look at that weight loss, WOW!! Thank you for your comments. The scales I got for my early Christmas present from my Daughter. They were purchased at Wal-Mart in the Hardware Department. The brand name is Healthometer. There were 3 kinds. One of them does not do all of the same ones that mine does. The three are priced from approximately 25-45 dollars. Mine was the middle one at $34.95, and it has very detailed instructions how to use it. It records up to 4 persons for 12 weigh-ins each, then you can delete them and start over. It records the date, time, goal weight, current weight, what gender you are, your age, bone mass, water mass, body fat, and also your height. I really like using mine. It really keeps me up to date and lets me know if I am getting healthier. I hope you can find one. Have a good day!!

Hello thinoneday, Thank you!! I have not regretted having the sleeve so far. I am doing ok, and the weight is slowly coming off. I weighed 235 three days after surgery and today I weighed 236.6. I am getting over that real bad nausea and gas pains that I had all week. Now I am taking my medicine for it, which helps too. Whenever you get negative thoughts going through your head, just read Aristotle's Quote that is on your postings. It is so true. Your surgery is on My Mother's Birthday. She past away last year. I will be thinking of you on that day. Please hang in there and stay positive. I will keep you in my prayers!!

Hello JudyJudyJudy, Glad to hear that everything is going oK. I had my surgery on Dec. 2 and when I went home I had to start my pureed diet. Pureed diet consists of any table foods have to have gravy, milk, water, ect... to put into the blender to puree them to the consistancy that can be drawn up through a straw (BUT DON'T DRINK IT THROUGH THE STRAW TO AVOID AIR, BECAUSE OF GAS) WITH NO LUMPS. I wanted some Fish so bad tonight, so I took a piece of it and put it in some cream of mushroom soup and pureed it in my blender. I had to eat it very slowly and a couple of times it seemed like I might either have been getting full or starting to get nauseous, but it passed and I ate all of it, just a few ounces. I am going to try to start experimenting with different foods so that next week if I get to start on soft foods (TABLE FOODS THAT CAN BE MASHED UP WITH A FORK) maybe it will be easier to know what works and what don't. If the pudding is too thick, maybe you could mix a little skim milk in it to make it more the consistancy that would go through a straw. I hope this helps. Have a fast recovery!!

Wow how time goes by so quickly when you get on here and start reading everyone's comments and then start replying. I can't believe what time it is. I have to go to bed and get some rest. Need to so that I can heal faster!! Good night to all. Be back soon!! I have enjoyed my visit on the forum!!

I want to thank everyone for all your prayers and support. Sorry I have not got on here to let you all know how I am doing. I got on here a few night ago and left a message on the thread "Fellow Sleevers" but I was not feeling well so I had to stop. I am feeling better today. This is the best I have felt all week since surgery on Dec. 2. I am so surprised that I did not have hardly any pain, except the gas pains. I have been tired and have had severe nausea up until today. I am grateful though that I have not had any vomiting. I went to the flea market I think on Sat. and walked around alittle bit and I walked a few times yesterday, but today it rained all day. So I decided to go to the Y and get on the stationary bike, I went slow kept within my target heart rate. I want to go back to my swimming classes so bad, but I have to wait until my incision heals. I will be going back for my 2 week check up in a week and I will ask the doctor if I can go back. I will find out how much exercising I can do in the Water. I am so excited about my journey. I am hoping that I am doing ok on my post op diet. I am going to have to read more comments to see how everyone else is dealing with their post-op diet. I have to be on pureed foods for one more week. Today I had a hard time getting enough Protein in, but I am doing ok on getting enough liquids as far as I know. My Body water mass is only at 35 % which I think is low, I think for a female my age it is suppose to be 47%. I don't know if I am getting the figures correct or not. For the past 12 weighs on my new scale, I have been at 33-37 % Water mass. If anyone knows about this, please let me know because I sure don't want to get dehydrated. I was told to get at least 32 oz. of Fluid in per day and try to get 64 oz. in. I do know that I have not been walking as much as I should, but now that I am feeling better without all that nausea, maybe I can get in more walking time. I will try to come back more often. I hope I don't keep repeating myself, but I tend to forget what I have previously posted. Thank you all!! Does anyone know what the correct % of water weight should be for a 55 year old female on the scales?

Thank you for the information. I wandered about why my papers pre-op said to avoid caffinated drinks. And after surgery when they brought my tray of food, the bag of tea said decafe. I was going to go out and have tea with family tomorrow, but now I think I will start carrying bags of decaffinated tea with me and ask for a cup of hot Water and then pour it over Ice. I appreciate everyones support and comments!!

Wow you are doing so good!! 30 pounds in a month. I wish you the best!!

Thank you JoAnne for all your prayers!! Please read this: Thank you for all your concern and comments. I am back and it feels so good. I have not been on for awhile because I have been so sick from the nausea. I have not had any vomiting, for which I am very grateful. Today is the best I have felt since surgery. I have not had as much nausea today. I went to the Y and exercised on the stationary bike which is ok at this time. Walking and stationary bike is all. Once my incision heals up I can go back to my swimming classes. I will just have to ask the doctor how much of the exercises can I do. I may have to take it easy at first, but just being in the pool will help, I am sure. I am so grateful for you all on this forum. I hate to think about my journey without you all here for support. Have a good day!! I am sure I will be posting more as I continue to heal and feel better each day.

I remember that feeling of being so excited and kind of nervous too. I said over and over I felt like I was on an emotional rollercoaster ride. Well, Just hang on because the ride only gets more exciting and more nervous the closer you get to your date. The closest thing to feeling like that was when I had my first child. And just like everyone told me on here, "It will be here before you know it". Time really goes by fast. What do you have to do on your pre-op diet? I wish you all the best!! I had my surgery 1 week ago on Dec.2 and I am doing ok except had some problems with alot of nausea, but it will be worth all of it. Please post some pictures if you haven't already, I will be looking for "Lauren's photos" soon.

Thank you for all your concern and comments. I am back and it feels so good. I have not been on for awhile because I have been so sick from the nausea. I have not had any vomiting, for which I am very grateful. Today is the best I have felt since surgery. I have not had as much nausea today. I went to the Y and exercised on the stationary bike which is ok at this time. Walking and stationary bike is all. Once my incision heals up I can go back to my swimming classes. I will just have to ask the doctor how much of the exercises can I do. I may have to take it easy at first, but just being in the pool will help, I am sure. I am so grateful for you all on this forum. I hate to think about my journey without you all here for support. Have a good day!!

Thank you for sharing your story. I had my surgery 1 week ago and I have been experiencing a cramplike feeling with soreness in my right arm above the area where they put in my IV. I had a big bruise where she had so hard of a time getting the needle to go in right. I am going to go have it checked out tomorrow at my Doctor. I would not want to let it go and find out that it was a blood clot later. Better to be safe than sorry.

Hello fellow sleevers, jsm, and judyjudyjudy, I just came home from the hospital yesterday. I DID IT!! I had the sleeve done on Wednesday morning and I could have went home on Thursday, but I felt like one more day would help for me to see if I was going to be able to walk ok and drink enough fluids. I have not had any incision pain. The only pain I have had is from the gas pains, which they say can be caused from the anesthisea (?ms) I have had alot of nausa, I have been taking some meds for it. i am so happy that this part is over and I am now looking forward to having some of the soft food, which will be around Dec.16 or so. I went to Wal-Mart and walked around for a little while yesterday after getting out of the hospital. Today I went to the Flea Market here in Somerset KY. so I could get some walking in and see some of my friends. They were so surprised to see me up and walking this soon after surgery. I will post more when I feel better. Thanks for you thoughts, prayers and your concern? I appreciate them very much!!

I will get back soon to let you know how surgery goes. Thank you all for support and prayers!!

I am over pre-op and back home from visiting for thanksgiving. I DID NOT CHEAT ON PRE-OP. I have to go to the hospital shortly, be there at 6 am and surgery will be at 7am this morning. Time went by so quick. I will let everyone know how it goes as soon as possible. Thank you for all your support and prayers. Pinch me to see if this is for real or just a dream!!

I have completed my pre-op and going for surgery this morning. I survived the holiday without cheating on my diet. I weight only 225 on my scales, but I officially weight at the BC on their scales at 232 pounds, so that is what I am posting on my ticker. I want to thank everyone for all your prayers and I hope I can get back real soon to let you know how surgery goes this morning. I had to take my bowel prep late because of a hold up at the pharmacy so I have been up all night from that and my anxiety. I am almost ready to go to the hospital. I have to be there in 2 hours and have surgery at 7:30 am this morning. It did get here so fast. I went out of state for the holiday and I was so busy visiting that time went by quickly. I am hoping that I will be able to use the Lap-top at the Hospital. I have to only stay 2 days, if no complications. I have to take my last antibacterial hibcleanse shower and get dressed to go, so I will have to get off here soon. I want to go to the other threads on pre-op and post-op. Thanks for all your support.

I have been on my Pre-op diet since Nov.18 and time is going by so fast. Sunday- Monday-Tuesday will be the last days of my pre-op. I am going to have the sleeve on Wednesday Dec.2. I am glad that this holiday weekend is just about over and that I have not cheated. Yes the food is so tempting, but I am determined that I am going to try to do what is required of me to help the doctor and to help my recovery. I pray that later I will be able to enjoy small portions of all the good food I have missed out on over this holiday. Maybe by Christmas I will be able to eat some of the foods for the holiday just in smaller amounts. I will let you know if I make it to the end of this 2 week pre-op diet without cheating. I have got to get some sleep now if I can.

I appreciate your comments. It is now almost 2:00 Sunday morning. I did make it so far, but I still have to go through another Thanksgiving Dinner today at my sister's. She wanted to cook one for my family while we were here this weekend. It is hard being around all the food and leftovers, but I have not cheated at all on my diet. Right now at this time I am eating my frozen Protein Milkshake. I only had 2 milkshakes and 1 Protein Bar all day on saturday before midnight, so I had to fix me another one. I always try to get 4 in a 24 hour period. I am suppose to have 4-5, so I am doing alright. I never have liked those ensure or slim fast milkshake, so I thought that I would not like these, but I really like them alot. I can have fruit and nuts blending up in mine. I freeze mine whenever possible, because I loved ice cream before the pre-op diet and they seem almost the same this way. I really enjoy the strawberry flavored protein mix with pineapple and strawberry together or separate with or without pecans. In the chocolate mix I only like banana or strawberry in it.(just remember it has to be ate while frozen, do not thaw and eat later.) When she gets to feeling better and can have the whey protein milkshakes, if you would like you can click onto my profile and go to statistics and then click onto all my posts and read my comments on how I make my shakes. I think when she is able to tolerate them better, if she makes them in different varities and flavors, she will enjoy them and become healthier as time goes by. I wish her all the best. I only have Sunday-Monday-Tuesday on the pre-op diet then I will be having surgery on Wednesday. I am hoping that by staying on the pre-op diet the way I am suppose to, I will be able to have a faster recovery. I am glad I read your story, because it sure inspired me to not mess up on my trip to visit family for Thanksgiving. This is one Holiday that in the past years, I always look forward to chowing down on all that good food and great deserts. I saved me a plate and I am going to eat some of it after surgery when I can have them, pureed or soft. Thanks again and I hope and pray that all goes well for you and your family!!

Wow you are doing great. You have lost so much since your surgery. Time sure does go by quickly. Now it is so close. Only 6 more days until I go to have surgery. Thank you for your support. Have a happy Thanksgiving day.

I bought some vials of fruit punch flavored liquid Protein at Wal-mart to have on hand after surgery in case I cannot eat and I need the protein. I hope they don't taste too bad. They were beside the pharmacy where the Protein Bars were located. They only have the one flavor and they are only $1.97 each. Dr. Husted suggested them and you can also get them from Bariatric Advantage, THEY HAVE DIFFERENT FLAVORS AND THEY ARE $2.99 EACH IF i AM CORRECT. I hope this helps. I got mine here in Somerset Ky. If you have a Wal-Mart close to you, you can check with them and if they dont have them, maybe they could order them. I will post the name of them later if you need it.

I have a Question ???????????? I wander why that diet would not include fruit. My Protein milkshakes can have fruit in them. I have put bananas in them in the beginning, but now I am only putting pineapple in them. I hope I can find out soon because I only have until Dec.2 on the pre-op. I could always stop putting pineapple in them if there is a good reason not to do so. Thank you and have a Happy Thanksgiving day!!

Hello "Daughter-in-law", I appreciate your story. I am glad that everyone posts on here, because this has been a learning experience for me through my whole journey, and I am learning more and more every day. I remember when I read a posting awhile back by ladiesassie about the importance of following the pre-op diet, I had already heard about why but her story made it really stick in my mind and easier to understand. My surgeon Dr. Husted really stresses adhereing to it for the whole two weeks, because it is very important to help for several reasons one being to help the liver become less fatty and to shrink from what I understand this makes it easier for them to do surgery. The reason is because the stomach is behind the Liver. Also by staying on the protein shakes and bars it is suppose to help with the healing process. My surgeon has given me all the list of complications and risks, and he encourages his patients to learn all they can by attending group sessions and getting on these forums. Each individual is different and has different health related issues. I guess what is so important is to think about everything and decide which creates a greater risk for the individual: all the risks of being morbidly obese with co-morbidities and the possibility of dying from those or the risk of having bariatric surgery and experiencing possible complications from doing so and possibly dying from them. I have had several surgeries, which one was 1 1/2 years ago when I had to have a total knee replacement. I could have died from complications from the surgery especially two major ones such as infection or blood clots. I decided to go ahead and have the surgery because I did not want to go on walking with a cane and having people to have to help me up and down all the time. I was getting to the point where I could no longer exercise, walking was becoming more and more difficult. I am so grateful that I had the surgery and no longer walk with a cane. Now I have been able to walk more and I really want to have the sleeve done because I don't want to go on being Morbidly obese. My weight was going up and up even after my knee surgery, and just recently in July I was up to 266 pounds. I am now moving closer to my surgery date of Dec.2 and I am currently doing my pre-op diet. I have really been upset due to the fact that today is thanksgiving day and I cannot eat all that good food that everyone else in my family will be eating, but it is more important for me to do what is required than to enjoy all that food. I am so glad that you posted this, because it will help me make it through this day much easier. It is so tempting to go off for only one day, but after reading your story, it also reminds me of ladiesassie's story and it will help to give me the strength to fight off the temptation of giving in to my head hunger as they call it, for all that good food. I will stick to my protein shakes and bars with God's help and all the support and prayers from everyone here on this forum. Thank you and have a Happy Thanksgiving. I am sorry about your Mother-in-Law. Maybe she did make some mistakes, but she can't change that now, but she sure can do everything possible to help from this day forward. I hope for the best for her. She will be in my thoughts and prayers, as well as all her family. May God bless her with a speedy recovery. As Christians know, the Devil comes to destroy, steal and destroy, so we know that this is not all to blame on the doctors and patients. We can only pray for God to do for us what we cannot do for ourselves. I hope you understand what I am saying. I hope your Mother-in-law will become stronger and not give the Devil any more toehold in her life, only the power of the Lord. Also with your prayers and ours, I know that she is in good hands, because the Lord is on her side. Have a good day!!!!!!

Thank you for explaining that, I was so confused. I really hope and pray that you have a speedy recovery so that you will not have to suffer any more and then maybe they will give you the ok to lose more after it heals. I am grateful for all your comments, because that way when I do have my surgery on Dec. 2 I will be more informed. I am glad that I found this forum, because I really get stressed out not knowing what to expect in any given situation most of the time. I know your story is very touching and my heart goes out to you. You have no idea how much your story has helped others. Please come back to let us know of your progress. I hope you become stronger and healthier with each passing day.