mountain_lover

I thought I had better let you know that I finally got back in better control. I went on my pre-op diet Wednesday and I am doing ok. I only was able to get down 3 milkshakes and 1 protein bar day 1 and day 2. I could not go to sleep last night and so at 3:00 am I was drinking a milkshake then I was able to fall asleep. Today I have had 3 milkshakes and a protein bar since waking up. I am going to try to get one more in before I go to sleep. I am suppose to have 4-5 each day. I really like the milkshakes and they seem to be really filling right now, I hope that it stays that way for all of my 2 week pre-op diet. I hope all goes well with your surgery.

I am happy for you. Your date is the day before my date. I will have you in my thoughts and prayers. Please post how you do after surgery.

I wish you all the best. You are very right, this forum is very informative. I am glad that you have support. Keep in touch and please post some pictures if you would like. I enjoy seeing everyone's progress along their journey. It is very inspirational for alot of people including myself.

I found some vials of liquid protein, fruit punch flavor, at Wal-Mart here in Somerset Ky. for $1.97 each. I ask about other flavors and they told me that is the only flavor they have. Maybe other stores have it in other citys. ( The vials were in the section where the protein bars were located.)

Sorry to hear about your denial. I had to wait along time to find out if they would approve my sleeve, and finally I got an approval and will be having surgery Dec.2. I know that you must be really disappointed. I wish you all the best with whatever you decide to do. When I first started a year ago, the sleeve was not approved by Medicaid here in Ky. but now here in November it is an approved procedure. It is so strange that they don't want to approve the sleeve, but yet the Duodenal Switch is approved by so many insurance companies, and the sleeve is the first part of the DS without all the cutting of the intestine and rearranging it all. It would be nice if they could understand that the sleeve is less evasive surgery, less risky, less complications, less expensive, and faster recovery time. Maybe one of these days it will be approved nation and world wide. But until then so many people have to go through what you are going through, because of some people not understanding and not wanting to change current policies. My prayers are with you.

I am so happy that you let us know how you are doing. I appreciater your honesty. I also hope your journey improves day by day and your depression eases up. I have you in my prayers for a much more speedy recovery. I hope you heal up and are able to eat soon. Maybe when things are getting better, you can say you feel different about the decision your surgeon made to do the sleeve. I noticed that your starting weight was 297 and now you are at 180, I hope I am right. You look so pretty in your profile picture, I have not seen any other pictures of you, so I don't know what you looked like before your surgery in 2006. It must be really difficult to be going through what you have explained, and I hope that you will never have to go through it again. Maybe now that you are healing up you will be on your way to a new beginning and you will love the new you. I have not went through what you have went through and I have had several surgeries, which last year I had a total knee replacement and I always hope and pray that everything will turn out ok. I have had my difficult moments, but nothing to the extent that you have. I can only imagine what you are going through. The thing that was the most difficult for me to go through in my life, was the loss of my daughter in 1997, she was 25 years old with two children and she died from injuries she suffered in a car accident. I have raised one of her sons, he is 12 now and he has an autism spectrum disorder, but he does well with academics. It took me at least 3 years to get to the point where I could go on with life. I felt like life had ended for me when she died. Now her son is doing better and I have made alot of changes in my life, especially my decision to have the sleeve to help me lose weight. At times I look back and get real depressed, but I try to stay positive and not give up on life. I am just now enjoying my life and my family after all these years. I wish it had not taken so long to get to the point where I am now, but I feel that there is a reason why everything happens at a certain time in our lives. I wish you all the best. May God bless you!!!!

I am going to post what I posted to you on your other thread again, just in case you didn't read it. I am now sitting here at 2:34 in the morning and I have a chocolate shake with 1/2 banana in it. I forgot to put my 2 paks of splenda in it and guess what, IT TASTES SO SO GOOD. I am having to eat it with a spoon just like ice cream. I hope you can get out and buy some of the freezer mugs that I mention in the copied reply to you. Here goes: good luck experimenting!!!!!!--------------->>>>>>>> Re: 3rd day pre op failing and may cancel op -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Don't give up, hang in there. I don't know if this will help or not, but I can tell you what I am doing to help me through those difficult moments. I went to Hardee's fast food yesterday, and I just ordered a cup of Ice Water which was free. and that way I filled up on water while visiting with my family. My daughter forgot that I started my shakes and she brought me some banana nut bread. I told her thank you very much, but I gave it to another family member. I just try to think how important this is and that after surgery I will be able to eat some of those things with family in smaller amounts. Also, when I make my strawberry milkshakes I try to make them taste better by adding a half of a banana, 6 oz. skim milk, 2 paks of splenda and 1 tablespoon of pecans or walnuts. Another thing I use is about 1/4 cup of crushed pineapple(in its own juice-no sugar added). I also use chocolate milkshakes with banana, nuts and splenda. I use two plastic mugs that has water inside of them, I put them in the freezer. When I make the milkshakes I take one mug out and put three Ice cubes in the mug and pour the shake over the ice. The mug has frozen water in the sides, so the shake freezes from that and the ice cubes in the mug. The shake gets so thick that I have to use a spoon, it was almost like eating ice cream. It tasted so so so good. I also stay out in the car whenever family goes into the store, so that I won't be tempted by all the foods. If I need to get something from the store I will go hurry in and out and not browse like usual. Also another thing that has helped me, When I purchased my Centrum Vitamins I also needed Citrate Calcium with Vitamin D, I purchased some chewable wafers and also I purchased two bags of SUGAR FREE-CHOCOLATE CITRATE CALCIUM WITH Vitamin D CHEWS. I can only have one a day, but it is like eating a piece of candy each day. The chocolate chews are almost like eating a toosie roll- without sugar. Just experiment and you will find out that you will find ways to make them tasty. I wish you all the best.

I wish you all the best. I will be having surgery Dec.2 and yes I am so excited and all the other emotions too. It is coming up so fast. My prayers are with you.

Don't give up, hang in there. I don't know if this will help or not, but I can tell you what I am doing to help me through those difficult moments. I went to Hardee's fast food yesterday, and I just ordered a cup of Ice water which was free. and that way I filled up on water while visiting with my family. My daughter forgot that I started my shakes and she brought me some banana nut bread. I told her thank you very much, but I gave it to another family member. I just try to think how important this is and that after surgery I will be able to eat some of those things with family in smaller amounts. Also, when I make my strawberry milkshakes I try to make them taste better by adding a half of a banana, 6 oz. skim milk, 2 paks of splenda and 1 tablespoon of pecans or walnuts. Another thing I use is about 1/4 cup of crushed pineapple(in its own juice-no sugar added). I also use chocolate milkshakes with banana, nuts and splenda. I use two plastic mugs that has water inside of them, I put them in the freezer. When I make the milkshakes I take one mug out and put three Ice cubes in the mug and pour the shake over the ice. The mug has frozen water in the sides, so the shake freezes from that and the ice cubes in the mug. The shake gets so thick that I have to use a spoon, it was almost like eating ice cream. It tasted so so so good. I also stay out in the car whenever family goes into the store, so that I won't be tempted by all the foods. If I need to get something from the store I will go hurry in and out and not browse like usual. Also another thing that has helped me, When I purchased my Centrum vitamins I also needed Citrate calcium with vitamin D, I purchased some chewable wafers and also I purchased two bags of SUGAR FREE-CHOCOLATE CITRATE CALCIUM WITH VITAMIN D CHEWS. I can only have one a day, but it is like eating a piece of candy each day. The chocolate chews are almost like eating a toosie roll- without sugar. Just experiment and you will find out that you will find ways to make them tasty. I wish you all the best.

I would like to say thank you to each and everyone of you who posted comments. They are all very helpful and much appreciated. I am liking my shakes and bars, but I am having a hard time getting 4-5 in each day. It is after midnight and I am going to go fix me another one because I only had 3 of them on Wednesday and 3 on Thursday before midnight. I did eat a protein bar each day. I am going to the Y about 3 times each week. I miss it when I don't go. I will post later and let you know how the pre-op diet is going. I am so excited about doing this. I feel that this is my best chance to have a shot at losing weight and keeping it off. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers!

I am so happy that everything went ok. I was so surprised that you are home so soon. I hope you have a fast recovery. I wish you all the best.

I am now on my 2 week Pre-op Diet. It will consist of 4-5 protein milkshakes, which I can make with fruit, nuts, non fat yogurt, and skim milk daily. Also I can have a protein bar for the moment when I feel a hunger moment. I am going to try hard to limit those to 1 each day. I will also need to drink 32-64 oz. of water each day. I will be having my sleeve on Dec.2, it will be here before I know it. I feel like I am on an emotional rollercoaster ride. I am so excited that I am truly getting Closer to having the sleeve surgery. YAHOO, Thank you for all your comments and your thoughts & prayers. I posted a new album of my pictures " Night before Pre-op Diet pictures. I will post more after I get done right before I have the surgery.

I wish you all the best and a very fast recovery. May God Bless you with good health. Please come back often to let us know how your surgery and everything is going.

I posted some photos of me in a new album " Night before Pre-op diet pictures". I will be posting some more after I get done in two weeks, the night before surgery. I didn't have a sports bra or shorts so I took them in the next best thing to show how I really look without being dressed up. Stretchy sweat pant type pj bottoms and a short blouse all in light colors really make me look so terrible and really, really Big. I have lost approx. 30 pounds since July and I am happy that I did, especially after looking at these pictures. I know that my clothes are really getting loose and I bought a smaller outfit, but I have got a long way to go. I am ready to for the change!!

My out of control moment has been this 3 day benge I have been having right before my 2 week pre-op, from what I have read on here it is a so called "food depravation" moment. I hope what THINONEDAY SAID about the sleeve will be true for me also. Boy do I ever need to have some control. This is what the sleeve is all about. I am having surgery on Dec. 2 so I don't have very long until I will find out for myself. I am glad I have you all for support, we all have so much in common and we are striving for the same thing. I want to lose weight and be able to keep it off. I posted some more photos in a new album, "Night before Pre-op diet pictures" and I will post some more right before I have surgery.

Hello Ky.hen glad to hear from you, Thank you so much. I went out for supper with my daughter for thanksgiving dinner since I will be on milkshakes during the holiday. I am having a hard time sleeping and my I feel like I am climbing the walls. I am so excited that I am really finally going to get the sleeve. I want this to be successful and I want to get to my goal weight and keep it off. It still is hard to believe that I am really going to do it. Wow you are doing so great. 34 pounds in 6 weeks is so good. You have lost 1/3 of your goal weight loss. Soon you will be down under the 200 pound marks, I want to see those pictures of you for sure. Please post some pictures soon. It really is an inspiration to hear your story!!

Thank you so much. I went out for supper with my daughter for thanksgiving dinner since I will be on milkshakes during the holiday. I am having a hard time sleeping and my I feel like I am climbing the walls. I am so excited that I am really finally going to get the sleeve. I want this to be successful and I want to get to my goal weight and keep it off. It still is hard to believe that I am really going to do it. Wow you are doing so great. 34 pounds in 6 weeks is so good. You have lost 1/3 of your goal weight loss. Soon you will be down under the 200 pound marks, I want to see those pictures of you for sure. Please post some pictures soon. It really is an inspiration to hear your story.

Thank you for your information, I appreciate it very much!!

I am so glad that I read everyone's comments. I just found out that I am approved for the sleeve and my surgery is scheduled for Dec.2. I am going on a two week pre-op diet Nov 18. Protein shakes, bars and 32-64 oz. water daily. I feel like I am on an emotional rollercoaster ride. I can't hardly go to sleep, I have to just completely give out before I can do so. I am so happy, excited, nervous ect. I know this will all pass and then I will be going through other emotions after surgery. I have been doing alot of hoping and praying that everything will work out for the good. I am putting my faith in my surgeon and God. But yes I am normal and I still feel some fear of the unknown. So I am really glad that people really give alot of details about their experience, so that at least I will know what some of the things are that I might experience myself before, during and after surgery. Again Thank you!! I will post more on "Tell your Story" "Waiting! Getting closer to having VSG surgery From Mountain_lover

Thank you all for your comments. I will start my pre-op diet in 3 more days. I went to the store and bought some more items for pre and post-op. Also today I went to the flea market and bought me a pair of pants and two blouses, and they were smaller sizes than what I have been wearing. (My clothes were getting baggy on me.) I tried them on when I got home and they fit!!!! I have been wearing size 22 pants recently and 2x tops. It feels good to buy smaller clothes before surgery, it gives me a some more hope for how it will be after surgery. The pants I bought were SIZE 18, Carolina *Plus* Blues by Carolina Colours stretch with stripes going up and down. They are a big change from my usual black or blue colored jeans. One blouse was a white size 1x and the other was a maroon size Large blouse. I wore the pull over white one with the maroon blouse, which is a button up, over the white one and left it unbuttoned. I thought it looked nice and it made me feel better knowing that I have lost some weight before surgery. Also I only paid $5.oo for the entire outfit. It matched the shoes that I have been wearing, they are EARTH brand name shoes which I only paid $3.00 for them. They are suppose to be good for posture and it is suppose to be like walking on an incline all day. It is nice to be able to buy nice clothes for a reasonable price, because if all goes well with my surgery, I may be doing this real often. I love shopping, so this should be very fun. I will post more later, have a good day.

Wow you are so inspiring to all of us. Your pictures are so pretty.

Hello Norma, I had a total knee replacement April of last year. I was walking with a cane before the surgery and now I no longer walk with a cane. I do not regret having the surgery at all. Yes it was very painful after surgery for me. I could not hardly move my legs over to the edge of the bed to get up to go to the bathroom and to go for my walks. I had to put my feet against the end of my hospital bed and inch my way over to the edge. Then when I got them to the edge, I had my walker next to the bed and I lowered one of my feet onto the bar in the middle until I could get the other foot lowered to the middle bar. Next I would lower my foot to the floor, then lower the other one. Once I was in a standing position, I could walk up and down the hall ways and actually I could not believe how easy it was the very first day. They want you to get up right away and walk. It helps to prevent blood clots. My knee was in so much pain before I was to go home, they had to take me down to have an ultra sound on my leg to see if I had a blood clot. I could not hardly stand the procedure, but I did make it through it and I did NOT have a blood clot. I was there for about 4-5 days I think. After I came home, the exercises and the therapy I had to go to was very difficult and I know I did not do as well as I should have. It took me about a year to really feel so much better and to start getting around easier. I walked alot to help it to heal faster. I am so thankful that I had it done because now I don't have to have people helping me up and now I can exercise to try to get off all this weight. I have been going to a fun and fitness exercise class at the Y and I enjoy it so much. Also I find that the Eliptical machine is so much easier than the Bicycle machines and the treadmill. I hope you have an easier time than I did. I am sure everyone's experience is different. Just don't give up on the therapy, stay with it. I hope more people let you know about their experience, so that you can have some more encouragement. I hope my story wasn't too discouraging. I had no idea what I was going to go through, I wish someone had explained to me about how difficult it might be. But on a good note, I had a friend that had both knees done at the same time and he did just fine with his surgery and he had a very fast recovery. So as you can see, you might do ok . Just expect anything, but hope for the best. I wish you all the best!! ( one other thing that really helped me for a long time, I purchased a seat lifter that you sit on top of the toilet so that it is higher. That way you don't have so far to bend down to use the toilet. It was real hard for me to bend my knee for quite awhile, so it helped alot with the pain of sitting down and getting back up. If you can get the kind with the metal bars on the side to help you to lift yourself up, it will help to take some of the pressure off your legs, when they are hurting.) I hope this helps you.

Hello twobluecats, I know exactly what you are talking about, I just got my approval for the sleeve and my surgery date is Dec. 2. I could have had it on the day before Thanksgiving, but I am going out of state to visit my son and some of my family the day after Thanksgiving, so I decided to have it Dec.2. After waiting all this year to get approved and get a surgery date, it was really hard to opt for the week later date, but now I have a little more time to get everything organized. I have really been busy getting everything worked out about getting weaned off my medications by all my doctors and getting some of the items I need for my Pre-op diet. I feel like I am on an emotional rollercoaster ride. Same here------->>>>>> Thrilled, scared, nervous, But I am approved and going to have surgery Dec. 2. Horray!!! But I do choose to have Lots Of Faith That God will work everything out for the Good!!! I am so happy to have all the support of everyone on here and the support of my family. I wish you all the best on your surgery, My thoughts and prayers are with you!!

I want to say Thank You everyone for your comments and support. I am on an emotional rollercoaster ride, but I am so happy that the sleeve was approved and will be done soon. I am so glad that I made it this far and did not quit. I am putting all my faith in God and the hands and knowledge of Dr. Husted. I am so happy that He came to Somerset recently and that I had the opportunity to choose him for my surgeon. I will let you know how my Pre-Op diet turns out, I start Wednesday. I went to GNC and purchased my protein Meal replacement for my Milkshakes. I have Strawberry, Chocolate and Vanilla. I still have to get a few more items, but I am going to get them today. I know that everyone's outcome after surgery is similar in ways, but can be so different in other ways. I can only plan the plans, I cannot plan the results. I am just hoping and praying that God will make my journey a successful one. I believe that He will help carry me through all of this. Thank you all for your prayers!!!!