Penpen

I'm a week post op and am just now starting to muster up some energy to really help myself. In fact, today was my first day to venture outside of the house for a couple of hours. I didn't do much...was just along for the ride but boy did it exhaust me. In fact, just putting a little make-up on, putting a bra on(lol), and putting my hair in a pony tail ran me out of energy before I ever got out the door. But everyone is different. I think I'm almost ready to start back at the dishes, the laundry, etc. with some help from my husband. Of course, no lifting allowed! I will just say that my energy has increased a little each day and my pain has decreased a little with each new day. As far as your fears, that is so normal! You will be fine. I still find myself in a panic every once in awhile..thinking, what did I do...will my stomach explode...will I have a blood clot, etc. But then, I take a deep breath and realize that I am doing just fine and am improving with each new day. I think being scared is perfectly okay....but keep reminding yourself why this is so important to you. You will be fine!

Hi Renee! I had my surgery June 23rd. It hasn't been easy but I'm glad that I had it done. You and I sound kind of alike. My first visit with my surgeon I weighed 280. I think that was May 10 or 11. I did have to do a preop diet. On the day of surgery, I weighed 254. I have no idea what I weigh right now. I have my 1 week post op appointment on Friday, so we will see. I would weigh on my scale but it is so off from what the doctor's and hospital's is, that I will just wait it out. For me, I have had no complications but it has been a rather rough week. I can't wait to compare notes. And congratulations to you!

Wow! Congrats! I can't wait to fit in your shoes ... or jeans ...lol

You look awesome! You should be soooo proud of yourself! My surgery is tomorrow and it's stories like yours that will get be in the car in the morning. Hopefully I won't freak out too bad....I'll think of all you thin ones out there! My inspiration!

My blog is in my signature, too! I love blogging about my journey so far. Love to read others too.

I'm so excited for you! You're doing an awesome job! My surgery is tomorrow morning and I'm still having moments were I freak out and want to turn and run but then I hear stories like yours and I get so excited again. Thank you for sharing.

Yes, this is normal. My surgery is tomorrow and I got a call last week saying that I needed to come up with $3300 before surgery! Of course, I said there's NO way I can do that so they are allowing me to pay $850 and bill me for the rest. I'll be paying that today! Ugh! And I still have to pay my doc $500+ (already paid nearly $300) but he is allowing until July 1. Thank goodness! All of this and I have insurance! Crazy! The hospital did say that the hospital bill alone would exceed $17,000...which will be billed to insurance. That's not including the anthiesalogist (sp?), blood work, etc. I trade you! lol I'm just so thankful that I don't have to pay the entire amount. That would be impossible for us.

You can lose that fast, too! Just do exactly what your doc tells you to and don't cheat...no matter how hard it gets. I went to the hospital yesterday for preadmitting blood work and I've lost 26 lbs. according to their scale. It has been exactly 23 days since I started my preop diet. I can't believe it! Especially since my scale here at home doesn't move down as fast. But the doc's office did tell me to get a calibrated scale instead of a manual scale. Suppose I should listen to them. lol

I feel you! My surgery is the day after yours, the 23rd. It's definitely scary but we'll do good and we'll get passed all the nausea and such ...AND then start living life again! Hang in there!

Drink a large glass (like 16 oz.) of Water within 5 minutes. I do that every morning before I do my shake and it always seems to get things moving. Another thing that helps too, is to drink a cup or 2 of regular coffee. There's something in it that gets things moving. Just my 2 cents!

Hi! I'm on my 3rd week of the preop diet and will have surgery this Thursday, the 23rd. I have had good days and bad days but haven't cheated. It has been an emotional roller coaster. I was so excited to get started and even tried to mentally prepare myself for it but until you start refusing the foods you love and you start having some very strong hunger pangs AND others eat normal, very yummy and very fragrant foods in front of you, you just don't know how you are going to feel. I've learned a whole lot in the last 3 weeks. One thing is that hunger does not always come from the stomach, sometimes it comes from your head or somewhere else that is deep inside where there is that deep, deep longing for the old beloved habit of eating so much of whatever pleases you...and whenever it pleases you. BUT YOU WILL GET THROUGH IT! You just keep reminding yourself of why this is so important to you and that following the doctor's orders will insure a safe surgery. I will be honest by saying that I have had quite a few meltdowns in the last 3 weeks and I am now know as a "Drama Queen!" lol I have had a few nights where I just had to leave the room while my family ate and take refuge in the bedroom to have a real good cry. I've even made my family feel bad about eating ...which I did not intentionally do! I just couldn't fight all the emotions. But there have been good days, too, where I was happy go lucky, no melting down, and no "Drama Queen!" It is hard but you will be fine! And I'm sure that not everyone has as tough as a time as I have because everyone's different. You will be okay! As far as my diet, the first week was 4 Protein shakes and one small meal. I got used to it after about 3 days or so. But then after that, they changed me to 2 shakes a day and one small meal. Ugh! That's when it got really hard. I'm taking in about 600-700 calories a day and believe me, I feel it! But once again, I'm okay and I just have a few more days until surgery...so I won't feel tortured anymore. In between shakes and THE meal (lol), I drink lots of Water and crunch on ice. It makes me feel kind of full and just makes it a lot easier to get through to the next shake...or meal. And sometimes a piece of sugar free gum helps! I read that for a lot of people, the pre-op diet is the hardest thing to go through...even over the surgery. I think that will be my case, too! I'm so looking forward to having a tiny stomach that gets full quick and am also looking forward to working towards real food again. Hang in there and stay excited...even if you have a few meltdowns! Don't give into the urge to binge....keep what's important to you in sight at all times. Remind yourself a couple of times a day what this surgery will mean to you! I have been blogging about my days with the pre-op diet and some of my emotional ups and downs if you are interested. http://www.sliceofhe...e.blogspot.com/

Where do you find the sugar free flavors?

I started mine on May 31st. So for the first week, it was 4 protein shakes and a small meal with no red meat and very low carbs. I had to stay under 1000 calories. Then after my preop class on June 8, I could only have 2 protein shakes and one small meal. I had to keep it under 1000 calories a day but I've ended up keeping it between 600-700 calories a day! Yeah, I've had a few meltdowns from being hungry or just plain not feeling satisfied. It has truly been one of the hardest things I've done in my life.

I want to join in on the scared team too! I'm going on Thursday for my surgery! It is very scary, isn't it? We'll be okay!

If they haven't been picked up yet, I'm very interested. I live east of Dallas in the metroplex. Thank you for being so sweet!

Hey Beth! I think you've done great! I'm on my 3rd week of preop and boy has it been tough but I have 5 days until surgery and hopefully won't feel so deprived afterwards. Please keep us updated on how you are recovering. You will be in my thoughts!

The bariatric coordinator told me that I could not leave the hospital unless someone was there to drive me home but there were no other requirements for anyone's attendance while in the recovery room. But I didn't ask about that either.

Hi there! I'm being sleeved on the 23rd too! You'll be okay. I know exactly how you feel. I change my mind every single day and think why the heck am I doing this! But I know why and I just keep reminding myself. I hate the idea that I'm permanently losing a huge part of my stomach and have all kinds of what if's messing around in my head. I think this is pretty normal. Keep us posted on how how you are doing.

Glad you here! I will have my surgery June 23. And I am also in Texas! Please keep us posted on how you are doing. I've been on an emotional roller coaster for the last few weeks but for some reason the last day or so I've had a very calm feeling about what's to come next week. It's so weird. I'm sure I will fall apart right before it is time. Lol

I think this behavior is pretty normal. I did the same thing. And felt sad that I didn't get more in before pre-op started. I had already read a lot here on this forum and realized that one day I would get to enjoy food again just in much smaller amounts and with a mindset of eating way more healthy foods and very little not so healthy foods. So, my mourning was not about never getting to enjoy food again but it was more about the fact that I was about to go through 3-4 weeks of torture with this very restrictive and not so pleasureable diet. I've got one week left of preop and have continued to long for food but not even for gorging or for junk food but just to feel satisfied and full. It's been really hard but from what I understand, after surgery, my appetite, my tastebuds, and etc. will change and food will not be a huge interest for a while. And when it becomes of interest again, my world will not revolve around food! Don't feel bad just follow your preop to a "T" and don't give in to your emotions and cravings even if you start earlier than expected. Keep going! I also started a week and a half earlier than I was expected to because I wanted to lose as much as I could before surgery to hopefully have a safer and faster procedure. You'll be okay and we are here to cheer you on. Go enjoy your last few crazy meals and then get real serious when preop starts....don't cheat after that...at all! You will be much better off and you will feel so proud of yourself for notting giving in and not jeopardizing your health and safety during surgery. By the way, it's okay to have as many meltdowns , breakdowns , whatever it takes to get through your preop. Believe me, I've had my share many times already and I'm sure I haven't seen the last of them. I've even had to go take a nap or two just to get through until I could have my next Protein shake. You'll be okay!

Congrats! Keep us updated. I have surgery on the 23rd. Can't wait to get to the other side.

Hi Meg! I'm in my 3rd week of the preop diet and as of now I can only have 2 Protein shakes and one small meal. I cannot go over 1000 calories a day. I'm actually only getting 600-700 calories a day. Before last Wednesday, I was doing 4 Protein Shakes and 1 small meal. I have a blog that I started a couple of weeks ago and I have been blogging all about my preop and details of my diet, if you want to read it. http://sliceofhealthyplease.blogspot.com/ Good luck to you! Keep us posted!

I was told that the staples will never go away! That's a good question though. I'm curious what others have to say about this. Is it possible that different doctors use different types of staples for this procedure or is the same across the board?

I want to know, too! I'm in preop right now and am going crazy with that dumb scale. I swear it is broken! It has sat on the same number for like 6 days now! I check my weight every morning and well, like I said, I'm going nuts!