HDubSleevery

I am in the plane on the final leg into San Diego. I love the Internet on planes. I thought you would all get a kick out of e fact that I am watching spongebob squarepants. Lol!

I have stayed busy most of the night either packing, cleaning, or re-packing. I took a ridiculously long hot shower and feel a lot better. I have to be up at 430 AM so I really should get some sleep but I don't see it happening any time soon. Oh well, I guess I will sleep on the plane! I'll make sure to update everyone as soon as I can!

I know you are right. I am making sure I have everything ready to go now. She is with her teacher and as soon as I dropped her off she was on Cloud 9. I just need to pull it together and remember that I am doing this for both of us. Thank you so much for helping me through this.

The letter only has to be submitted to your HR Department and by law they are not allowed to divulge why you were out. (I am an HR Manager - by the way). You can submit it to your HR department and tell the person that you do not want any information about your "medical condition" to be given out. Your HR person should be fine with telling your manager that you received clearance to come back and it should be no issue. I hope this helps! Good luck!

I am only a few days away from surgery so to fight my anxiety, I am doing research (some of it over and over again). I finally watched the actual surgery video on the MBC website. Great Googly Moos! I was holding my breath through the whole thing. No wonder we are so sore afterwards! Has anyone else watched it? I was fascinated and grossed out all at once. For some reason I now really want a picture of what they take out of me. I keep imagining it is going to be HUGE and it will probably be the size of a golfball and completely overrated. HDub

I told them that I was having gall bladder surgery. I don't think they would be understanding of WLS.

My big fat journey starts tomorrow! Well officially not until really early Monday morning, but I am dropping the baby off tomorrow night. - I have everything squared away at work. They won't see me again until next Monday. - I have called the credit card companies and let them know I will be making purchases in Sexy Mexi. - I have bought all my post-op home supplies: GasX, liquid Tylenol, a counter full of vitamins and minerals, lots o' protein (Isopure clear and Isopure and Unjury creamy), a family pack of sugar free jello cups, boxes of sugar free pudding, lots o' different clear broth, 6 boxes of Almond Milk, 4 powerade zero bottles, a grocery cart full of smart water and a variety of flavorings. - I have my passport and regular meds in a see through pouch. I have all my travel size toilettries in one of those handy quart size ziploc bags. - I've got some magazines and movies for the plane. - I've done my homework for next week (did I mention I only have 2 weeks of school until I graduate with my Bachelors?!) - I'll charge up the lappytop, the ipod, and the phone tomorrow. I would say this bad mama jama is almost READY TO GO! (Do I seem excited?! 2011 is gonna be MY YEAR after all!) I'll be seeing you all on the post-op board REALLY SOON! Woohoo!

It wasn't even me and I am bawling over here! Congrats!!

I have only told my best friend. I knew she would be supportive. She recently lost her mother and told me that life is too short to live it miserably. I wasn't going to say anything at work, but everyone noticed when I went from eating cupcakes and bar-b-q meals to protein shakes. I told them I am having gall bladder surgery. Which is kinda true. I had gall bladder surgery earlier in my life so I am expecting the experience to be very similar physically. I couldn't eat anything with fat or grease for a few months or I would go running to the bathroom. I hadn't checked out the hiatal hernia diet but may need to use that too. I am not planning on ever telling my parents it is anything other than a diet.

I found some super comfy pants at Target in the maternity section. Yeah it kinda sucks that I have the body of a 9-month pregnant woman, but hey it won't be much longer! The pants are almost like coolots (sp?) with a loose fitting waist. I bought two pair. One for the plane ride and one for the trip home. Now I am thinking of wearing something else on the plane and saving a pair for the hospital?

Congrats Tammi! (By the way, I call it the "sharts"). I am a little worried that I will have an episode at work. We have a small office and I hate to become the "stinky lady". Glad you have gotten rid of all that fluid!

I went on the pre-op diet last Tuesday. It is high Protein and low carb. I am drinking 2-3 Protein shakes a day (with milk) and a "sensible dinner". (Isn't that what those Slim Fast people say? A "sensible dinner"...anyway I digress.) I decided I would weigh myself only on Fridays. I got on the scale this morning and I had lost 8 pounds! I have been afraid to tell anyone (including posting here). I am terrified of failure. I have failed so many times that I think I have become ashamed of my success. My immediate thought when I saw the number this morning was "This can't be right". It was right because I stepped back on the scale 3 times to prove it. People have been asking me for most of the day how I have been doing on my diet and I just tell them it is fine. I know they are itching to ask how much weight I have lost and I the answer sits like a lump in my throat. Am I really so afraid of public failure that I can't believe/celebrate my success? Has anyone else gone through this? It feels like I am not giving myself a chance to succeed because I am so tired of failing. I hope this makes sense. HDubSleevery

Thank you so much for sharing your story with me. I did weight watchers too with success. I lost 70 pounds and swore I would never go back to the "old me". Four years later I had gained it all back plus some more. I am at my highest all time weight. I think it is worse to have been healthy and regained than to never have been healthy at all. I gave myself a taste of what my life SHOULD be and blew it. I'm back on the right track in every other part of life except my weight. This surgery is my last hope to really get it right forever.

Thanks for the heads up! I figured I would wear a sports bra so I wouldn't poke anyone's eyes out.

You can do it! I am going to sign up for the Buddy Walk in October to benefit our local autism group. October is usually a great month for walks. Not too hot and not too cold (hopefully!)

Oooh Supradol sounds heavenly.

I am going to see Dr. Aceves on the 16th. I keep hearing that people took Tylenol for pain after their surgery (maybe when they got home?). When I leave the hospital, will I be able to handle swallowing a pill or should I try to get the liquid tylenol? Also, where did you find the GasX strips? I was in Target today and they had every possible kind of GasX EXCEPT the strips. Thanks! HDub

I am getting sleeved on Tuesday by Dr. Aceves in SexyMexi! (At least that's what I am calling it). I have had my share of cold feet and I will probably have a few more rounds through the weekend. I want to be optimistic, but then I think if I am too optimistic I will jinx myself. It is a crazy train until I actually get it done. We will all probably be just fine.

I am coming here because you folks are always the ones who can help me when I need it the most. I am exactly one week away from my surgery date and I am scared, nervous, and anxious all at once. I have been great up until today. I started my pre-op diet yesterday and it was the first time in a long time that I have really looked at my demons face-to-face. I had to have an ARGUMENT with myself last night not to go to Krispy Kreme doughnuts and follow it up with a pizza. I have known for a long time that I am addicted to junk food, but I never realized it was this bad. Everything else I have ever really tried in my life I have been able to succeed. (Well, I never see a failure but more of a different path to get to where I need to be.) I have read all the good and bad that I could find about this surgery, but it seems that a lot of what I am seeing this week are complications. Of course, it could be that is all that I am remembering because I am fearful. I think I am only minimally afraid of the surgery and maybe more afraid of the change that will come afterwards. The eating I think I can conquer with the help of the sleeve. The accusatory stares of others like I have done something wrong is what may be the hardest for me. (I am a bit of a people pleaser at this weight. When I was smaller I was way more kick-a**). I am not sure what I need right now. Maybe a hug or a kind word or a kick in the pants. I'm sure whatever it is, you folks can help me through it. Thanks so much for listening, HDubSleevery

Hi there! I also suffer from migraines and it is almost always an uphill battle once I let one break through. I am going to be sleeved in 3 days so I am 4 days into my pre-op diet. I cut caffeine a week before pre-op started. I had headaches, but not migraines (and I was a terrible cranky pants!). They were dull pains on both sides of my temples. My migraines are on the left side and almost always start at the base of my neck and behind my eye. I took Tylenol to keep the caffeine headaches from turning into migraines. Now that I am in pre-op, I am finding that I am getting a lot closer to breakthrough migraines. I am a heavy-duty carb person, so I think my headaches are coming from the drop in carbs coupled with the lack of caffeine. So far, I have been able to handle the headaches with Tylenol versus the "hard stuff" (i.e. Relpax or Fiorocet or Hydrocodone). I have heard day 3 is the worst for carb people so I am hoping I get over this hump tonight. I guess all that was said just to say...I haven't had a migraine but I think it is because I am staying on top of the initial headaches with Tylenol.

Hey lady! I am so glad you are up and at 'em! I'm on a 3 day countdown to sleevery. It's so close but so far. Oh and about your TMI...any time I get antibiotics, I get all "bakery". I completely forgot, but I will have to tell my medical team about it so I can have something. Keep the posts coming. I have two weeks left of my classes online so as long as I am able, I will be online next week!

These are great ideas. Lately I have found myself laying awake at night thinking of all the things I will be able to do (or not do) when I am at goal weight. I won't have the aching in my back and knees after 5 minutes of being mobile. I will be able to play with my 2-year old without getting sooooo tired. I won't be turned down for jobs because of my weight. I won't feel so self-conscious. I will finally feel comfortable enough in my own skin to really be me. I am probably supremely naive, but I don't think the afterwards will be the hardest part for me. I am pretty black and white about stuff. If I can't have something, then I just can't. But if I can have it, I am pretty craptastic about having any self-control. I do worry that I will overdo it the first couple of weeks since I will be going back to work and handling the baby by myself at night. I won't be able to take a nap right when I get home, but I am sure I will be able to get her in bed early and crash right after. If the dishes don't get done one night, it won't kill anyone. I will definitely keep everyone posted on my progress. Thank you all so much for being so supportive. I fly out in 3 more days! It is starting to get really exciting. Since I am a single mom, I am actually pretty stoked about the idea of having a plane ride all by myself where I can sleep ALL I WANT! (It's the littlest things, right?)

The things I obsess over!

Debbie and ForensikChik...I'm glad to hear you made it home and are doing well. I'll be joining you next week so save a seat for me on the loser bench. I'm looking forward to burning that wagon that I keep falling off of!

I have always found it hard to believe that so many of us are obese because we are lazy or can't put the fork down. I have known obese people (myself included) who have gone through some pretty crazy stuff in their lives, both good and bad, and came out on the other side smelling like a rose. It doesn't make sense that we are all fat because we don't do the things that skinny people do. In fact, many of us go above and beyond to try to lose this weight and haven't succeeded yet. So this article helps to shed some light on WHY we aren't winning the battle. Thanks for posting! HDub