Mr-Smith

I wouldn't worry to much about it. The therapist screening is to find individuals who have food addictions or other indicators or conditions that may require treatment in parallel with the surgery. I have heard of very few individuals who were denied surgery due to the shrink's report. The goal is your successful weight loss not to wash you out.

Plan for two weeks. I had my surgery on 9/14 and left the hospital the next day. My pain is minimal and I had planned to go back today. I didn't. This is a real surgery and it takes time to recover and that is the norm. Another thing I hadn't counted on is getting your fluids and protien in is a full time job at first. Take the time, you wont regret it.

For my snacks I have been doing cream of mushroom soup. I buy the "Amy's" brand of partially condensed cream of mushroom and mix on can of skim milk, blend, strain, warm up 4 ounces and it is such a nice break from the sweet protein drinks.

This is what my doc and nut has directed me to do. I'm five days post op. Phase II full liquid diet where I can eat anything that rolls off a spoon like milk. My nut wants me to get 75 to 90 grams of Protein, 120 to 130 grams of carbs and 70oz of Fluid a day. I have three "full" liquid meals a day at 8oz plus three Snacks a day at 4oz. In between these meals I sip Water constantly.

I'm five days post op and my surgery and recovery are going well too. The pain was tolerable and I'm off the meds since day three. The Phase II diet is a full time job but I am able to get all my fluids, Protein, and carbs in. Yesterday it was 95Grams protein, 72 Oz's Fluid and 119 Grams Carbs. What amazes me is NO HUNGER, I have to remind myself to eat.

There is no malfeasance intended by those of us who are post op less than three months when we express the FACT that post op is not easy and many of the changes we are experiencing are disorienting and uncomfortable. The feelings we experience are real and our ability to come on this board to be heard is very therapeutic. Your comment is one of the worst I have seen in a long time trying to shame us in to lying to ourselves that everything is rosy. My momma used to say if you don't have anything good to say, then don't say anything. I am glad that at 8 months out all is well for you.

My pre-op diet is 650 to 800 calories with like 10 carbs. the goal of the pre-op is to shrink your liver to get it out of the way. the only way to do that is eliminate the carbs and throw your body in to ketosis. Kinda like the atkins diet with without all the fat. Drink tons of Water At my pre-op,.my doc sent me home with all the food I was allowed to eat/drink. It was not much and the second day of the diet was a killer. By the way, I'm on the sixth day and my surgery is in the morning... I have lost somewhere around 5 to 7 lbs on pre-op. Will know exactly in the morning. Sorry to hear about your troubles, hang in there.

I'm on day 6 of the pre-op diet and the second day kicked my butt. By brain was not working at 100% and driving home, I ran a red light. It gets a little easier. My surgery is in the morning so I'm on my last day. One tip. DON'T GO TO THE GROCERY STORE or GO OUT TO EAT! My wife is out of town and I have been cooking for the kids and had to run to the store. That was torture. My wife just came home with some candy for the kids and my boy has been tormenting me with a piece of chocolate. He is such a little stinker.

I'm a guy so the victory secrets thing, well... and did enough running in the Army. Swimming is my thing but I'm doing that now. Now I can't wait to start doing jujitsu again

Find some co-morbidity if you can. My sister added a few pounds to qualify. Try lifting some weights so the pounds added are beneficial.

Everybody Thanks for the response. My doc was big on the Aspirin and slow release meds restrictions but I think it's because his written materials he developed originated with his bypass patients. Looks like I need to add in: Lactose Intolerance B12 supplementation Elevated estrogen levels during fat lose phase (I think this is true for guys as well but I don't think it will increase our risk of pregnancy, probably decrease it since we are so moody if you get my drift.) Can't forget buying NEW clothes. My surgery is tomorrow. Please keep me in your prayers. Looks like I need to be back to work Tuesday. Thank goodness I have a desk job and work from home.

After reading up on the sleeve for several months I have been listing the potential side effects. Is this list complete or do I need to be concerned about anything else? Weight Loss Too much weight Loss Feeling cold all the time Chronic GERD Strictures Leaks Calcium deficiencies Iron deficiencies Can't take slow release drugs (Opinions Vary) No Aspirin (Opinions vary but anecdotal, it's not an issue) Issues from Surgery Twisting up the sleeve (There is a technical term for this but I don't recall it) Possible dumping Food tolerance issues Nutritional deficiencies Hair loss that grows back gall bladder issues Chronic fatigue until fully recovered During weight loss, elevated Estrogen levels. For women a higher risk of pregnancy, for men, well we get grumpy Lactose Intolerance B12 deficiency (must supplement) A new wardrobe (no small expense) Yes, I know being obese comes with risks as well. Most of this is manageable but the GERD and feeling cold concern me.

I can certainly understand your concern and it would seem to me the surgeon would want to have the approval sooner rather than latter as well so it seems odd to me they waited so close to your surgery date. My approval and extension were each turned around in a couple days so you may be fine. That was with Aetna.

Good luck, us guys need to stick together. My surgery is Wednesday and your fears are shared by all of us pre-op.

When my five year old boy poked fun of my man boobs

Sounds crazy to me but I bet your family is loving it.

Hey Skinny, The way my doctor does it is he has you come in for a pre-op either 2 weeks (diabetic) or 1 week (everyone else) before your surgery. At the pre-op, they go over the diet and send you home with everything you are allowed to eat so there is no guess work.. It's about 650 to 800 cals a day and totally no carb. Outside of provided diet, I can have sugar-free Jello, sugar-free Popsicle and various sugar free drinks like crystal light. Four meals a day are an 8oz shake or bowl of broth. I can have one NutriMed bar a day as well. The second day was the worse for me, once your body hits ketosis, it's a lot easier. I felt hungry and craved food but the headache and sluggishness have subsided.

All, I wish I still had my mom around... Cancer got her about 3 years ago, she was perpetually over weight too and I suspect that contributed to her health issues.

A stingray liver is what my doc calls our liver after it has been shrunk by the pre-op diet. Force the body to use up the glycogen stores in the muscles and liver and throw us in to ketosis. Thank goodness I only need to be on it for six days! My surgery is next Wednesday on 9/14 and I'm on day three of the pre-op diet. I can handle hungry but the low carb thing is making me thick headed and draining my energy and a head ache to boot. I'm hanging in there but I'm a single parent this week with my wife out of town. I ran a red light lastnight because I was spacing out. It was a left turn so not a huge deal but still... In some ways I can't wait until the surgery is over so I can have some carbs again! Just venting, Thanks for listening

If I recall correctly, 1 French = .33 mm so your stomach was actually three times smaller at 10.56MM in diameter. Still the size of a straw

I have the same concerns and fears, my surgery is 2 weeks out and I'm having trouble sleeping at night. From what I have read, the biggest regret at 1 year out is not getting this done sooner. The recovery and transition will be hard but then again, maybe not as bad as we think. Now about the fear. I have been avoiding thinking about it as much as possible but coming to the boards doesn't help me with that The fear is natural, this is a life altering event. Oh, and us dudes need to stick together, we are the minority here...

No kidding! Particularly with labor day weekend between now and then. My date is 9/14 Kinda freaks me out and excited all at the same time.

Hmm, I can't speak to the spouse thing but my daughter of 9 told me she didn't want me to change either. She will have to adjust, like you my health issues are stacking up and she will be glad I did this when she is 30 and I'm still around to be her dad.

Hang in there! Stay busy, focus on the habits of your new life. My surgery is 8/14 but between then and now, I have a ton of stuff going on with school starting, labor day weekend camping trip, going to the in-laws my pre-op visit and diet will be here in a blink of an eye then a week later, surgery.