AJAgwu

Everybody is different so it's hard to say where you will be in 12 weeks. I waited until about two weeks before my trip then assessed what fit and didn't fit and ran out to buy a few items that I absolutely needed. I have always been told don't buy things that don't fit (i.e. too small) because by the time it fits you might not like how it sits on your body. So my advice would be wait until closer to your cruise and then buy a few things you end up needing right before. Also, I haven't been buying much in general because some of the new stuff I bought is already too big. I just focus on buying a few things when i actually need them instead of splurging on a new wardrobe. You will learn how to get creative and make clothes work without looking baggy and frumpy...I can't stand that feeling anymore either!

I had my two week follow-up appointment today. I already feel back to myself (except for eating of course)! My appointment went great. The doctor commented that I have had a smooth, above-average recovery. I never had any vomitting and I have been tolerating all of the foods that I have been instructed to eat. In the past four weeks (two weeks of Optifast and two weeks post-op) I have lost 29 lbs! My clothes are already getting baggy, and my blood pressure medicine was decreased today (started feeling light-headed). I was told things could and would change this quickly but I never actually thought they would!
I am still getting used to my "new" stomach and the new way of eating. I need to master stopping one bite before getting that tight/uncomfortable feeling instead of one bite after. I was advanced from puree to soft/moist Proteins today with a little bit of vegetables.
I am extremely happy with my results and blessed that I have had such a smooth experience to date!

I had my two week follow-up appointment today. I already feel back to myself (except for eating of course)! My appointment went great. The doctor commented that I have had a smooth, above-average recovery. I never had any vomitting and I have been tolerating all of the foods that I have been instructed to eat. In the past four weeks (two weeks of Optifast and two weeks post-op) I have lost 29 lbs! My clothes are already getting baggy, and my blood pressure medicine was decreased today (started feeling light-headed). I was told things could and would change this quickly but I never actually thought they would!
I am still getting used to my "new" stomach and the new way of eating. I need to master stopping one bite before getting that tight/uncomfortable feeling instead of one bite after. I was advanced from puree to soft/moist Proteins today with a little bit of vegetables.
I am extremely happy with my results and blessed that I have had such a smooth experience to date!

Just thought I would share an update on how I am doing, as I know this post will benefit those who are still preparing for surgery (I was reading everything all over this board leading up to my surgery as well!)
I had surgery last Tuesday, Jan 24th at 8:30am. I was in the hospital for one night. My surgeon keeps most patients two nights but I was walking, drinking, passed the leak test and tolerating puree 24 hours after surgery so he gave me the option to stay or leave. I have been on a puree diet for a week now. I eat four times a day. The first meal is a Protein Shake and then other three are 3-4 oz of low fat pureed Protein (chicken, tuna, greek yogurt or cottage cheese). I really don't feel much hunger, and if I do it's usually in my head. Because I have to eat so slowly, sometimes I even forget to finish something and then it becomes a chore to get it done (definitely a different behavior than I am used to). If I eat something too quickly my chest gets tight, so I have slowed down even more. I have been blessed that nothing has made me sick yet. I did have nausea at first, but my surgeon gave me a prescription to control that. The first few days I was also having esophageal spasms and stomach cramps, and I even had to sip my fluids very very slowly. My surgeon said these were normal symptoms and they went away after a few days. I am able to get my fluids in more comfortably now. I did end up with Constipation so I had to take some milk of magnesia, but no big deal. I have been walking every day since I got home. The first few days I would have somebody take me to the grocery store with them and I would walk around pushing the cart (it was cold outside!). This week I have been going to my gym everyday and walking slowly on the treadmill for 30min. All in all, it was 4-5 days after surgery until I felt back to "normal" (excluding eating of course).
Best wishes to all those who have an upcoming surgery and to those who already had their surgery and started the next chapter of their journey!

My surgery went great and I'm already being discharged. Jesers I hope you had a successful surgery as well! I guess this means we have graduated to the post op board!