MoreganK

My surgery is also tomorrow. I can't believe it's happening. Positive thoughts everyone... We can do this!

Thank you all so much! I have made up my mind that I am going with the sleeve for sure!
I am not going to take the chance to spend this kind of money and it not last!
i have read over and over about both of these and was trying to get a little more insight and definitely I am going to get the sleeve. Their are a couple Dr's i have researched for this and hope to make an appt for consult soon.
Thanks everyone!

Taking your iphone and laptop is such a great idea. I didn't have a locker and was fearful someone might take it, i shared a room.

I cleaned out my closets and drawers. I made sure I had very soft nightgowns when I got home. I used my lazy boy a lot.
I brought with me to the hospital my brush, toothbrush, biotene for dry mouth, Bigelow Peppermint Decaff Tea and my favorite artificial sweetener Truvia. They usually serve you decaff tea and generic artificial sweetener in the hospital. The hot Water is served in a coffee cup usually and smells like coffee and is disconcerting. I asked nurses for a styrofoam cup of hot Water. The tea was refreshing but more calming for my tummy.
I brought my own cottonelle/Charmaigne Butt Wipes. After you get the catheter out, you will want to clean yourself up. They have the betodine (or whatever it's called) on your stomach, and areas.
I'd pick up a bottle or two of Isopure (Grape flavored with added grape mio) Green Tea with Lemon (added Lemon Mio) because when you first get home you may be on clear Protein for a while or whatever flavor you may like.
Don't go crazy buying Protein drinks, what you like today may disgust you tomorrow.
Remember to use the spirometer, and the med cups to sip. If they don't give them to you ask for them. It makes sipping much easier and you take in less air.
Make sure your nightstand is equipped at night time with kleenex, the mouth swab sticks, your spirometer, you wake up use it, it keeps pneumonia at bay.
After you get the catheter out, when it's the middle of the night and you think you may have to go potty, give yourself time. Use the Button. That's what it is there for. They aren't going to dislike you because you push the call button. Give them time to get to your room, let down the sides of the bed, unhook you from the leg compression machine, unhook the IV and give yourself time to get out of the bed to get to the bathroom. Don't feel bad that it may take a while for your kidneys to wake up. (turn on the faucet if you have to). A lot of kidneys & bladder take a while to wake up after surgery and it takes a while for the process to work again. I had times where I would nod off in the restroom waiting to empty my bladder. If you can't go, take a trip around the nurses station. (I suggest bringing a mouth wet thing with you, because the antinausea medication (or patch) behind your ear will dry your mouth out. Nothing worse than being in mid sentence and your mouth dry out and you can't talk lol.
Good luck and keep a smile on your face, and positive attitude and we'll see you when you get back.
Oh yeah, bringing your own cuddle blanket, made my time there so much better. I didn't use my cell, my kindle, didn't watch tv, it was just background noise. My blanket, the wipes, the biotene dry mouth wash and my peppermint decaff tea, made the 5 days I spent in so much better.

I took nothing to the hospital also. It made it a lot easier to come home. I just had the few things they had given me. I was very comfortable. heck, I didn't even take my cell phone. I was naked of everything! LOL

I wish I had done a better job of organzing my clothing before I left. Would make it so much easier as I start weeding out the clothes that are now too big.

Hey Johnathan
One of the reasons I was against the band was because it would need adjustments for LIFE! Some surgeons charge per adjustment. To me that seemed like a lot of money! Plus, considering these things are supposed to be for life, they have an awful lot of revision surgery's!
I know the sleeve may seem scary, since it removes so much of your stomach. But it calmed me to know that people live very healthy lives after having complete gastrectomys for other reasons (cancers, ulcers, trauma, etc). Plus, with this surgery our stomach still behaves the same way and the way the food enters and exits is the same! It is simply smaller. Yes, there is a small chance of leak, but there are less worries long term then the band.
Good luck with your decision! Also, since we are so biased over here (in the best way of course!) you should check out the "lapbandtalk" website as well to get some other opinions as well

It sounds like you have things covered. Honestly I took absolutely nothing to the hospital with me except the clothes that I was wearing and didn't need anything besides what they gave me. When I got home I started my liquids which was creamed Soups thinned and some yogurt. A can of Soup could last you a week. You'll have a hard time drinking a ton of Water the first few days but drink as much as you can, you don't want to get dehydrated. Within just a few days you'll feel like getting up and out of the house. I would say don't buy a ton of stuff that you "think" you might need, just wait and if you need something get it then. You'll do fine!!! Congrats on your surgery!!!! I'm less than 2 weeks post OP and feeling GREAT!!!!

Keep in mind the card is a printed out "please." It does not obligate the restaurant to let you order off the kids' menu, or discount your price. If it's the restaurant's policy not to let you order off the kids' menu, then the card is not going to change that.
I have a card but I don't use it and I have never asked for reduced pricing. In my mind, I have no right to expect special treatment because I chose to have surgery. And I am not yet public about my surgery - so waitstaff are probably the last people I see in my day who I'm going to explain my surgery to.
I've never had a problem ordering off the kids' menu, but the food is usually crap. Generally I order what I want, and if there are leftovers they become a lunch or dinner for DH. If I'm just not hungry I will go for the company and have a drink. If there's a healthy appetizer I may order it. Generally ordering sounds something like: "I will take this, and please bring a box when you bring it - I know I won't finish it. Hon, what do you want for my sides?"

Had another exceptional eating out experience.
My server, was VERY helpful. I explained that I had bariatric surgery and could only eat about 4 ounces of food. She said that it was possible to order a Protein (I chose broiled flounder) as a side, with nothing with it as I can only eat Protein. It was the perfect size and delicious.
At other places I have asked for a 1/2 portion of the protein (if it is a large serving), with no sides. I have a card, from my doctor, that explains the situation with having surgery and only being able to eat tiny portions, but I've never had to show it!

Thanks, MinaT for updating!

[quote name=McSleevy ' timestamp='1340263478' post='381377]
I'm getting nervous, excited, and anxious... June 27th will be here in a few days!!

Totally with you on this!!

I kinda did. I went to lots of my favorite restaurants one last time. I really want to use my first few months post-op to let go of all my bad habits and start over with better eating choices. So, I let myself indulge a little bit.
And the weird thing is, I've been working so hard on my mental self, that while the food was all delicious, in the end I felt like it wasn't really worth it. Its just food. Food is nourishment, I shouldn't look at it like its a hobby or a friend I'll never see again. I also had to remind myself that the liquids and the mushies that I'm dreading are all temporary. I kept forgetting that. I'll be enjoying lots of my favorite foods again soon, just the healthy ones.

I kinda did. I went to lots of my favorite restaurants one last time. I really want to use my first few months post-op to let go of all my bad habits and start over with better eating choices. So, I let myself indulge a little bit.
And the weird thing is, I've been working so hard on my mental self, that while the food was all delicious, in the end I felt like it wasn't really worth it. Its just food. Food is nourishment, I shouldn't look at it like its a hobby or a friend I'll never see again. I also had to remind myself that the liquids and the mushies that I'm dreading are all temporary. I kept forgetting that. I'll be enjoying lots of my favorite foods again soon, just the healthy ones.

If you know you are doing it now, just stop. It's just causing you more weight to lose after surgery. It's also make your liver more fatty and will make the pre-op diet right before surgery harder. If you are drinking pop - quit now or go through withdrawals later, if you are drinking caffeine quit now or coffee withdrawals will be harder.
Take this time to learn to chew your food, and not drink for at least 1/2 hour after eating.
You are basically making yourself sicker before surgery, which is the worst thing you can do. You will be able to eat after surgery, but why not set yourself up for the best possible outcome after surgery.
Sign up for myfitnesspal.com if you haven't already - work on getting 80 grams of Protein in eat your Protein first, eat vegetables second and carbs third. Drink your 64 ounces of Water and if you want to have one day once in a while to have a favorite food, do so but pick and chose carefully, do you want a margarita, or a doritos or a piece of cake.
I tried this program 3 times and the third time I said I was going into this 100%. I knew they were going to do a major surgery, which always comes with complications and if I was going to allow someone to take out 85% of my stomach and I was going to end up paying a ton of money for it, that I was going to go into this with my eyes wide open and put forth full effort. You are in control of your actions, and that's the one thing I have learned. The sleeve is a tool only, so in the end you are really the one that controls the tool.
Make a choice to stop the "last meal syndrome" now before you end up feeling worse about yourself.

Oh, had I thought of it I would've warned against that. I don't know of any powdered Proteins that can be mixed into something that's hot. They all get gloopy.
You can put unflavored Protein into V8. I bought the small (airplane sized) cans of V8 and would mix in some unflavored powder when I was cleared for acidics.

Yayyy! A Summer Solstice baby! You are "born" on or shortlyafter the solstice as the Sun waines and daylight slips away again, so shall your weight. Just like the everything benefits from the warmth and light, so will you as you get out and walk and play and begin to feel so much better...
"Loved by the Sun."

[quote name="McSleevy ]I'm getting nervous' date=' excited, and anxious... June 27th will be here in a few days!! [/quote']
Me too.
Sent from my iPad using VST

I'm getting nervous, excited, and anxious... June 27th will be here in a few days!!

I am wondering about mixing unflavored Protein Powder with a low sodium v8, or the like. I've not tried it, but it seems like getting your veggies with your Protein would be a good idea.

I have a juicer and was wondering if I can add some unflavored Protein to freshly juiced veggies ( not fruits because of the sugar). Thanks for posting because I too am worried about too many sweet shakes. I know about broth but wanted to know other options too.

I am right at 1960/290. I'm using Dr. Worley at the Methodist Willowbrook Hospital. Love, love him. He and his team have just been amazing to me this whole process. He is really involved and super thorough. Just started my liquid diet, and I can tell already I'm going to get tired of sweet tasting stuff pretty quickly. But, focusing on the greater good!

Houston!

Unjury makes a chicken stock flavored Protein. You can also use unflavored Proteins. They are not flavorless, but do not have added flavor, and IMO aren't nearly as sweet. You could mix it with any non-sweet drink you like. You can also take something like protein nectar and make it not sweet. My dad (he has a lapband) mixes Syntrax Roadside Lemonade with iced tea to make a Protein Drink similar to an Arnold Palmer.

I just weighed myself and I am now down 62 pounds! My pants are falling off! I had to order some new ones. I am looking forward to the time I can go into a store and buy them instead of online!