topgun

So, it's kinda like "What's the dif? I can either have the surgery and diet for the rest of my life or NOT have the surgery and diet for the rest of my life. Hmmmm...?" I looked at it this way...by having the surgery I'll have a jump start at achieving a normal BMI. That way, I can - for the first time in my life - keep an eye on my weight after achieving goal and then keep it under control as soon as I see a tendency for it to start clmbing. The difference being that I've never been in that position before because I've never been at a normal BMI. By not having the surgery I continue to have to face losing a huge amount of weight over a long period of time by dieting only and I've never been successful at that. That is why the sleeve is continually referred to as being just a tool. Am I making sense?

Good luck tomorrow!!!!

I, too, am very resistant to laxatives. Any time I have to do any kind of bowel prep - ancluding my recent VSG - I supplement the bowel pre-op with an enema (or 2). I also start everything earlier - like 2 days or so - to ensure I don't have to go thru the procedure again.

I had surgery last wed. also. I seem to have to force myself to eat or drink anything at all because of the discomfort. I ate about the same as you but it took maybe a little longer. My concern taking in enough fuids and protein. I think you're doing well. Best of luck.

To start with, only 20 percent of all sleevers are men. We're out here jimmie. We're just outnumbered.

Good luck Christy! This is an exciting time, isn't it?

I got sleeved on 3/28, so you're a couple days ahead of me. Hunger hasn't been a problem, but I did feel just a couple pangs of what I knew to be just head hunger and I was able to stave it off. Right now just a couple of small bites of mushy food fills me up uncomfortably so I'm having trouble attaining my doc's proteing goals. Each day is an improvement, tho. Are you able to eat at all? Are you drinking while eating (that can make the food slide on through wthout satisfying). I sure hope it gets better for you.

Everybody's different and I'm kinda on your side. I just got sleeved last Wednesday and I prefer straight water or lightly flavored water. Each day I seem to be able to handle a little more flavor, tho. When did you get sleeved?

No consistency in the medical community at all re: pre and post-op diets. It keeps everybody confused, that's for sure.

Sandianew, you go for it! I'm 64 and - like you - I feel this is my last chance to end my life of obesity as a "normal" person. Friends should offer support - not advice. If you don't stick to your guns, you may have regrets for the rest of your life. What can your "friends" who are giving you all of this bad advice do for you then?

Experiment creatively with nutritious foods. It seems that one's palate changes after this surgery and those things you may have eaten before can no longer be tolerated or are unappetizing, and vice-versa. Best of luck.

Nothing after midnight t night before. A sip (only) of water in the a.m. to take meds that are absolutely necessary only. Your doc will tell you which ones. Otherwise, zip.

Bariatric surgery and marital problems often go hand in hand...that's part of the reason for the psych eval. We undergo a lot of change after surgery and not all of it is physical. I agree with others who have recommended that you need to rule out any physical problems first and - assuming there are no problems there and also assuming that you do want to save your marriage - you need to talk to a good marriage counselor. Good luck.

Hang in there. You can't possibly fail unless you take in more calories than you burn. Stay focused and keep to the basics... you will do fine!

I went in for my pre-op weight-in today and - after weighing - the nurse asked me if I had been sick lately (???). She then went on to tell me that she had just learned that my pre-op chest x-ray showed signs of pneumonia. What the heck?? I told her I had been experiencing some congestion in my chest a few days ago but certainly not to the point that I felt I was sick, much less from pneumonia. Anyway, she gave me some mega antibiotics in the hopes that this thing can be resolved before surgery or it will have to be postponed. My surgery date isn't until next Wednesday so she's optimistic that we can go forward as planned. Wow.... waiting for the big day has been hard enough and now this. Anyway, I guess I'm just venting some frustration by posting this and hoping you will cross your fingers for me... it all helps. Thanks.

The 28th is a popular date... mine too! Best of luck.

There's no reason you can't have steak and lobster! You just won't be able to eat as much of it at one sitting so you make the best of what you've got. Small bites, chewed thoroughly, of good, high Protein food such as steak and lobster... you can make 1 - 1 1/2 cups of food seem like a banquet. I'm not saying that there aren't sacrifices in having this procedure, but they are certainly worth the value of the end result. Stay positive, set reasonable, attainable interim goals and stick with it. You are doing very well so far and many would envy your 38 lb loss to date. When I started the pre-op diet, I started cooking healthy meals for myself and my family. The kids balked a little bit, so I always had some easy options for them in the pantry that they could prepare for themselves if they didn't want to eat what I had prepared. Not surprisingly, they found that the meals I was preparing were good and that vegetables wouldn't kill them. More often than not they ate what I had prepared. Hang in there, baby!

Who wouldn't be nervous?? I am too and I'm 5 days pre-op. I went thru one of the earliest bypass operations in 1976 and it's still intact, it just didn't work as well as advertised. I am nervous about the upcoming procedure but, on the other and, I can't wait to jump up on the operating table and get on with my journey. Best of luck and keep us posted!

Worse than a man??? Truly a fate worse than death!

Hi, guy! I'm right behind you with a surgery date of 3/28! I started the Kaiser Options program last November at 337 lbs and am now at 281. I'm setting a weight goal at around 210 (I'm 6'5"). I don't know about you but these last few days pre op are pretty tense. I just want to get it behind me at this point but I am looking forward to the journey and a new "normal" me. Best of luck on your surgery. Keep us posted about your progress!

Dump him. With his attitude, it won't bother him but it will make you feel better. You don't need the cr@p that he's dealing out, you've got enough to worry about. Doctors generally place themselves on very high pedestals, whether its deserved or not.

We're all with you in spirit. You will be fine... let us know how it went!

WTG Jayhawk! Save a seat for me, I'm right behind you (3/28/12).

Heck, no. There's a lot of great protein available naturally but you might need to be pretty creative with your recipes to concentrate it into reasonable portions. I think you're on the right track.

The lap band has become the object of a lot of scrutiny from many sides and I understand it has fallen into disfavor because of the poor overall sucess rate and the % of complications. Research your decision carefuly, tho, because I'm sure there are many who would rebut my statement.