wendy1974

Thank you everyone!!! Here I am on day 7 and feeling sooooooo much better! unsweetened applesauce is on my diet so I ate some of that and also snuck a banana the night I had most of my problems. As far as the bathroom goes, while it didn't stop, things slowed down considerably!! ;)I asked the nut about it and she told me to add some Metamucil to my shakes if it becomes a problem again.. I've been a type 1 diabetic for 26 years so my system is used to artificial sweeteners (I still have nightmares about saccharine! Hated that stuff!! LOL) I did stop taking Motrin, the day after I posted this (I went for my pre-op testing appointment & was given my list of things to stay away from). But I gotta say it's ironic to me that we can't take Motrin because it will thin our blood, but my doctor gives a shot of heprin before surgery to prevent blood clots? hmmmm Thanks again everybody! It's so nice to have a place to ask questions and not have to wait for the doctor's office to return calls!!! Wendy

Hey everyone! I'm getting sleeved on 7/5 and before I even got my date we (hubby & I) promised our 9 yr old that for her Birthday we would take her to Cedar Pointe during the Halloween Weekend thingy in September... We're leaning towards later September, so I'll be more like 2 1/2 months out.. do you think I could ride roller coasters with her for her first time? She's always been too short in the past and I believe she'll finally meet the height requirements for the big ones, like the Magnum... I REALLY wanna do that with her, but I also don't wanna hurt my stomach either... I haven't had a chance to ask the doctor about this yet, but I thought I'd get your expert options first.... since it's now 1 am and I seem to be obsessing over it! Thanks! Wendy

I think you should add... Baby Got Back by Sir Mix A Lot!!! & Wild Thing (not sure who sang that, but EVERYBODY knows that song!) Good Luck!

Okay, day one was a breeze... three Bariatric Advantage shakes, one sugar free Jello & one greek yogurt, lots of Crystal Light & decaff coffee... Starting day two... On the plus side, I'm not hungry AT ALL!! BUT, I feel like crap! I woke up with a major headache and sick to my stomach & some very uncomfortable diarrhea!! Making it worse is that I've got my three kids to take care of and now I'm babysitting my nephew and all I want to do is take some motrin and hibernate in bed and not venture too far from the toilet.... So I guess what I'm asking is... if I take Motrin will it help my headache? Will my body get used to this diet and Will the diarrhea get any better if my diet stays the same? AND finally... does the sick feeling go away? Thanks everyone! I soooooo appreciate it! Wendy

Hi Robin, my surgery is scheduled for July 5th. I just woke up about an hour ago and am drinking my decaff coffee w/ skim milk.... I'm sooooooo sleepy, my 2 1/2 yr old kept me up last night being cranky and crying.... what I wouldn't do for some caffeine right now! UGGHHHH! Thanks for the well wishes, I'm sure I'll get through it, I know I can do it and will be a better person because of it. I'm going to make myself some home made chicken broth later, it's so much better than the stuff in the can! That will help, I'm sure! Talk to you later! Wendy

Hello Firecrackers!!! OMG.... I have to start my pre-op liquid diet tomorrow AM and I'm kinda freakin' out a bit! I never thought I'd get nervous about this, since I've wanted it for so long and have researched so much, but here I am, wanting to eat everything I wont' have again for so long..... I have definitely been having a food funeral the past couple days! Call me weak, call me a crazy, whatever...........but I just HAD to taste the artery clogging, ass fattening goodness of a Big Mac w/ extra sauce, just ONE last time! LOL Don't hate on me, come tomorrow it will be all business and Protein shakes! But for one last day I'm gunna let myself eat like a teenager and have french fries and Birthday cake for my daughter's 9th birthday!!! I'm gunna enjoy myself before I have to turn into a raging starving ****** the next couple weeks! Oh yeah, and I've already apologized to everyone in my house in advance !! Wish me luck!!! Talk to yo all soon! Wendy

Hey there! I'm starting my pre-op on Tuesday & my daughter's 9th birthday party is on Saturday... you bet your sweet soon-to-be sleeved butt that I'm going to enjoy the hell outta that birthday cake! I'm going to savor every bite of chocolate cake filled with bevarian cream & fresh strawberries w/ the best butter cream frosting you've ever tasted!!! Then Sunday we're celebrating Father's day at Outback steakhouse with my family (and also a pre-birthday celebration for me! since I'll still be on a mushy diet on 7/23). I think I just might indulge myself w/ Olive Garden on Monday, and then..... Tuesday I start my 3 Protein shakes a day.... I don't see anything wrong with it. I'm not ashamed of it... and I plan to give myself 110% after I get my sleeve... Good Luck & don't let anyone make you feel bad. Whether it's a food funeral, or a food celebration, we all have to say goodbye to our 'old' way of life in our own way! Wendy

Hi! I"m in MI too! In Dbn Hgts... small world, no? I won't have surgery till 7/5, but pretty close to yours. I start my 14 day liquid diet on 6/21, the day after my daughter's 9th birthday... talk about perfect timing We should keep in touch with each other, living so close, maybe we could be helpful to each other? Wendy

I'm also in Michigan~ South Eastern MI to be vaguely specific I'm not sleeved yet... but will be on July 5th! I'm so excited!! It would be great getting to know other Sleevers in Michigan... I look forward to it! Wendy

You are looking great!!! You can really see the change in your face & neck! AWESOME! I can't wait to get my sleeve done, July 5th can't come quick enough!!! Congrats!! Wendy

Yeah Congrats to all of you on your July surgery dates! It's right around the corner~ I agree, this summer is going to be busy, busy, busy... BUT we'll all be looking good come New Years Eve! Oh, I can't wait to dress up! I think I'll make my hubby take me somewhere fancy! LOL.. Maybe I'll make that one of my mid-term goals! Welcome to the club! Wendy

Hey Kathy! I like the idea of staying in touch & sharing ideas & strategies. I've been trying different Protein drinks too... I really like the Syntrax Nectars; so far I've actually purchased a big container of the Cappuccino and lemonade... I like the lemonade mixed w/ Raspberry Lemonade Crystal Light.. yummy. Last week I called and ordered their sample pack. You get 13 full serving packages for $13... (that includes shipping and handling). That's the best deal I found for their samples so far. But you have to call to get the deal, it's not on their website. I also found out that I am required by my surgeon's office to use Bariatric Advantage Meal Replacements during my pre-op diet... It's not so bad after you doctor it up with stuff But I can't stomach it straight! Yuck! Anyway, my birthday is coming up soon, too. It's July 23, so we'll be a couple weeks out by then... maybe even on pureed diets! woo whoo.... LOL Wendy

Hi there! My surgery is scheduled for July 5th, but I'm not going to Mexico... so only four days after you. I'm so excited to get this new life started! I start my liquid diet on June 21 ~ the day after my daughter's 9th birthday! I've been trying to cut down my carb intake and am trying to UP my Protein intake (including protein shakes). I really want to start walking in the evenings, but am having a hard time getting someone to walk with me... so thinking I might just have to finally put my gym membership to use (I've only had it for 20 yrs! ) Is there anything your doing special to prepare? I'd love to have someone to commiserate with during our first few weeks of sleevedom... After we make it through those first few weeks, then we'll be celebrating it, I'm sure! Well, let's see.. since there are the all these cute names being given to other sleeve siblings... I think we should have a cute name too! How about something like the July Firecrackers? Okay, talk to you soon! Wendy

I'm getting sleeved by Dr. Bacal at Oakwood Hospital in Dearborn. My surgery date isn't until July 5th, but I can tell you from the few times I've met with him, he's a very nice guy & very knowledgeable of the various types of bariatric surgery. Also, his office staff are great. Very funny & personable, while being professional and explaining everything that's going on. So far I'm very happy with my decision and have already gave his number out to a few friends! I was told that BCBS is one of the easiest insurance companies to get approval from as long as it's part of your policy. I hope that's true and I haven't jinxed myself too bad by saying that! Good Luck! Wendy

Hello everyone! ! I'm scheduled to be sleeved on July 5th!!! OMG.. I can't wait, June will be the longest month in recorded history, I swear! I'm having the surgery done at Oakwood Hospital in Dearborn, MI, by Dr. Bacal. He seems really nice and his office staff ROCK! They are VERY personable and easy to get along with. They also don't seem to mind my obsessing and phone calls, so that's AWESOME! I had to go in this am to have an EGD done, where they scoped my esophagus and my stomach.. well, it went really well. The good doctor said my esophagus was slightly red and irritated, so he switched my prilosec to protonix...Of course, I took the new prescription to the pharmacy only to find out, it's not covered by my Rx plan (only Prilosec is, which I'm currently on) unless I can get the doctor to fax a letter to them, petitioning them to cover it.....More and more hoops, I swear there will always be hoops to jump through! Anyway, I'm so excited to get to know you all... it seems I already share the date with a couple ladies already!

Congrats to everyone already sleeved... I can't wait to get my own!!! I'm scheduled for July 5th at Oakwood Hospital in Dearborn w/ Dr. Bacal.... I've only met him once, but he really seems like a nice guy & knows his stuff! Another big plus is that his office staff are so awesome! I go in Thursday 5/26 to have a scope done of my stomach because I've had acid reflux forever and have never had that done before, he wants to make sure that I don't have any undiagnosed ulcers or any other problems in there... Other than that, I completed my psych evaluation on Friday and things are just cruising right along... I am so excited!! July can't get here fast enough! Nice to 'meet' you all! Wendy

Hey there! My doc's office requires me to use Bariatric Advantage also, I got a couple sample packs from their website and really like using the vanilla and chocolate, but detest the strawberry & bannana. On their own they seem to be really thick and make me gag so I just spruce them up a bit to make them more palatable. So far I really like the chocolate w/ 8oz skim milk, 8 ounces cold decaff coffee, and 1/8 tsp peppermint extract... kinda like a junior mint flavor... and the vanilla w/ 8oz skim milk, 8 ounces of leftover decaff coffee from the morning, and Torrani sugar free caramel syrup... yummy (with crushed ice of course! All in a blender bottle!) My surgery isn't until 7/5, but I've been trying to see which flavors I actually do like so that I'm not wasting my $ on something that makes me gag! Good luck w/ pre-op and beyond!!! Wendy

Thanks for the feedback! I tried a different flavor today and it wasn't so bad! I believe it was the manderine orange one... I know I shouldn't be picky about the taste either, but you would think for the $$ they charge, they would be super yummy! LOL The one that made me gag yesterday was supposed to be 'forest berry'... it tasted like the forest alright, exactly how I'd expect chalky dirt to taste! Thanks again... I'll get there eventually I guess... only after I FINALLY get sleeved, my taste buds will completely change and I'll have to start all over again!

Hello everyone. I was just wondering if there is really a big difference in taste between Celebrate & Bariatric Advantage? My Doc's office pushes BA, but I got free samples of Celebrate and honestly, I thought I was gunna hurl! LOL!! Do the BA Vitamins taste any better? Just wondering! Thanks. Wendy

Okay, well this sounds promising! I have bought a bunch of SF pudding mixes but haven't actually tried them in anything yet... Thanks for all of the yummy sounding suggestions!! Wendy

Has anyone tried these before? Are they good? I have been trying different Protein shakes, but of course not this one! And now I'll have to drink 6 scoops of it a day for 14 days.... It comes in five different flavors & I ordered a couple sample packs from MyBariatricPantery.com. I was just wondered what the general consensus was on the taste? Thanks. Wendy

Wow, it's 11pm and I sit here wondering how all of the 'gang' are doing! I pray you all are recovering comfortably from an un-eventful surgery and are ready to take on the world, one sip at a time! Can't wait to read your updates! Wendy

Congrats to you! I hope you can get some rest tonight, tomorrow's gunna be a lllllooonnnngggg day! 5:30 comes awfully fast! I'll be praying for you!!! I'll be joining you on the "other" side of the OR table in July! I know what you mean about being excited! Let us know how your doing when you feel up to it!!!! Wendy

I am so EXCITED!!! My sleeve surgery is scheduled for July 5th!! Now I just have to wait two months, that kinda sucks, but I know so many had to wait so much longer than that so I shouldn't Bitch to much! LOL I used to think I was such a patient person... guess I was wrong! I'm just so darn excited! I'm going to drive everyone else around me crazy with my obsessing now! Wendy

Congrats on your sleeve! It sounds like you had a pretty good experience (all things considered!) It's awesome that you are so upbeat and getting your liquids in... I hope the swelling goes down soon so that it's not as uncomfortable for you to sip... Isopuke, that had me LOL, I've not tried it for myself yet, but hear that it is an acquired taste? Well, Good Luck & thanks for posting your experience.. I can't wait to join you on the other side of the OR table!!! Wendy