cantwaittolose

Thanks everyone~
Yes, I will take dry skin any day over my body hurting, my feet aching, and my Dr wanting to put me on medications for the rest of my life! NO THANKS! :-) I'm good with just getting sleeved and leaving all the unhealthy stuff alone the rest of my life! I ate crap for the first 36 years, NOW IT"S TIME TO LIVE!

I love the "easy way out" speech lol Oh if they only knew!! the preop and the first 2 weeks after surgery are anything but easy!!! We still have to diet and make the lifestyle changes that will lose the weight. BUT! The way I got my husband, daughter, mom and dad on board was to take them to a free seminar Dr Nicholson in Dallas was holding to discuss the pros & cons and the complications vs the benefits. He talked about the health problems associated with staying obese and how that was riskier than the surgery (especially the sleeve) ever thought about being. It was very eye opening for my whole family and they encouraged me from that day on! As a matter of fact, my mother is now scheduled for her sleeve surgery this winter! YAY!! What was that quote from "My Big Greek Wedding"? something like.. "He may be the head of this family but I'm the neck and can make the head turn whatever way I want!" LOL! Work your magic girl =) good luck!!

Great list. You might want to check out the stickied thread at the top of this page called Everything you need for the hospital checklist. Lil Miss Diva created a Word document that has pretty much all that stuff plus some other things on it. You can download the list (complete with check boxes!) and customize it to make sure you cover everything that's important to you. Good luck!

You can look up (Google) pre-op diet for gastric sleeve surgery....it's all about shrinking your "fatty" liver....what I've read is that overweight people have fatty livers and because the dr. has to go under the liver that it helps the surgery go easier if you lose some weight prior....the liquid diet 4 days before is probably to empty your stomach as well. If you Google it will also mention the liquids....you want sugar-free everything. Sugar turns to fat when it's not used (just like simple carbs) so they want to lose weight, no gain it hope that helps!!!

Yes definitely a personal choice ...I have told everyone! I want to share my experience and also the support from all family and friends, even co-workers. With my job I had to tell my boss because even my time off and vacations are working vacations. I actually need real time off. I'm excited to share my experience with everyone.

Love love love it! Thanks for sharing and inspiring me! I'm 13 days away and every once in awhile I get the thought...is this really going to work? And then all I have to do is get on here and read your post! . Thank you!

Sorry guys!!!! I am still alive and kicking!!! There were a few bumps but the nursing staff was proactive on everything and the things that popped up, they handled it so fast its like there was never an issue.
I must have started waking up when I was actually leaving the recovery room, because I don't remember anything past them starting anesthesia. I woke up enough to remember them sliding me on my bed in my room. I asked the nurse if I still had a folley (i felt the urge to pee) and she said yes and I also had a pain button, call light and iv fluids. They took my vitals and asked me my pain level. They said they have already called my 2 points of contact so there was no need for me to bother calling anyone. And just rest and relax and get familiar with my bed surroundings by touch so I could rest my eyes.
My back, chest and shoulders were the only thing hurting. My back was hurting b4 surgery. I go round and round with my back. We have never really got along! They explained why but took a quick ekg anyways just in case. I didn't feel anything in my tummy area. All this was Friday July 13th around 9pm ish. (I was the last surgery)
They check on me and did vitals every hour on the hour. I walked @ midnight-ish( felt like vomiting) but it passed really quickly. The nurse gave me nausea meds b4 they got me up. Every 3 to 4 hours after that they walked me, gave shoulder, and back massages. The leg pumps helped and I did range of motion stuff while in bed. I had Water and ice chips but I don't recall wanting anything til they brought Breakfast of chicken broth, watered down Apple juice, sugar free Jello and Ice milk type of lactose free ice cream stuff. I sipped on bits and pieces of that (mostly the broth). I felt my limitation but no pain.
Every hour they did vitals they reminded me to use my spiralmeter breathing exercise thingy. Fast forward til about 10am Saturday morning...the nursing assistant got me set up for a shower so I could freshen up. They taped and gloved my iv and told me its ok to get the bandages wet just not soaked. So I showered backwards. I brushed my teeth and washed my face. I felt like a million bucks. Soap and Water is some powerful stuff.
I went for my swallow test. That was the worst part of my whole visit. That stuff was so nasty and toxic tasting I was nausiated to the max. Instant headache. But it passed as quick as it came.
Later in the afternoon they started giving me meds to help pass gas and poop. They took out the folley when I started drinking more water and sipping more broth. They took my pain button cuz I was using it for back pain, shoulder pain and that trapped gas pain but not that often. They started me on liquid oral pain meds every 4 hours.
I think I took 2 or 3 showers there because once I finally had some kind of bowel movement I went home. It was around 7pm ish on Sunday. I handled Clear liquids really well. I was doing my walks by myself (got lost 2 times). I've been on Clear Liquids since then @ home. On Thursday I started with my GNC lean shakes and light muscle milk (lactose free). I drink this clear liquid Protein drink as well. But I'm still on the liquid phase. I'm not really that hungry so I don't know when I will start the mushy part of the diet. I see the surgeon on Tuesday morning. Talking with him, the nurse, and nutritionist...we will decide how to proceed. I walk here @ home several times a day. Not for speed or weight loss purposes. Just to stay active, limber, clot free and all that jazz. Keep my lungs open and get fresh air. I haven't open the bottle of pain meds they gave me when I left the hospital. The only pain I have had is trapped gas related.
When I was @ the hospital those 2 days I saw the surgery team of doctors about 4 or 5 times. They checked on me, my surgery sites and reactions to medication and anesthesia. Basic stuff, advice, predictions. There was a doctor on duty all day and night. So one or two came in a couple times a day or night. I had 2 nurses and 2 nursing assistants per day. On Sunday b4 discharge a nutritionist came in to re confirm what to do @ home. The nurse took kit the staples on the outside of my incisions. They were seen from the inside but to give extra support while healing, they put staples on the outside.
I had a reaction to the pump pain meds. It was not severe enough for me to want to stop the pain meds so I opted or benedryl and topical ointment. After I got off the pain button...it was clear that was the allergy cause. I had slight Fluid in my left lung but I felt that b4 surgery. I should have said something but I did want to stop the show. It wasn't enough to kill me but who knows. Anything could have went wrong by me not speaking up. They got that out in a matter of minutes. Like I said, they were prepared for everything and anything. And things that popped up they solved quickly. I might have left the hospital on Saturday evening or Sunday morning if I had a bowel movement. That's how well things went.
Now....I didn't poop again @ home for many moons. But when I did....honey hush...!!!!!! Best feeling in the world.
Today I am 1 week and 2 days out. Feeling good. No pain other than the bothersome trapped gas crap but its tolerable. No medications but my chewable and liquid Vitamins.
I am still trying to get more water in. I'm not at the recommended amount. I will try using the oh so taboo straw after Tuesday. The swallowing of large humps of air without a straw couldn't be worse than using a straw. I can't believe that. Idk....I think a straw will help me drink more water and swallow less air. Even when I swallow saliva I swallow air unintentionally.
The soap they had me bath my stomach area in starting two days b4 surgery...I still bath my stomach in. It's germ killing surgery soap. I think that the soap too has allowed speedy healing and trouble free incision sites. Plus I paid $11 for it.
Let's see.....I think that's it!!!! Any more questions or to clear up something I said...just ask. I'm an open book. I might have missed some stuff. It's midnight here and I'm using my cell phone. Pls excuse misspelled word, grammatical errors, etc....
I honestly don't know how much weight I've lost. I put my scale a box in the closet for now. I do know that for the 1st time in my life I'm not worried about how much I'm gaining. I know I've lost something. PJ's fit looser. To me 1lb lost is a lb not gained.
I dream and think about food all the time. Stuff I want to cook and stuff others with. Every since I started the diet process aka life style change... I grew addicted to stuffing the faces of others. I got pleasure out of seeing others bellies swollen with foods I had cooked.
Thanks for the Luv everyone. I am seriously doing lovely. No pain. No real hunger. Shhhh.....don't tell anyone though. *pinky swear* I don't want to go back to work yet!!!!!!
I don't go anywhere really. I don't feel like being bothered by people. I don't know my tolerance level yet. And...I don't want to wear myself out. Mostly...I don't want to be bothered by people yet. I was told to not have any stress or anything for 1 to 2 weeks. So...I burrow here at home. Drink/eat, sleep, day dream, walk, sleep, text, web surf, sleep, tv, Face Book, write, sleep and sleep. I have no thought to night and day anymore.
I wish you all continued success and if you are nervous or on the fence about the sleeve. I say....JUMP!!!! (this is why I lost my job @ the crisis hotline) This is the best ting I have done for myself since my last shoe purchase. I feel great. I have no regrets or buyers remorse. The trapped gas pain is a bit of a stiff....but little bitty babies have the same issue and they don't even get pain meds. So.......Jump on over to the losing but winning big side. It's all well worth it!!!! Do your homework (research) know everything about everything. The more informed you are the more comfortable you will be about the decision.

Thanks friends! I have been feeling stalled. My surgery date isn't until July 19th and all of these medical tests are making me feel like a lab rat. I needed something to remind me to keep my eye on the prize.
All of those things have really happened......I really sat on a glass table on a family vacation and it broke. Absolutely mortifying. It is equally as embarrassing when my Uncle brought it up AGAIN last month, I couldn't have died!
I will no longer let my weight define who I am, because I am soooooo much more!!!

I remember my 5th day of the liquid diet, I forgot I could have cucumber and celery, oh when my mother brought me celery from the grocery store I attacked that stuff like it was a t- bone ........I just needed something to chew !!!!!

You are gorgeous!!! Congrats on baby!!! Thanks for posting...so encouraging!

So about a month ago I was at dinner with my sister and I noticed her hands didn't look dry (she's always had super dry skin) and her hair looked fuller/thicker...so I reached over and grabbed her hair and said what the heck have you done to your hair?!? She said "oh I've been drinking honey and vinegar..didn't I tell you?". Ummmm - NO! So for the last 3 weeks I've been drinking it....sure enough thicker hair and softer skin!!! No joke. So here's the receipe 1 Tablespoon Trader Joes Organic Raw honey and 1 Tablespoon Trader joes Organic UNFILTERED Apple Cider Vinegar...add to a 6-8oz of hot/warm Water, stir in and enjoy. I tried other brands but I'm telling you Trader joes is the best and it has to be UNFILTERED vinegar. The vinegar alkalizes in the body which is where the health benefits come in.
I really wanted to share this with everyone and also ask...do you think I can continue to drink immediately after sleeved?...will the vinegar be too strong? I'm hoping this might help with hair loss/thinning???

Yes definitely a personal choice ...I have told everyone! I want to share my experience and also the support from all family and friends, even co-workers. With my job I had to tell my boss because even my time off and vacations are working vacations. I actually need real time off. I'm excited to share my experience with everyone.

So about a month ago I was at dinner with my sister and I noticed her hands didn't look dry (she's always had super dry skin) and her hair looked fuller/thicker...so I reached over and grabbed her hair and said what the heck have you done to your hair?!? She said "oh I've been drinking honey and vinegar..didn't I tell you?". Ummmm - NO! So for the last 3 weeks I've been drinking it....sure enough thicker hair and softer skin!!! No joke. So here's the receipe 1 Tablespoon Trader Joes Organic Raw honey and 1 Tablespoon Trader joes Organic UNFILTERED Apple Cider Vinegar...add to a 6-8oz of hot/warm Water, stir in and enjoy. I tried other brands but I'm telling you Trader joes is the best and it has to be UNFILTERED vinegar. The vinegar alkalizes in the body which is where the health benefits come in.
I really wanted to share this with everyone and also ask...do you think I can continue to drink immediately after sleeved?...will the vinegar be too strong? I'm hoping this might help with hair loss/thinning???

So about a month ago I was at dinner with my sister and I noticed her hands didn't look dry (she's always had super dry skin) and her hair looked fuller/thicker...so I reached over and grabbed her hair and said what the heck have you done to your hair?!? She said "oh I've been drinking honey and vinegar..didn't I tell you?". Ummmm - NO! So for the last 3 weeks I've been drinking it....sure enough thicker hair and softer skin!!! No joke. So here's the receipe 1 Tablespoon Trader Joes Organic Raw honey and 1 Tablespoon Trader joes Organic UNFILTERED Apple Cider Vinegar...add to a 6-8oz of hot/warm Water, stir in and enjoy. I tried other brands but I'm telling you Trader joes is the best and it has to be UNFILTERED vinegar. The vinegar alkalizes in the body which is where the health benefits come in.
I really wanted to share this with everyone and also ask...do you think I can continue to drink immediately after sleeved?...will the vinegar be too strong? I'm hoping this might help with hair loss/thinning???

So about a month ago I was at dinner with my sister and I noticed her hands didn't look dry (she's always had super dry skin) and her hair looked fuller/thicker...so I reached over and grabbed her hair and said what the heck have you done to your hair?!? She said "oh I've been drinking honey and vinegar..didn't I tell you?". Ummmm - NO! So for the last 3 weeks I've been drinking it....sure enough thicker hair and softer skin!!! No joke. So here's the receipe 1 Tablespoon Trader Joes Organic Raw honey and 1 Tablespoon Trader joes Organic UNFILTERED Apple Cider Vinegar...add to a 6-8oz of hot/warm Water, stir in and enjoy. I tried other brands but I'm telling you Trader joes is the best and it has to be UNFILTERED vinegar. The vinegar alkalizes in the body which is where the health benefits come in.
I really wanted to share this with everyone and also ask...do you think I can continue to drink immediately after sleeved?...will the vinegar be too strong? I'm hoping this might help with hair loss/thinning???

Thank You guys for everything. I am feeling well except the gas causing my back, shoulder and chest. I am tolerating the Clear Liquids reply well. I'm still here at the hospital.

I know have help from Angels, a great hospital/staff, SURGEON and friends/family.
There will be some pain... it's the not knowing HOW. At this point I'm so looking forward to a week from now. Haha..I almost feel like the "buyer's remorse" stage was passed in the last week- before even having it. I mourned it all (the food)... and then got back to- well, someday most things I could have a bite of if I choose. Hopefully I will choose not to. I'm not doing this as another diet. The liquid diet has taught me to appreciate how I didn't really enjoy simply tasting each bite of good food in the past and I hope to savor anything when I can eat later.
But, right this moment, having read so many different situations I'm getting a little scared again.
I was so comforted with this one thread about people who had relatively no problems with pain or complications.
Then I read a few posts recently about how horrible it is.
Since I'm having the VSG, hiatal hernia repair, gallbladder removal and liver biopsy I wonder if I'll have worse problems?
Is it really all in your mind? Pain is pain-- how can that be in your mind? I guess saying I'll get through and praying might help the pain. I've gone through a number of very painful things in my life so I know I'll get through it but it's the waiting....which one will I be? Will I be the vomiter....the screaming out in pain one, the person who blows IV's and I'm too dehydrated to get stuck.. Will all the nurses take good care of me?
You don't know what will happen.
I've learned this.
In life, with every situation, when you don't know the outcome, you simply have to have faith, trust that everything will be as it should.
I do know I'll come out on the other end and I'm meant to live not just in a smaller, healthy body but with a knowledge that I'm here for a purpose-- not to waste away on a couch eating and watching reality shows.
And now, please say your surgery wasn't that bad. Please.

Thanks Texarkolina! First day has been good so far, don't feel bad at all or even been hungry...but I do think it may become of challenge becuase of variety....but my dr. also said I can have veggies - carrots, cucumbers, bell peppers....
I'm off to the store!

I am on day 3 of my 2-week diet and I am quite shocked at how well I am doing. I thought it was gonna be a lot harder but I haven't had anything but Protein Shakes and broth. Everyone is different so don't get discouraged.

I couldn't agree more with SML1997!!! I'm a girl that LOVES going to sporting events, football, basketball and I want to buy season tickets..or at least go to a few games.. but never do cause I know I will be uncomfortable! I'm looking forward to just start living again...i feel like I've become almost anti-social and just dont get out and do as much anymore...I'm down right embarrassed of how I look. I used to be an athlete!!!...wouldn't know it by looking at me now, but that's who I still am inside and I can't wait for those two to match again! I also LOVE music and can't wait to go to a concert again or my fav - Jazz Festival...they have those tiny little folding seats...which I now avoid at all cost :/. Oh and the beach is a big one...considering I see it from my backyard but NEVER go anymore..I sit out and just dream of throwing on a pair of shorts and riding down, meeting friends and riding my bike back up the hill to home, ....it will happen!!!
I'm looking forward to being ME again! .

Honey, with all certainty, and speaking from similar experience....He's telling you, without words, exactly who he is!...listen to that truth . Hope that wasn't too harsh! You are so much better and stronger...focus on you! You are gonna be an even hotter mama than you already are...keep focused.

Honey, with all certainty, and speaking from similar experience....He's telling you, without words, exactly who he is!...listen to that truth . Hope that wasn't too harsh! You are so much better and stronger...focus on you! You are gonna be an even hotter mama than you already are...keep focused.

OMG!! I want to wear Cute CLOTHES and wear HEELS!!! Fit in the rides in amusement parks!!! get out the shower and dry my body without loosing my breath n stop SWEATING!!!! Get a great job get back into school and not have to worry if ill fit in the desks! HECK FIT IN CHAIRS!!! i can keep going i just really believe that there will be endless opportunities out the personal, and professionally life I want to start my own cake business!!! or wishful thinking be a "model!" lol OH be a makeup artist for big movie productions or magazines w.e! omg soo many things that i want to do im 24 and have my life ahead of me with so many possibilities!!

I'm giddy today knowing this will be my last 4th of July ever at this weight!!!!..anybody else?