makemyownluck

Most people have to have an EGD. My surgeon, however, just did an upper GI xray. So I still had to drink the barium and roll around on this tilt table so they could take xrays of my stomach from about 10,000 different angles. Wasn't that bad, I really expected the worst for the barium, like it would make me gag or something, but it really wasn't terrible. All I had to do was the psych eval, upper GI, blood work and an EKG....

I lost 16 in the first week. I'm in the middle of week 2 and haven't lost any. :\ very frustrating - especially since my liquid diet IS a liquid diet - no actual meals. I know what I lost the first week was mainly water weight.

I didn't have to do the questionnaire, just talk to a shrink for about 10-15 minutes. And she asked mostly about my family and work life, barely anything about my weight. The only time we even discussed surgery is when she asked me to explain what I knew about the surgery and my post-op diet... kind of like a quiz to see if I really knew what I was getting into. But hey, as long as she wrote a letter at the end saying I was NOT CRAZY, I was fine with all of it. I asked for a 2nd copy, in case my sanity is called into question by friends and family at any point in the future. HAHA

You look great!!

Hooray! I'm having mine on the 2nd! I know set backs are a PAIN (I was expecting surgery in Jan/Feb, but was plagued by insurance issues), but at least you know your heart can handle surgery, and that's definitely a good thing. Good luck with your surgery!

Not sure about the answer to this... I'm equally confused about what's up with the liquid preop diet. In the first 5-6 days, I lost 14lbs. I'm certain most (if not all) of that was Water weight. The scale hasn't budged since. I don't even get the luxury of a Protein bar - just liquids. :\ Very annoying. I hope this isn't an indication of post-op weight loss, too!

I've heard many good things about Alexian. I am going to Rush University in downtown Chicago, my surgery is Thursday. So far, they have been awesome. Definitely great to see some locals on the site! I'm in Aurora. Best of luck, I personally know 4 people who've had surgery and they all had it at Alexian. No complaints from any of them!

Can't wait to see those pics!

You look fantastic!! LMAO @ SIZE TENT!! About a year ago, a reallllly skinny friend of mine asked if she could borrow a shirt because she spilled something on hers. I asked her, "Why? You wanna go build a tent to hide in?" She didn't get the joke. Bless her for that!

I'm going to be sleeved this week, and I realized that I never discussed with my surgeon if I should be/will be on an antiacid post op. I'm wondering if anyone uses Tums as their antiacid since it also has Calcium? Or if you use it in addition to your PPI? I've never had reflux issues, at least not chronic ones. I have had the same bottle of Tums in my medicine cabinet for over a year, at least. It's always worked for me if I ate something that was a little to spicy or acid-y. I'd like to get an idea of what meds people are on, also - how long are you expecting to be on them? Do you take them forever or just for a few months out? Thanks for the info, I'll be talking to my surgeon about it too, obviously, but would like to get an idea of what other people are doing.

Syntrax chocolate truffle is actually GOOD. everything else (in my experience) goes from "okay" to "nasty" after having it a few times. Good luck! and as far as why there are so many... cuz there's LOTS OF MONEY to be made!

That's my day too!

I'm doing the pre-op liquid diet now, my surgery is on Thursday. I was having those same issues, but they DID go away after the 6th or 7th day. Make sure you're keeping hydrated with water. I found that even though i was getting 64oz of water, it wasn't enough to keep me from feeling dried out - literally, even my EYES felt dry. Hang in there, hopefully your hunger will pass also!

Definitely! I'm wishing us both a speedy recovery! are you doing a pre-op liquid diet? if you are, how's it goin?

I don't think you'll ever be able to forget your pre-sleeved self... but it definitely doesn't hurt to record how you're feeling for posterity! I'm getting sleeved on May 2nd, so it will be cool to see how you progress. I wish you great success and a speedy recovery! Your future self is just gonna wonder why you waited so long to do this! (My future self will be saying the same thing, I'm sure of it!)

Heyyyy back atcha! I'm getting sleeved the same day!

Props on being able to leggo that eggo, girl! Funny how even when you were doing that, you still measured everything out like a good sleeved girl.

that's incredible! Congrats to you and your new lease on life!

I don't think it's a smart alec response to say that I'll do what I want to do (which IS something I've said, and recently, so I'll assume this comment is about me specifically). I've also never encouraged anyone to do something harmful to themselves. I've never name-called or taken pot shots at anyone, so maybe this isn't directed totally at me, but I think I've been lumped into quite a bit of what you're protesting against as far as comments and/or advice. You say in the original post you're "really bothered" about going against doctors orders, then respond again saying you're not that bothered by the opposing viewpoint. Which is it? I never presumed you were obtuse or unable to learn new ideas, so I really don't know where the defensiveness is coming from. :\

Glad all went well!! How are you feeling? I'm getting sleeved on Thursday and I'm getting nervous!!!

Everyone is entitled to and has their own opinion. I have never looked at any doctor as giving me "rules" by which to life. It's medical advice. Sound advice to be taken seriously, but we all ultimately have to decide what's best for us. I've given the "it's your body" advice more than once, and I stand by it. Not everyone is the same. Not all surgeons give the same instructions for post-op. We've all got to find our way here, to find what's best for us. If what's best for you is to follow the instructions and you can do that without seriously struggling, then that's awesome! But people post here for others' opinions. I don't understand why you'd get that bothered about someone else's viewpoint. To each their own. I wish everyone luck on their road to goal.

I'm going back to my office job after 2 wks. I tried to get it down to 1 wk because that's what I took when I had my gall bladder out a few years ago and I was fine. But my surgeon said to give it at least 2 wks so that's what I'm doing. I've heard of office job types going back after a week. Personally, I think I'd get bored if I had to wait more than 2. Good luck!

Good luck!! Can't wait to hear how things go for you post-op.

Congrats! I'm having surgery Thursday - my liquid diet doesn't allow for 1 meal a day, so I'm pretty jealous! The first week was rough. I started doing shakes as Meal Replacements for weeks prior to the liquid only and it was still tough. But after the first week, my hunger miraculously vanished! I haven't been hungry in days - I just feel "empty" sometimes and then I know it's time for a shake. I mean, I've been awake for 4 hours and just now realized I've only had a cup of coffee. Time for a shake! Also, IDK if I'd get through this if it weren't for tomato Soup. I've always been a fan of tomato soup, tho, so maybe that's not something that will help you. For me, I look so forward to it! I'm sick of the shakes! I like the nectar - the chocolate truffle is one of the best chocolate shakes I've tried. I've been using Premier Protein shakes that I get at costco (and I've read they are at Sams Club, too) because they are 30g protein per shake and they are ready-to-drink which is just more convenient for me. Keep yourself busy, it helps with the hunger. Hopefully your hunger will go away as well! Good luck!

I'm guilty of saying the exact same thing when my mom told me a family friend had gastric bypass. It was totally unfair of me - 1) it's her business, and obviously she was "big enough" and 2) I haven't seen her in years to know how heavy she got or to see her now that she's had the RNY AND her tummy tuck. My mom says she looks great, but was also surprised because she didn't seem "big enough" to her, either. Even still, I'd never SAY that to someone. My opinion on her being big or small ultimately only has to do with ME and how I feel about MYSELF in comparison. It was actually a wake up call for me to see that I'm quite a lot heavier than she was and was questioning if this was something I had to do. As someone who's only told a few people about my upcoming surgery, I'm surprised by how much it upsets me that people who I've told are SO EXCITED for me to have this. I read between the lines and interpret that as them saying, "It's about time you did SOMETHING!" even if that's not what's said. For me, I have to learn to stop being so sensitive about my weight issues. It's not like it's something I can hide - I can't hide my size now, and people WILL notice when I start losing in big numbers... I have to learn to deal with the reactions!