sheila2050

Hang on! Your success will be all the sweeter after you do adjust.

good luck, good luck, good luck to both of you! (I'm Wednesday)

Thanks, mokee. But I'm not strong; God helped me! Let's do stay in touch!

Today I had kind of a large supper -- by recent standards -- of salad and fish. I've been reading about salad being disagreeable after WLS, so I wanted to eat it while I still could. Seemed so slow while I've been waiting for my surgery; now, seems it's approaching quickly. Today is Thurs. I'll start liquids Sunday; fly to Tijuana Tuesday; have the surgery Weds. A week from now, I'll have my sleeve. Excited. Scared. We bought a lawn mower so I've been mowing for exercise. It's funny, I feel so tired just walking around; but when I'm doing something, I don't feel as fatigued.

Wonderful!

Won't be long now! Just a month and 10 days!

The first day, I was so hungry. Now, I am not hungry at all. I like AMP cookies and cream.

good luck!

This morning I cut a ** in half and gave it to the dogs. I'd been obsessing on it since the night before. Once the temptation was gone physically, it went away mentally as well. I went to Luby's today thinking I could get some good food there -- especially greens and sf jello -- and was disappointed. I was also surprised that I was feeling full after 1/2 chix breast; and though it was hard to pass up, I ate it without the skin. I slept a lot today. I've been drinking decaffeinated or no-caffeine tea before bed to relax. I think I'll make some sf jello now to have tomorrow!

Hang in there!

wow! congrats!

I had a very nice supper last night with family. Everyone prayed for me when the meal was blessed. It was a grand finale of the old days and my dad outdid himself. Today I had my first protein shake. I'm so relieved it quenched my hunger. I am going to make it through this day, and beyond that, I'm not going to wonder. Caffeine hasn't been the huge withdrawal I expected. I don't know yet if that's God's grace or just a delayed onset. I am eager for the surgery to be done and over with. Still 10 days away.

Happy Birthday!

Tonight my father is preparing a special meal for me, my last. I am really looking forward to it. Yesterday was the last day for diet coke and another favorite food. I am gearing up mentally and feel able to go forward. It is not the food itself I fear but the panic I may feel when there's no way to modulate my feelings with excess. Then I read here about people's experiences and am reassured that what I am setting out to do is not impossible and my reasons for pursuing this are valid, despite the financial cost. Yesterday I asked my son about how he felt about our spending this money on my surgery instead of his (tonsils.) He asked if I meant did he think I was putting myself ahead of him. I guess I had been afraid to ask directly. He said, no. Because of my BMI (35) I have been given a list of guidelines for pre-op (this far out; I still have to do liquids 3 days before surgery) rather than a strict regimen of protein shakes & 1 high protein meal per day, which is what my sister did. My sister has been so kind to me, buying ready-made shakes, vitamins, and other things that will make my journey easier. Budget-wise, as soon as I am able to eat solids, I'll be having some egg white omelettes probably rather than egg white mix. I really haven''t thought that far ahead, how I am going to be able to afford protein shakes for 3 mos. or longer. I am vaguely counting on saving money by not spending it on junk and restaurants. I am very fortunate to have my sister do this before me. Plus she is extremely knowledgeable about the requirements to stay healthy and she can guide me. I am feeling more confident about being able to wean off caffeine for the time necessary. I can't get out of bed and motivated to do anything without caffeine & for that reason, I was planning to disregard advice and try to circumvent the requirement by using caffeine strips, which dissolve in the mouth, instead of ingesting it through the stomach. My dad got so put out with me for planning to use caffeine when I've been told not to; he felt I would jeopardize the surgery and possibly my life. So I am coming to terms with the issue. I bought several boxes of caffeine strips at the dollar store pre-conversation with Dad, so I plan to use those pre-op only to the extent of weaning myself. I am hoping that if I use only what I need to "get up" then day-by-day I will use less. I have a very famine-what-if-I-don't-have-enough outlook, so that is why I went overboard on my purchase. I thought it might not be available for me later as I had a hard time finding the store which sold it. I also take a fistful of psychiatric drugs daily and I have no idea how I am going to be able to tolerate those after surgery. I didn't tell my psychiatrist about the surgery because I didn't want them to discontinue the near-free care I've been receiving since '94. Well, time to get ready to go to my dad's.

We're so similar; that's amazing. Your post is inspiring.

wonderful!

It's empowering to realize you have choices about who you allow into your "inner circle." That's how I think of it: concentric circles for levels of access and trust and influence. There are only a few in my inmost circle. It's good to sort it out. Good for you!!

Best of luck, keep us posted. Is your surgeon qualified to handle the extra risks you describe?

Today and tomorrow are the last days I will be able to eat whatever I want. My surgery is 9/26 and I should have started pre-op on the 12th, but I mistakenly had my mind set on ten days' pre-op so I am sticking with that. The psychological willingness to do this seems very fragile to me; i.e., not the surgery itself, but my part in changing my lifestyle. I am a compulsive overeater, addicted to food, seeking comfort. I don't see how surgery is going to change that; yet it is a last ditch effort. I quit drinking; I quit smoking; I don't want to die addicted to food. I don't like being a slave to it. I want to get out from under this addiction, and that is the hopeful goal of my surgery. I know that once established healthy habits become the norm and preference; at least that's my past experience with it. So, there's all that. I am counting on prayer to pick up the difference between what I can do and what I must do. That's how I got through drinking and smoking withdrawal, which can be and were for me lengthy and torturous. Or, you could just say, I was a mess, felt like I was losing my mind. God got me through it ODAAT. But I have a family . . . and spending this money on sleeve surgery instead of having my son's tonsils removed or a down payment on a new truck my husband truly needs for work seems terribly selfish. We are hoping that once I have the surgery I will lead the family into better eating habits. No junk for me, none for you. My son has issues with his weight and while he's too old for me to dictate, we hope that healthier foods at home will help him. So, it;s all about me. Of course, I look forward to the hoped for personal evolution weight loss can bring--new energy, ambition, freedom of movement, clothing, desire to go out, dress up, etc. I particularly miss yoga and hope that I will find joy in that again. If you read this and want to comment, please do. I wouldn't write it here if I didn't want to share how I feel.

Looking good, lady!! WTG

You sound so much better. I'm glad for you. And I agree that sometimes what God "tells" us to do can be incredibly painful; but it's always worth it on the other side. My surgery is 2 weeks off. I appreciate your honesty and look forward to more reports about your progress. Congratulations on making it this far!!

whoops -- my surgery is on the 26,

Faith, I'm having my surgery on Sept. 25th also! Best of luck to you; I will be thinking of you. Cancun is so lovely. I envy you being able to see the lovely blue water; that will be so relaxing. It does make a lot more sense than flying 6 hours to CA! I am in TX so the flight to CA will only be 3 1/2 hours to me. Sheila

Well, I went with my sister with my birth certificate and marriage certificate (name change) and driver's license. You can get back in with these documents. Still, when we came back the border crossing guard asked me why I didn't have a passport and told me to get one! They also have something called a passport card now which can be used for land/sea travel only. If you search for passport requirements, you can find the US information.

My sister had sleeve surgery early July with Dr. Kelly in Tijuana. It cost 5,500 and they are so incredibly nice and accommodating, it's unbelievable. They did not require deposit for me -- I was so impressed with my sister's treatment (I went with her), I scheduled the procedure for myself. Good Luck.