pikake34

My surgery is on Tues. and I'm excited right now but ask me tomorrow and Monday - who knows, But no matter what my emotions may try to say, my brain knows this is the right thing. I just made some protein shake popsicles for next week and I'm only reading the totally positive posts. I've read all the scary ones and gotten past that idea. I'm going to be fine. Period.

I'm 5'2", 225 (for now) and my surgery is August 21, I'm an apple and the 10 lbs I've lost over the last 2 months has already changed the way my clothes fit. I'm having a hard time not buying new jeans. My first goal is to weigh less than 200 by mid-Nov. I can't wait for the actual surgery. Feel free to remind me of that statement if I whine later.

Hair loss is a real possibility and if you go to the search feature at the upper right of the screen and search hair loss you will get a lot of discussion, info and stories. Just as a start, getting all your protein, using biotin supplements and some other hair treatments like Nioxin can help.

No, but they are small tablet sized.

I just started taking biotin pills and using Nioxin shampoo and conditioner. You can get biotin at most drug stores and the Nioxin at beauty salon/supply. I bought a starter kit with shampoo, conditioner and leave-in scalp treatment spray. I haven't been sleeved yet but my hair is waist length and I really don't want to lose any after surgery so I decided to start the treatment process early.

I've only had to use a seat belt extender two times - each way on JAL to Japan. On the first flight, the attendant brought it very discretely folded and handed it to me. On the return flight, the attendant carried it dangling like an unpleasant object as she walked the length of the cabin to my seat. I was really shocked by the second attendant's rudeness.

My surgery hasn't been scheduled yet but my doc only expects me to have clear liquid for 2 days post-op and then into protein shakes. Has anyone made the transition that quickly? I suppose this will only happen if I am able to be successful with the water, I have several weeks of food logs to go and am having trouble getting all the protein in now but if I can't do it now, I won't do it later.

I'm considering Castle or Queen's Medical Centers for VSG. Has anyone already had surgery at one of these hospitals?

I have just attended my second orientation session and now I have a choice to make. It is between a medical center with a great follow-up program but with more of an emphasis on gastric bypass (but also does the sleeve with multiple incisions, which is what I would have) or a center with a physician who does mostly sleeves with one incision but the follow up that is not so intensive. Any thoughts?

Thanks for your opinions. I think I may have been putting too much into the surgeon with the one incision deal. He kind of made it seem like the latest and best option. Actually, I've had laparoscopic surgery 3 times and had no trouble with the recovery. The other program has two surgeons who did bariatric fellowships and include consult and followups with a physician who is a bariatrician (I'd never heard of that) in addition to the NUT and psychologist. The post surgical visits are at 2, 4, 8, 12 weeks and 6, 12 months. Then yearly until year 5. I guess having that much followup will help to keep me on track. I guess I'll have to get all the forms completed to get the process going.