ElaineB

Thanks TamBam. I still can't believe that I have done this. It doesn't feel real. I had a dream last night that I was eating solid foods, which I'm not allowed for another month. I was so relieved to wake up and discover it was just a dream. Anyone else with food dreams? Oh!! I never realized before how many food ads there are! I'm not hungry in the slightest, but when I see an ad, I think, wow, I'd love a piece of pizza;). Awful.

It sounds like we are in the same boat. I am having a lot of difficulty getting down liquids. It is better today. I'm already past 20 ounces, which is what I was able I get in yesterday. I was having a lot of pain, so yesterday they did an upper GI. Thank God, no leak, but the radiologist could see the liquids getting stuck and sitting there. Apparently it's not uncommon and due to swelling. Once they took the JP drain out, a lot of the pain went away. I also weighed last night and was up 8 pounds!! This morning I was down 6.

Well, I came home last night. I stayed 2 nights and was having horrible pain in my side that would take my breath away. They sent me for an upper GI and besides major swelling it was good. Then thy took out the JP drain and lo and behold, it was 80 percent better. I could breath and haven't had a single episode of feeling like i was being kicked in the gut by a horse. Yeah!! I am having trouble getting down fluids. I'm at 20 ounces for the day so far. That's improving too. Popsicles are my life saver. 16 of the 20 ounces are from the sugar free Popsicles. How's everyone else doing? Good luck and God bless to all who are going today and forward. Lets finish July with a bang!! Oh!!! I have had less than 300 calories total for the previous 4 days and I weighed when I got home. I had gained 8 pounds!! I was going to ask for a refund;). This morning I was down 6. That's good, but I'm still above where I started.

I was sleeved on the 23rd. I am still in the hospital, but hope to go home today. I am still having intermittent severe pain. It comes on suddenly and feels like I've been kicked in the gut by a horse. It knocks the breath out of me for a few minutes, then goes away. I too am having trouble getting in the liquids. Just a couple of tsp and I feel it wanting to come back up. I've not had more than 20 ounces in a day so far. Thank God for IV fluids. I know I'm going to have to sink or swim once I'm at home. That makes me nervous.

Prayers and blessings to all of my fellow 23rd sleevers. Our day has come. To quote Dr. Phil, "This is going to be a changing day in your life." I have been nervous and have barely slept for days. Last night I went straight to sleep and I'm feeling at peace. I will keep you updated and post when I can. Good luck!!! Hope all the post ops are feeling great today.

Hope everyone who had surgery today is doing well. July 23rd sleevers, we are up tomorrow!!!!! I can hardly believe it. I'm nervous, excited, and my stomach is upset. I will be praying for all of my sleeve sisters that we have uneventful surgeries and quick, pain free recoveries. Xoxo Elaine

I'm on the 23rd. My emotions are all over the place and change minute to minute.

That is amazing!!!! Can't wait to join you on the losers bench. Keep it up.

Welcome to the "23rd club"! Do you have a pre-op diet?

Right now GNC is having a buy 2 and get 1 free special on them. If you buy their card for 15$ you get member rates so they are around 4.30$ each. With the sale they are about 3$ each. It's expensive, but I justify it bc I'm not eating out. A 3$ meal is better than McDonald's. try 1 first. They have a "pucker" factor that I find weird. They make my tongue feel dry.

So proud right now. I'm at the mall courtyard. The man is having Taco Bell. I'm having a cold Isopure from GNC. I am a beast:)

I'm having mine with Dr. Jawad in Orlando on the 23rd. Getting nervous. I'm excited too.

Good luck with the pre-op diet. It's rough, but doable. I've lost several pounds already. This is my 6th day. I have surgery the 23. Hang tough the first 3 or 4 days and it really does get easier. Thoughts and prayers going out to all July 11 sleevers. Keep us posted.

To avoid constipation on the liquid high protein, I've been doing Metamucil in a clear liquid each day. 1 huge scoop. It seems to help. I had diarrhea for a couple days, but once I stRted the Metamucil that stopped. Could be coincidence or maybe the fiber is absorbing the water? Love, love these fun topics we have. Like poop.

Good luck and God bless to everyone who is finishing out this week, as well as those already sleeved this month. Keep us posted on how it goes. I'm July 23 and I can't wait.

I will be thinking of you, jllette. Please keep me posted.

Good luck and God bless to all who have had surgery, and to all of you finishing up the week. Patience and encouragement to all of us still in the big countdown. We are 1/3 of the way through this July sleevers. Yeah!!!! I love our month. Day 4 of pre-op and this is kicking my butt. Getting hungry enough to eat almost anything and enjoy it. Sure hope this hunger abates after surgery. Xoxo

Tonid, I know it's hard not to get discouraged, but hang in there. Aug will be here before you know it. I've had this moved back so many times its not funny. My first group on VST was October 2012 sleevers:). I'm happy to be July. Finally.

Lanuz, I have tried to reply several times. I don't have computer at home so doing this on the phone and its iffy at best. Yeah!! I'm so happy to have another sleeve sister. Can't wait for the 23rd to get here. I'm on day 2 of my pre-op diet. Lots of anxiety, but so far so good.

You need to find out what your insurance and doctor require. I had to do a 6 month supervised "diet", but did not actually have to lose a pound. Luckily, because I actually gained. It was just a hoop to jump through. Some doctors/insurances are different and actually require a certain percent loss. Either way, you can do it. I'm starting pre-op diet today and I'm determined to stick with it. Good luck.

Court, I guess it's lucky we don't have cable:0 Allyson, I understand the fears. I was having a major anxiety attack last night. Totally freaking out. This morning, the first day, I feel calm. I'm just going to take it day by day. I will keep re-reading the post Court put here. I realize that food and the physical is not the main issue. I can go the next two weeks without a bite of food and physically be just fine. It's the emotional thing, the psychological thing, really. This is going to be a fight with myself, but I'm determined. We just have to keep it in perspective. It's 2 weeks for goodness sakes:) Now the working at McDonald's thing is rough. Drink a lot of that delicious unsweet tea. Or look for another job? This is a great source of support too. We can do it together. Your date is the same as mine, right? The 23rd? I'm posting another video tonight after this first day is over.

Wow, Court. Thank you so much for that. I've been awake and freaking out bc I felt like the axe had fallen at midnight and that just changed my whole perspective. I feel so calm and peaceful right now. I am going to read that over and over these next few days. I really appreciate that.

Allyson, I am the 23rd as well. I'm starting pre-op diet today (Sunday) because I didn't want my first day to be at work. I want to try to get settled into it at home. I am super nervous too. My primary anxiety at this point is the pre-op diet. I feel like I'm just now strapping myself into the seat of a really big roller coaster.

Melissa, I understand that feeling. I have certain people I do NOT want to know. My ex husband being the main one:). I just figure the likelihood of them finding me is low.

I agree. I love the videos. I have been watching them for months as I go through this. They are very inspiring and I've gained a lot of info. They are fun to watch as the weight comes off. I haven't gotten to that stage yet:) Soon.