lilac lass

How exciting! Praying for you!

I know what you mean but don't set yourself up for defeat. Read some of the post-op section. Some people take a while to get to that stage. Find other ways to calm and relax yourself. Yeah, I know easier said than done especially with kids around but try to make a list of things you can do in different situations.

I don't like fb. Isn't there a section for when you have your surgery? I thought I saw it lower on the list of topics.

By the time you get to mushie stage, you may be grateful for the change.

I am the 6th as well. I have a terrible headache, probably from stress ( family issues) while trying to get ready for surgery.

Praying all goes well!

Thanks!! YOur answers have cleared it up. I don't want to go through this and mess up my results.

HI, I am only days away from my surgery. I have been reading this forum and trying to get my mind and surroundings set up for my life post-op. I have been keeping track of my Water so far by knowing the capacity of the glasses I drink out of. It has been stressed to make sure I take in my 60 oz water after surgery. So how do you keep track of your water intake? What method works best for you? I know I will be depending on Protein shakes but I won't be able to drink 8 oz at a time. So I can count 2-3 oz of Protein shake at a time for my water but does doing that count as grazing? Or is it okay as long as it is just in the immediate post-op stage? Any ideas would be appreciated.

I was approved in a week, praise God! It was to be faxed on a Thursday or Friday. I called on Tuesday and insurance said they had received it on Monday. I figured that means it was printed out and recorded in my file as they got it on that day. I called on Wed and they said it was being processed. Yes, I was obsessing, lol. I called late on Thursday and they said it was approved. But that is what I mean about just checking on the status of it. I think I read it on a forum about insurance here.

I have had them and sometimes, repeat, sometimes, with some people they give you the sensation that you have to urinate but can't as the catheter is already doing that. So what you do is BEFORE- talk to your doctor and ask him/her to put in a order for the nurses to give you Phenazopyridine Hydrochloride or Azo which is the over the counter name for it. It works really fast and it basically stops the muscles and nerves from annoying you when you have the catheter in. I did this and was told that my doctor rarely uses a catheter. So don't get yourself worked up about it. I have had a catheter 4 times with surgery. I never got a bladder infection from it. Plus remember, you are going to be on some pain meds, so you will be okay. Your mind set is a factor in this, so just be prepared( good that you are reading the book) and have a plan.

I lost weight on the program the NUT gave me during my 3 month insurance directed visits. At my pre-surgery visit, the doctor said I wouldn't have to do the protein shake diet for a week before surgery. I do have to do the clear liquid the day before surgery.

Oh that is terrible! Just a head's up, I called my insurance company a couple of days after my claim was submitted to check on the status. I think I read about doing that somewhere on the forum. I kept a log of the times I called and who I talked to. So I knew it was accepted and what stage it was in being processed. I found out I was approved before my doctor's office did and before anyone got the letters. The insurance was very nice about telling me. So if you call, are polite, they will tell you the status ( received, processed, etc). I am so sorry this happened to you! Please don't be discouraged. Call your doctor's office, ask to speak to the insurance manager and see if they can put a rush on it or something because of the error. Be polite but firm.

Thank you! Prayer is a powerful thing! God watch over you in your surgery.

Thanks! I appreciate it. We are overwhelmed with all the stuff to deal with the lay off, decisions to make, and in the middle of all this- getting ready for my surgery. Days he was going to take off to run errands, he is now in meetings with HR and I am figuring out what medications to refill while we still have coverage. All this time I was going to be getting ready for surgery. I am trying to take moments to be still and just focus on God.

Just got a huge shock! My husband called and he has been laid off. He was at his job since 2001 and this was totally unexpected. He is our only income. So I guess this will be a good test of dealing with stress and head hunger. We have several college tuitions to pay for our kids along with other bills. We will have insurance for a few months. Just praying and clinging to God.

I got the toddler forks and spoons too! Thanks for the other ideas!

I am sorry your family is acting this way. You have come this far and this will greatly help your health. Do what is best for you ( your health) and that will be what is best for your family. Perhaps they will eventually 'get it' but remember it is like on an air plane, they tell you put the oxygen mask on yourself and then your family members, if you don't, you pass out and no one gets oxygen. If you don't take care of your health now, how will your family manage in the future? Put all the things in place you will need for after surgery. Get a friend lined up to come over and help you or that you can call on if your family won't be positive help post-op. Know that eventually you will be feeling better and able to do so many things you can't do now. Eventually they will see the 'new you'. Change is hard for us and hard for those we love but this is change for the better. Know the forum is here when you need it~!

Okay but don't beat yourself up if you don't hold to your plan. Just aim for holding to what the surgeon said. That is the gold standard, what your doctor told you. That is the person who is going in there and doing the task. Remember this is going to be a process and this site is going to be great support for you while you are going through it.

I have 2 autoimmune disorders ( rheumatoid arthritis RA, Sjogren's Syndrome) and this was something I asked the doctor about at the information meeting. Celebrex is a Cox-2 inhibitor while also an NSAID. It is easier on your stomach than Motrin and the other NSAIDS. That said, it would be better to ALWAYS CHECK WITH YOUR WLS DOCTOR. I am pre-surgery and have to stop all of my RA meds but in the book they gave me, it says I can use Celebrex when my stomach incision is healed. If you think you have RA, please go see a rheumatologist as there are medications that can prevent the further damage of your joints. Those are biologics and are fine to do once your surgery is healed but check with your WLS doctor. Mine said I can go back on those 3 weeks post-op.

Same here. I am set for surgery on the 6th. I filled out paper work for my pre-op testing which is the 26. Hope your's goes well.

You look awesome!! Thanks for sharing them and now go and have a blast showing off your hard work!! It is Saturday night.....

HI, I am getting ready for surgery and trying to stock up all my supplies. My NUT said I could have plain yogurt but to flavor it myself instead of getting fruit yogurt and straining it. So have any of you done this and what are the flavors you used which worked best? I am thinking of checking out the bakery aisle at the store but wanted to check with all of you first. My original plan was to get some liquid flavorings ( lemon, have vanilla, coco perhaps, and other fruits) and add Equal to taste. Any thoughts?

Thanks! I am making a list of these ideas.

Also it would be great if we could track liquid intake by ounces instead of 8 ounce glasses. I have been keeping track of meal time in the notes but it would be nice to be able to see the time at a glance right next to the meal.

I have adjusted it as others have here but I would like a site (with app) that allows simply to individually put in directly amounts for Protein and other factors. When I did my adjustment on MFP, it was playing with it to try to get it closest to what I want. Also if it were possible to have a range for protein with a minimum requirement but factor in over protein but not have it show as a factor in the red. I am pre-op but was told to aim for 60 and no more than 100 grams per day. I realize that post-op, my digestive system and intake will change but it is discouraging to be working hard and see RED, you made an error, when really you just had 65 grams of protein. I first tried MFP when I started working with the NUT in July and stopped because of issues like this. Only this week, other members on this forum told me how to adjust it. That is great and I am enjoying this easier way to track my food but it still ticks me off to see RED when I am doing what I am instructed to do. Having family who works in tech design, I realize how hard wished for is to get in actual products. But since you asked.....and thank you for such a wonderful resource for help and support!