katikati

Yep. You asked where your February 6th sleevers are at, so I said "Here!" I can't believe it's almost here!

Here!

I'm sure she means her pre-op liver shrink diet.

I lost a significant amount of weight a couple of years ago, about 120 pounds. I experienced terrible pain in my hips and back at night. It was to the point that I would just lay there and cry. I even woke myself up crying often because I'd fallen asleep out of exhaustion, but was hurting so badly. I still had plenty of cushion left on my body, though. I never asked a doctor about it, but my theory is that my body was going through pain adjusting to a different size and shape. I imagine your center of gravity changes, bones and muscles that have been stressed are now eased. That's great for your health, but it seems like your body would go through an adjustment period as things settle and align differently. These ideas are not founded in any kind of facts, just what I decided in my head about it night after night. I really hope I don't go through that again when I lose weight this time. That was pure misery! Plus, knowing that I can't take ibuprofen or other kinds of medicines makes it an even scarier thought. I sincerely hope it gets better for you!

You should be able to call your insurance company and find out what percentage your copay would be.

Oh, and I played Star Wars: The Old Republic, but kind of bored once I hit 50 and dropped it.

I've been obsessed with Civilation V. I bought a bunch during the holiday sale that I haven't even opened yet. I've also played a little of a game called Alan Wake, Amnesia: The Dark Descent, and Don't Starve. I bought Portal 1 & 2, but haven't played them yet. I played for about an hour at a friend's house once, but I'm pretty much the last person on earth who hasn't played them through. I just signed up for the Elder Scrolls Online beta test, too. It looks incredible. Of course, if my life changes like I hope it will after surgery, I won't be playing near as much, but for now I spend way more time gaming than I should. What have you played in the past?

There don't seem to be any active members, which is kind of a bummer. I was really excited when I saw it. I've had to ground myself in the past, and it was no easy task. Good for you.

Just said a prayer. Let us know how you're doing after.

Yay! Wishing you the best! Let us know as soon as you're able how it went.

I'm so frustrated with my period right now. I've been regular and not heavy flow for about three years now. It used to be a once a year nightmare until I lost a bunch of weight, and even though I've re-gained all the weight, my period has stayed regular. Until now. It is now officially three weeks late, and I'm two weeks away from surgery. I'm so afraid the flood gates are going to open right before my surgery and I will be so extremely pissed off if that happens. x[

Yeah, you'll probably be fine. Just to be safe, though, could you call them tomorrow and ask what tests they'll be doing? That should give you a better idea.

Hi, Ladyluna, what tests are you having done? It probably depends on what you do for work and if someone can drive you. I had an endoscopy (upper GI) a few months ago and it was absolutely no big deal. In fact, it was almost fun. Let me tell you first, I am a total scaredy cat about medical procedures. I've never had surgery, never broken a bone, and never been in the hospital for anything. I was terrified of the endoscopy and the idea of something being put down my throat. Hello? That sounds horrendous, right? I don't remember a thing. They gave me an IV, talked to me for a minute, sprayed my throat, and I was out. Next thing I knew I was waking up and felt great. I did apparently talk while anesthetized, since it's a twilight sleep. I was actually have the test because I was feeling sick a lot, but I apparently talked about the fact that I also wanted to have surgery, because when I came to, several techs were smiling at me and congratulating me on my upcoming surgery with a slight giggle. It wasn't mean at all, but it really made me wonder what on earth I said. My throat felt the very slightest bit rough later, like maybe if you'd had a coughing fit. They did say not to drive for 24 hours because of the anesthesia, but that's it. I'm a highly anxious person, but I wouldn't spend a minute worrying if I knew I had to get one of those again. I know that I have to get an EKG next week at my pre-op testing, but that's no biggie. That's just laying still for a minute with patches on you. Probably bloodwork too. It might be kind of tiring to have to do all of that stuff all at once, but maybe if you could take a nap between that and work, you'll feel fine, and you'll probably feel fine anyway, depending on what all you have to get. With that said, I'm not a doctor! If they say you can't go to work that night, listen to the experts!

February 6th for me as well! No pre-op diet prescribed other than cutting carbs and increased protein as much as possible, and then two days of liquids before surgery, nothing after midnight the night before. I've decided to go ahead and do about ten days of liquids anyway, as the nurse at my surgeon's office said it would be okay if I wanted to. I want to. I'm seriously sick of food. I'm so ready to be on the other side of this!

Thanks for all of the responses. I'm curious now, if you go in to the hospital on your period, what do they do during surgery? I won't have any clothes on and I can't deal with tampons (I'd assume you can't wear a tampon during surgery anyway). I can't stand the thought of just laying there, bleeding with nothing to contain it. I'll be honest, I will be SO upset if I start right before or after surgery. It's enough to contend with by itself. I can't imagine being in pain, or having a catheter, and having to also battle with that mess. I wish there was some way just to kick start my period right now. I would feel so much more at ease.

How exciting, Dmclark! Wishing you the very best. Let us know how it went as soon as you can!

Me too! I hope I can do that in a year, or maybe the year after. It looks like so much! The color run looks amazing too. Wow... I just realized I said I wanted to run. That's a first in my life time.

I have this thought that keeps cramming itself back into my head. I get thirsty a lot, and when I do, I chug water and it is heavenly. I always have a Nalgene bottle next to me and I drink at least two of those a day. Now, I've done all of my homework on the surgery, and I know that chugging is not only bad, but pretty much impossible, at least early on. I'm trying really hard to learn how to just sip now, but then I just get to this point where I'm so thirsty and I drink until I feel better. (And no, the thirst is not related to being diabetic. By some miracle, I am not.) I'm so afraid that post-op, I'm going to feel that same thirst, and not be able to do anything about it. The idea gives me this kind of panicky trapped feeling. Did you find that you were less thirsty after surgery? Are there going to be times where I'm just going to have to deal with being really thirsty, but only able to take sips? I'm trying to get my head in the game right now, so that it's not a huge shock to me later, so be as honest as you want to be about it. Now then, I made myself desperately thirsty just writing about this, and have to go refill my bottle. x[

Deedee, thank you so much for opening your heart and sharing all of this. My surgery is in about two weeks, and I NEED to read things like this, just as I need to read the success stories and tips. Your honesty and transparency are helping me so much right now. I know myself very well, and your post could very easily be mine in a couple of months. Especially since I've eaten and enjoyed that very meal you described many times in the last year. Not only are you helping me see how important it is to get my head in the right place now, but you've also shown me that when I slip up (because I know I will), the very best thing I can do for myself is talk about it and ask for help. Thank you for setting such a good example. Oh, also, your boyfriend's words to you and his gift of sending you to yoga totally made me tear up. He sounds wonderful. I want one of him!

Nurse Grace, you are a wise, wise woman. I'm very new to this site, and I found this thread so entirely offputting. Well, not so offputting that I didn't read the entire thing. I knew I wanted to post a response when I had read a few replies deep, and felt I should read everything that had been posted before I said anything so that I wasn't speaking out of turn. My response is this: It is attention-seeking behavior at its finest. I'm surprised that so many other posters called out people on attacking her (setting aside what must have been some entirely innapropriate responses from a now-banned former member), but no one responded to the fact that many people were attacked right back with blanket statements and it was suggested that they're "eating cheeseburgers," etc. The people who responded with vigor did so out of concern, and because of the attitude in which this thread was started, while many responses from the OP were inciting, petty, and reminded me very much of the bullying I endured growing up due to my weight. It was also pointed out many times by the OP how other people complain so much about this site. If that is the OP's belief, then why post here at all? It seems as though she was looking for a reason to post that, which again is just inciting. So, while I think a good administrator would be doing their job by officially closing this topic, I was highly motivated to post being that I am a pre-op, and I suddenly thought with horror of a possibly less-informed pre-op or fresh post-op coming across this thread and seeing it as evidence to the positive that they too could drink. The information is there on the possible damage alcohol can do early on, and it's all been listed already in full. Side with caution, future readers. Side with the part of yourself that felt surgery was a good option for you because you were concerned about your health and wanted to give yourself the best chance for a better life. Surgery is a drastic measure, and a tool with which you have been entrusted. Don't risk throwing your investment away on a momentary thrill or two minutes of feeling good. That's what many of us did for years before surgery, which is why we ended up needing it in the first place. There will be time for those enjoyments later, when you're feeling good for years at a time because you made so many right decisions for yourself in the journey. Save it as a celebration for reaching your goal a few months or years down the road, not as a way to tempt fate now. Save it for when you can raise that glass in a toast with your friends and say, "I did it!"

Hello, all! I'm new to this site and just want to introduce myself. I will be having VSG on February 6th (yay!) with Dr. Houston in Nashville. I've been a regular on another site during my journey to surgery, but this site really appeals to me, and I like that it is specific to our surgery type. Just a little about me. I'm 33, live in West Tennessee, never married, no children, no... life. Like many, I've been overweight since early childhood, about 5 or 6 years old. I have not been a yo-yo dieter, it's just been a steady climb for me, except for one brief interlude about three years ago. I went to a facility that helped treat eating disorders. I was there for a substantial amount of time and lost about 120 pounds, however, I was unable to maintain it on my own and begain regaining almost immediately. I've been thinking about surgery for many years, and the time is finally right to go ahead with it. I feel totally prepared for this (with the usual fears), I'm educated on it and realistic about expectations and doing my part to make it work, and I'm spending a large amount of time on forums talking to other people about WLS and all things related in order to stay sane as time crawls by at an agonizing pace until surgery day. I look forward to getting to know and making friends with many of you!

Wow, I had not at all thought about the fact that sushi could be a problem later. Now I HAVE to make sure I get a rainbow roll before I start my pre-op diet this week. I'm curious, what about wasabi? I adore wasabi, but I could see that making my tummy pretty angry after it's sleeved. Of course, I would wait a really long time, like maybe a year. *cry*

Thanks for all of the warm welcomes! <3

Hi, all! I'm new to this site and part of the February Sleever's Club! My surgery is February 6th in Nashville, TN with Dr. Housten. I'm 33 and I live in Memphis. All I have left to do is my pre-op class on January 28th, at which time I will also register at the hospital. I was only instructed to do a two day liquid diet, however, I am choosing to begin my liquid diet about ten days prior to surgery, because I've done horrible cutting carbs since my initial consultation, as my surgeon suggested I might do. I want everything to go well, on surgery day, and I don't want him to have to wrestle with my liver. I've order a few different kinds of protein (Unjury and Nectar), I'm going to use Bariatric Advantage vitamins, and I'm trying really hard not to go ahead and pack my suitcase now because there is nothing left to do but wait. I'm not good at waiting! I want February 6th to be here NOW. I enjoyed reading through everyone's posts on this thread, and I've joined the February group. Now, I'm going to see if I can find this count down app that a couple people mentioned. I feel like what I for sure need is one more thing to obssess over, because constantly visiting two WLS sites, checking protein order statuses, posting questions to forums, reading my surgery guide again, watching WLS youtube vlogs, re-researching WLS surgery types, browsing smaller clothes online, talking to friends about it, chatting online about it, making shopping lists, calling my surgeon's office with random questions, and double-checking finances for surgery are just not enough to keep my brain constantly aware of how slowly time is eaking by between now and surgery day.

Hi, neighbors! I see most of you live in the prettier part of Tennessee. I'm in Memphis and having my surgery in Nashville with Dr. Houston on February 6th. I'm so excited!