katikati

Hi, Sherrichr, I'm in Memphis too! I had my surgery in Nashville (long story) a little over a week ago. I've heard wonderful things about Dr. Weaver. Welcome to the forum and best wishes on your journey.

I had no idea about the ten day phenomenon! I just read this post via your profile after you posted a reply to my emotional topic. Lo and behold... it's been ten days. Very interesting.

On the bright side, I'm losing two or three pounds a day. I'm pretty sure that's outstanding.

Thank you. I will take as many hang in theres as I can get. Knowing that other people went through this and survived really helps. Except, I don't know if I should read them because the minute I saw both of your responses I started crying again. God, help me. I am really pathetic right now!

On the bright side, I'm losing two or three pounds a day. I'm pretty sure that's outstanding.

(Warning: If you're a pre-op, you probably don't need to read this. I'm pretty sure it's all an effect of dehydration and hormones and won't be the most encouraging thing to take in right now. With that said, if you do read this, please know, I'd still get this surgery again in a heartbeat. It's actually been much easier than I could have ever hoped.)
I don't even feel like I have the mental capacity to make this a complete paragraph. This will be a lamentation in list form.
1) I'm hungry and I'm tired of liquids, popsicles, and jell-o. I'm still on my clear liquid phase until my post-op follow-up on Monday.
2) I'm so freaking emotional. I know why I'm emotional, the sudden weight loss, hormones released, etc. Knowing why doesn't make it feel better or make me more rational in this moment, though.
3) Having actual hunger pains now is really bothering me a bit, and giving me these little moments of panic. I literally have not eaten in two weeks. Yes, I've had Protein drinks here and there, but not every day, and I'm still fighting to get all my liquids in every day right now, so Water is taking precedence. Yes, I know I'm not going to die of starvation. I have plenty of stores built up, but again, rational thoughts blah blah blah yada yada yada... no comprende.
4) Today was the first day I had that thought again of "What have I done?" I had it a day or two post-op and it passed. I'm not sitting here thinking it right now, but it did drift back through today.
5) I had this dream last night that refuses to stop floating through my mind and is absolutely torturing me. I dreamed that I made a plain turkey burger and folded a piece of the most amazing bread I have ever seen around it. The turkey burger was really juicy for some reason and soaked into the bread and was the most incredible, ecstasy-inducing thing I have ever placed in my mouth. No seasonings, no condoments. Just a heaven sandwich.
6) I am effing over this stupid drain in my stomach. I've had double the drainage since day before yesterday and I'm afraid the surgeon will say I need to keep it when I see him on Monday. If he says that, I'm afraid I'm going to say he's going to need to keep my fist in his face as well. (Okay, I'd never say that. I love my surgeon. He's the best.)
7) I texted my best friend yesterday. She's been a wonderful support in this, and is also an RN, so has been there to help with some advice a couple of times post-op. I told her that I was really missing chocolate on Valentine's Day. (I swear I haven't spent the whole time thinking of food. I've been remarkably okay without it. The turkey burger dream and the chocolate have been the only two occurrences.) She said, "One square won't hurt you. Couldn't you just let one square melt on your tongue?" That's when I suddenly remembered that I really do have to be so careful who I talk to about food. I'm still on Clear Liquids because I had the majority of my stomach removed. I'm not going to jump from that to a square of chocolate. Also, if I were able to be satisfied with one square of chocolate, I wouldn't have needed this surgery. Also, just... wtf crazy lady? What an incredibly inapropriate suggestion.
I know that all of this is 100% because of hormones, and I can tell I'm also dehydrated today. I'm way behind on my liquid intake for the day. I was just assaulted with this extreme lethargy from the moment I awoke and every sip just feels like so much work, and I'm really fighting this part of me today that says I don't care. Just... eff it. (Only less politely.) For some reason, every sip I take is making me feel immediately full. I haven't had any full feelings prior to today. I'm really sleepy right now and all I want to do is just go to sleep, but I know I've got to get some more Fluid in, because I really can tell I'm on the edge with a slight headache and a little dizzy. Plus, I spent a good amount of time sobbing today, and I think I may have cried out everything I took in.
Okay, please don't jump on me. I know I was never told this would be easy, and that I have to work this for myself. I'm normally very docile and compliant. I just really needed to set politeness and the fear of what people will think of me aside for just a moment and say all of this. I'm feeling so alone in it. None of my friends will understand this as well as you all will.

Wonderful idea, DivaNurse! Thanks for starting this!

My sweet, sweet Mom made chicken broth for me because I don't care for canned chicken broth either. I've been such a ridiculous red meat eater my entire life (I'm a born and bred Texan, I came by it honestly), that I thought I'd prefer some beef broth on my pre-op liquid diet, so got some of the beef broth in paper cartons. Three to be exact. I heated one mug full, and it was just disgusting. I was already feeling a bit ill, and for some reason that beef broth smelled exactly like wet dog to me, and didn't taste much better. As a result, I can't even imagine drinking it post-op, homemade or not, because my sense of smell and taste is just so completely sensitive and out of whack. Those three cartons are still in the fridge. x[
The chicken broth my mom made has been an incredibly nice break from the plain Water, sweet popsicles, and sweet Protein drinks. She just put a whole chicken in the crock pot and covered it with store-bought chicken broth (low sodium). She did salt it some and put a bay leaf and let it cook for hours and hours. After that, she strained it to get all the the meaty bits out. Then she strained it again through cheese cloth to make sure it was perfectly clear for my clear liquid phase. Then she let it chill for a bit and skimmed all the fat off. I know it sounds really plain, but it's not. It's very savory, and I'm glad now it's on the plainer side because my new stomach is so picky a week out from surgery.
The only time I regretted her making it was my second night home when I got really nauseas (I was dehydrated) and a chicken was cooking in the crockpot. The smell was so unbelieveably potent and I would have gladly hurled it out the window if I could have lifted it just to get away from it. Thankfully, a Promethazine, a cool and damp washcloth over my nose, and about 30 minutes saved me, the crockpot, the chicken, and the window from disaster.

My sweet, sweet Mom made chicken broth for me because I don't care for canned chicken broth either. I've been such a ridiculous red meat eater my entire life (I'm a born and bred Texan, I came by it honestly), that I thought I'd prefer some beef broth on my pre-op liquid diet, so got some of the beef broth in paper cartons. Three to be exact. I heated one mug full, and it was just disgusting. I was already feeling a bit ill, and for some reason that beef broth smelled exactly like wet dog to me, and didn't taste much better. As a result, I can't even imagine drinking it post-op, homemade or not, because my sense of smell and taste is just so completely sensitive and out of whack. Those three cartons are still in the fridge. x[
The chicken broth my mom made has been an incredibly nice break from the plain Water, sweet popsicles, and sweet Protein drinks. She just put a whole chicken in the crock pot and covered it with store-bought chicken broth (low sodium). She did salt it some and put a bay leaf and let it cook for hours and hours. After that, she strained it to get all the the meaty bits out. Then she strained it again through cheese cloth to make sure it was perfectly clear for my clear liquid phase. Then she let it chill for a bit and skimmed all the fat off. I know it sounds really plain, but it's not. It's very savory, and I'm glad now it's on the plainer side because my new stomach is so picky a week out from surgery.
The only time I regretted her making it was my second night home when I got really nauseas (I was dehydrated) and a chicken was cooking in the crockpot. The smell was so unbelieveably potent and I would have gladly hurled it out the window if I could have lifted it just to get away from it. Thankfully, a Promethazine, a cool and damp washcloth over my nose, and about 30 minutes saved me, the crockpot, the chicken, and the window from disaster.

80% of my stomach.

You'll have to switch to competitive sipping.

80% of my stomach.

Hey, Celtika, and welcome to VST! Don't be nervous about your consultation, there will be plenty of opportunities for nail-biting moments later, so you can just save it for that. Right off the bat we know those people making assumptions are wrong because they don't even make Twinkies anymore since Hostess went out of business. Seriously, though, being stereotyped is one of the worst of the evils of dealing with being overweight in this world. I found I got the same kind of reaction when I discussed surgery with people as something I was thinking about. When you present it as a possiblity, I guess people think that means you've asked for their input on it. Once I decided I was doing the surgery, the surgery was scheduled, and it was about a week away, I told a very small group of people. I was firm and presented it confidently, and not one person said anything negative about it. They were all very supportive. I think it's a combination of being wise about with whom you share this decision, and sharing it confidently once the decision is made. Few people would poo poo the idea or criticize you for taking insulin for diabetes, or wearing foot supports for fallen arches, or wearing a CPAP machine for sleep apnea, and you most likely wouldn't consult them on the decision to do so. This is the same deal. You're doing this for your health and to aleve these problems/almost problems before they get out of hand.
I'm glad you're here! I'm one week out from surgery and this forum has been my biggest tool along the way.

80% of my stomach.

80% of my stomach.

80% of my stomach.

80% of my stomach.

You'll have to switch to competitive sipping.

80% of my stomach.

80% of my stomach.

You'll have to switch to competitive sipping.

80% of my stomach.

You'll have to switch to competitive sipping.

You'll have to switch to competitive sipping.

80% of my stomach.