Macy6

I'm about 4 months out from surgery. I have been working to eat around 1500 calories, 5/6 200-300 calorie, high protein low carb, meals a day. I want to loose a good 30-40# before surgery. I feel the first reason is safety, the lower the BMI the better. Second, the lower the number the less I have to loose and the closer the sleeve will assist me in getting to my goal. Third, going from 1500 to eventually 1200 and 1000 for pre op diet then 600-800 post op is going to be easier than jumping from 2000-3000 a day down to 1000 pre op. this time also gives me an opportunity to "screw up". It also gives me an opportunity to retrain myself into some of the areas I will need to be good at after surgery. No more skipping meals, scarfing meals, and over eating meals.

Hang in there. I am sorry it is so hard right now but I am sure you will turn a corner soon!

I have never heard of coughing causing vaginal spotting. Were you not getting periods due to your weight? It is only 3 weeks but it is possible that you might start getting them since you have lost weight. I would for sure call your Dr. but consider that taking things like Mucinex without being able to take in a lot of fluids could possibly make things even worse right now.

I know they are all so different. I have looked through my packet and the one I do is 10days and you drink three protein shakes a day and have two small high protein, low carb meals. It comes out to around 1000 calories. There is a list of approved snacks; SF Jello, SF Popsicle... Anyway the nutritionist told me if I needed to touch the snacks that I had to call her first. Are you set up with a nutritionist? I am sure that it would be fine to replace a protein shake with a low carb, high protein meal but you may just want to call and ask.

My first visit was very informational! I walked in with about 22 questions for the surgeon, and only had to ask around 15 by the time he told me his story. Beyond meeting him I met the wonderful office staff, his fantastic nurse and finished off with the patient navigator, who gave me my to do list. My surgeon told me what he recommended for me, the sleeve (I actually walked in thinking bypass) they took my weight, height, BMI. Set their weight loss goal for me, and he told me his expectations for me (loose 5# and do my homework) The patient navigator sat down with me, introduced me to the NUT and helped me set up most of my appointments. I am now slowly getting thru all those appointments. I spent an hour and a half in the Psych office today filling out paperwork and questionnaires (575 True/False questions) I was going crazy by the time I left. I have met with the NUT, I have an appointment next week with the Psychologist and exercise physiologist. I still need to do my blood work, EKG and barium swallow. (I have a history of anxiety related PVCs and GERD so he said better safe than sorry) I won't see my surgeon again until my pre op appointment, so I made sure I asked everything I wanted to know, I know I can always go thru the patient navigator to get answers but I wanted to walk out comfortable with him, and my choice. One of the requirements from my surgeon is to read the book "The Expert's Guide to Weight Loss Surgery" by Garth Davis M.D. He has a chapter about questions you should ask your surgeon and that was how I came up with my questions. Some of my questions were.... Approximately how many cases are done by your practice each year? What is your conversion to open rate? Am I awake when the catheter is put in? (I am a nursing student and have done an OR rotation and knew that they are generally put in under, but I really wanted to make sure!) What is the average hospital stay? Will I have drains? What are your complication and mortality rates? What is the most common complication you have seen with this surgery? Do you recommend certain vitamins? (my NUT gave me a ton of samples) Like I said he answered a lot before I even asked, but he was completely open to any question. He told me that he wanted me to be comfortable with him and if I needed to know his favorite football team, favorite food, or where he vacations then he would answer that for me. Good Luck!

How are you doing now?

Have you ever asked? I had gone in to see my PCP about my depression and she asked what I felt was the root of it and I blubered on about school, home, my weight and she says "have you considered bariatric surgery? I think you'd be the perfect candidate" and 5 days later I was sitting in a seminar and 6 weeks later I have been poked, prodded, and screened in every which way possible. In the years I had seen her and other physicians in the same office no one has every said a word to me about my weight, but the moment I opened up about it they were ready to work with me. I hope it goes well! I agree, be confident, know what you want. In my case my PCP is nearly as important as my surgeon. She is the one holding my hand thru this, not to mention she gets to see me every 3-4 weeks for 6 months.

Good Luck! I am sure you can do it. My surgeon is requiring a 5 lb loss (Yeah I dunno either) but I was told when I start my 10 day pre surgery non liquid, sometimes liquid, kinda liquid diet, that I would be weighed before and on the last day and if I don't loose, that my surgery would be cancelled.

I just bought my son the Crush and Hawaiian Punch water enhancers in the same section you buy Mio. They also have Kool Aid and Dasani water enhancers. He seems to really like them.

This is only my second post ever on this forum, but I had to reply to this. She isn't being a friend when she treats you this way. I was honestly terrified to tell my best friend that I was considering WLS because she has made remarks about people doing it in the past. I knew I had to tell her, because she does the billing for my bariatric surgeon haha and I didn't want her finding out when my account hit her desk. I was pleasantly surprised and shocked. She put aside her own feelings and has been incredibly positive and supportive, she has called me with information she has found out, calls when there are extra seminars I might be interested in, promised to sit by my bed when I am in the hospital and bring me ice chips. It is unfortunate your friend is feeling the way she is, if it makes it easier then write her a letter and let her know how badly it hurts you. It isn't fair for her to treat you this way. Good Luck on your big day! Don't let her, or anyone bring you down!

I have not had surgery, but I did fly in January and we have similar measurements. I flew Delta, same size seats, a total of 5 flights. What I found was I was far more comfortable by the window because I could lean into the window area and didn't have to worry about people walking down the middle. I was able to put the arm rests down, but didn't, I was also sitting next to a close friend so we "cuddled" I was Impressed by the flight attendants, I never felt uncomfortable asking for seat belt extenders and they always handed them to me in a way that didn't draw attention. I had 3 short flights and 2 long (6hrs each) and made sure once I was settled I would only have to get out once, in the middle to pee. I never put my tray down, utilized my friends. I did do the aisle Once and hated it.