Macy6

Iron and Calcium need to be separate (Calcium inhibits the absorption of the Iron) Vitamin C helps with the absorption of Iron. That's all I got....

Yeah I just don't get that. You go girl! You are doing awesome and you do it until you are happy!

Yeah I just don't get that. You go girl! You are doing awesome and you do it until you are happy!

Yeah I just don't get that. You go girl! You are doing awesome and you do it until you are happy!

I did forget to mention that he did want to know if I would leave the hospital skinny or if I would be the same size AND more importantly he was concerned once I did loose weight that I would steal his clothes. (Because I want to wear boy skinny jeans and character t shirts)

Wow! Was it puréed or are you cleared for real food?
At 9 days out I was still on full liquids... Your stomach is still healing and is numb so you may not "feel" anything. When I started puréed food at the 3 week mark it was only 1/4 cup at a meal measured out as to not put an undo stress on the stomach.

Thanks for this Laura-ven, I am day one of pre op. I am feeling great today, but I worry the next couple days could become more difficult. I printed the original post you recommended to remind me!

Hi guys. I see a lot of you are struggling and worried pre-op about the pre-op diet. It is a HUGE challenge, but for me, it was an important one.
Exactly 1 year ago, I was in the middle of a 2 week liquid pre-op diet because my BMI was 55+ and I was self-pay in Mexico. Traveling from Canada meant that a reschedule would be A LOT of extra expense if my surgeon had to stop due to an enlarged liver mid-surgery. I had NO CHOICE but to follow the diet.
It also meant that cheating would increase the chance of complications and a longer recovery (or worse), all because I could not follow a 2 WEEK diet. Really? Here I was, about to take a seriously radical, life-changing step and get 85% of my stomach cut out permanently. But I can't follow a 2 week diet? That's crazy.
Post-op was going to be difficult for MONTHS, not days. So if I couldn't get my head in the game for the pre-op diet, then maybe I wasn't ready for what was going to follow post-op. I was terrified!
So I started the liquid diet. And I was STARVING. I was dreaming of all the foods I thought were leaving my life forever. Suddenly I didn't care that I had spent my life morbidly obese, I wanted my comfort back. I wanted to fill myself to bursting at every meal, like it was my last meal forever.
But I didn't break my diet.
Because for once, I wasn't going to cheat myself. It was time to grow up (I'm 43....) and take responsibility for my health, my future and my choices. A lifetime of justification, gluttony and excuses brought me to that operating room. Now it was time to face the music and get on with owning my future.
The first 3 days were HELL. That is when your body is detoxing from the carbs. You are using up the glycogen in your liver (to help "shrink" it) and it's screaming for replacement carbs to fill it back up. You can get through it. After 3 days it gets MUCH better. After a week you start to feel normal and more healthy than you have felt in years. You may be hungry, but you don't have the carb cravings anymore.
Most importantly, you feel IN CONTROL; and mentally and emotionally strong for battling your demons and winning. This is the first tangible proof in an unsure future that you CAN get through the post-op recovery and that you CAN succeed in losing the weight this time, FOR LIFE.
Whatever weight you lose during your pre-op diet is really inconsequential. What is important is what you gain:
- Confidence
- Emotional and physical self-control
- The desire to succeed and overcome "impossible" obstacles
- The knowledge that you are a WINNER as long as you do your best
Please don't look at the pre-op diet as a "condition" that your surgeon imposes on you (and some surgeons don't require it!). It is an OPPORTUNITY for you to test yourself, to help build your will, character and emotional toughness BEFORE you have the surgery.
It's like training for a marathon.....you put the blood sweat and tears in before the race to help you finish the race on game day. Without training and preparation, you will likely fail and you can get hurt really badly along the way!
Use your pre-op diet to work through your demons, build up your confidence and prove to yourself you can do it. If you "fall off the wagon" one day, the next day is a fresh start.
Aim for excellence. You owe it to yourself.

Hi
This is a good read ....
http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/78443-the-pre-op-diet-is-not-a-punishment-its-an-opportunity/

OK honestly I think it is a really cute dress. Is it perfect? no, but it is really really REALLY close. I would not tell you to take it back!!! The lines on it are very flattering, the way it curves on your hips and waist is very flattering. I would honestly say you are very close to it being a perfect fit and is something you need to keep in your closet!

Sorry, I will hold my answers for things that I have tried or fallen for..

I've always wanted to volunteer for Search & Rescue in my county. I live in a heavily active, 4 season community. There are people lost in the snow every winter, out in the desert every summer, hiking trails, River rescues..... Every November they out a news article out seeking volunteers, every November I say "next year is the year" I am going to do it!

I agree with Amy, if they are a trigger food stay far far away.
Have you considered something like paleo wraps? http://paleowrap.com/
or maybe making cauliflower tortillas http://realfood.tesco.com/recipes/cauliflower-tortillas.html

I'm getting so nervous! Pre op diet starts Saturday, I'm having dinner with a friend Friday night it's my only real big last meal type thing, otherwise I've just ate my norm these past few months. Thankfully my mom is doing it with me (5 cases of Premier Protein sitting in my room, we get 3 a day and two small meals) next Tuesday I go in for pre admission testing, pay co pays and any last minute paperwork. I won't lie I'm terrified for that, a patient in my surgeons practice received the call the night before surgery that she was anemic and they were postponing the surgery. I have no history of that, and I have been taking my Vitamins I should hopefully be good. I have all of my post op prescriptions filled and on my shelf, Miralax, gas x, and all the anti emetics and ppi and of course the pain killers. I have a small list of items I need for the 24 hour clear liquid before surgery and some post op liquids and I should be good. The 27th will be here before I know it.

I'm with Laura-ven the bougie has little to do with the actual pouch size. My surgeon said that he doesn't staple next to the bougie that it is simply and guide and that he backs off just a bit. He's also never had a stricture so I'm ok with that

I know this is a serious post, but this made me giggle. I think I am going to remember that for the future.... "actually I have lost closer to an adult sized Labrador, although I have always been a fan of elephants!"

I am 7 years post op from having my gall bladder removed and my scars are quite faded, pretty much the color of the rest of my skin and I would guess someone who didn't know, wouldn't really realize what they were. They are far from completely gone though.

I had a friend who had pretty strenuous requirements. She told me she actually went through the program twice before completing it, because she found she just couldn't get through it the first time. There are hoops to jump through but it will be so worth it! Good Luck!

If you can try not to get any sun on the scars for the first year it'll help a lot w/ the color of the scars. I work w/surgeons & its their little hint. The scar silicone sheets can help if your scar is raised. Mederma helps w/ pigmentation.
Also just the act of rubbing the area helps w/ healing. So lotion , vit e doesnt significantly matter the vigiorous rubbing helps oxygenate the skin, the blood flow increases there as a result & warmth from hands& friction helps too.
allons-y

OMG< OMG< OMG.........WOOHOO! I got the call this morning. I got my insurance approval!

You definitely need to push yourself with the Water. Constantly keep it with you and every few minutes take several small sips. It is difficult, but I promise it will get easier as time goes on. It is vital you keep yourself well hydrated. The Protein will come, worry about it more in the next two stages of your post op diet. Right now, just keep sipping as much as possible.
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Tomorrow my journey to a new sleeved lifestyle begins! OUT with my old unhealthy habits and IN with a new healthy way of living. I'm jogging my way over to the losers' bench!!!
Keep me in your prayers!!!
HW (2011): 317lbs / BMI: 49
Pre-Op Diet: 298lbs / BMI: 46
CW: 289lbs / BMI: 45
GOAL: 170lbs / BMI: 26

Hi everyone,
I am new to this app. I just got my surgery date today and I am very excited. I honestly have no idea what to expect, but I know my life is going to be completely different. My current BMI is 56 and current weight is 357.4, with a height of 5'7. I have a lot of weight to lose and I know its not going to be easy, but I am fully commited to a new life.