Diana82

Hi! My name is Jeanni. I live in Missouri, I'm getting my sleeve in Lenexa, Kansas September 5th, start my 2 week liquid diet (4 shakes a day and broth, sf Jello and sf Popsicles ) August 22nd. The liquid diet and excess skin is my biggest worries. The excess skin I can live with just would prefer not to have it. I am 30 and not sure if I am too "old" for my skin to bounce back like when I was younger. But excess skin is a very small price to pay for getting to a healthy weight so I'm not sure why it worries me so. I have substituted some shakes here and there to prepare for preop diet and just telling myself if I cheat on it I am only hurting myself. I wish you all luck!

I just found out today that I am tentatively scheduled for September30th. I am excited and scared.

Can you give me your attitude? Lol. I keep thinking I will be the rudest bi**h! Especially because I work at an Italian restaurant. I love your attitude and a big congratulations! Keep updating!

Got my insurance approval and date today for September 17th!! With Dr. Feng at El camino hospital in palo alto, ca (i think). I'm so excited I was to scream it from the roof tops! This process took so long!

because I am super excited that I started my liquid diet today. I went yesterday and had my EGD and Bravo put in.. but today I woke up happy and excited that I was starting my liquid diet. For me I know that it's the start of the two weeks before surgery.. I am counting down the days baby.. I am soo stoked. The diet I don't think is going to be hard for me because I spent sometime when I was younger not eating at all.. I think when I was in high school I went four months without eating anything.. so this two weeks is going to be a piece of cake..
To all others that started their liquid diets today I wish you all luck.. and know that our day to be on the losers bench is coming soon!!

Thanks! Of course my daughter has been watching stuff on drug cartel, so she is worried and making me worry. I will be fine...I pray!

Mine is 39! I know exactly how that feels! I'm ready!

Yeah, I didn't know what to expect at all so really wanted to document my experience in case it helps someone else. I'll upload and post the pictures when I get to a real computer, hopefully next week!

Love that you shared that with everyone. Helps with what to expect. I think you should post the hospital picture! keep updating! It's awesome!

My surgeons office just called, they are so nice. The coordinator just wanted to make sure I received my surgery schedule and if I had any questions, and to say ok, everything is set in stone for September the 9th! Hooray

Had my leak test yesterday. I still wasn't feeling 100% so my memory is a little fuzzy, but basically I was taken out of the hospital in a wheelchair (hospital policy) straight to Omar's vehicle. He had my meds waiting for me - pain meds, antibiotic and another to help protect the stomach, plus diflucan to prevent yeast infection. there was also gauze, wound cleanser and band aids that came in handy after I couldn't resist a shower and longer last night. From there he took us to a grocery store where I got Vitamin Water and Gatorade. (Side note, I know the currency rate is different from USD, but it still kind of shocked me to see a 40 price tag on a box of Cereal lol, I didn't immediately realize they meant pesos.)
After the store we went to Angeles hospital for the leak test. I was handed the barbaric (i meant bariatric, but i think this autocorrect is so accurate and funny that I'm leaving it) Fluid that would show up on the scan. It was clear and didn't smell like much but the aftertaste was so bitter. I was surprised at the amount. i was expecting a little sip, but it was probably about the volume of a shot glass. i was dubious if my stomach could hold it all, but it did. Omar had told me that no one had thrown up the liquid yet, but I admit I spent the scan thinking I was going to be the first. Anyway, it was cool seeing the liquid travel down my new stomach! No leaks. Omar was kind enough to record the video for me and email me a copy (I love technology) and I was given a printed X-ray type copy that was very cool, even if I don't know what I'm really looking at. I was weighed before leaving and had gained 8 pounds in the hospital, making my official surgery weight 288. I knew that I would gain some weight based on experiences I've read here, but it was still a bummer to be so close to 290 again. Oh well, not for long!!
After that I took my picture with Dr. Illan and Omar, albeit grudgingly because I just got out of the hospital and looked like crap. That's never an ego booster, lol, but one day I'm sure I'll be glad to have those pictures. Omar then drove mom and me to the hotel, pointing out different monuments and sharing a little bit of Tijuana's history on the way. It was pretty fascinating stuff.
The Lucerna hotel is very nice! It seems secure enough; you have to insert a room card to use the elevator. The staff brought us a refrigerator for my Jello and drinks. It was making a loud noise and so they replaced it with a quieter one and were very nice about it. They brought up a microwave for my mom's meals as well, though the staff mentioned that it might be 5/day to have it, which is fine. They have a restaurant thing downstairs. My mom said that it was really good, so if you're traveling with someone they'll have food on hand. Our room overlooks two very pretty swimming pools and we have a lovely balcony. I would have been happy in any safe, comfortable place but it's surprisingly nice that this one is pretty and luxurious as well.
As for how I'm feeling, not bad! I started feeling close to 100% last night. I feel better and better as time goes on. No nausea, minimal pain. Been walking, using my spirometer breathing thing, and taking my meds. I think the hardest part is that I'm a dedicated stomach sleeper. I stopped sleeping on my back a decade ago because it caused me to have sleep paralysis (wonder if sleep apnea was involved?). The hospital bed wasn't too bad because I was sitting up, but it was difficult falling asleep on the hotel bed, on my back, because I was afraid of the old sleep paralysis. I finally managed to conk out and everything was fine.
Dr. Reyna (not sure if I'm spelling it right, I only remember it because he introduced himself as "dr reyna, like dr Queen because Reyna is Spanish for Queen!" Loved that lol) stopped by the hotel with Omar this morning and put steri strips on my incisions. He said everything looks good, and I'm feeling good (knock wood) so I think things will be fine. A little nervous about flying back home tomorrow as sitting causes some discomfort, but it's a short flight.

I was worried about being a raging b__h during the preop liquid diet but drinking 5 Protein shakes, and a couple of servings of broth got me through it.
One more thing that will help you will be to get off sugar and caffeine now. food withdrawal is hard enough without having to go through sugar and caffeine withdrawal at the same time.
If you are in or around Chicago, there is a local company that makes the most wonderful pre and post op shakes and broths. The items are fresh so can't be shipped, but I am happy to share the information if anyone is interested.

You didn't get any instructions from your surgeon's office?
You are going to need Protein shakes. I used powdered shakes from both Bariatric Advantage and powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury (both online). I mixed the shakes with skim milk but make sure your surgeon approves. Unjury makes a powdered Protein powder that can be mixed with sugar-free Jello ( good for post-op if you can't use pre-op). They also have a protein- filled chicken Soup mix.
As far as broths, you will find that you will need the salt (it will give you energy). I used to go to restaurants (Panera bread is good for this) and ask for chicken noodle or french onion Soup /- but just the broth. Every restaurant worked very hard to help me out.
Good luck on your journey. It's going to be amazing!

I think that grumpy tends to go along with a clear liquid diet, no matter what. Most of the time it includes broth or bouillon, sugar free Jello, Decaf tea, Gatorade, and sometimes juices. Your doc should give you a list. You might want to try a few broths ahead of time to find one you like. Better Than Bullion makes pretty good concentrates that you mix with hot Water. One of the flavors they have is lobster & I liked that as a change from chicken or beef. Good luck!

Wow. After a year I can said I feel great. Thank you x Grastric Sleeve..

That's what we are here for!

Many, many of the issues they mention here are related to RNY and bands, not VSG. By treating those all in one bucket, it's a huge disservice. Also forgive me but this is REALLY bad journalism. Correlation is passed off as causality, and no percentages are ever stated and its so badly done that really, you should do your own research.
Here's my suggestion. Take each of the side effects they detail and look up the incidence of that side effect with VSG, and then decide. You will find things like malnutrition, dumping, etc do not happen with VSG. As to the suicide rate, look up suicide rates amongst the obese as compared to normal weights first. I'm quite sure it's higher, with or without surgery.
When they say 20% complications, is dehydration because patients didn't follow drinking directions a complication? Funny, no definitions provided.
Aargh I will stop ranting. I am trained as a scientist and I deal with statistics daily, and that is a classic case of scare-mongering while failing to provide sufficient evidence.
Okay I'm off to take a deep cleansing breath now

Short story: I'm officially sleeved as of ~4pm yesterday! Still pretty out of it but feeling good.
Long story: Dr. Illan was incredibly pleasant and his English was perfect (only mentioning this because I see this asked frequently). He introduced me to a doctor that I think was being trained who was also very polite. After I passed the EKG (with another professional, informative doc), nurses loaded me into the OR. I remember them wrapping my legs in those things that inflate and deflate (I think to help with circulation?) over my compression stockings. Then of course came the anesthesia and I was out.
Speaking of anesthesia, I got to talk to the anesthesiologist prior to surgery and admitted I was afraid of dying from the anesthesia, heh. She took the time to explain to me how it's calculated and why I wouldn't be dying from it, lol. She was also very kind, professional and really put me at ease.
I was having the loveliest dream, and then woke up A) needing to vomit and with no concept of an indoor voice, whoops. I kind of blurted out/screamed "OH GOD WHAT HAVE I DONE IM GOING TO DIE I NEED TO VOMIT." (This is how I usually react to coming out of anesthesia, having existential crises). I was told it was okay to puke, so I went ahead and deafened everyone on the floor, "NO I DON'T WANT A LEAK!!1!" Dr. Illan was very kind and patiently explained that a leak is not possible. He says that he staples it, sews it, and then does on more thing to the seal. I'll have to ask him more about his technique later but that put me at ease. I was able to vomit and burp up some of the gas.
My original gung-ho plan was to start walking as soon as possible, strutting out of the OR itself if I was feeling up to it. That got shut down fast, I was completely out of it until 10pm, then incredibly sick and goofy until around 8am this morning. I knew I needed to walk so I kept moving my legs in bed in lieu of the actual thing (made sense in my confused brain). I was able to get up and shower and then as soon as I did the nurses gave me nausea meds. That got everything under control and I was finally able to do a few laps around the hallway.
I'm already feeling at around 80%, and the staff have just been amazing. They've been very attentive, patient and are on top of meds and the beeping iv. Last night one even discovered that the IV in my left hand wasn't working anymore, so she immediately put a new one in my right hand, I was impressed by this because the same thing happened to me during a hospital visit in the states and the nurses ignored me; my hand swelled up like an orange.
Anyway, VERY impressed with everyone and everything here. Omar and a doctor even gave us an apology letter for the staff being loud the other night, which was totally unexpected but I thought very nice.
I first starting researching weight loss surgery 8 years ago and I'm so glad I waited to have it now with Dr. Illan, his team, Omar, and everyone here at florence. Feels good to finally have this over with, can't wait to see what is in store for a thinner, healthier me!

Oh my goodness, just had kind of a funny moment. A lady came in the room and didn't speak English (note: not a criticism at all, I don't speak Spanish so we're even lol) and I could have sworn she said she was a respiratory therapist. She had me sit in the chair and lean forward then draped a sheet over my back and starting giving me a massage with a wand massager. I was confused for the longest time, "why is she massaging my lungs before listening to them??" But then it occurred to me that she was a *massage* therapist.
I'm totally a puddle of goo right now. Stress? What stress?? This is great.

Thank you! I will update. I feel better now, just woke up with a bad case of oh-god-what-am-I-doing-itis lol. My mom is with me and was able to talk to someone that had the surgery yesterday and is doing great today, so that helped calm our nerves.