Thick'n'Thin

I've been fantasizing about egg drop soup since yesterday. My wonderful neighbor friend is picking me up some (along with unsweetened apple sauce). Got the all clear from doc about the soup, which I think I will be more diligent to do for a bit. I read egg yolk is a full liquid and ate two soft cooked ones. It wasn't too large and it really hit the spot but...a few hours later? They bit me back. Thought I would puke. Maybe the fat was too much? I don't know, but I will pester the docs office with my ideas for a bit until I heal!

I found this tid bit of statistical data very motivating when it comes to weighing the risk of surgery. 89% reduced risk of death in five years in one study. I can't seem to copy and paste. It's on page 1018 of this paper: http://weightloss.clevelandclinic.org/images/file/Articles/Surgical%20Approaches%20to%20the%20treatment%20of%20obesity.pdf

Hey guys, I"ve been updating in a Dec '13 thread here: http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/283805-december-2013-sleevers-come-in/?view=getnewpost I was sleeved Monday. Came home yesterday. Dr. Neff and Kennedy Stratford staff are wonderful. Things are going well, thank God. I've progressed to full liquids. I'm able to get in 4 ounces in half an hour of my yummy Myology chocolate shake, made with milk. Not a problem. I hope it keeps going so well. How is everyone else?

Feeling better this morning, day three. I hadn't slept for more than a few hours at a time tops while at the hospital. Last night I slept for about 9 hours! I woke up with very little pain, lots of bowel sounds and even a (sorry TMI) first loose BM. I feel a lot better now. I was starting to see that weakness on the horizon from lack of calories so I called the docs office and the nurse was so helpful with instruction updates for me. I asked about getting back on my awesome protein shakes that taste like chocolate milk (Myology Muscle Science Whey Isolate, got it on Puritain Pride B1G1) and she gave me some directions and sent me on my way. Protein shakes, yogurt, and...PUDDING! Having my first shake now, life is good once again...lol. I'm glad my tastes for the shake didn't change. Love it!

I'm home. Hanging in there. Merry Christmas everyone. Who's ready for their first slam dunk year of New Years resolutions? I am!

I'm sleeved and recovery is going well right now

Good morning all. I'm packed and ready as I'll ever be to head to the hospital. Sliding over from the warm up bench to the losers bench. Will be in touch when I can.

Well folks, all the wishing, hoping, and preparation and my day is finally coming tomorrow. I have to be at the hospital at 8am tomorrow. All this worry about being approved for the sleeve and getting a date in between semesters has turned into a bit of anxiety and second guessing. Perfectly normal reaction but I trust that my motivation and reasons were solid before the 12th hour has arrived- and it is the best decision for me, no matter how much I want to go down to the chinese buffet today!

Found out yesterday I am approved. Talk about a nail bitter! Today was the last day for them to authorize before Monday's surgery.

Things are finally falling into place for me. Relieved to finally have my preadmission testing scheduled for tomorrow. Just got word of my insurance approval TODAY! Talk about cutting it close, tomorrow was the last chance to get approval. All is well. Down to the 200's again: 310.8 on day one of preop diet, 299.8 today. That's a pound a day! Glad everyone seems to be doing ok. Good luck to those coming up!

I had my preop appointment Nov 27th and was scheduled for Dec 23rd. I may have been able to get an appointment sooner but I was not available before Dec 21st.

I've not been the perfect student on my preop diet (3 shakes, a small balanced meal), but certainly low carb, low cal! First four days I am down 7.8lbs! I'm excited:)

I'm scheduled 12/23 and awaiting approval.

Add me to the singles list. *sigh* I had to cut my BF lose about 10 days ago. Surgery is in 13 days.

I started me prop diet yesterday. had a growing headache last night from the caffeine withdrawel I think (though I had cut down to a tiny cup a day before this). Slept for like 9+ hours last night, feel good right now. I called the doctors office to check on my approval yesterday, not so much because I anticipate a problem, but cause every here seems to do it.,..lol. Lorie said it was submitted a bit over a week ago and she anctipiates getting the authorization in the next couple days and will contact me.

I'd call the doctor and ask him about it. I hope you feel better soon.

I forgot to tell ya'll what my fortune cookie at my 'last supper' said: "Your golden opportunity is ahead of you". Yes, indeed- they have no idea. Love it when God speaks to me through fortune cookies...lol. This is a golden opportunity we have.

Thank you. God has his timing. It probably would have been harder to end things with BF after having him support me through surgery and weight loss. God forbid things fell apart this week or next, that drama between intense finals weeks and having planned originally for him to help me- I would have been left in a terrible emotional and logistical lurch. It makes this all a bit more overwhelming for me now though, coping with that loss of security/comfort I got from my partner and the fear thats creeping up for the unknown ahead- both surgery and life. It's a bitter sweet time, I imagine for a lot of us. We are scared, excited, scared again, and hopeful. We have to let go of a part of us, overeating and comfort eating, that has got most of us to this point- become a habit and often a way of coping with feelings- and then surgically remove that coping mechanism and adopt new healthy exercise and eating habits to turn this dream of finally being slim into an unfathomable reality. Least, thats how it feels to me. So many things to look forward to down the road. To be fit, attractive, full of energy! Getting my associates in the spring and shopping for a nursing school, and other big life decisions. I wanted a partner to take this journey with me- but God knows bets. I will work on myself and hope that, as it is said, God doesn't take something away without giving us something better in it's place. Thanks for listening to my ramblings. It was a bit of a rough night. Making big life changes is hard and scary, and being brave is hard some times!

Am anxious about beginning the preop diet in the AM. My doc requires two weeks preop diet of 3 shakes a day and one small meal. I'll tell ya, I envision being so ravenous that containing myself to a small meal sounds like a huge challenge! I dunno. I feel for ya, and I will be hungry along side you tomorrow. Best of luck to everyone!

I'll park myself on the 'warm up bench' with you, OP. I'm scheduled for surgery Dec 23rd. I start a two week preop diet in the AM (3 Protein shakes and a small meal a day). My 'last supper' was tonight and the reality is starting to trickle through and I had a bit of a panic attack. This isn't just a far fetched dream or hope, this is really happening! It's gonna be exciting, scary, who knows! Good luck to you.

Hello! Congrats to you! How was your recovery experience?

Congrats on your recovery so far and pounds lost. I'm glad you feel open enough to share your weight. It doesn't define you and in six months people won't believe you were ever 319!

First, I want to thank the person who offered me support when I was struggling with life circumstances last week. I never got around to thanking you. I'm doing better with my breakup than I was before, and my mom will be coming with me to the hospital the day of surgery. So tonight was my last night of 'normal' eating. 2 week preop diet begins tomorrow with 3 shakes and one small meal a day. I took my son out to our favorite chinese place for my 'last supper'. When it was time to pay the bill a bit of a panic attack got me. The reality of what is coming in 14 days started to leak in a bit. Good luck to the upcoming sleevers and those postop in your recovery.

I'm starting at about 310lbs. Put me down for taking half off - 155lbs!

I had not thought of gatoraid I will have my hubby pick that up when my meds are ready. I do worry about the sugar content of them. I didn't get isopure. I am on something called beniprotin it comes in a can like baby formula. I mix it with 1/2 pack carnation instant breakfast(sugar fee) and skim milk. I backed myself back down to clear liquids. I have had two medicine (one ounce) cups of water and am nursing a jello. I am starting to wonder if I have an issue with milk because when I threw up the first time it was after the shake, then the next I tasted a cream soup literally dipped my spoon in and licked it. I am thinking of looking into those protein shots but I need to find a good easily absorbed and digestible one like the 100% whey isolate. Has anyone had any experience with those? I was thinking a could drink that since it is significantly less to consume then the 8 oz shake they want me to drink. I do read about some people being lactose intolerant at least for a time post op. Hopefully cutting the milk for a bit will help. The protein shots all seem to have collagen protein as the main ingredient. These shady companies know that the amino acids in collagen are not bio-available to us and therefor we can't use them for a protein. We get 0 grams of usable protein from collagen. That's probably why they through some amount (which they don't tell us the amount of) of whey protein in as a secondary ingredient. I hope you feel better soon!