magtart

I am between my initial and pre-op surgeon visits. Not on a preop diet yet, though the surgeon would like me to lose 5# between the two appts, which are a little over a month apart.
I'm not trying to diet, I decided that I was going to allow myself to relax and enjoy the holidays and the foods we usually have at this time of year. I know that's it's likely that I won't enjoy eating some of these foods in the future.
So you want to know what happened? I just threw out almost half of a pie I made for Christmas dinner. I didn't have any. Not on Christmas, and not after. I'm not interested. Huz bought my favorite chips for New Year's. I haven't had any. I'm not interested. I have tins of Christmas goodies I made for when the kids were here for Christmas. I haven't had any. I'm not interested.
I was completely unaware that somehow I've gotten a brain transplant

Don't worry about it. The nurses and the doc have seen everything and they will take care of your needs.

A little update:
I'm 4 days out, and I have been so lucky. Everything thus far has been very easy. I had quite a bit of gas pain when I woke up from anesthesia, which got me anxious, but it subsided. I've made sure to get up once an hour and pace around the living room and kitchen. Much too cold and slippery out to go for walks outside, but I'm looking forward to doing that when I can!
I stopped taking the pain meds and the anti-spasm/nausea meds. They made me more sleepy than they helped with pain. I'd say my pain level is at a 1, if not lower. It never really got higher than a 3 the whole time in the hospital. I did sneeze once, which hurt for a second, but other than that, it's been ok.
I met my liquids goal the last two days, but I've been sipping like it's my job. Today I stopped using the ounce measuring cup and have been sipping out of glasses and a bottle. I have a bit of tightness in my chest sometimes after sips, but I think it's a spasm. Kind of feels like a hiccup that never fully happens. It's momentary and then passes.
I'm excited to try Protein tomorrow!

Another thing. I use to not be able to play with my kids. No slides, no bike rides no fun. But NOW!!!

As I was seeing a psychotherapist at the time, she did my "evaluation." (Quotation marks because we went through no rigmarole or charade whatsoever; she knew me.) She told me that the insurance companies only want to know whether the patient has realistic expectations about results, understands the potential risks, and is capable of understanding and following doctor's orders before and after surgery. Certainly other factors (BMI, co-morbidities, et al.) played a large part in by being approved; the therapist's 7-sentence letter must have played a part, too, since I wasn't denied. The seventh sentence wasn't even substantive: "If you have any questions, please feel free..."
All you need do is present yourself as an alert person who knows what's going on and is motivated. A "Yes" to @@magtart's soul-leaves-body example would probably be a deal-breaker. Just a wild guess, y'know.
You'll be fine.

Every day that passes you will start feeling a bit better and before you know it you will be feeling good.

I was given a booklet with a ton of true or false questions. Frankly, I found some of them so silly or funny I actually laughed out loud. I snapped a pic of one page with my cell phone.
'My soul sometimes leaves my body'.
The next part was just like having a 15 min. chat with a friend.
No biggie.

I was given a booklet with a ton of true or false questions. Frankly, I found some of them so silly or funny I actually laughed out loud. I snapped a pic of one page with my cell phone.
'My soul sometimes leaves my body'.
The next part was just like having a 15 min. chat with a friend.
No biggie.

Ha what a title..No sleeves for My sleeve. Yippie.Yesterday at my Jazzercise class I actually wore a racer back- tank top? I don't know the name but it shows your arms. AND it was a size large. I havent worn something that shows my arms in over 15 years. except for a bathing suit maybe. I had a sweater over it at first till we got warmed up then I peeled it off. No one gasped or passed out looking at me..but I felt awesome. two months out and these things are magical to me. here is a pic. still high from this feeling.. So tired of hiding behind tents of clothes. feels good. I was up to a size 20 and moving comfortably into a 22.. So blessed that I was able to have this surgery. Happy new year to all. It will be a sweet 16!!! Here I am sweaty and happy after workout!!

I was given a booklet with a ton of true or false questions. Frankly, I found some of them so silly or funny I actually laughed out loud. I snapped a pic of one page with my cell phone.
'My soul sometimes leaves my body'.
The next part was just like having a 15 min. chat with a friend.
No biggie.

i know i keep saying this but all of these comments and support really help!! i did great yesterday with all of the recommendations and i can't thank you all enough! my family is so supportive but sometimes you just have to hear the support and advice from people who can relate. i got in 40 g of Protein yesterday and stuck to my new way of life because i realized i am NOT a failure and yes this is a new way of life and not a diet. i need to change my relationship with food and thats something i need to work on. it doesn't mean i can't love it still, i just need to change the way i look at it. i got on pinterest and started looking at bariatric recipes, because i love to cook. I'm excited to continue on this journey knowing i can come here and get great advice and wonderful support by people that are real and have been through or are going through this journey. i found a couple Protein shakes i like at GNC called lean shake that have 25g protein and only 2 sugars. banana,strawberry, vanilla, and a chocolate. i picked up some nectar brand unflavored powder as well. I'm going to get on my new elliptical and start a new exercise program today as well. guys THANK YOU so much and please keep the recommendations coming and the stories how we're all human and people veer off track but the important thing is to pick yourself up right away, figure out what caused it, and move on.

Hey all,
Surgery went well, and I'm in a room where Ill be overnight.
Those gas pains... man, I thought I was going to die. Fortunately they've subsided quite a bit. I'm sure I'll feel even better once I get up and walking.
Thank you all for your kind words and advice!!

Good luck! Unsettled is the perfect word for the night before surgery feelings.

I was 59 years old and just sick and tired of being sick and tired. I had been dieting for a lifetime and it never stayed off. I had been on Weight Watchers countless times.
I don't even know when/how the idea first struck me, but once it did I was unstoppable. I am not one to overthink things. Once I get an idea in my head, watch out. I think it was less than 3 months from the first thought about surgery until I was in the OR and going to sleep.
Just stay calm and look at the big picture. Good luck!

Good luck! Unsettled is the perfect word for the night before surgery feelings.

When I decided to have surgery in August, 2013, I was at my heaviest weight, I was disconnected from my life and family, and I was completely miserable. I, too, was able to lose weight, but gained it all back, plus a few pounds for good measure. My doc was starting to talk about diabetes and my blood pressure was going up and up with each visit. I hated myself, I hated my body and I hated my life.
I finally went to my husband and said, "I want to explore having weight loss surgery." He asked me "Why?" Seriously, can't you see me? He couldn't believe I had gotten to 256 pounds - he didn't see that. I was still the same 25 year old girl he met 20 years before. I went to the surgeon's office, cried on the scale as they weighed me and walked out determined to have the gastric sleeve. I knew that no amount of dieting was going to get me where I need to be - what I would need to do lose 75+ pounds is not sustainable.
This is not a decision not to be made on a whim - it's scary. Do your research, know the risks.
For me, short of marrying my husband and having my son, this was the best decision I have ever made. My life is the polar opposite of what it was 2.5 years ago. I never, in my wildest dreams, could have imagined how awesome my life would be. There are ups and downs in this journey - I have recently been thru a down period - but I am back and I'm fighting again. This is not a magic bullet - it's hard work and you will live with this for the rest of your life. YOu have to be committed - you will never be able to eat like you did pre-surgery. Sometimes that is frustrating. All you can eat buffet? Nope. Soda? Not any more. But I have realized that a lot of those things that I thought I was going to miss, I don't.
So, research, research and research. Do some soul searching. Network with people on this forum. Decide if it's the right thing to do. If you decide you want to, you have to commit to it and the lifestyle you'll need to live.
Best of luck to you!

We put up our 4' Fiber optic tree on a table. The 3 cats all attempted to sabotage our efforts. Now we have big Amazon boxes protecting the lower portion of the tree.
http://photos.ellen.warnerbros.com/galleries/cats_in_christmas_trees

Got the call from the Dr's office. Surgery is at 10:15am in the morning. I have to be at the hospital at 8am for prep. She said liquids only now. I have to shower with special antibacterial soap tonight and tomorrow morning and put my little nausea patch on tonight before bed. I have a feeling I won't be sleeping much. So excited guys!

Tomorrow will be 5 weeks since my sleeve surgery and I couldn't be happier with my decision. It wasn't a particular event that pushed me into making the decision - I was just tired of being overweight and I wanted to be more active with my kids. There were other things too that contributed over the years - not getting a promotion, taking forever to get over a back injury, not feeling healthy... so many other things. I knew that my insurance wouldn't cover the surgery and after selling our house and moving, I had the money I needed and there were no more excuses for not just doing it. My husband was super supportive when I told him I wanted to have the surgery. He told me he loved me just the way I was but if I wanted to have the surgery he was behind me 100%. I was super psyched to go in for that first appointment on 9/18/15. My surgery was scheduled for 10/1/15 but when I had the pre-op lab work done, my thyroid was way out of whack and I had to go see my PCP to get it under control first. I was crushed but trusted there was a plan in place and there must be a reason. I also had to get cleared by a cardiologist. It took 6 weeks to get my thyroid back under control and I am so thankful that I also got my heart checked out (my aunt died 2 years ago from a massive heart attack at 57 so I've always been scared it could happen to me). Finally, my surgery was rescheduled for 11/24/15. I went into surgery mid-morning and was home by 5pm the same day! I was a little sore the first couple of days but by day 5 I had stopped taking any pain meds and I was getting Protein in by way of broth with Protein powder. I was so happy to move to stage 2 and get to have soft foods! I haven't felt hungry at all but I do miss some foods but not enough to put them in my mouth. Christmas was interesting and challenging. I hosted 25 people at my house (potluck style) and it was hard not to stuff myself, of course, after about 4 or 5 bites of anything I'm completely full. I've learned my lesson too eat slowly and stop as soon as I start to feel full. I'm happy to say that I haven't struggled with gas or acid reflux and I haven't thrown up at all. I weighed 305 when I first stepped into the doctor's office, weighed 285 on the day of surgery and I'm at 260 now. I've already had to buy new pants and a new bra is next on the list. I'm thrilled to see the weight coming off. My husband and I are joining a gym this week and are going to start working out together! I'm beyond happy and so thankful.

Im really interested in this new show on TLC called Skin Tight which follows individuals after weight loss surgery who have excessive skin.
Airs Jan 6th at 10p
Heres the link
https://press.discovery.com/us/tlc/programs/skin-tight/

Thanks you guys...you're totally right....I'm not straying off again...it's so hard because I am such a foodie. I need to reset myself right now and just keep telling myself there's no going back now (not that I'd want to) and tell myself I'm worth it.

I'm going to be straight up with you on this, it's understandable that you're tired of your choices on liquids. But here's a fact. You worked hard to get this surgery. Why shoot yourself in the foot so early on? Being bored on liquids for a finite period of time is a drop in the bucket in the overall rest of your life. You're investing in your healthy future. That is worth sticking with the program when it gets, boring, inconvenient, or othewise a PITA. You're worth it. Act like it.

I have spinal stenosis and degenerative disc disease. Prior to my sleeve surgery I took 2 Aleve every morning. Now I take them maybe twice a month. I tried to get by without it but it just wasn't happening.

Lucky you!
The other day I said to my husband "I wish I could see Adele." His reply was "why don't you just invite her over to the house?"
He has no idea who she is.

Really? One day and you are already freaked? I think you need to calm down, relax, and follow your post op instructions.
Surgery, no matter what it is, involves discomfort or even pain.
I'm sorry to be blunt, but get a grip. You will feel better soon.