Tuff Enuff

Hi everyone! Count me in, I'm scheduled for May 20!

Brissbiebabe, I hear you about the liquid phase, I also have to do a two week preop full liquid diet, two weeks post and then mushies for two weeks. I still have a couple of weeks before I have to start it and am not looking forward to it except that it makes me that much closer to geting this done and on my way to better health. I have found a low carb, caramel, whey protein powder that I can tolerate pretty well so figure I'm good to go. Good luck on your surgery.

Hmm I'm a counselor, I would never have categorized myself as that but took a look at the other categories and this one does describe me better than the rest. Interesting, how do they come up with these things?

Congratulations!

Best wishes and good health to you all!

Hi, I'm in NW Washington, I've been through my first appointment in December, my preop is in May and I'm scheduled for surgery May 20. Hmmm I have to say the best hints and suggestions I've found just reading, reading, reading the posts here old and new. There is a lot of great information throughout this site.

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone. It's really nice to know there are people out there that completely understand where I'm coming from! With as fast as this year is going I feel like May 20 is coming up really fast!

Hello Everyone, I've been lurking in the shadows on this site since about December and have really appreciated all of the tips and support you all have shown for each other. A little about me....I'm located in Bellingham Washington and have surgery scheduled for May 20 in Renton. I've been working on the preop requirements since the first part of January. I'm 5'6" and weigh 264. My goal is 150 or 160. Tips from here have helped with the questions I have asked the nutritionist since my first appointment and now I have additional questions for my surgeon for my preop appointment in May. There have been many threads I have read where people have expressed trepidation in having this procedure for many reasons and I have to say I have had some of the same reservations. It has really helped reading what everyone has to say as it made my decision that much clearer to me. I am self pay so this is a huge financial as well as health decision for me. I am now more afraid of the debt load than the surgery due to the many helpful things I have read here. I also now have a whole new vocabulary (PB, NSV, Sliming...eeeew!) I also have a better idea what to expect in the weeks and months after I have this done from pain to odd noises. The tips and explanations you have all given has finally explained a lot of the things I am required to do. The doctor, nutritionist, psychologist and exercise physiologist all gave me guidelines of what to do and told me what I was required to do before surgery but sometimes it seems the explanations of why I was to do some of them were a little vague to non existant just that I needed to do them. I don't know about all of you but I usually need to know why and you all have answered the bulk of them either by asking the question I was wondering or answering the question. Thanks for all your help, questions, answers and good humor from a long time lurker and now a new member.

You have me falling off my chair laughing. I totally hear you about protein drinks, they tend to be some of the nastiest things ever! I have found one that's alright at Super Supplements called Ultimate Lo Carb Whey powder, I bought the "natura" flavor at $8.99 a can it contains about 15 servings, 20 grams of protein per serving, no fat and 1 gram of carbohydrate per servig. I mix it with water, a large dolop of sugar free coffee or italian soda flavoring to kill the smell and it's actually pretty good. Good luck with your journey I'm several weeks behind you and will have to start that phase the beginning of May. I actually found out about it here rather than my Dr's office and emailed the nutritionist to ask about it.

Hi everyone! Long time lurker and have a general question. Does anyone know why the ban on caffeine before surgery and three months post op? My surgery date in May 20th but have been doing all of the preop requirements since January and am seriously missing my coffee in the morning!

Thanks for the responses, I have been drinking a lot of herbal teas, there are a lot of varieties out there. Curious how doctors differ in what they require. I have heard a couple of theories on coffee including the dehydration mentioned by TrishS and the other that it affected insulin levels. ??

Happy Easter!

I have to agree when you live in eastern WA to say "No Coffee or Caffeine" should be illegal! Decaff just doesn't taste the same, quite a few people have said it tastes the same but I disagree. Ah well five months to go before I can have my coffee again. It just seems a little like it's one more task in a huge list of things I'm required to do for this. Has anyone else felt like they were given the tasks of Hercules before it was ok to have the surgery? I've been doing pretty well, I havn't quite managed the six days a week of exercise they want (my average is five). I'm being good about the daily vitamins and water but am still eating out on occassion and indulging in the occasional cookie. How did you all keep it together in the weeks and months before your surgeries?

That's really cute! Happy Easter!

I was receiving so much information at the time it kinda bypassed me at the moment. Come to think of it I have been having an affinity with the moon, the wind whipping my hair as I fly pass on my broom. (snicker)