angela.spradlin

My surgery is May 19th. super excited and nervous. I honestly didn't notice how heavy I had gotten until I started having medical issues almost a year ago. I did things most "normal sized" people do without any shame. I wonder how different will I feel when I am 50, 60,100 pounds lighter.

I had my endoscopy and they found some polyps but the surgeon thought it was nothing..up until today I had not been on this website. I am so so excited but also very nervous..the doc office submitted my package to the insurance company today..I am waiting on my official date of surgery.. good luck

Have lost around 22 lbs since before preop.

Things I took that I needed and used:

- Chap Stick, #1 by far
- SF Ricola lozenges... sooooo dry with the oxygen
- Gas X strips
- Listerine strips
- Book (barely used, hard to stay awake to read long), glasses
- Cell phone
- Deodorant and baby wipes to clean up some before going home next day


Things I took and did NOT need or use:

- Robe and slippers
- Makeup (pah--right, as if lol)
- iPod (can't sleep with music anyway, so I'm gonna stare at the walls while I listen?)


Wear what you plan on wearing home, you'll only be in it a couple of hours anyway. Also, even though I turned on the TV for maybe an hour, I got a bill for it from some external company (not the hospital) -- only $5, but it's the principle of the thing. Had no idea I'd have to pay for the damn thing, so clarify that before you decide you want it on.

Hi comeflywithme,
Sure, it wouldn't hurt to ask your surgeon if a PPI would be ok for you. Many surgeons do send their patients home with an initial prescription. But you may or may not really need one. Not everyone produces excess acid that causes hunger. Assuming you are following your liquid diet plan as directed, it's normal that you are going to start experiencing hunger as you heal and get ready to progress to the next stage of eating. Sure, some of it's "head hunger" but probably most of it is real "hunger hunger!" Your body and brain have been used to having bunches more food in it for a lot of years--right??? I would just encourage you to talk to your surgeon's office and tell them what you're experiencing. They may even offer you suggestions that are not printed on the written diet you've been given until it's time for your next eating stage.
I know these first few eating stages are so tough and challenging (but please remember, they are very temporary), and the rewards that are just around the corner are going to be so worth it. Just try to focus on getting to the next stage, and then the next stage, and then finally when you get to soft foods stage, and THEN regular foods. Yay!
Can I offer you one liitle head game that I used from the very beginning that I still use even today after 3 years? Of course everybody is different, but sometimes if we can find little mind tricks of our own that work for us, it can make a world of difference in conquering stuff that frustrates us. So here goes:
When you were talking about having to isolate yourself from your family while they were eating so you wouldn't see or smell the food--- In an situation like that where you're feeling "different" or "deprived" could you learn to start telling yourself instead of stuff like:
"I CANT HAVE that"
Could you learn to tell your brain that:
I CHOOSE not to have that (fill in the blank ______________) (right now) or (for these next few months) or (while I'm learning my new eating habits) or (until I learn what my dangerous food triggers really are) etc, etc etc.
For me it just really helped me not feel like I was always in the "being punished mode," but instead I was the one IN CONTROL and made the CHOICE to not eat foods that I knew were not healthy and not helping me achieve my weight loss surgery goals.
Just a thought I wanted to share because it impacted me so much in staying strong against cravings. Good luck. Keep on healing and most of all, have fun!!!

I have more than 2 months to go before surgery so I'm experimenting. My favorite is the Orange Creme powder mixed with orange crystal light. Add a few ice cubes and shake. I have been having it twice a day.

Thank you so much I'm freaking out a little can't believe it's happening this Thursday. I remember not that long ago when I didn't think it was going to happen at all. I feel so blessed for this opportunity. One more day of work then clear liquid day then surgery day. I think I'm gonna do a play by play thread while in the hospital for people who are waiting for their big day.

I LOVE this thread. there are SO many things that describe my current issues and it's good to know others are right there with me...
I'm a nurse and one thing I WON'T miss is my patients asking me "When are you due"?...yes. seriously.
I get asked this at least three times a week. I have PCOS and carry ALL my weight in the front and frankly, it looks terrible and makes me so incredibly short of breath and such. but really?
I see my patients on a scheduled basis so i'm excited for the first one to mention my weight LOSS, not my weight!!!!!

Great list Ginger. I can tell you that it will happen. i have my six month appointment this Friday and have lost 97 pounds. In addition to the numbers on the scale its funny the changes you notice as you go through this process. I no longer worry where they will seat me when I walk into a restaurant (I no longer fear the booth), no more avoiding plane flights whenever possible, no more paying way more for the same clothes just because they are at a big and tall store. Can now go to a baseball game, sit comfortably in my seat and not feel like i am encroaching on the person next to me. Keep us posted on how it goes tomorrow. Love your song lyric choice, that lyric was in my head when I decided to do this as well. I felt like I was 37 going on 55, and now I feel the best I've felt in a decade.

I won't miss...
-being out of breath from tying my shoes.
-my chins. All of them.
- under the boob sweat. (Classy...I know)
-the indentations left in my skin from too tight jeans & socks.
-lifting my stomach up to button my pants.
-wearing black everyday.
-granny panties
-dreading hot weather...tanks, short sleeves, bathing suits, shorts. Ugh!
-hiding behind others in pictures (ie...my profile pic!)
-feeling like I want to just sleep all day.
-the guilt after every meal.
-walking like a 90 year old up & down the stairs.
-fear of sex with the lights on.
-my mother saying the words " Now you just need to stick with it!" ( Nails. Chalkboard.)
-blood pressure medication
-making excuses.
-crying in fitting rooms
-the disappointment I have in myself
I'm sure there is more to add, but I needed to write it down so I can look at this when I'm in pain after surgery, or if I ever question my decision and remember exactly how I felt. I need to remember so I never ever re-visit this kind of lifestyle again.
I deserve to treat myself better. I am done slowly digging my own grave.
Like Garth Brooks says, "I'm much too young to feel this damn old!"
Fingers crossed that I can schedule a surgery date at my visit tomorrow!
I'm ready! Let's get this Protein party started!