dmaddox1

I had full open surgery on 12/15 & I am absolutely miserable. I also had a hernia removed & my incision is 45 staples long. I have been running a low grade fever & every time I get up to try & walk I have to change my bandages because they have filled up with a smelly icky drainage! I am having a real hard time with this...also I feel weak because I am not getting protein in because they make me nauseous. I take the meds for my nausea but does not seem to help!

I am on day 7 & I am miserable & in pain! My surgery ended up being full blown surgery! I went in thinking I was going to have laparoscopic surgery & he found I had a hernia & my stomach was twisted...so I am cut stern to stem. & to make things worse everytime I try to drink Protein drinks they make me nauseated. I have been sipping on Sobe Lifewaters & tea, but 2 ounces every 15 mins cannot quench my thirst! & they have scared me to death about drinking more than that! I have tried EAS, Atkins, Isopure! I feel like I am dying of thirst, do I ever get to drink normal again?

Good Luck to ya!

My surgery is finally here. I am excited and scared all at the same time. I am so sick of being on the pre-op liquid diet that I am actually looking forward to the surgery. I know I still have 2 more weeks of liquid dieting...but hopefully I won't feel like my stomach is trying to eat me alive from the inside out! hehe! I think I have read every post good and bad on here and I feel I am doing the right thing. I have lots of support from my family and friends. And I want to thank all my bariatricpals for helping me get thru the last few months. I will be posting as soon as I get home. Thanks all!

I did! I struggled really hard. I felt lightheaded and dizzy...and omg grumpy! It is day before my surgery and I am still grumpy and struggling. I have eaten jello, sugar free popsicles, pickles (no sugar added, the only thing that they would let me eat), chewed gum, & I started to eat my shoe. But I have made it. I did buy me some of the sugar free syrups that everyone talks about and have added those to the protein drinks. They helped a lot...but it still is not a cure all. Hang in there...you can do it....if I can do it anyone can do it.

My surgery is Monday at 7:30am. I am getting a little anxious and just wish it would be over! I am ready to transform into a beautiful swan! I went to the doctor last Wednesday and of course they scare you to death with all the possible complications. I wanted a Big Mac & Super sized fries to calm my nerves. Instead I ate pickles (they are on my approved pre-op list). I got thru the hump and today spent the day shopping with my Mom (her 65th anniversary was today) who is 88 yrs old and gets around better than I do. One of my listed goals I have for myself, is to lose this weight so that I can get around better and be able to help my parents if they need me. I love them both and they have always been there for me.

Thought about you today...hope you are up and feeling better!

If you are unsure and want an inexpensive alternative...try the http://www.pivotalliving.com/ I do not have mine yet...but it sounds like the same thing as a fitbit. The one thing that I do not like about it is it does not sync up with myfitnesspal. But it may...it is new and just hasn't put out all the goodies that they can do!

I'm doing better on the shakes! I finally (after spending a fortune on them) found one I could handle! I guess you could say the Unjury brand is my favorite! They seem to be lighter & not so milky like! I'm not a milk drinker anyways...so I like them! I am retired...so I throw them in my ninja with 1/2 cup skim milk & 1/2 cup water & 4 ice cubes! Not a Sonic malt by any means...but I am not hating them so! How are you doing?

Well guys&gals...I am on Day 8 of the pre-op diet and it has finally gotten easier. Still tough, don't get me wrong...but it is better. I finally found a Protein shake I can stomach. It is the unjury brand powder. I make it myself with 1/2 cup milk and 1/2 cup Water and a few ice cubes. strawberry sorbet is not too bad. My stomach is still growling through even as I type this...nasty ole tummy...hehe. Plus I am retired and found if I find me things to do and keep myself busy I have less time to have a pity party. I did get back on my Lyrica and I got myself some Tylenol for my withdrawal headache and those seem to be working. Thanks again for all the support!

Nice to meet you Derek. My surgery is Dec. 15th...so I'll be following right behind you. And I totally agree with you about the liquid diet. It has been horribly painful for me to. I just say to myself...just let me get thru this day...and so far I have made it through 7 of them. I will be thinking of you on Wednesday also...you do go now...ya hear!

I want to thank everyone for the encouraging words! They helped a lot! i decided I have to look at it as just one day...I just have to get thru this one day! And I do have to keep myself busy! I got up from my pity party...took a shower, and went to Walgreens & got my flu shot! Then made myself some baked cod & green beans & sat on my patio & enjoyed the afternoon! Thanks again everyone...you guys helped a lot!

Right now I'd eat a shoe! Thanks for the recipe & I will ck out the cookbook!

I know some of this is in my head and I really did not realize just how much....but I feel like I'm dying! & I am just on day 5 of my pre-op diet. I think it is several things piled on top of me. I have diabetic neuropathy in my legs and normally take Lyrica. I thought I would try and wean myself off of it...but I have been up the last 2 nights with no sleep. I have a headache and I am hungry! I think I am starving to DEATH! I am drinking 3 Protein shakes (that taste nasty) a day and eating one meal of 3 oz of lean meat and 1 cup of vegetables (which is their pre-op diet)...but I have added this to my food diary on Myfitnesspal and basically it comes out to less than 600 calories a day. My stomach feels like it is eating my insides up and I even have a little pain in my lower chest that is nagging at me all day. I know I should be stronger than this...but this is so painful. I know my body is missing the sugar and carbs...because it is telling me every minute of the day. I called my nutritionist at my doctor's office to see if she had any ideas and I had forgotten that they work 1/2 days on Friday. So I am asking for advice or help to get me over this hump...or is it going to be like this forever?

You do have lots of roadblocks in front of you...but I would also get a second opinion. A lot of us have roadblocks and I too felt like this was my last resort. I have many health issues and if I don't do something to help me lose my weight I feel the same as you do. I will not last but a few more years. Go get that second opinion!

Day 3 of my pre-op diet. I am counting down the days! I think I am starving to death...I know most of this is in my head, but yesterday I felt bad. Had a gnawing in my stomach that reached into my chest. I had 3 protein drinks and 3 oz. of ham and some raw carrots. I miss my carbs! Last night I went to bed and was putting vicks on my lips and said to myself...man that taste good. I'm nuts...vicks vapor rub does not taste good. But woke this morning feeling better. I got my coffee and a Icky protein drink and seem to be making it okay today so far. The nutritionist at my pre-op class said the 3rd day is the hardest...but yesterday was tough for me. Today I am going to make myself some turkey soup using broth and adding in some onions and carrots for flavor. Hopefully that will fill me up more and satisfy me. Not in the mood to drink protein drinks (cause they are icky to me) but I will! I ordered myself some Isopure drinks and hopefully I will like those better. I do believe it might be the fact that they are milky. Never been a milk person.

Russell and I got to Dr. Provost office right on time. It is such a long drive. The class was very informative and I think I got it all down. I'm am on a liquid diet (with one meal each day). It has to be within their guidelines, and basically that means 3 oz of lean meat with 2 cups of uncooked (1 cup cooked) veggies. But at least I get to have one meal each day. Not sure if I like the Atkins protein shakes. I bought the mocha ones and they aren't bad. I think I will experiment with those and add ice to them and drink them for lunch. Sort of make myself a fake Starbucks latte! Best thing is I learned I can keep drinking my crystal light ice tea and have my coffee in the mornings. I like my coffee! I'm gonna clean out my refrigerator just to help keep me from even thinking of cheating. My head whirls with things all the time. Just knowing that I am on this diet, I start thinking all kinds of things. Like I'm hungry and I'm really not. Another one...I got a headache cause I am not eating. I can't poop...not enough roughage. See...I told you I am nutz! 375.4 lbs

Tomorrow I have a class at 8 am in Denton. It is my pre-op class and I start my liquid diet. I can have one lean meal a day & plan on having 2 protein shakes a day. I purchased some of the Atkins protein shakes to start off with to get me started. Not sure if I will like them so much. If I don't I will find something else. I have several options and I am sure tomorrow I will get a lot more information. I did go out to the Unjury site and ordered several of the protein powder shakes to try. Also, I am buying the sugar free syrups to add to the protein shakes. They say it gives them a lot more flavor. And of all things I ordered me a activity tracker. Got it from privotalliving.com and it seems to do the same thing as the fitbit but for a lot less money. We will see?!?!? I plan on moving my big body so I can lose more weight. http://www.pivotalliving.com

I know I should not feel this way...but I kept thinking in my mind, this is my "Last Supper"! I know I'm crazy, but I kept thinking liquids for almost a month and then mushy food for another couple of weeks and graduating foods into my diet just seemed like I was about to have my last meal. I read this article on Bariatricpal.com that Jean McMilian wrote called the "Last Meal Syndrome", of course I read it the day before my pre-op diet starts, so it kinda wasn't good timing. But I think it will help me get through my next few weeks if I can just keep it in the back of my mind. What I got from the article is that it isn't really your last meal, it is the quantity rather than the quality that I will be able to eat. It doesn't mean I can't have certain foods....just can't eat a whole gallon of ice cream. OMG! Thanksgiving was very nice and enjoyed being around my friends and family. We ate like pigs, enjoyed each others fellowship and had a great day! My cousin Nancy had just moved into a new house and it is just darling. I loved it and was so proud for her. She was a wonderful hostess and a regular "Martha Stewart". Aileen and Dad had a good conversation! She is such a sweet little girl!

I got the call today from Dr. Provost's office....I am ready to go! I passed my stress tests, got my psych eval, and all my nutrition classes are done. I am now scheduled for surgery on December 15th, 2014 at 2pm. I start my pre-op diet/class December 1st and have a pre-op appointment on December 10th (Wednesday) to get tests run ahead of time for my surgery. So I'm ready!

You know what the best thing is about having a stress test? They ask you to eat a fatty meal! hehe! So a chemical stress test is not very pleasant, but I made it through it pretty easily. Your chest tightens up a little and you get a little short of breath, but it really wasn't so bad. What was bad...is driving to Lewisville 2 days in a row, and one of the days was rainy and cold. Also, mom & dad had some doctor appointments and she couldn't go with me. It helps having someone with me in the car when I have to go so far. Mom calls it an "Outing" (LMAO), but I call it a pain in the butt! Made it both days and now hopefully I passed. I should know something within 48 hours. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Today is 2 of my cousins birthdays and Halloween and here I am on the road to Lewisville to see a cardiologist for my cardiac clearance. I had the 12 lead EKG and am scheduled for a 2 part stress test on November 10th and 11th. I hope to pass them and I will be off to the races. Hopefully I will get scheduled for surgery in December and will start my New Year with my gastric bypass.

Today Casey from Dr. Provost's office called and said the insurance company has approved me for my surgery! I am so happy...now I need to get my cardiac clearance and then I will be good to go! When she called I asked for a time frame since the holidays were coming up and she said that all of November's surgery spots are taken and the earliest that I could have surgery would probably be December. That's okay...I can enjoy my Thanksgiving and oh yeah...get my back issues cleared up and be ready to start my new year in style...weight loss style. Hey I can even make a New Year's Resolution to lose weight and actually keep it! Woohoo!