shizwiz

@@staceytapia thank you I am doing quite well actually! My jitters have gone away, I am really calm and just ready for this to happen. Sure, I might be nervous prior to surgery, but that is normal and expected. How are you doing?

I have been FREEZING (I think because of the diet) so I am regretting living here right now! I am super excited to check out SD and TJ. I probably won't be able to check out the SD side much as I arrive really late and am just staying overnight until my pick up, but I am really excited to see Mexico...never been! I LOVE traveling, too! This trip will be a little different because I am used to trying different places to eat, new food, drinking a TON (I do martini and scotch tasting lol)...but it is a new page in my life and I am OK with not eating or drinking and just seeing the sights! Sorry about no food- that would be rough! I will be happy when I can stop eating what feels like the entire freaking produce section, though. Plus, the looks people give when a fat lady buys a ton of lettuce, a ton of tomatoes, a pound of zucchini and cucumbers RIGHT after the New Year is harsh.

I was freaking out at the beginning of the pre-op diet. I started on 1/2/15 and am on a 203 Protein shakes per day + a large salad and 6ox of protein. I am going to be in Tijuana with Dr. Elias Ortiz. I was shaking in my boots as soon as it started...but after day 5 I calmed down a TON. I talked it out and realized...yep...I am ready. I have been coloring a lot (I got some cool coloring books at the craft store), my boyfriend and I did a Lego project...a puzzle...work....TV here and there. Now I am just looking forward to a mini (surgical) vacay in Mexico! It is freezing raining here in AK and...yeah....I need to get the heck out of here for a bit

Surgery date TWINS! I am on the 16th, too! In Mexico, though. ONE WEEK FROM TODAY. DUDE.

I have been reading a ton of older forum posts about this and haven't seen many people see much of a decrease in facial hair unfortunately I have noticed that since I cut Diet Coke out of my life (RIP Old Friend), growth for me seems to have decreased (WTF?!). I plan on doing electrolysis eventually and have also bought a Flash n' Go. I haven't used it very much, though...so I have no idea if it will actually work. I have used it maybe 4 times and haven't noticed any difference anywhere. Le sigh.

@@Cody's mom I am so excited for that! Once I realized....this is the not the last time EVER I can eat '_____' I felt better. I am also excited to save a TON of money by not eating so much food. I expect to be LOADED by this time next year

@@smile121 I am on 1/16 in Mexico. Only 8 more days! I feel so calm, too. Its niiiice. However, I have been cold...which is weird! I am always running hot...and being cold is foreign. What do I do? Is it OK to walk around in a blanket? Is it socially acceptable to close my office door all day to keep in the heat? WHO SELLS FLEECE LINED JEANS?! Am I allowed to wear gloves inside?

Not gonna lie, I was freaking out on the first few days of the pre-op diet. I have a counselor and for the last 3 months, I was 100% ready. I've been talking to her and going over why I eat so much, triggers, addiction, etc etc etc. That first day of not having that choice was a wake up call. It was REAL...not just talk. What am I doing? My boyfriend sat me down and said that I was sounding like an addict. And I was. I had to step back and think 'WHY am I freaking out?" It was because I was afraid of not being able to eat 4 pieces of pizza slathered in ranch. Because I won't be able to eat a pound of takeout. I was freaking out because I couldn't scarf down a 12 inch Subway and a bag of chips and 3 Cookies. Stepping back....WHY WOULD I WANT TO DO THAT? That's not normal. And it is not healthy. Those 15-20 minutes of frenzied eating are NOT worth the rest of the day feeling horrible about myself. Knowing people judge me when I grocery shop- even if its for veggies. I catch the looks. Wheezing walking up 10 stairs. TEN stairs. Seeing what I look like when sitting down. The faces of people when I get on an airplane. Hearing I am pre-diabetic. Knowing I could have a heart attack if I keep doing this to myself. I want to have kids one day, but sex is like a work out. It's not even fun anymore. I'm ready. That little demon telling me I'm scared because I can't volume eat has been murdered. Viciously.

@@staceytapia I will send ya a message

@@Kmgaustin Who are you going to for surgery in Mexico?

@@staceytapia Nice! All good, we all start somewhere I am super excited, too! I was nervous for a while last week and had cold feet....but this week I feel calm, relaxed and ready. Only one more week basically! I have been waiting foreevvverrrrrr....

@@staceytapia I am also this month! I am going with Dr. Elias Ortiz on 1/16/2015 I am heading down to MX next week!!! Where are you going?

@@Jana64 I hope your back feels better soon, too! We are almost there, right?!

@@GingerDiane I am sorry to hear your support person backed out That totally sucks! On the bright side, you have this forum- and there are also a few other Facebook pages that I recently joined that have been SUPER helpful as far as support goes. Just search for 2015 sleevers and January 2015 sleevers. Good luck- and we are all here for you!

I am going down to Tijuana via A Lighter Me in January. I am looking for other VSG'rs to talk with about pre-op, be sleeve buddies perhaps or just share information! Less than 2 months to go...I am getting excited/nervous/apprehensive and than excited again! I am almost 30 and really want to get healthy...now is the time, eh?!

@@RedSalamander I seem to be doing better, too! Less hungry and the crazy A$$ weird funky evil cravings seem to be going away. Yesterday was pretty bad...today, I feel more at peace and OK Finally!

I totally hear ya @@momoftwins+1 ! I cannot force myself NOT to weigh myself everyday right now. However, I do weigh myself only once per day at the same time of day. So, every morning right before hopping in the shower I take a peek. I am on the pre-op diet right now and it gives me a clearer number of how I am going.

@@RedSalamander For sure! I am super relieved that she was pretty cool with it. She also ran a ton of blood labs for me (waiting for results) to make sure I am not anemic or anything. But yeah, I got a pat on the back and nice, supportive feedback. I was also told not to pick up cigarettes when I am all done. I am/was a smoker. However, I was sick prior to pre-op and didn't smoke until New Years Eve. Then, I had to quit the next day. I am seriously contemplating quitting for good. I mean...why not? Well, off to go back to work. THE HORROR!

Thank you ALL! Sorry for the late reply- I don't have a computer at home and replying on my Kindle makes me crave Valium because of the touch screen keyboard (HA!). I am feeling SO much better now. I realize that while I may not have a physical being right next to me- I have this forum and some other Facebook groups I joined this weekend. I am less and less nervous and time goes by! ALSO- I went to the doctors office today and saw my favorite Nurse Practitioner just to tell her 'Hey, I am going to MX to have surgery, just a heads up' and also to notify someone here in case I have complications or issues with wound healing. She said she was SO proud of me for taking some steps to get healthy. I had been expecting to hear 'No!! Don't do it!' But nope. The pre-op diet sucks, btw. But my nerves are evening out! Woot wooooot!

@@downsizingdiva We lucked out and have the New Year. I have been telling people I am doing a diet to lose weight (for a New Years Resolution). I thought more people would notice me not eating as much, but not a lot of people have. You might also avoid going out to lunch with people for the 2 weeks. Say you need to work through lunch or have to make a phone call during lunch break, etc. You could also put Water in your (non-clear) water bottle and just say it is a Protein shake or one of those newfangled weird juices people drink these days.

Stick in there! I am on day 4 of pre-op and have felt tired and all of the other fun feelings that go with a decrease of food intake. It is normal. Keep yourself as comfortable as you can and distract yourself if you can! I have a ton of coloring books, puzzles, books (have been digging the Kate Shugak series) and anything else that will keep my ADD mind occupied. Hang in there! We're all in it with ya

@@Diane Grimm I am with you, girl! I am on day ONE and thought I would be OK until at least 4ish. Um. No. We can DO this, though. We are doing it for a reason, right?! I never thought I would look at a huge bottle of Water and think "Oh, that isn't going to be enough." LOL Chug chug chug!

I have Metamucil capsules and started my first day of pre-op diet today. I got the generic Equate kind. I am getting sleeved in MX and my surgeon's pre-op diet packet said I could take one per day if I wanted to help with hunger. I have been using shakes for lunch for about the last month just to get a feel for things and have used the capsules a few times. I think they make me feel a bit fuller for longer- or it could be in my head. I plan on using them for the next 2 weeks, though! They do not make me feel an urge to 'go' at work- which I was really afraid of. Happy New Year!