shizwiz

@@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!

@@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!

All good! My package is $4600. That includes everything except for the airfare to get to San Diego.

@@mduffield Thank you for the kind words! Let me know how you are doing when you get out, eh?! I think my team will be good. I have heard excellent things about A Lighter Me and everyone, from the drivers to the hotel to the surgeon- so I am getting excited! I just need to woo-saw some more! Happy New Year!

@@Diane Grimm Right?! I feel slightly crazy!!! I mean, before I go on vacation or something, I think about it and get excited about it and plan like crazy....so I guess that if I obsess over Vegas, my creepy obsession with surgery has got to be expected. I think as long as we don't have a secret room with VSG articles taped on every single surface we should be fine, eh?

@@trulyamazingtoo Nice to meet you! I am kind of in the same boat- my insurance did not cover the surgery and I am ready to do this thing. I am going to MX in two weeks via A Lighter Me (Dr. Elias Ortiz). I am also going alone as I do not have anyone who is able to go with me. My family and friends are not too keen on me having the surgery. Oh well I am a little nervous, but pretty excited, too!! You can for sure request to expedite your passport. I did that and got mine in a few weeks. I live super far away from anything, so I am sure if you live in a city or suberb, you should be able to get it pretty quick. Good luck!

That is a good idea, @@BLERDgirl! I am also a list maker, but haven't made one yet...so I bet that will help. I am going to start that now....I am having a hard time concentrating today, so I might as well do something. Ya'll are awesome. Thanks Oh- and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

@@woodartc Anytime! I use a Blender Bottle (the one with the metal ball in it that you shake) and use cold or lukewarm Water to shake it up with (the Syntrax and Crystal Light). Then, when it is done, I add some ice and shake it a few more times. I do have problems a bit with the powder not totally dissolving sometimes. However, when you drink a clump, its not gross at all, so I don't worry about it too much lol.

I had that running through my head for a bit, but I went through and read a ton of studies and mortality data and felt better. I have no idea why, but I guess I feel like if I can't win the lotto, I probably won't have complications or die either. Heh. I also just out of the blue had a co-worker come up to me and give me the details for her fiance, who lives in San Diego. I had told her about the surgery, and she wanted to make sure I had someone to call in case I needed anyone down there. That was sweet and also makes me feel better. Pheew!

@@Jana64 Thank you! I have been taking Melatonin (I LOVE it!) and have also been listening to Youtube calming videos before bed (are we soul sisters?!)! I love ASMR videos and have been listening to WhisperCrystal for the last month to calm down. I think maybe 2 am is when the Melatonin wears off a bit? Or it could be my whiny cat...heheh Thank you for the kind words, it means alot

@@woodartc I haven't tried milk (but I might now!). I used water plus one packet of Crystal Light with mine. I just use whichever packet sounds good to mix with the Syntrax. My favorite combo is Syntrax Fuzzy Navel and Crystal Light Lemonade. Mmmmm!