shizwiz

I'm on day 5 of pre-op, so we're all suffering together! I find that I feel fine during the day when I keep nice and busy, but in the evening when I slow down (and make dinner for my family!), I really FEEL those hunger pangs. We'll make it--just a few days to go!

Elode, you are so helpful to everyone. Just want to say thank you bunches!

So i arrived this morning in San Diego, the driver alberto was waiting for my bff and i with a sign w my name on it. The drive into mexico was maybe a 30 min. The Marriott is beautiful like a resort the staff are so friendly helpful and nice. They are accustomed to surgery patients and are sure to make sure you are having broth Popsicles etc. The walmsrt wad a safe clean short walk, i bought the most delicious mini popsicles Tamarindo, mango, pineaple, lime, strawberry Omg so good! 4 DAYS OF CLEAR LIQUIDS i was sick of them! The broth at the hotel is so delicious home made ! I was stoked that there was tiny tiny bits of spices and chicken so tiny it can possibly count! Lets hope dr ortiz doesnt read that ! The gym is so nice here and pool area is like a resort

I am not going to miss being the heaviest person in the room most of the time when at work or with friends!
I am also NOT going to miss thinking about my weight constantly.
Oh, and being ashamed to eat in front of normal-sized people. I have no idea why I don't like doing that...I mean, they have to know that I eat...but I always feel uncomfortable at potlucks, company luncheons, etc.
Off to go stare at the calendar some more....le sigh....

@@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?

@@supportive hubby I am sorry to hear that I just finished the thread that Miss Mac posted and it was VERY helpful and gave me some excellent insights.
I sincerely hope you talk with your wife and see what is going on and work on rebuilding that healthy sex life! Maybe you can let her catch you reading 50 Shades of Grey around the house and peak her curiosity! Shoot, I would be jaw dropped if my S.O. did that!

That is a tough one.
I am in that position now because I am not OK with my weight or body... and I also am experiencing the same low drive as your wife.
It is HARD to feel sexy when all you can see is a body that you yourself aren't happy with. My boyfriend (bless his heart) tells me about 20 times a day how beautiful I am. He rubs lotion on my back for me. He sits out my coffee cup in the morning and puts a K-cup in the machine. He finds little ways to keep us touching or at least keep that feeling of 'I love you' going all the time.
And because of all that, as SOON as I am feel remotely comfortable in my own skin, its on like Donkey Kong!

@@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!

@@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?

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!

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

I'm on day 4. First day was horrible. I am also working through it. We have all come to far to mess up. My surgery is Jan 12/

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!

I USE vanilla BEAN TORT WITH Water N ICE IN THE BULLET BLENDER FOR PRE OP DIET! ALMOST LIKE ICE CREAM!

@@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?

@@shizwiz - I'm so sorry you are alone in this!! It's a huge undertaking to travel for surgery, but ALONE!!? Your one amazing lady. Don't second guess yourself and your decision. It's YOUR life, after all.
I'm sure your surgical team will calm your fears and make you as comfortable as possible.
I travel to MX, for my sleeve next week!
Very best wishes to you and bravo!!

I thought I was the only one feeling this way. Seems all I think about is this surgery. It's almost like an obsession.

I'm a planner and a list maker. It may be a tiny bit OCD but it helps me organize and relax. If I can plan for something I feel in control. When I was prepping for my surgery I told 2 people. One was my friend who had gotten a bypass the year before because I wanted to know who did her surgery and what her experience was like. Another friend who is about a month and a half ahead of me. My best friend and sister I told about 2 weeks before. My mother who is a worrier I told 2 days before. Everyone else gets told on an as need basis. I'm not hiding it but I've never been one for oversharing my life anyway. Once I made a list of what needed to be done, I would just check it off as it was done. Going through that list kept me calm. I felt secure in the knowledge that I had done my due diligence to make sure everything went as well as it could.
The day of surgery I was completely calm, cool and collected.

We are all going to go through this. I have a FB friend and right up to the day she was saying that she was going to cancel. Now she is on the Loser's Bench and has already recovered and is doing well. She was convinced she was going to be THE one to have all of the complications or die on the table.
Jana

Shizwiz! I wish I could go down and hold your hand for you! I am sorry that you are walking this path alone. You can find me on Facebook and I will be glad to be supportive. Just PM me and I will give you my address.
I am sure I will face the same jitters. Can you maybe take some melatonin to calm the jitters?
I also listen to a calming CD every night. It really helps me. It is NOT a diet, just a calm self-hypnosis CD that reinforces that what you are doing for your health is working and you are succeeding.
I love it and it helps me sleep.
Janahttp://www.healingwithhypnosis.com/self-hypnosis-products.aspx

I am hoping this is normal- but I have been waking up at 2AM for this past week and have been thinking 'Oh my gosh, it is ALMOST here! What am I DOING??!?!!'.
During the day, I think about this upcoming surgery all day- no joke. I have been waiting since October, so, for 90 days the surgery has been seeming like a dream. Now, on Friday- I start my pre-op diet. Whoa.
It is getting REAL, people!
I think I am nervous because:
-- I am going to MX alone. My mom just had neck surgery so she cannot go (even though she wanted to!). My boyfriend flat out refused to go to Mexico because he (a) doesn't ever want to go to MX and he doesn't really think I need the surgery (but says he will support me & my decision). So, I make my journey alone.
--I have never, ever had surgery before. I had an endoscopy about 7 years ago and was put under anesthesia for it, but I had my best friend right by my side and it was a tiny 10 minute procedure.
--It is actually going to happen. It has felt like a dreeeeammm for so long- I just can't believe that in less than a month I will be at home, recovering....and on the way to a new me.
Wheew. It felt good to get that out. No one really is behind my decision to go to Mexico and get a sleeve...so I am kind of at a loss of people to talk about my jitters without getting a lecture on why I should just back out now.

@@ShannonbKSU I don't have the packets (I got the big ol' tubs), but I believe the individual packets are meant to be a 'one-time use' deal. I think you would use one packet of the Protein powder for one full shake. I use a whole scoop of powder, a full packet of individual Crystal Light mix, and a whole bottle of Water (a 16.9 oz bottle). You could probably use a 20 oz bottle of Water and that would work, too. Then, shake it up, add some ice, and BOOM, you're done!
I have GENEPRO ordered via Amazon and en route to me...it is a unflavored poweder so I think I am just going to mix it into random stuff and see how it goes. Soup, crystal light, coffee....etc. It has glowing reviews from everyone who has tried it. I will probably post once I try it and give my 2 cents.
Also- I bought some Snapware storage containers this weekend for my Protein Powder. The bottles that Syntrax puts the powder in does not fit in my cabinets. I got these for $9 each at my local store and they work perfectly. I just wrote the flavor on a piece of painters tape (removable) so I could tell them apart. Here is a link if anyone is looking for a container that fits a whole jug of Syntrax (or other powder):
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004173R76/ref=ox_sc_act_title_6?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER
Cheers- and happy Monday to all!

For everyone looking at Syntrax Nectar for Protein powder- its good!!! I was weary of fruity protein, but they are certainly on to something over there.
So far, I have tried the Roadside Lemonade and Fuzzy Navel and my oh myyyy lawwwd....delish.
A previous poster suggested using one packet of Crystal Light, one scoop of SN powder and a bottle of Water. So that is the route I have been following:
Today I had SN Fuzzy Navel + CL Lemonade....and whoa. It was like...a tropical paradise drink. It wasn't super peachy- which I really liked. Yesterday I had SN Roadside Lemonade + CL Raspberry Lemonade and that was also YUMMY! It was a bit tart, but I kind of set myself up for that one. They didn't seem to stave off hunger quite as long as the GNC total Lean 25's, but man...I am looking forward to trying the next two: Iced Tea and Kiwi Strawberry! After I have tried them all, I think I will save the rest for post-ops when I am less hungerful.
Anyone have some good recipes for Syntrax nectar? I am thinking it might be good to mix it up with some ice in the blender and put that in a Popsicle mold. Shoot, even skim milk instead of water would be a nice, creamy post-op frozen treat....
Endless. Possibilities.