Carrie Alexander-Quinn

I'm 20 days from surgery day, and starting to get very nervous. I stumbled on this website looking for tips, and help in what to expect after surgery. Life after surgery is what i'm scared of. Learning how to live again scares me. I've had almost 40 years of not making the right choices, how do i learn to make the right one?
Cheers,
Carrie

Hi all
My surgery is Monday, and what would suggest to pack in my bag besides the usual suspects?
Cheers carrie

Heck i wore sweatpants there and then a Johnnie, crocs for ease of use, but they wouldn't allow clothes under the Johnnie, one because of the leg inflation things, and two i had thigh high te stockings on as well. so every time that sweet, young brand new out of school nurse came to check my bandages she got an eye full. lol Thankfully pain meds and age made me really not care. It was chilly under there....lol

Heating pad...or make sure the hospital will make one available. iPad. Chapstick. And your own pillow or two.
The pillows and heating pad are more important than the rest.

I won't tell you what all I brought because it's embarrassing now, but what I *used* was: sweatpants for under my hospital gown, deodorant, baby wipes, chap stick, extra underwear, lotion, a soft front-close bra, baby Shampoo to take a shower to go home, my charger, and my own socks to layer under theirs because I couldn't get my feet warm.

I'm packing a light robe so my butt doesn't hang out, extra panties for if I stay longer than a day, normal toiletries like tooth brush, deodorant, etc, chap stick, maybe my kindle, phone charger. And just wear out the same thing I wear in. I don't plan on taking a crapton of stuff. I've seen some people suggest taking a small pillow bc it helps to hold it against you on the drive home.

Bag....what bag.....gotta be a chick thing. Wore out what I wore in.......didn't bring anything.

Yes I struggled that month I was on liquids. I was depressed and angry. My family felt bad for me but they had to eat. I still sat with them and had broth. You will get through it.

I KNOW you can...... I KNOW you can .... and you WILL !!!!

Perfectly normal. food has been a comfort to us for so long and now we have to go cold turkey. That's a big adjustment.

I really struggled for the first couple of weeks. Sometimes, I would just go lay down while the rest of the family are dinner. Now I'm to the point that it doesn't impact me at all.

I suffered quite badly from "food envy" every time my husband would toast some crumpets and I couldn't have any. I would literally burst into tears, which made him feel bad and then I would feel bad for making him feel bad, etc.
I just loved the smell of crumpets and toast with honey, but knew I couldn't have any.
I was both sad and angry and wallowed in self pity every time I couldn't eat something.... but I kept telling myself... "it's not going to be like this forever.... keep your eye on the prize.... you're going to be beautiful again soon", .... and that's what kept me going.
Funny thing.... Two months after my surgery, I toasted a crumpet for myself (which I was REALLY looking forward to) and I found that I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would. lol
So do your best to push through the food jealousy.... and remember all the reasons why you're doing this. Also remember that you WILL eat normal food again, but in much smaller portions, which WILL satisfy you.
Also, if you're feeling sad... make yourself a cup of tea, grab a magazine, go out into the sunshine (or take a bath) and try to take your mind off of it.
You WILL be able to do this and after the surgery you will wonder what all the fuss was about because you're going to look and feel fantastic !!!
I wish you all the very best of luck and have a fabulous day !!
Cheers. {:-)

Totally normal. No worries. If it wasn't, you wouldn't be able to buy things like this:
 

My husband and I both had the sleeve done in August 2014. I just wanted to share his awesome transformation so far! Best decision we have made for ourselves!
Surgery Date: Aug 28th, 2014
SW: 353
DOS: 337
CW: 246
Hit his 100lb loss on Dec 26th, 2014 - 3 months and 28 days.

Thank you Carrie but I only drink one Protein shake a day since I've reached my goal and the amount of Protein drops down after quite a few months on the program.
I am always afraid to try new flavors for fear of what you experienced. I am certain of chocolate and even then I've tasted some poor tasting choc. flavors.
Go to this website/blog http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/ This gal loves to cook and updates all kinds of recipes to be eaten on this program. She goes by the name of Eggface. I bet she would have some good ideas on how to utilize your different flavored samples of protein...
Good luck, alese

I have 8 sample packs of the nectar brand. I didn't like the the 2 I tried, and if anyone wants them I paid $26 for 10. I tried 2 , and leaves 8 I'd sell for $10 bucks and ship for free. Cheers, Carrie.

Premier Protein shakes taste so good I'm afraid they're going to come out as having falsified their nutrition information.
Isopure clear to me have been disgusting; coconut is the only one I can drink.
Jay Robb is pretty good insofar as no after taste, to me... but they're not as rich as Premier.
Unjury's chicken broth is yummy... but don't mix it with really hot Water. You can put their chocolate in a cup of coffee for a mocha, but again - you don't want it much hotter than hot bath Water or it clumps.
I love Health Smart's pink lemonade concentrate from Nashua Nutrition - but they're currently on back order.
SO many different Protein Drink options, there's no reason to choke down disgusting.

Rule number 1 - the scale is not your friend. Stay away! Early in the weight loss journey the body will hold on to every calorie. Do not let that discourage you. Look for non scale victories. Can you move easier? Have you taken your measurements? Are they smaller? How are your eating habits? Have you cut back? Are you eating too much processed food? You can;t exercise away a bad diet.
You make this journey like the rest of us, one day at a time, one meal at a time.
Welcome to the boards.

That is awesome you are running! I can't even try to run without feeling like I'm gonna break a hip. heh Do not let it derail you or keep you down. I know that some days I weigh more than others, I've had days that I've had a 5-10 lb fluctuation, and it's usually Water weight. So maybe you are really down on weight, but carrying some extra Water on the day you happened to weigh in. Whatever it is, just keep up the great work!

I found a lot of inspiration and helpful tips on this website. Also there are a TON of vloggers on youtube that document their journeys, the good and the bad. I found those soo helpful. There are a few vloggers that had their surgery years ago and so those are really inspirational to see their journey from the beginning to now. Good luck!! =)

@@Carrie Alexander-Quinn Hello and welcome!!! I can't really tell you exactly what to expect but I would expect you to have a thin, happy, healthier Life! Congratulations on your upcoming surgery! Exciting!

Thank you all for being so encouraging! You were right, it does get better. I posted at what was my lowest point, day 5 has been the turning point for me. I feel like I have energy again and I can do things. Though, I still need more sleep than usual. But this is a marked improvement over the first couple of days.
To everyone on the pre-op diet, stay strong, we'll make it to the surgery! Off to pack my hospital bag now!

I'm on my way to bismarck ND... I have my surgery in the morning...if I can make it without cheating... you all can make it.

Thanks ya'll. I'm super excited for what the future holds, and wait to start life after sleeve.

I'm 20 days from surgery day, and starting to get very nervous. I stumbled on this website looking for tips, and help in what to expect after surgery. Life after surgery is what i'm scared of. Learning how to live again scares me. I've had almost 40 years of not making the right choices, how do i learn to make the right one?
Cheers,
Carrie