lauraellen80

Welcome, @margied804--I'm having surgery the same day, but at Einstein in East Norriton! I start my pre-op diet Monday, too--I weaned myself off caffeine over the past month, and I've been trying to incorporate protein shakes into my diet so it's not a huge shock to my system. My nerves are starting to get to me, too, but I've found that reading these boards had been a huge help in knowing what to expect from the surgery. Good luck!

I'm also interested to hear people's thoughts on this. I'm considering purchasing a Garmin Vivosmart band as a "reward" after surgery.

Wow, @AngelJoyD... I think we share a brain! I have developed a very specific face that I make when someone is taking a picture of me (chin out, mouth open, eyebrows up--charming) and panic when I get a "so-and-so has tagged a photo of you" notification on FB. I know that for me, it took my aunt dying of complications from diabetes at 53 to get me to realize that my weight problems are not going to go away on their own and will continue to escalate and ruin my life if I don't deal with them now. I'm getting sleeved on 6/15. Good luck in your travels and surgery!

Congrats! On both the degree and the weight loss!

Hi, @ishmaellisa--I noticed that your surgeon is in the same practice as mine. I'm having my surgery on June 15th at Einstein with Dr. Dallal. I'm still pre-op, but from what others have said, it's totally normal for your tastes to change after surgery. For the Protein shakes, unjury offers a sample pack (http://www.unjury.com/unjury-starter-kit), so does Syntrax nectar (15 packets for $14.99 + $2 shipping--call 866-333-7403 x 803), as does Jay Robb (https://www.jayrobb.com/protein/whey-protein-samples.asp). That way you can try some different ones without committing to a huge tub of one flavor. As for Water, it seems also to be pretty common for people in the months right after surgery to find plain water hard to drink. You can try Crystal Light or those Mio drops. I have some Tazo iced herbal tea bags (they have them at Target) that I plan to drink post-op to help get in liquids. Edited to add: Also, play around with the temperature of your water--I think some people end up finding it better to have it ice-cold, others more room-temperature.

I weaned myself off it slowly, cutting from 2 big travel mugs of coffee to 1.5, then 1, then using a slightly smaller mug, then an even smaller one... until on Monday I decided I could go without. I had a nasty headache all day, but I think it was actually mostly due to seasonal allergies. Tuesday I was fine, I'm just missing the act of drinking coffee or iced tea. But I wanted to be through caffeine withdrawal before going on my liquid diet this coming Monday. Otherwise my husband might leave me!

Awesome! As a pre-op, it's always good to hear updates like this from those who are in the long-term maintenance phase.

June 15th for me, too! Excited and scared!

Hi, @@DebiDoo! I haven't had surgery yet (June 15th for me), but I also have a CRAZY sensitive vaso-vagal response, and I pass out and/or throw up even when I get a shot. I've found that what helps me is to be lying down, ideally with my feet raised (e.g., with a pillow or folded blanket under them) when I have blood drawn or get a shot, or have an IV put in. Don't be embarrassed to tell the hospital staff--they've dealt with it all, and I'm sure they'd rather take a few more minutes to make you comfortable than deal with a panic attack, you passed out, or cleaning up puke! I always look away when they're doing it, and if possible have my husband next to me to squeeze the bejesus out of his hand--I didn't start out with a needle phobia, but as I've had such bad experiences, I've developed one! And if they are having you get up and stand or walk at all after putting in the IV, tell them you need a few minutes. I stay laying down for 5 or 10 minutes, then I slowly sit up and sit for 5-10 minutes, and then I'm good. Good luck! And tell that silly vagus nerve to chill out!

Hi, @@stumblesmcgee! We're having our surgeries on the same day! I'm on an emotional rollercoaster at this point, too. Doesn't help that I've just weaned myself off coffee--yesterday was my first day with absolutely no caffeine, and I almost murdered my husband because he helped me put new sheets on our bed and HE WASN'T DOING IT RIGHT!!

Ha, yeah, I can empathize on being a pessimist. My philosophy has always been, "Assume that the worst is going to happen; if it does, you were prepared for it, if not, it's a pleasant surprise!" Working on that in therapy now... I've never had surgery, other than wisdom teeth being taken out about 15 years ago. I've been under general anesthesia a few times in the last year for epidural steroid injections for back and S/I joint pain, but never have been "cut open." At least it's laparoscopic!

Hello. I've been lurking on the boards here for a couple months, but I finally registered and decided it was time to dive in. About me... I'm 34, female, married with dogs but no kids yet. I live about an hour outside of Philadelphia. I'm 5'2" and about 235 lbs. I was a little chubby from about the age of 8, then I kept myself at a "normal" weight through high school as a ballet dancer in a fairly high-pressure pre-professional dance company. When I went to college, I gained the "Freshman 15" and fluctuated up and down and up again through graduation. In the years after college, I would gain weight, lose 10, 20, maybe 30 pounds (most successfully with Weight Watchers), then gain it back plus some. In the last couple of years, I've had weight-related health problems--most significantly, chronic lower back and hip pain--that have really affected my ability to be active and do things I enjoy. The less active I was, the more I ate, and the more I gained. I knew I was on a bad path, but honestly had started to feel like it was inevitable. Then just after Thanksgiving last year, my aunt died suddenly. The medical examiner concluded it was from complications of diabetes. She had been super morbidly obese for as long as I can remember. But she was only 53. I went home to visit my parents over New Year's, and my mom expressed concern for my health. She tentatively brought up the idea of WLS, and I immediately got defensive and shut her down. On the flight home, though, I ended up on a smaller plane and found that I couldn't put the tray table all the way down. I spent the rest of the trip doing a lot of soul-searching. When I got home, I started doing research and reading up on the various types of weight-loss surgery. I attended an informational session at Einstein Medical Center and began the process. I've gone through the initial consult with the surgeon, and I've had a session with the nutritionist and one with the psychologist. I am feeling down since those appointments, though... they both want to see me again in a month and didn't immediately clear me for surgery, and I feel like a failure. I knew that I'd need support from a therapist through the whole thing, as I've dealt with depression for many years. And of course if I'm considering weight-loss surgery, I must not have the greatest eating habits. But I guess I didn't expect to "fail" my evaluations. I was worried about the psych eval but everything I'd read made it sound like it wouldn't be a big deal. Has anyone else had this happen?

It actually went really quickly--I finished my pre-op testing on 5/11. Then after some confusion with my bloodwork results being sent to my PCP but not the surgeon's office, the surgeon submitted a letter to my insurance this Monday. My mom was breathing down my neck today about at least getting an idea of when my surgery might be (she's going to fly out and stay a few days during/after my surgery... she's a nurse, and I'm a wimpy only child, okay?)... so I called the surgeon's office today, and they said that they got my insurance approval already! I was shocked that it took less than a week!! I have Independence Blue Cross/Keystone Health Plan East, BTW.

Ugh, people can just be awful! Specifically, people who use the anonymity of the internet to post extremely rude personal attacks that have nothing to do with the service that they're reviewing. I'm with @@Babbs, this online culture of nastiness is terrible. I'm also annoyed on your behalf at your staff person for pointing it out to you!

Hi, @@Ms. Babyboo. I'm 34, live about an hour outside Philly, and I'm getting sleeved on June 15th. I don't know that I'm "low" BMI, but I'm 5'2" and about 222 right now (have lost about 10lb since my first appointment with the bariatric center). I lost an aunt last fall to complications of diabetes at age 53, so my family history is a factor for me, too.

An update-- My second appointment with the dietitian went well. She had me start using the My Fitness Pal app again, and I lost about 10 pounds in the month between appointments. (Then I got cocky and started "saying goodbye" to foods... now I'm back on track) After seeing the psychologist again, she talked with the therapist I'd started seeing on a weekly basis and decided to clear me for surgery. I plan to continue therapy for as long as it takes to get my head in a good place--and I will probably keep going occasionally after that to keep myself in check. I'm really happy with the therapist I'm working with--I've been to others, and I never felt like they got to the root of my problems like she has been able to do. I have some really deep-seated issues with perfectionism, all-or-nothing thinking, being hyper-critical of myself--things that have ironically lead to, among other problems, my obesity. Anyway, I got through all the other testing--bloodwork, EKG, chest x-ray--and got just insurance approval today. My surgery date is June 15th! Really excited but also starting to freak out!

I called my surgeon's office earlier this morning and found out my insurance approval went through, and I'm scheduled for surgery June 15th! Good luck to you, @smrogg--I hope you hear something soon!

Just got my date--June 15th! So excited and also so nervous!

Hi, @@smrogg! I'm at the same place as you--I have all the pre-op testing done, now I'm just waiting for the insurance approval before I can schedule my surgery. Waiting is very frustrating, isn't it? I've decided to use this time to... try and kick my coffee habit (I'm down to one small cup in the morning) try out different Protein shakes (unjury chocolate Splendor has been my favorite so far, Jay Robb Dreamsicle was the worst) and experiment with some WLS-friendly dinner recipes. I made Emily Bites's Cheeseburger "Cupcakes" (http://www.emilybites.com/2011/09/cheeseburger-cupcakes.html) the other night--YUM! ...so that I'm as ready as possible for surgery. I had a couple of weeks where I was having entirely too many "food funerals," so now that I'm getting closer, I'm trying to get my act together. What procedure are you going to be having?

So many things... Of course, being able to wear all the clothes I have that no longer fit Not having to wear a sweater/sleeved top year-round to cover my arms Wearing a bathing suit in front of people, ideally one that isn't a grandma-style swimdress Being able to hike with my dogs or walk around at a museum or festival without crippling back pain Not feeling like I have to hold a throw pillow on my lap to cover my belly fat when I'm sitting on a couch or something in front of people Being able to get up off the floor more easily; I like to sit on the floor! Not worrying about breaking a chair or step stool Not being flushed and sweaty all the freakin' time, and not constantly worrying that I smell because of it Being able to start dancing again, whether it's taking a modern dance class or going swing dancing with my husband, or just goofing around with friends Feeling like I can sit on my husband's lap or have him pick me up without hurting him Feeling more attractive, maybe even... sexy? Not panicking when I get a notification that someone has tagged me in a photo on Facebook Being able to stop pretending that I don't want to join in on activities, when really I'm just too fat to keep up