WLSResources/ClothingExch

Funny, but I feel let down anyway. I was hoping to read that you dropped once more for old times' sake.

Most people do. You'll have gas (air bubbles only if you're a diver) until it runs its course. Nothing to worry about.

Complete your preparations for going to the hospital slowly over the two days; draw things out so that you're occupied most of the time over time. On the morning of your surgery, change the sheets before you leave the house as your last, official activity. It's another of the mentally non-taxing tasks to keep your mind occupied and you'll arrive home to a fresh bed. Also remember that nervousness is a sign of nervousness and nothing else. In other words, let it be. If all that fails, drugs. (P.S. Stretching out the last, little tasks also should remind you that your taking care of what needs taking care of. You're capable and in charge.)

You also have Bariatric Pal. There are quite a few solid people sharing support and good info and ideas.

It's the barley that will get you every time. Stop the fretting and flapping around. Cut out the empty carbs. Not all carbs are empty. Guilt is an empty carb. "Poor me, I'm so bad" does nothing for you, much like wearing an unflattering hat. Allow yourself to be a flawed human and give it your best.

Sounding like a hot mess is not such a bad thing. It says that you're living in a state of reality. For now stop thinking about weight loss. You will be a star. Your mother died not quite three days ago. The world is out of order. Having people swarming around is in part keeping your mind occupied. When things quiet down in a few more days, you'll face what it really means not to have your mother within reach. This is a time for you to calm yourself as best as you can while you feel your feelings and think your thoughts. Give yourself a break. Great that you haven't touched the junk food. Stay away from the coffee for now. You may want to call your surgery practice for a recommendation for an o-t-c product for the constipation. You will lose weight, I promise with a hug.

It's important to have a scale and weigh and measure everything. Also track all your intake. You can use My Fitness Pal or any one of many others for tracking. YOu'll always know whether you've gotten the right amounts of Protein, et al., and, more important, you'll have a reference to see how you might tweak your food choices if indicated. If you "simply eat until full," it's likely that you will overeat or eat the wrong things. Successful weight loss isn't a guessing game. All the best to you.

Not in the least are you crazy. Your desire to make changes for your life, your health and your inner well-being say that you're sane as [fill in the blank with whatever tickles your fancy]. Anyone who might support you in an in-person way has other things going on in his life. No matter how much support is available, each of us has ultimate responsibility. You don't need someone to go to the hospital with you, but you will need someone to fetch you out when you're discharged; hospitals are required to enforce this to meet the requirements of their liability policies. (If someone volunteers to go with you, fine, but you'll really be busy enough with hospital paper work and being prepped for surgery that you won't have much time to talk with the person.) Most definitely give the support group a try. Go to two or three meetings before deciding its potential value to you. Not all support groups are created equal. I still attend one on occasion where I found support and developed a couple of personal friendships that go beyond surgery. You can do this.

@@BariatricGal, what is a "liver cleanse" and what does the product do. I'm not challenging you, but am always skeptical when I hear "cleanse" of any type and admit having read nothing about such things.

Why not buy one of each of a few brands and decide which you prefer? Having someone tell you what he likes like doesn't mean you will. The recommended brand may even be regional and unavailable to you.

Ptish-tosh, so much gutter yammering. I'm neither metallurgist nor metal smith and that may be why I never knew that gold is a base metal.

Fat is everywhere. The "fatter" the person, the more fat throughout the body, including on the liver. Losing some of that fat makes the liver more flexible and, therefore, the surgeon has an easier time of maneuvering around inside.

I had paper-thin slices of pumpkin cheesecake, chocolate cake with chocolate frosting, guava flan and tiramisu cake. I am proud as all hell and my mouth is kissing me all over for such amazing-tasting things. We are happy and tomorrow is another day. P.S. We're also sugared out for quite a while to come. In packing up the mandatory care package, we omitted sweets.

@@Stephanielp, yup, a better way, but more important, accurate according to your initial note. Knock 'em out. You're in a good place.

I'm getting a frisson of next year's family celebration migrating to your house.

You, Stephanie, are eager, not anxious. Eager is good. All the best to you. Have a great day with the kids.

Say that you're having a medical procedure. The boss shouldn't ask for specifics and, if you are asked, you can say it's nothing much. If you lie, you'll have to remember it, so avoid lying. If you cave in, make it something you will remember, which often means a whopping lie. I'm curious: What is "the 90 day waiting list?"

@@nursemichelle7, that's good. I know that BP can fluctuate by the minute, but that was quite a spike. As someone who's never had an IUD, I either didn't know or don't recall having heard that spotting is common. I didn't think that, given the rest of the OP's post, it should go unnoticed. Nevertheless, if I were she, I'd call my surgeon's and let the answering service do their thing. When I think I may have real cause for concern, I don't go to member-centered websites, but lots of people do.

@@PhillyAj, yes, you don't want to go to the hospital and the BP wrist cuff (I never knew there is a wrist cuff) may be wrong -- but you don't know if it is. Your having your own cuff makes me think that you have a specific health concern, while your questions make me think you have no professional-level medical knowledge beyond knowing that 197/107 is particularly high. If I were you I'd call my surgeon's office and give the details to the answering service and tell them I'm then heading to the ER. I'd proceed then to the hospital. You're only a few days out of surgery with wild BP. Walk away from your computer and stop delaying. Not to mention vaginal bleeding whether it is or is not related to the IUD. Call you gyn's office, too. You're not supposed to be bleeding from the vagina if it isn't your period. Get moving.

In case any of these tips are new to you. #10 doesn't apply. http://www.webmd.com/diet/ss/slideshow-10-ways-to-control-eating

The truth is that no one can tell you whether you'll have any problems as a result of surgery. The great majority don't. No one can tell you whether you're making the wrong choice. The choice is yours. The best any one can do is share their experiences and views on surgery. I'll bet cold, hard cash that the people who say "You'll get too small" are fat. They don't want to be left alone in the dust. You'll do well to stop talking about surgery to everyone you know. Everyone's got an opinion. All the talk is making you cuckoo and offering no clarity. Take time for yourself and see what you come up with. Start with recalling what it was that made you consider surgery in the first place.

You don't want to go all the way to "full." Satiety is the goal: "I feel as though I can eat another spoon or two, but I don't need them. I'm satisfied." Eating slowly and pausing between bites is a sure way to recognize the moment. Not taking the extra bites is one of the factors in the lives of people who've never been obese or maybe not even overweight. It's great that you're able to get the proteen and fluids.

The last time I checked, eggnog and coquito were liquid. Maybe they still are.

"It's good, but I've had enough just now. I'll take the rest home with me." No big deal.