Seastars

I'll be sleeving in Issaquah. Hope you get to go under soon!

Is your surgeon here in Washington? I admit, I woke up at 5am, pretty darned excited. (And hungry!). Crossing my fingers and toes against post-op nausea for me/you/all of us.

Woo-hoo, Jen! I'm excited to follow - I get sleeved today, too! Here's wishing you very little pain and no nausea! Today's weight 201.4 after the misery of yesterday's fast. I will be in One-derland soon!

Hope you had a good day yesterday and enjoy your new journey. I had mine yesterday and I am very pleased with everything so far!Sent from my SM-G935V using the BariatricPal App Can you share more details of how it's going? Is it hard getting all your fluid in? Can you move around reasonably easily, walking and showering? Are you "burping slime" the way some folks describe (shudder)? Piper, healing wishes to you!

Woo-hoo! Have a healthy, easy surgery! Mine is Wednesday. Last night it really hit me that I was eating my last solid food for several weeks. I didn't have a food fumeral/binge, but I did have a cup of my favorite food (watermelon) to say goodbye!

I got my surgery date (and time)! Next Wednesday here in WA state. I'm excited!

What are your shots for?

I am still waiting on my surgery (June 22). Getting pretty excited now! I could be in One-Derland - and no longer obese, just overweight - by the end of the month!

24601, thank you so much for your pics and story! I have very similar height, pre-surgery weight and BMI to you. I'm self-funding too. I do strenuous workouts too (and have been concerned about hydrating enough for them, post-surgery). So your recovery and success are thrilling to read and emulate. I have 11 days to go to get my sleeve! Inanc, your comment (that an obese person only needs to diet and exercise to lose weight) is inaccurate and hurtful. Insurance companies may set BMI rules to govern whether they will pay for bariatric surgery, but medical science has concluded that bariatric surgery (some officially the gastric sleeve) will benefit a wide range of obesity levels (and even nonobese diabetics). OP's surgery didn't cost you anything or take away from your own potential success. Why be snarky?

I am doing a LOT of delegation and pre-reporting at work, and pantry stock-up/vitamin sampling at home in preparation for June 22. I have my babysitter and hospital rides lined up, and made a big bank deposit to cover the surgery cost that I gotta pay next week (eeek!). 8 more dietician/psych/medical appointments to go. I also keep thinking I'm doing my "lasts." Last big chug of a cold Water bottle. Last big bike ride or hike (for a few weeks, anyway). Last river/lake swim (for a couple of months). Last mentally-focused, supercharged day at work for a while (I hear brain fog lasts for weeks, ugh). Maybe one of my last easy nights of sleep in my own bed, given gary's experience above! But also: one of the last days I'll see 200+ on the scale! And hopefully one of the last few weeks, EVER, that I'll be obese! (In 11 more pounds I will be "only" overweight. CAN'T WAIT!!)

How was the hospital stay? In between walking and sipping, are you mostly sleeping? Awake and feeling pain? When you came home, how hard was it to move around - getting out of bed, taking a shower, driving? How brain-dead do you feel? How tired/in pain?

My dietician was just talking about this today. (I am still pre-op.) She said that especially for lower BMIs, there is an early stall about the 3 week mark, that may last about a week. She predicted I'd lose about 10-15 pounds the first and second months, then stall again. And I thought for a moment, why should I go through serious surgery just to lose at a diet-only pace? And then I remembered that dieted-off weight always comes back, haha. Anyway, so maybe figure that these 7 pounds you've lost in 6 days (!) are PERMANENTLY gone, wahooo! Also, your skin will benefit from a slower loss. It's great to hear your success so far. I am hoping for similar!

I'm doing the same as Wolfgirl: home equity loan through my credit union, because full amount is due 2 weeks before surgery. Interest charge is ridiculously low - 3%!

My concern, and my surgeon's, is that a good workout adds a lot more to the "baseline 64oz" for hydration. Hiking last weekend (not even in hot dry weather), I was taking in 160oz/day. Imagine post-op, when you can no longer chug water, just sip, and have to stop after 4-6 oz to let your reduced stomach empty out. Gonna be pretty hard to sip 160oz., even spread out over the whole day. So that's why my surgeon's going to restrict my length/intensity of workouts for a few weeks post-op. Your team may feel differently for you and your lifestyle. On another topic - you guys are all under 35 BMI, and if you are pre-op you are likely going even lower through a required pre-op diet. We all know NIH doesn't officially recommend bariatric surgery below 35, even with co-morbidities. So my question for you: did your surgeon ever give you a speech about "risks of surgery outweigh the benefits under 35 BMI" or even "don't lose any more weight before surgery, it will reduce the benefits if surgery" speech? Mine did. I was not flattered. Of course I can lose weight - most of us are expert dieters, but also veteran regainers! I recently lost about 15# on a ore-op low-carb diet, but I have no faith at all that I can keep it off without surgery. I need this tool.

Thank you. My surgeon had me do all the testing a few weeks ago, but I will meet with the team again for instructions a few days before surgery.

Got it - thanks. Do you get to skip the endiscopy, shrinkingkimber?

WHERE is the application form for Mommy Camp? I want IN! (And I will be able to fit through the in-door soon, ha ha!)

RNYoyo and jaxmom, can I give you big, squishy (on my side only, you leanbodies!) hugs? You guys and silverthreads have really brought my smile back. (That and learning I don't have to do the liver diet, HALLELUJAH.) Thank you!!! And way to go on your strong, healthy recovery!

What is pre-op testing? The endoscopy?

Thanks! It's so great to have this forum, to get real feedback on things I think may be a challenge later. I may also practice with a camelbak - I've got one but usually just use bottles. Camelbak would better suit constant sipping. Flatter hikes are a smart idea, too. How's the reflux? Any problems?

Thanks, Silver! My surgeon told me yesterday that I can't hike or bike hills for several weeks after surgery, because she thinks I won't get enough liquid in. She thinks I should just walk/elliptical for those weeks. I am really hoping she's being overly conservative - I have June 22 surgery and do NOT want to miss out on hiking during the beautiful weather in June & July! (Last weekend I hiked about 4-5 hours per day, with moderate elevation gains, and needed about 320oz Water each day.) I seriously think I should start practicing "constant sipping." Sounds like it will be a good post-op skill.

How hard is it to hydrate enough during your workouts? I am really nervous about that.

Ugh, Farcaster, three weeks of SUCK! But a lifetime ahead...

Yay, Junesleevers! I got my date today: June 22, even sooner than I hoped. (My first appt was only May 18.). And my surgeon said I don't have to do ANY liver diet, because I've been eating high protein (and losing weight) so she says my "liver has shrunk enough." Hallelujah!

Thanks Kadie - I am! I'd heard horror stories about the liver diet so am relieved and happy. Any update on what time you are going in?