Berry78

I have noticed that lots of those people that lost significantly more than 10lbs a month also went through complications. BAD complications. Slow and steady wins the race!

Sweet! I like the sound of your pre- diet diet, and I agree with the after-the-fact announcement. I've been thinking I want to do the prediet thing, but my family is busy having birthdays and food funerals for me. (I don't care about food funerals, but they do apparently). I went to GNC and got my first tub of protein powder. Gonna try it tomorrow for breakfast. Also got powdered vitamins... tired of swallowing pills I like that you've already lost so much! That is wonderful! Thanks for the motivation to hurry and get started!

Castor oil?

Just walking. You can increase your speed, but stick with that until your surgeon gives you other instructions.

1poundatatime .... Feelings like shame are going to do more harm than good. You have nothing to be ashamed of! There is a reason more people are heavy than aren't... it is an issue with our environment. Food is too easy to come by, it's nutrient deficient, and it is chemical-laden with appetite stimulating effects. Anyone that knows me knows I accept responsibility for my own actions. I admit I am in this mess because I eat 3 dinners. But, I also see undigested food come out the other end, and have lost half my hair. (I am preop). I've been walking around in a fog for a decade. I started taking vitamins, practicing for after surgery. The brain fog IMMEDIATELY cleared up! Apparently I've been overeating so long due to deficiencies. Problem is, my metabolism is all messed up now. I need the reset. Anyway, I digress... what are we talking about? Oh yeah, kids. I told everyone my surgery is the 21st of March. It is actually the 20th. Surgery will be over with before they have a chance to start worrying.

Imagine, instead of surgery, your life change is an adoption. You are going to the hospital to pick up a new little baby. Think about that baby and her needs. You want her to grow up strong and healthy. Do you feed her baked potato or french fries? Baked chicken, or fried? Ice cream or greek yogurt? (And the great thing is this baby will do what you tell her to!) Surgery gives you a new chance at life. The baby you are feeding is yourself. Christians experience a spiritual rebirth when they become believers... wls patients get a rebirth of their own. It will be a new day, but it will be up to the patient to make the most of it.

Dude!

You need to think long and hard about smoking vs. surgery. Those are two gigantic life changes you are trying to accomplish at the same time. It is really important that smoking stays out of your life forever after surgery. Most people need help quitting. Chantix, family and friends' support, smoking cessation programs.. all these might help. Even if you need to delay the surgery to accomplish quitting for good, it will be worth it! (And if you think the cravings will be better after surgery, they won't. The cravings will probably be worse.) You. can. do. this. !! Just make sure you WANT to quit more than you want that cigarette. If you do? Then that desire, combined with external help, will get you there!

"Thick and thin" HA!

Did you ask about the extra shrimp at the seminar? Glad you'll have a partner for the journey. That is awesome!

To be sure, you might just schedule the surgery for after the vacation. That way there isn't a time crunch.

Holy smokes Pixie..

When people are still learning their sleeve or pouch, they will eat either too quickly, or that one extra bite, and boom, they are either hurting, or vomit, or both. Teaches you to listen to your body. Full means full! Yes, one EXTRA shrimp will do it. It may be more forgiving down the road. Most of these stories are from early on in the recoveries. Good luck!

Wow, how quick! Congrats! There are a lot of Marchers

When you get dehydrated, it is almost impossible to get rehydrated on your own. Go ahead to an urgent care center so they can get you rehydrated within an hour or two. They can also run other tests to make sure that is all that is wrong.

My concern is UV rays on the incision areas. Maybe keep those spots covered.

At only 3 weeks out, maybe it is too soon for acidic foods. You also have other things going on, so do keep close contact with your surgeon's office. Glad it sounds like you are doing better. Are you still taking your heartburn meds? (I assume you were prescribed acid meds for the first couple months...)

Hopefully you mentioned the indescretion.... Gosh, it's coming quick! Good luck!

For all those still preop... Please look at the calendar well ahead of starting the preop diet. If you see a special day falling during the diet phase, please celebrate early! Yes, no sense crying over spilled milk, but let's practice putting the lid on the container Remember, today was tomorrow and will be yesterday. Therefore, you can control yesterday by what you do today. (But only starting today).

Keep an eye on it. If it starts looking more red or brown, let the nurse know. Brown means you need fluids, red could be a bit of bleeding (from infection or even the catheter poked you a bit). Either way, should get better, not worse, especially if you can get those fluids down. Good luck!

I don't have any answers, but wanted to wish you well, and hopefully the surgeon's office can shed some light. [Hugs]

Smokin'! Both of you!

I missed the fact that you ride the bus (my bad).. so I see that it isn't just the time spent in the store. Is there a store within walking distance to your residence?

Plan for 8 weeks. Either stock up prior to surgery (my recommendation), or find someone else to do it (like above). Even if it is delivered to your door, you still have to bring it inside and store it. Thus my recommendation to stock up. Put kitty litter and cat food into large covered trash cans, so you will have a 2 month supply ready to go. Stock up on bottled sugar free drinks. This might go badly since you might not like some after surgery, so you need a variety. Also, walking after surgery is super important, so do try and come to terms with going out more frequently for shorter trips. (A small bag every day would get you out of the store quicker!) Think about it. If you now spend 60 minutes in the store while stocking up, how about changing it to 6 ten minute trips? (Or 6 seven minute trips, so you spend LESS time!). Some grocery stores could have your items already picked out for you if you call ahead with the list. A smaller store will get you out quicker too.. if there is one available.

Google "vena cava filter" It should help!