LaLa Ladybug

I sought out a therapist a few months ago primarily so I would have support with the food issues, but since reading a bit more, I know that I'm likely going to need help with the identity/self-image stuff, especially since I think that had a lot to do with how I got so big to start with. Thanks for calling this out.

Yes. I would most definitely do it again. My type 2 diabetes is in remission and I feel better than I have in the past 10 years😊

Yes time is going by so quickly! My surgery is tomorrow ! Super nervous.. but i think everything will go well.

From what I've been told Emma93, the key points are sip, sip, sip, & walk, walk, walk. How long will you be in the hospital?

As far as getting out of bed once you're home, try laying down now, wrap your arms around you like you're giving yourself a hug, and roll to your side towards the edge of the bed till you can stick your legs out. Letting your legs go down to the door will help get you out and use gravity to stand up (slowly). Probably sounds weird, but my sister (retired nurse) taught me this when I had abdominal surgery once.

Hello everyone
My surgery is tomorrow also. Very nervous but excited. Going from band to sleeve. I am on liquids until surgery. I go in tomorrow at 9:15, Surgery is at 11:00.
Good luck to all of you!

Troll alert!

It's one nice thing about this board, that we do hear all sorts of stories. The terrible, and the beautiful. Each of us has our own story.. leading up to the surgery, as well as after.
I hope your brother in law knew that, as with any surgery, complications were possible. They are relatively infrequent, but ultimately that doesn't matter when it is YOU that is sick (and it sounds like he got the absolute short end of the stick ).
I don't know how much you know about the process of weight loss surgery, but this type of surgery is reserved for people that are at least 100lbs overweight, and either are, or are likely to suffer health consequences from their obesity. Surgery is a last resort when diet and exercise haven't produced the desired long-term results. There is usually a 6 month diet, psychological testing, physical testing, nutritional counseling, psychotherapy, etc. It's a BIG deal to meet all the requirements to even qualify for the procedure, so chances are very good that your brother in law knew how big a procedure it was, before going under the knife.
Me personally, I was pretty much at the end of my youthful, useful life. My health was on a downhill slope that wasn't going to end well. I HAD to leave the dangerous path I was on, and I was willing to risk my life to do so. I think most everyone that has this surgery would say the same thing.
Again, I'm so sorry to hear about your brother, and I hope that the doctors can fix him up! As long as there is breath, there is hope.

Which surgery did your brother have? I'm assuming it was the gastric plication since you posted this thread in the gastric plication forum.
I am sorry for what happened to your brother. May expedient healing and a swift recovery arrive in his direction as soon as humanly possible.
Any surgery entails risks. For most of us who have chosen to undergo weight loss surgery, the risks associated with remaining obese and miserable weren't worth it.
Less than 1 percent of those who undergo bariatric surgery suffer from major complications. To place it into perspective, 1 out of 100 people who have weight loss surgery experience major complications.
Nonetheless, since people who experience bad outcomes tend to be the most vocal and outspoken, it makes it seem like bariatric surgery is riskier than it really is. After all, few people run to an internet forum to proclaim, "I had an uncomplicated recovery with minimal pain! I lost 100+ pounds and kept it off! I have no regrets and am pleased with the outcome! My life has changed for the better because of weight loss surgery!"
The vast majority (read: those who had good outcomes) move on with their lives, whereas the vocal minority blow the risks tremendously out of proportion. It's called negativity bias.

Right after surgery, your body is in a major heal mode. Many people find it difficult to meet their daily Protein and Fluid requirements during the first few weeks. So don't be too concerned. Just keep trying and you should soon be able to meet these goal. There are many forms of protein. Just experiment and find the one that you can tolerate the best. They all work. Just make sure it has no sugar or low sugar content.

Generally the week after surgery, you are on full liquids, therefore your body doesn't really generate poop. So Constipation isn't really a problem at this stage. But it can become a problem after 2 or 3 months.

Awesome! Just a few more days!

Are you ready for tomorrow???!!! I am scheduled for 8:00 am. I am super nervous and a tiny bit excited. I have had some fantasies that involve backing out, but I know that's not going to happen. I had a dream that I lost a ton of weight in my breasts (awesome) but they were left in a conical shape and felt like cellophane. Nightmare!

Did your doc allow you to take Benefiber during your pre-op diet? That probably would help with your bowels. I am July 10th too and I am very nervous and excited!

Hey from Oregon!
I'm new to this too + using the app which I guess is missing a lot of WWW features. I'm 5'6". Weight at first visit in February was 276. Surgeons desired pre-op loss was 251. Now 244 & set for surgery this coming Thursday 7/13. Weight goal for surgeon is 175. Personal goal? I'd love to have the energy to go dancing and really want to do a 5k.

Hey from Oregon!
I'm new to this too + using the app which I guess is missing a lot of WWW features. I'm 5'6". Weight at first visit in February was 276. Surgeons desired pre-op loss was 251. Now 244 & set for surgery this coming Thursday 7/13. Weight goal for surgeon is 175. Personal goal? I'd love to have the energy to go dancing and really want to do a 5k.

Hang in there. I'm on day 10. By day 7, it seemed to get easier for me. More energy to get through work without out wanting a nap. Today was harder for me with food cravings for some reason. Then went to my friends 50th BDay party made it thru that & I've made it thru the day.

You can do this!

I'm on day 6 and hunger isn't too bad. I've never noticed how many references to food I encounter in an average day. Every tv show, website , Facebook, etc. Plus people seem to love to talk about food. One woman told me how hungry she was because she ate her wrap for lunch too early. In my head, I was like "oh, honey, you don't even know..."

I read that day 3 or 4 is the worst and I made it through ok, but the morning of day 5 I was hungry. Those were also the 3 days I worked on the liquid plan and I don't think I brought enough to get me through the day.

Today, I'm at home and I'm not sure how I'm going to get it all in. I just finished my "lunch" shake and it's 7pm. I still have another shake and a serving of vegetables to go before bedtime.

For "dinner", I've been having unflavored Protein Powder in broth and it's pretty decent, a nice change from all the sweetness.

I don't want to cheat because of my head both because I want to watch the numbers go down (lost about 4 lbs in 6 days), I want my surgery to go as well as it possibly can (with a smaller liver), and I want to be ready for another extended period of liquids only (and zero servings of food to chew) after the surgery when I'll be feeling much worse and much weaker.

I'm not a fan of Jello, but that and sugar free popsicles have helped a lot to feel like I'm having something tasty.

I'm averaging just over 600 calories per day and was very tired during the week, but I don't want to do anything to mess with the success of this program.

5 days out and I feel good. Incisions are tender but that's it. I just have to work on getting more fluids in me. I swear I feel like I'm drinking constantly but my glass is almost never empty. I have found that if I drink something other than plain drinking Water, I tend to drink more. I guess for now I'll just keep drinking something!

My surgery date is July 13th. I'm so ready!

Congratulations!!!

Weak and tired. Anyone else feel this way on their liquid preop diet?

Weighed In Monday but forgot to update- I'm down! Yay! Lost 2 lbs now 229.4:)

Love this thread! Very inspiring and helps me stay on track while accepting I'm human.

@fadstabora that is a win! Social situations can be a minefield. It must have felt really good to walk out of Wingers having made good choices@chiquitabananaz14 focus on little consistent steps...getting on the scale is up to you... don't feel defeated, you've reached out for support and it takes guts. Bravo! Not everyday is about the # on the scale we all have areas to work on to make ourselves stronger and more resilient...Just look at this thread...you started with honesty and openness and as a result we all found a place we can come for support and encouragement while we work towards our personal goals... your current choices have had a positive impact on others, that is an NSV if I've ever seen one!! Stay on your path:)

I've learned that different surgeons have different demands for their pre-op diet. Some say Ensure and Carnation Instant Breakfast are fine while others keep patients strictly on Optifast. Some are 3 day pre-op liquid diets and some are 2 or more weeks. For mine, it's 2 weeks. The Nut gave us a list of brands she'd vetted thru the manufacturers & then showed us what to look for on the labels if we wanted different brands. There was a short list of Protein Drinks our surgeon would not approve.

For us, the day before surgery is the clear diet day. For that, they listed a few brands that carry unflavored Protein Powder to add to crystal light drink, Power Aid Zero's, broth, hello, etc. another option is to grab a few bottles of Isopure. They are clear liquid pre-made Protein drinks. Many GNC's carry them. Here in Oregon, I found them at Vitamin Shoppe. Kind of chalk-y, but survivable for the short term. Good luck!