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Yes, my pre-op diet is similar: two shakes and a lean dinner. I'm very grateful not to be on all liquids (just the last day). So if you had a few bites, you'll be fine.

My advice, for what it's worth, is to be as calm and confident as you can. My sleeve surgery will be my seventh or so (tonsils, gall bladder, carpal tunnel, full hysterectomy . . .), and I'm totally not worried about going under (it's like you go to sleep, you wake up and it's over, and you don't remember the surgery at all). The real work starts post-surgically . . . well, except for all the clearances and the pre-op diet. But so far that's no big deal, either. Find out all you can but also focus on what life might be like in the future. Good luck!

I've been using Premier since I started my pre-op diet three days ago. I'm already kind of tired of how sweet they are, but I can get them down, so onward . . .

I was told not to use them, which disappointed me--thought it would be a good way to get around any swallowing problems. Maybe check with your nutritionist if your doctor doesn't have an opinion?

Liquid Tylenol, Gas-X, milk of magnesia, and something for constipation?

I recovered at home alone after my hysterectomy, although there was a visiting nurse who checked in on me. And I'll recover at home alone after this, which I expect will be easier by far. Asking my sister for a ride home from the hospital is as far as I want to go in asking for help. This isn't even on my radar in terms of things I'm worried about!

I've been giving myself injections two to four times a day for years as a diabetic, so the prospect of injecting the blood thinners doesn't bother me in the least. For anyone out there who is faced with that, please don't be concerned--it's not difficult and it's not painful. Have a tissue or cotton ball handy in case there's a tiny drop of blood.

Yes: today is the first day of my pre-op diet and I've just had my very first protein shake ever. After all I've read on here, it was better than I expected! Yes, I had the indulgent "final" meals. Now it's time to follow the plan and change my life. I love to cook and to eat and don't eat fast food or a lot of junk--just too many carbs, too many fats. One of the things I've realized is that there really won't be anything off-limits for life in terms of the sleeve--but there are things that SHOULD be off-limits for the sake of my health. I'm okay with that: maybe I'll miss bread and mashed potatoes, but are they really worth the diabetes, ,knee pain, high blood pressure, etc.? NO. Hang in there, Lk664 . . . and keep focusing on how much better your life will be in the future.

I don't know your exact circumstances . . . are you without insurance? Do you qualify for Medicaid? Please don't give up . . . even if you have to save for a long time, eventually perhaps you'll be able to afford it? Sorry . .. best of luck.

What about sugar-free jello, sugar-free popsicles, herbal tea? You could try whatever's on the approved list, but stick with what makes you comfortable and goes down all right as long as you are meeting your water and protein goals . . .. And, of course, protein shakes or protein water. Good luck!

jess9395, you make me so happy! I've been told to give up coffee for a YEAR, and I think that's going to be the hardest thing to do (I start my pre-op diet tomorrow). But I'll do it for as long as I can, anyway--may add it back in several months if everything else is going well . . . But things like rice, potatoes, white bread--I'm figuring I'm simply not going to be eating those things. I like them fine, but it's more than a fair trade for a normal weight and serious health improvements. There are enough things we can eat that I like--no need to start triggering carb cravings. Good luck!

Check the label, but when I googled it, it said 6.9 grams of carbs and 0 grams of protein, so I'm guessing it's not the best choice. I'd suggest either water by itself, water with Crystal Light for flavor with no calories, or protein water--there are quite a few different kinds.

Oh, honey! Last night was my third night . . . so far, I've managed 3.7, 3.9, and 3.9 hours. The first night I knew I didn't have the straps on right and I looked at all three of the booklets I was given--nope, nothing about the straps. (Figured it out by looking online.) I'm counting on the surgery (mine's the 28th) helping with this. Who dreamed up this torture?

Seems as though you could have a bit more variety: sugar-free jello, sugar-free popsicles, protein shakes. sugar-free pudding, sugar-free yogurt, decaffeinated tea . . .

Hello and welcome! Please do look around and enjoy the wealth of information and support--there's a ton here. Good luck on your journey!

When I was young, laparascopic surgery didn't exist, I don't think. Doing it when one is older doesn't mean that one's life still can't change! not to mention continue for longer than it would otherwise . . .

I think this is very individual in terms of whether it's useful to you or not. The required group meetings for my program were only mildly useful to me--one spent half the meeting on negative body images and how you could improve yours, and I was like, "not a problem for me, let's move on." It was nice seeing the people who had been through the process and succeeded. I personally like having the online access to many people, but, as I said, this is highly individual. Good luck in finding what works for YOU.

There are literally thousands of posts on this site from people who have had the surgery and 99 percent, at least, say that it's the best decision they ever made and they wish they'd done it sooner. For some real encouragement, search for one of the threads of before/after pictures. If that doesn't get you excited about this . . . ! Good luck: This is my seventh surgery or so, and I have to admit I'm not nervous at all beyond the icky bit of getting the IV--my veins can be hard to find. But otherwise . . . it's all good.

Final pre-op appointment with surgeon today. Pre-op clearance with primary tomorrow. Start pre-op diet on Sunday. Surgery on the 28th. Will admit now that I'm having four completely ridiculous "final" meals before then!

No; my surgery is scheduled for the 28th of August. I have four more days of "farewell" meals before I start my pre-op diet . . . but I definitely need to get my vitamins lined up. Appointment with my surgeon tomorrow afternoon!

I asked the nutritionist about them and was told not to use them. My paperwork has several suggestions for buying vitamins online: twinlabs.com (which is not coming up on my browser, but Amazon has Twinlab vitamins), bariatricfusion.com, or celebratevitamins.com. The latter two have flavored mixes you can put in water, which might be a lot easier than swallowing pills right after surgery.

There's a cedar-grilled salmon, though it comes with a maple mustard glaze--maybe you could ask them to leave that off? Or just order one or two of the "side" shrimp skewers--fewer calories that way. The salmon also comes with steamed spinach; you could have the steamed broccoli and/or fire-grilled veggies as sides. Take half or three-quarters of it home for other meals! Three of the four soups aren't bad for calories: tomato basil, chicken tortilla, or southwest steak and black bean: avoid the French onion. (Also avoid any other appetizers, they're ludicrous in terms of calories.) There really doesn't seem to be any way to get plain grilled chicken or fish there, though. Remember to focus on seeing your friends and eat really slowly. Good luck!

At this point you've been through all the preparation and decision-making. You know this is a better option than the health risks associated with obesity. It's a very safe surgery--very low rate of complications: That's not a guarantee, but if it were the lottery, you'd like the odds. Take a deep breath, stay calm as you can, and look to the future. It can be fantastic! Good luck.

I'm not exactly an old-timer--my surgery isn't until the 28th--but one thing I've noticed in spending a LOT of time reading posts on this site: 99 percent of the people who have had the surgery say it's the best thing they've ever done for themselves and they wish they'd done it sooner. So, while I'm going to miss those English muffins, I'm pretty sure I'm going to be a lot healthier and happier in the long run. And what's some carbs compared to that? You've got this. Hang on in there!

I've been offended by some of the things I've seen on the show, sure. One of the things that bothers me is that it seems the patients are only advised to seek therapy after they've had the surgery and aren't complying well. The show kind of skips over all the preparatory steps we need to take--meeting with a nutritionist, for example. Ultimately, though, if it's saved the lives of the people on it or people watching it, wonderful. Let the producers and TLC make money from it.