brightfaith

Happy to report that everything went well with surgery! I did struggle a little bit in recovery with low blood pressures and they were concerned I might be bleeding internally, but things perked back up after a few hours and IV fluids. Very little pain fortunately. Walking is very helpful. I’ve started my fluid challenge and am doing really well getting the fluids down. Need to work on breathing into the spirometer; that has been tougher. All in all I’m feeling very good. Hope everyone else who is having surgery now is feeling the same!

Oh thank you! That is so funny—I live just down the road from Pimlico! Though I have never been to Preakness. But I love the flowers. Good luck to you as well!

Thank you so much!

Thank you, Creekimp! I have really appreciated your posts and have been following your recovery and progress. I hope that I do as well as you!

My program said that days 3 and 4 of the pre-op diet would be the most difficult, but today (day 5) was definitely more difficult. I am feeling tired and dragging and have a headache for the first time since I started (I rarely have headaches.). I hope the tiredness improves. Solidarity with everyone doing this!

Wow, that is really quick. On the advice of my surgeon’s team, I’m taking off three weeks. I will be happy to have some time to work out what I feel comfortable eating before having to bring food in with me to work. I am also crossing my fingers that I feel well enough after the first week that the time off will feel at least a little like a vacation and that I’ll be able to spend time walking outside each day. Please take care of yourselves heading back to work so soon.

We are having surgery on the same day. Good luck to you!

Day 2 for me and okay so far! I don't expect to lose much as I've already lost a fair amount during the 6-month period leading up to surgery. A few pounds would be nice, though.

Yep. Not so bad so far, though I was pretty hungry this morning. I am hoping that once I get through this weekend it will be smooth sailing until May 3rd. How about you?

I am actually feeling pretty nervous! Butterflies in my stomach since two days ago, and I still have 13 days until the surgery. At this rate, I will be hyperventilating with high blood pressure on the day of. I still believe I'm making the right decision, but any time I think about it, I feel nervous. How are you doing?

Charity, we are surgery twins—I’m also having RNY on May 3rd! I wish you the best of luck! Feeling pretty nervous but also very happy to be moving forward.

I start today. Two to four protein shakes plus one meal of three ounces of protein and one cup of non-starchy vegetables. I intensely dislike and gag on non-starchy vegetables, so I won’t be eating those. Surgery in on May 3. Good luck to everyone as you shrink your livers and get ready for surgery!

I will admit I am having fears about dying and about complications but am just trying to relax about them--accept them as normal fears before surgery and not a sign that I am making a bad decision. My main reasons for having the surgery are to improve/resolve my diabetes before I get further complications and to improve my mobility so that I can do more of the things I love to do. Those reasons haven't changed, and I still believe that the surgery is my best chance to improve my health. My surgery is two weeks from tomorrow, and I expect the nerves to increase between now and then. May we all have some peace as we move toward our surgery days!

I start tomorrow. Hoping it will not be too bad.

Isn’t Caltrate Calcium carbonate rather than calcium citrate? That’s why I didn’t buy it and bought Bariatric Advantage instead. Citrate is more easily absorbed; we were instructed not to use the carbonate form.

I think your surgeon's office is the only one that can answer this for you. Giving them a call will help resolve this.

Please just go ahead and call your surgeon's office and ask for their guidelines and what they would be willing to do to work with you if they have an A1c threshold for surgery. When I had my consult back in September, my A1c was over 11. My surgeon told me to work with my endocrinologist to get it under 8 (his threshold) in order to avoid complications, but that if I wasn't able to do that, he would speak with my endocrinologist, and we would find a way to do the surgery if possible, knowing that I may have difficulty with infections and wound healing. I have been fortunate to be able to get my A1c down to 6.0 and feel much better about having limited my risk for complications. It makes most sense to speak with your surgeon and determine the best course of action for you.

I just bought the Bariatric Advantage chews in caramel and lemon flavors. They are very good, kind of like candy, and sugar free. Much better than swallowing the 6 Citrical pills a day I have been taking for the last 7 months. I may return to Citrical, however, given that the chews are fairly expensive.

I also have to do 2 weeks of the liver-shrinking diet. I start in four days and got all of my protein shakes today. I’m feeling good about everything and looking forward to May 3rd. Hoping that the liver-shrinking diet is manageable. Good luck to everyone!

My surgeon wants patients to have an A1c under 8; as I understand it, higher A1cs increase risk for infection.

I was approved two days ago...May 3rd here. Excited and nervous.

Thank you very much! I’ve admired your journey and appreciate the support.

When I first started this journey, I could not walk one block without needing to stop due to back pain and breathlessness. Today, I walked 2.7 miles. I was slow -- it took me an hour and 16 minutes -- but my back held up, and I felt really good and grateful the whole time. Anyone else have any non-scale victories to share?

Thank you! That's fabulous! I hope you have a wonderful time. Ziplining scares me, I will admit.

Thank you! I agree--walking is wonderful, especially outside (treadmill is a bit boring). I can't wait to be able to travel and walk, walk, walk. Glad you are loving life!