Rainbow_Warrior

My four week pre-op shakes and food is supposed to start Thursday Sept 14th ready for surgery Thursday October 12th. I actually kicked it off 15 days ago just to familiarise my adaption. I did have a "blowout" for my sister-in-law's 60th 9/9/17 ... beer, smorgasbord, cake, etc. Already down 6.9kg (16-17 lbs) ... caused my surgeon and dietitian much pleasure.

I'm with The NSW Teachers Union Health Fund. I have "top" hospital cover and "top" extras cover. It took them under three minutes to answer my call, verify who I was, process the surgeon's procedure code number and say it was "all" covered.

1. My GP gave me a bariatric surgeon referral to Mark Gately. (July 5) 2. Mark Gately's staff said I have to attend a full disclosure information night run by Mark and his partner doctor. (July 12) 3. After the info night, I had a half hour interview with Mark. (July 17) 4. Three days later I met the managing dietitian who spent almost an hour telling all and finding out about my food history etc. She gave me a four-week pre-surgery plan and a one-year post-surgery plan in a folder. (July 27) 5. The following fortnight I was examined in detail by the anaesthetist. (Aug 14) 6. Mark Gately had me back to offer a surgery date of Oct 12. (Sept 4) Six visits counting my GP and the "mandatory" info night. Out of pocket expenses in paying for these visits was upfront about $630. My health insurance refunded about $140 and the Australian national health scheme refunded about $335. So, in reality, $155 of my ready cash.

12th Oct before 11am.

Well, here in AUS, nearly every surgeon says stay off fizzy soft-drinks (sodas). It is one of the clearest problems for people who do poorly with their gastric sleeving. If I had my life over again, I'd never eat a factory-produced breakfast-cereal or any fizzy soda drink ... not even Coke Zero or Pepsi Max or other 'diet' varieties. These products are just %^&*ing enemies of bodies. So, for me, my doctor's advice will be heeded ... water, tea, unsweetened drinks for the future.

Take a year off. Tell them you have a flour allergy! <GRIN>

We don't have Thanksgiving here in Australia. Christmas runs onto summer shutdown until mid-January. Christmas Day lunch is a huge "monster" eat-fest in Australia and there's Christmas night dinner with one's other in-laws to follow. Huge Boxing Day (Dec 26) barbecues are on at every fifth or sixth home to celebrate the biggest day in Australian sport ... Melbourne International Cricket Test, Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, the big night-time A-League double-header, etc New Years Day food events are big too. Then, on the 26th January, the biggest LAMB consumption day on the calendar ... Australia Day. Parties, barbecues, lunches, community events everywhere. All this when I'm 2.5 to 3.5 months post surgery. Saying "I'm just not hungry!" will have people thinking I need to be rushed to hospital emergency care. <GRIN>

My father and a few acquaintances were annoying in what they said but you were on the receiving end of nastiness ... even if your mother had only said that once, it would have been cruel but it seems like, when you say "always", that it clearly was said way more than once. Do you have a good (or better) relationship with her now?

I disagree. While your cover story is partially true, you have done well to think about it. Practise some answer scenarios and you should go well.

Yeah, I'm in several community groups and social clubs whose night/evening meetings are at hotels (as in bars) and bistros/cafes. People are going to wonder, indeed, when I don't order food or alcohol or soft-drinks in future.

Hear, hear to that. There's a lot of judgemental nastiness out there. As a BMI over 50 man, going to shops, cafes and public places has been an ordeal for many years. It's not the little innocent toddlers and pre-schoolers who say, "Mummy, why is that man so fat?" It's the people, not just skinny ones either, who say things audibly (or before I'm out of earshot) who say the cruelest, nastiest, most vile things. Sadly, most of them also belittle Muslims, the handicapped, Pakistanis, people with physical deformities, etc.

I was not ridiculed as such but my (otherwise lovely) father was too free with well-meaning comments and advice every time I saw him. I just pulled him aside one day in my late thirties and said, "Dad. Enough! I know I'm plump and I do try to control my weight but your constant comments and bits of helpful advice are actually NOT HELPFUL. They feel like nagging and negative reminders every time I see you. I don't want to be angry with you so just stop, please." That worked fairly well.

They are the real "rusted on" friends who back you whatever you do/decide. The other sort of people are mere acquaintances or passers-by in your life, not true friends.

I have someone to drop me off for the surgery on the Thursday and my wife will bring me home on the Saturday afternoon or before noon on the Sunday. I don't want a procession of dumbstruck hospital visitors.

I understand. So much negativity from random commentators that it's better to choose carefully who to tell. (I have replied to others here if you wish to read my 'fine print'.)

I'm telling most family, a few selected friends and just two trusted colleagues. There has been discussion amongst friends and workmates and, inevitably, many people including some long-term fat/obese people who go on about 'cheating'. I don't want their negativity and 5h1t. Surgery is my considered choice after over 20 years of losing every dieting battle (about which I used to feel too much shame). We are, after all, fighting fast food, advertising, mass-produced high-sugar, low-nutrient cr@p and I was too slow off the mark.

Just accept that this is the surgeon that YOU CHOSE and that you thought would change your life for the better. Have faith in your original judgement.

You imply low carb in your overview but you're at Subway buying the bread roll. You can buy your Subway bread-free (and really lower-carb) in a recyclable clear plastic takeaway/takeout container. One sure way to improve your bottom line. I'm 30 days out from surgery on October 12 and this is my MFP diary from Mon 11th Sep. I tried really hard to get my proteins to 20% more than my carbs. I have been ditching bread day by day leading up to now. I had my dinner meats and salad wrapped in lettuce leaves ... sandwich style. 150g lettuce is very filling.

Try to get the sublingual vitamins. They melt under your tongue in a few seconds. A couple of the major vitamin suppliers have applied the term RAPI-MELTS to the vitamin name when it is a sublingual rapid-melting kind. My Men's Over 50 Multivitamin and my B12 are rapi-melts.

Work from the premise (as I do) that when I go to work each day, I do the best I can with my innate ability and my many years of training and my decades of experience. You do the same, I presume? You go to work and you do your job right and you treat the people around you well? Put that same faith and respect in this surgeon of yours. He seems capable and greatly experienced. Wind your worries and anxieties back a few cogs. Fewer than 1 in 220 gastric surgeries in westernised countries cause death. Your chances are amazing.

Pleased to see that you're excited! Best wishes.

And you were begging for opinion and/or suggestions so I threw in my 2c worth.

Maybe try upping your water consumption deliberately for THREE CONSECUTIVE DAYS and see how that works. It might do the trick!

Re your last sentence: yes, I am aware of that. What my comment was alluding to was that his receptionist, his consultant dietitian or he himself might have workable strategies or advice for you. Given what a few of the longer-serving, more-experienced responders have said, as a layman, it looks like you are (a) not doing enough relatively continuous water-sipping up to 20-30 mins BEFORE and 20-30 mins AFTER your designated meals (b) too much liquid/runny meal content (c) not enough chewable food that requires you to process it. I COULD BE WRONG as I'M JUST A FAT BLOKE and NOT A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL.

Telephone your surgeon's receptionist and mention this concern. At the very least, bring it up at your next GP (general practitioner/family doctor) visit. I presume she/he has been part of your sleeve surgery process?