Orchids&Dragons

How did you forget sip, sip, sip?

You asked to be more fit and healthy. This is your preparation!

Last one for today, I promise!

When the Japanese mend broken objects, they aggrandize the damage by filling the cracks with gold. They believe that when something's suffered damage and has a history it becomes more beautiful. ~Barbara Bloom It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves. ~Edmund Hillary

Sorry to hear that. There's just no way to know ahead of time Hope you feel better soon!

Yeah, evolutionary cousins!

Sounds like you may be eating too fast and getting too much air in your stomach. I know you've been going slow, but go slooooow, like a sloth on valium slow!

Don't you like blueberry smoothies or mixed w/vanilla yogurt?

I actually like the Cookies-n-Cream. Maybe it is a flashback to Cookie Crisp. I'm ok with that. I don't think its as cloyingly sweet as the banana or peach.

Don't be too scared, but you're better off cautious than not. Start off soft and small, like a tablespoon of refried beans or watery oatmeal. Then eat them slowly, like 6-7 bites per tablespoon. Let each bite settle before you take another. I was insane and started with chili, but that comes with living in a house with 4 men. That's what they cooked for dinner that night and I couldn't resist, the smell had been killing me for hours! I lucked out and handled it fine, but it could have gone soooo bad! Chicken or tuna salad are usually pretty well tolerated, also moist, cooked fish. Good luck!

That's how I feel about you and several others on the site. You're wonderfully supportive and kind

I'd be honest with the surgeon's office, just in case. But for most of the pre-op diets on here, you would probably be ok so long as you're more careful going forward. But surgeon's requirements do vary. Since you're doing extra days, my bet is that you'll be fine.

Can anyone recommend a good unflavored liquid protein supplement? Thanks!

@dsapeg69 Congratulations! You look amazing, very inspiring! And thank you for your service!

Congrats on your surgery! Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

Don't ever hesitate to ask your questions. You have every right!

First off, good luck with your surgery! Hope all goes well. I don't know about your hospital, but mine did the EKG and chest x-ray as part of the pre-op processing, one week before the surgery. They also did a lot of lab work then. A lot of tests that are done before surgery depend on your age and overall health. From your photo you appear to be quite young and if you don't have a lot of medical issues, they won't order as many tests as they would for a 50-year-old with uncontrolled diabetes and high blood pressure. Hope this helps!

I was going to the gym pretty regularly for a couple years before my surgery, but it's been fits and starts since then. Took time off for surgery, don't go when my bowels are unpredictable, etc. Anyway, I went this morning and was using the rowing machine (my favorite piece of equipment) and had this weird feeling along my lower rib, right hand side. It wasn't painful, so I'm not worried, it was just odd so I'm curious. When I pulled back on the "oars", I got this odd pop,pop,pop feeling, almost like bubbles popping. Not just once, it happened every time. Does anyone know what causes this? Thanks!

Those foods just slide right through your stomach, so they don't hang around long enough for you to feel a sense of fullness or restriction. Don't worry, you won't be confused when you hit solids!

And to anyone who's a fan of "blow things up movies" this is from Demolition Man (one of my faves): "All restaurants are now Taco Bell. They were the last survivor of the great franchise wars" as Sandra Bullock leads Sylvester Stallone into a super fancy restaurant - Taco Bell!

I admit that I do not have an exercise I love. I don't like it at all. Nevertheless, I'm off to the gym this morning. On work days, I walk around our compound; once before work and again at lunch with a friend. Lately it has been about 92-95 degrees, but we're walking!

The 15 minute walks are immediately after surgery to prevent blood clots and help ease the gas bubbles out of your body. They want you walking much longer than that when you're past the surgery stage. Try not to focus on the walking itself, listen to music, listen to audiobooks (my fave), pray (if you're so inclined). The time will go by much faster if you don't focus on not wanting to be there. Exercise is definitely part of the program.

That's why I wanted surgery.

Thanks! Yet another set of reasons that we'll live longer with the surgery than without it.