Finally!

I posted yesterday that I was having SUCH a hard time getting any liquids down at all because I would have such painful spasms in my esophagus afterwards. I was tempted just to skate by on a little Protein and Water - and hope that was good enough. But then did a lot of reading and I'm SO grateful that I got scared enough to man up and act like an adult in charge of her own health, not a helpless kid hoping things would somehow come out okay without much effort. (I've seen where that strategy has gotten me in the past with other things. Nowhere good.) TODAY - Wow, I'm feeling SOOO much better. What a difference a day makes. I decided I had to tackle this as head on as possible and that it's NOT okay to end up in the hospital dehydrated or with kidney stones. Here's where I decided my problem was: Pre-sleeve, I would WOLF down food and drink, with no thought of what I ate in the moment. Being PRESENT with what I'm consuming is a huge part of why I wanted to do this surgery to begin with. (I ate really GOOD food - clean - but no presence in the moment of consuming it.) For the past five years or so, I would have these same episodes of my esophagus spasming (especially if I was excited or it was something I liked ALOT and it was dense like rice or bread). There have been several times I thought I was going to die alone with a ham sandwich stuck in my throat like Mama Cass. (Younger peeps, look it up!) :laugh0: In fact, this is one of the reasons I really wanted the surgery because I KNEW it would force me to slow down and that it could possibly save my life for that reason alone. I was worried about now having this same sensation while trying to consume my Clear Liquids and Proteins - even accounting for post-surgery swelling, etc. So today I talked to my mom and found out that she and my two brothers both have the same throat-closing sensation when they would eat certain things. Since one of the brothers isn't overweight, I have to assume it's some genetic thing and that it's just something I need to learn to deal with. Here's what I did: I decided to consciously relax, explaining to my body that I needed to RELAX and allow this nutrition in. Every time my post-drink spasm would start, I would relax my body and BREATHE. So I've decided to practice and relax - and it's WORKING. I drank my entire protein water shake - about 10 ozs this morning, using my new "get over it and relax technique". (I have to say I was SO inspired by the fellow poster with 8 kids who was like "I don't have a choice but just make this work." Thank goodness for these boards :lol0: I've also put a whiteboard up in my living room and I'm tracking every amount I'm taking in. It's not enough to half-a** it and just think "oh, i'm getting close and was the doctor REALLY serious when he said I needed 64 ozs of liquid and 60 grams of protein?" So - I've tracked it all today and I'm almost done with my protein and liquids! It's SUCH A RELIEF and I feel physically so so much better. I can think clearly and my synapses are firing again!

I'm about six days post-op and I can't really drink Water - I'm really having trouble getting liquids in and my urine is dark. The spasms are awful when I drink. I'm trying but I'm finding the only thing I can get down is unsweetened juice. I have an instant gag reflex for ANYTHING with artificial sweetener and can't stomach Vitamin water at all, so sugar free popsicles are out. (I've always been that way. Splenda tastes like pure toxicity to me.) Is there a reason I can't make my own popsicles with unsweetened juice? Or just buy the fruit juice popsicles at Whole Foods? Can someone explain the need for sugarfree items to me? I get I'm not supposed to be sucking down sugar - but is fruit sugar (like in juice) okay? I got apple juice in the hospital so I assume it's okay?? My boyfriend just juiced a whole watermelon for me, which is funny because I can probably only take 3 ozs of it.

That's hysterical! I wonder why I like it?? As for having MORE of it - nah. :001_tt2: I don't love it THAT much and will never want to see it again after clears are over! (Instead of a weight loss ticker, I'd rather get a "5 more days until I'm off clears" ticker...) :thumbup:

My Uncle had his sleeve done in Houston and LOVED his doc. I went to Aceves in Mexico because I was a self-pay. Good luck to you!

I had surgery last Monday and frankly I don't feel like doing much. I just got back home yesterday. Part of it is me just figuring out what to eat (drink) and when, what tastes good, etc. The day of surgery was actually easier for me than day two - day three got a little better. Maybe I'm a baby but it threw me for a bigger loop than I planned on. Everyday I feel a little better though - and it's NOTHING compared to the health problems I'm sure I'd go through if I continued down the path of obesity. I do have to say I LOVE DR. ACEVES and HIS WHOLE STAFF. It's amazing how good they are. What a bunch of incredible people. People on here talk about him but you just don't get it until you're there. He's so down to earth, smart, easy-going but incredibly professional. (And I love Dr. Campos, Ernesto, Carla, Betty, Viviana!)

Does anyone else love the Unjury Chicken Soup? It's considered a "clear" and man, is it good!

Hey there - I'm at the hospital in Mexicali now. It was $8750 all inclusive - which is a special for the month of July. I'm in day three. It includes pick up from San Diego, one night in a resort here in Mexicali, all bloodwork, testing, surgery, hospital, everything - and a two weeks supply of Nexium. (You have to have Nexium for at least the first 3 months. It can be pricery.) The first two days were really hard - I wasn't prepared for it to be this difficult. If you get it, I really do recommend having someone come with you if you can. I came alone and regret it somewhat.

Norma - You're right! I hadn't even thought of that. I WASN'T able to maintain it without Phil the Mean Trainer breathing down my neck. And he was really really expensive. And I resented him and started slipping all the time. And I didn't really trust him. Now my body will be my "trainer" by providing me immediate feedback if I'm eating more than I need. The trainer was a tool. The sleeve is a tool. THANK YOU SOOO MUCH. You said exactly the right thing.

Had my tests at the hospital, getting to bed now. Surgery tomorrow. I got weighed in - and MAN! I lost about 75 pounds seven years ago. 50 of those are back on. I had no idea because I don't have a scale and apparently you can gain A LOT of weight and only go up one or two sizes. UGH. If I wasn't getting sleeved tomorrow - and I had stepped on that scale - I would have definitely been incredibly despondent. I went over all the written material given by Dr. Aceves. It's a real hard thing to wrap my head around eating so little, thinking about each meal - I hate anything that feels like a "diet" and I guess I want to just have the surgery do it for me. But it won't. I don't mind the exercise part or even the healthy eating. But honestly part of me is like "I've eaten right and worked out in the past - and managed to lose weight. If I just have to eat right and work out to make the sleeve work - why am I even getting the sleeve? Especially since in the past, I've managed to work out, eat healthy - and eat quantity because my trainer had me on 6 small meals a day. Much more than is recommended for the sleeve." Sigh. Confused.

How soon after surgery can you start to work out?

July 6th. Aceves. :001_tongue:

You guys are definitely making me feel better! Now I'll have something to do instead of eat.

Does anyone else eat these? food stage.

awesome. thanks for the feedback!

Not to be indelicate...but how long after surgery before it's safe to be intimate again?

I arrive on the 5th, with surgery on the 6th. Are you guys all getting the $8750 price? They haven't said anything about that to me. I just emailed Nina about it.

I'll be there from July 5-9th so I'll miss you guys. I'm excited but a little worried to be going alone. Anyone else going during that time?

I just booked for June 10th!! I'm talking to my high school best friend about doing it with me, too! Otherwise, I'll be solo - which is fine. I'm so excited.