Surgery Thursday. Originally scheduled for last week but we bumped it because I had a sinus infection. So I am "basically" on week four of my liquid diet. And my basically I mean, the day we bumped it I ATE food. Real food..and it was good. I've lost 17 lbs since starting the liquid diet, I expect if they weight me Thursday I will have lost another pound at least.

I hit a wierd place last week, having second thoughts and generally feeling rebellious. I LOVE FOOD. I love to eat, these are things we all probably have in common. I was getting freaked out about what it will be like to not "have" food as the thing...you know, the THING. The thing you do when you are bored, or stressed or want to endulge yourself. I have NO DOUBTS that this is the right thing for me to do...I just have some fear and I bet I'm going to do some grieving. But I've been through harder things. I am anxious about the unknown, how I'll feel, how much pain etc. I am totally stressed about PB's, Sliming all this stuff you guys talk about...so wigged out by all of that. I am afraid of what I don't know...what could happen that I won't be able to prepare for. But I'm excited about losing the weight, feeling better about myself..feeling healthy.

Any last minute tips for immediately post op? Must have items? I've got a body pillow, heating pad, gas x strips (which doesn't make sense to me since they put the gas in my body cavity...not in my intestines...?) and a stool softener. What else do I need?

Thanks ya'll!

PI just had surgery yesterday and in that last week I was also thinking about that THING! What helped me was thinking about the other THINGS that I want now but cannot have. As a healthier me - maybe my THING will be hiking! Or, who am I kidding, SHOPPING! Maybe that could be our new thing?! Focus on what things you'll be able to do to replace the food and the eating! That's what made me so so so sure that I could do this!

It sounds like you have everything that you need. I brought a Water bottle for the car - that was nice. Also, I'm so glad my mom was there because although I thought I knew all of the post op care info - there was even more - and I was out of it! So make sure whoever is taking you is prepared to collect some additional information.

I'm sure you'll do fine :-)

Lionbird - I feel ya! I'm having surgery on Monday, and I've also been through the tidal wave of feelings. And with the pre-op diet, it's beyond difficult not being able to eat to DEAL with these feelings!

Lets face it......food has been our best friend; our confidant....our "go to" source of comfort when we're down, sad/depressed, happy.....all feelings are dealt with by eating. Our love of food goes deeper than just it tasting good. And there will be (already is) a grieving for the loss.

When I start to freak out about "what am I going to do when I want to absolutely shove it in with both hands", I think about all of the other things I will be able to do. Number one being....feeling comfortable in my own skin. As much as I know that nothing can possibly taste as good as that will feel, there will still be that empty void that I will have to find another way to fill. My plan for this is to get outside and walk, hike...just about anything physical to get me out of myself. And I will lean on the support groups at my doctor's office, etc.

Speaking of pre-op diets... My doctor's isn't quite as stringent as some that I read here. It's two weeks on 1200 calories; very low fat. The last two days are full liquids. Yesterday I had to fly up to see a client (I'm typing from my hotel), which is something I never do. I was already thinking about wine on the plane, going to some great restaurants, bakeries.....everything with this getaway, I was thinking about eating venues. Then I was like....oh sh-t, this isn't going to be any fun, I can't EAT! How sad is that?! Anyway, the plane was delayed, I got lost from the airport to the hotel, and by the time I got to my room it was 8:30pm. Hadn't eaten since 11am, and ordered room service. Ate ALL the chicken, potatoes, and even some bread. I guess I had some restraint, because I didn't eat ALL of the bread. I'll try & redeem myself today. I did pack some ready made Protein drinks, and I'll just have to make sure that I don't get so ravenous that I can't control myself.

Lionbird, please let us know how you're doing after your surgery. There are a whole lot of people on this sight who completely understand what you're going through. We didn't wake up one day like this. It's been a life progression, but the great news is that we're all doing something about it.

I wish you ALL the best on Thursday.