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I'm writing to introduce myself since I just joined this forum... my name is Anna and I'm 24 years old. I'm originally from San Francisco but currently in law school in New Orleans. I'm having my surgery one month from tomorrow with Dr. Rabkin in San Francisco. My husband is in Medical School... we got married on July 5th, 2009.

The reason I'm getting my surgery done in San Francisco is because that's where my parents live, so they will be able to take care of me for a month or so after my surgery, then I'll come back to New Orleans where I'll be working for the summer.

Last week I finished having all my pre-op requirements fulfilled: I had my last round of blood tests and got my Primary Care Physician's Clearance. I'm feeling a little nervous about the surgery but mostly excited for the ultimate good outcomes.

My main motivation for doing this is that I've been overweight/obese my whole life (I'm currently about 227 lbs. and I'm 5'6") and I want to make sure that I don't ever develop any health problems. I'm lucky that I don't have any yet but I want to keep it that way. Also, I've ALWAYS wanted to have kids and from everything I've heard/read, having this surgery will make me healthier to have kids.

Since I'm self-pay (I'm very lucky that my parents offered to cover the cost of my surgery), I don't have to do a pre-op diet or anything... but I'm wondering if anyone has advice about the next month as I get closer and closer to surgery?

Anyways, I look forward to getting to know some of you on here. Nice to *meet* you!

-Anna

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Hey Anna. Congrats on your upcoming surgery date. Most doctors seem to feel that it's important to shrink the liver as much as possible before surgery, and my understanding of that is that low carbs are the key. My doctor requires a two week (I think?) pre-op low carb diet, while others require liquid diets. Some seem to feel that it would take longer than 2-4 weeks to shrink the liver, so they don't require a pre-op diet. Personally, I don't get all the differences in pre-op and post-op diets, but I guess as long as you do what your doctor is comfortable with, you'll be fine.

You've got a good month before surgery, so I would work on that if you want to be proactive before surgery. At least it will give you something to focus on while you wait for the month to pass. Keep us up to date on your progress.

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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