I've been seeing a lot of people who now have December surgery dates, just wanted to say HI, and give us a place to talk while we wait (and count down the days) for our surgeries.

My surgery is on December 9, 2011;

My doctor is Justin Braverman from the N.E.W. Program in Newport Beach, CA;

I start my pre-op liquid diet on November 25th;

And will be sleeved at Tri-city hospital in Hawaiian Gardens, CA.

What about everyone else?

I was sleeved 12/12 and yesterday went to family Christmas party. I received overwhelming support! My family complimented my being brave enough to take on this committment. I had let everyone know via email 2 days after my surgery so of course everyboday wanted to talk about it. Everyone thinks it must be hard to be on liquids dyring holiday parties, but truth is non of it was tempting in the least. I would be sadder if i were missing out on my horse activities during nice summer weather.

I was sleeved on the 14th. I had said before that my dr needed to repair a fundiplication surgery from 1999 that had undone itself (was for severe gerd) My preop upper gi showed about 1/3rd of my stomach above my diaphragm in my chest cavity. So my dr would fix that first for one hour and then my sleeve would be 1/2 hour. Turned out after he got in te the upper stomach was actually lodged between my lungs resting on my heart. So he had to repair that firtst which took 2 hours instead of one and then he did the sleeve.

As you know with any laparoscopy carbon monoxide is pumped into you to expand and most of them are 30-45 min, but I had it for 2 1/2 hours which had my shoulders in such bad pain until the next night! Thank God if i hadn't wanted o be sleeved, would have never known it until something drastic happened! I feel so blessed or that!

As for my sleeve never had any pain, no nausea, no cramping, of course am passing a little gas. Still no pain, and keeping all liquids down.a. Have drain in until i asee the dr on Thursday.

The only problem I am having is alot of coughing especially when I try to talk. Has anyone experienced that?

Otherwise everthing is great and I am on the loser's bench!

Janet

Good luck Rainsong and all sleevers of this week!

SleeveDreamer, we are sleeve sisters! I leave for the hospital in less than three hours. I can't sleep. I'll sleep plenty when I get to the hospital. I've been working like a mad woman lately, 11/13 days. I'm a RN, plus I've had multiple abdominal surgeries, so I have some idea of what is coming. I was very melancholy yesterday. I felt like I was leaving a large part of myself behind, saying goodbye. I know it is an unhealthy part of myself, but it kept me going for decades. I'm going to have to face my internal demons on my own now. It scares me. Still, I'm going forward. I know it is just preop jitters. I will come out of this with a tool to be the person I've longed to be. I'm going to the hospital to free the healthy, thin woman that lives hidden inside me. It will be good to see her again.

Hunidew how are you doing my sleeve sister?

wow ...only 7 more days and I get a spot on the losers bench!!!

Good luck Rainsong and all sleevers of this week!

Thank you so much!!

The gas pain was pretty bad for me. It has worked it's way out... except when I take a deep breath I still feel it on my shoulder. Always have to remind ourselves that it does get better!

I have had quite a sore throat /cough since the surgery. I am considered "hard to intubate" but I think they must have done something else to leave me with the cough.

Tomorrow is one week since my surgery so i am feeling very optimistic. I am looking forward to getting more strength back and returning to "normal" though. I am definately losing the weight and always just keep visualizing hitting those big milestones - of losing 50, 100 pounds it makes some of the small issues easier to deal with.

I'm not going to let this coughing bring me down so I will call dr in the morning!

I'm not going to let this coughing bring me down so I will call dr in the morning!

I'm so glad that they caught your stomach issue BEFORE it became a major problem. You seemed to come through like a trouper. I STILL have gas problems.....not all the time so it's more so annoying.

I would kill for a good shoulder massage right now! LOL!

Hey Rain!!! We're sleeve sisters!!!!.. Today is the day!! My surgery is at 1:30 pm.. Yeah, I should be resting.. but.. I had a lot to finish up!!! Blessings and a smooth, speedy recovery to you and our other sleeve family!!

Good luck, Favoredone and Rainsong,,you both are in my prayers!!!

Favoredone and Rainsong- Happy surgery day! I will be thinking about you.

Thanks so much guys!!! This is it!!! I'm so excited!!!!

Good luck girls! You will do amazing!