Hi I am having my sleeve next Wednesday and my doc has me on a preop diet of smaller portions of things like cottage cheese, chicken and corn... I didn't realize how important it was until I read some of the articles. I haven't been very good about it.. Am I screwed!?! Also one of my family members googled my dr and it looks like my doc has had a few people make bad comments! When I researched her before and I had some feedback from a nutrition class that she was a good surgeon... Does anyone have any knowledge of dr Valerie Halpin from Oregon?

Good luck tomorrow!! I did two weeks and followed it to a t, but that was me. I had a lady that had here surgery with Valerie the same day and she didn't follow the diet at all. She came through it just fine, but from my understanding the diet accomplishes two things. It shrinks your liver so they can get at your stomach easier, and it also gets you set for the lower calorie intake after the surgery....so you aren't trying to eat the same portions. Either way, you should be fine....its just better if you do follow the diet. LIke I said in the message, if you have any questions on anything, no matter how silly or gross you think it maybe, feel free. I felt weird about all those questions at first....but everyone has them. Be more than happy to tell you my experiences! Again, good luck tomorrow...everything will be fine and you'll!!

Hello,

I am not yet sleeved and seeing Dr. Halpin. How was the no catheter? Was one night in the hospital enough for you? Did you have any complications?

Best,

Sannah

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Hi there!

The no catheter was great! I hate those things.. It's such a short surgery and your up and around so quick after... However if you need one they will give it to you! One night was fine for me... No complications at all and no side effects... I am 11 days post op and did the 5k race for the cure yesterday! Ha! Dr Halpin did a great job! When are you being sleeved?

Hi there!

The no catheter was great! I hate those things.. It's such a short surgery and your up and around so quick after... However if you need one they will give it to you! One night was fine for me... No complications at all and no side effects... I am 11 days post op and did the 5k race for the cure yesterday! Ha! Dr Halpin did a great job! When are you being sleeved?

Hello!!

Good Morning!! Thanks for the reply!! Congrata on your sleeve and success!! Did the 5k at Race for the Cure!!! That is great!! So nice to hear!! Mind if I ask a few more questions?

How long was the procedure?

What stage of food are you in now?

Any specific challenges since surgery?

Did you experiece any nausea post op?

October 1st will be my last weigh in with the clinic. My insurance requires a six month medically supervised weightless period. The clinic said I could have surgery in November!! So, my fingers are crossed!!

Pardon my typos. Using the iPhone and I have a miserable case of carpel tunnel.

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No problem ask as many questions as you want!! I did! Ha!

My procedure lasted 50 minutes! She's that good! And I followed the preop diet to shrink my liver so it makes for an easier surgery

I started purée foods yesterday...

No nausea at all thank god!!

Main challenge is just getting to know my new stomach and slowing down eating/drinking.... Feelings of being to so fulll after eating such a small amount has been a little weird.... Social events have been a little challenging because everything revolves around food.... Having to explain my surgery to friends/ family who are ignorant and opinionated was an exhausting and irritating challenge!! Although I have gotten to the point that I don't give a crap what anybody thinks!! I did it for me!

So are you from Oregon? You should join my new Oregon sleevers group!!

Ps..... I've lost 20 pounds!!! Yippee!

No problem ask as many questions as you want!! I did! Ha!

My procedure lasted 50 minutes! She's that good! And I followed the preop diet to shrink my liver so it makes for an easier surgery

I started purée foods yesterday...

No nausea at all thank god!!

Main challenge is just getting to know my new stomach and slowing down eating/drinking.... Feelings of being to so fulll after eating such a small amount has been a little weird.... Social events have been a little challenging because everything revolves around food.... Having to explain my surgery to friends/ family who are ignorant and opinionated was an exhausting and irritating challenge!! Although I have gotten to the point that I don't give a crap what anybody thinks!! I did it for me!

So are you from Oregon? You should join my new Oregon sleevers group!!

Ps..... I've lost 20 pounds!!! Yippee!

What Oregon sleevers group are you referring to? I would like to join, I am in Portland.

No problem ask as many questions as you want!! I did! Ha!

My procedure lasted 50 minutes! She's that good! And I followed the preop diet to shrink my liver so it makes for an easier surgery

I started purée foods yesterday...

No nausea at all thank god!!

Main challenge is just getting to know my new stomach and slowing down eating/drinking.... Feelings of being to so fulll after eating such a small amount has been a little weird.... Social events have been a little challenging because everything revolves around food.... Having to explain my surgery to friends/ family who are ignorant and opinionated was an exhausting and irritating challenge!! Although I have gotten to the point that I don't give a crap what anybody thinks!! I did it for me!

So are you from Oregon? You should join my new Oregon sleevers group!!

Ps..... I've lost 20 pounds!!! Yippee!

Congrats on your 20lbs!!! So nice!!!

Thanks for the heads up on the challenges, gives me something to think about and how to prepare. I hear you about social engagements being food centered; this will be interesting.

I was born and raised in Portland! Recently purchased a house in Milwaukie/Oak Grove are and regretting this. I am a Portland girl and the burbs are not so wonderful!!!

Have you been to the support groups at Legacy? I went and it was mostly bypass people and generally speaking they were older. It was okay, for me this site is more helpful.

Sounds like your surgery was a great experience!!!

Where do I find the Oregon group? I would love to join!!!

Best,

Sannah

What Oregon sleevers group are you referring to? I would like to join, I am in Portland.

Hey Frza,

I was curious too. I figured it out and sent you an invite. Incase it does not work I went to Salpals profile and under Social Groups was the Oregon Group, which I clicked and then added myself.

Best,

Sannah

Thanks Sannah!

Hi there!

The no catheter was great! I hate those things.. It's such a short surgery and your up and around so quick after... However if you need one they will give it to you! One night was fine for me... No complications at all and no side effects... I am 11 days post op and did the 5k race for the cure yesterday! Ha! Dr Halpin did a great job! When are you being sleeved?

Awesome Awesome Awesome!! When I had mine I expected a lot of pain and such....but it really wasn't that bad. Dr Halpin was awesome!!!

Thanks Sannah!

No problem! Did it work?

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Awesome Awesome Awesome!! When I had mine I expected a lot of pain and such....but it really wasn't that bad. Dr Halpin was awesome!!!

How far out are you?

I think it's easy to get caught up and think about what could go wrong with this surgery. You three have shown me that I may not die from surgery.

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