Hi! I just started my journey and I am looking forward to chatting with those of you who are on a similar time-frame as myself. My insurance is Cigna so they require a 3 month supervised diet, psych eval and sign off from my primary (which I am worried about, I haven't seen him in 5 years so what if he wont sign off? should I find someone new? suggestions?)

I am aiming for an early September surgery date, my Dr. said it is doable! I am excited and nervous.

I have learned so much already from reading about everyone else's experience it has really helped to calm me down.

I feel like I am obsessed with this and it's all I can think about. I have probably watched 200 youtube videos so far. LOL

Any tips, tricks or advice is welcome and appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

Where are you having your surgery?

I have BCBS too and mine is 6 months nutritionist. My last one is Sept 9th. Crazy ready to be done! My BMI is 37.5 but I have a few co morbities which will get me covered my Dr said. Come on surgery date!!

Where are you having your surgery?

Waukegan, IL at Vista Hospital 22 Sep

Today is day 5 post-op sleeve surgery (Surgery 9/2). My pain is in my back, about a couple of inches above where my bra rides. I had a hiatal hernia repair also so I'm guessing this is the pain. I have always had a problem using sugar free products, causes a severe pain in stomach. So, I'm eating sugar free jello one time and regular the next. My Dr wants me to use Carnation Instant breakfast. Doing the same with it (sugar free one time/regular next). I find it hard to get all the water in. I'm constantly sipping on water but my directions are not to drink 30 minutes before eating. Thank goodness I'm not hungry but I do still crave everything. Starting tomorrow I'm going to try to walk a lot more. I think that will help with the cravings. I've lost about a pound a day since surgery. I'm still on the liquid diet until 2 weeks post op. Good luck everyone. WE CAN DO THIS!

I am on my last long stretch before being sleeved on September 9 th been on liquid diet since August 24 I am scared and excited.. Already lost 15lbs just on liquid but boy do I miss the taste of food..I don't feel hungry but my brain wants the taste what do I do ???

How are you doing it? I'm having such a hard time sticking to my pre-op liquid diet and I'm extremely worried I won't loose but gain weight because my brain is freaking out and making me hungrier and I'm eat what I'm not supposed to. In the morning I'm ok and having my Protein Shake but then I start getting hungry for real food and I begin to eat. Any suggestions??

Hang in there! Just keep telling yourself that it is only 2 weeks and you can do this for just two weeks or break it down into a day at a time. I just have to make it through today... then repeat gain tomorrow. Are you getting enough Protein? I am using the Premier Protein shakes and that seems to help a lot. The first couple of days are the hardest usually as your body gets used to it. Your head is another matter - no tv because of all the food commercials, no thinking (or obsessing as I believe a more appropriate term for a lot of us) about food and if your thoughts go there, do something active with your mind to keep it busy (crosswords, solitaire, reading an exciting book, reading blogs to see that you are not alone and you CAN DO THIS!).

I keep telling myself that I don't want to contribute in any way shape or form to my doctor having to do an open surgery vs, laproscopic because my liver is too big if I don't follow the liquid diet as this will cause a much more painful surgery and longer recovery time. So I am looking at that as a bigger concern than wanting to eat something I shouldn't for those two weeks.

Today is day 5 post-op sleeve surgery (Surgery 9/2). My pain is in my back, about a couple of inches above where my bra rides. I had a hiatal hernia repair also so I'm guessing this is the pain. I have always had a problem using sugar free products, causes a severe pain in stomach. So, I'm eating sugar free Jello one time and regular the next. My Dr wants me to use Carnation Instant Breakfast. Doing the same with it (sugar free one time/regular next). I find it hard to get all the Water in. I'm constantly sipping on water but my directions are not to drink 30 minutes before eating. Thank goodness I'm not hungry but I do still crave everything. Starting tomorrow I'm going to try to walk a lot more. I think that will help with the cravings. I've lost about a pound a day since surgery. I'm still on the liquid diet until 2 weeks post op. Good luck everyone. WE CAN DO THIS!

Hey! Check with your doctor, but usually, the drinking 30 minutes only applies to when you start solids/mushies/etc -- not for liquid meals! Because you can't "wash out" of your sleeve anything that is already liquid. It's good as a habit, but it should not be impacting you right now when you're not on solids!

Just about 24 hours till surgery! I can't believe I am at the end of the Pre-op diet! I even skipped a shake or two because I just could not drink anything more at that time. The ketosis mouth is the worst! I am doing all that I can to stay positive because I am a big baby when it comes to pain. Praying to God that I will be able to handle anything and all that comes my way. One of my biggest and probably most irrational fears is that I will have a coughing or a sneezing jag after surgery and cause a leak. Goofy I know, but can't get that thought out of my head....I am so ready for it to be Wednesday!

Hey! If you get dry mouth, I really recommend getting and packing some "Biotene spray". It was really helpful to me in the hospital and afterwards. Sips of Water feel really terrible unless you're sitting up, but the Biotene gets rid of dry mouth in the mean time. I combined that with regular application of lip balm every hour or so. Those were the two most important things I brought from home!

I wish I would've known about those two things before my surgery. The dry mouth was the worst in the hospital. I'm 5 days out and feeling pretty good. I'm experimenting with different Protein Shakes. I'm noticing a little hunger today but I didn't notice any hunger the first days. I only had to take pain meds for roughly 2 days. I'm glad it's over! I'm being bad about weighing myself every day right now. I'm sure that I switch to 1x/week in the future but I'm anxious to see some decreasing numbers right now. All in all, I think I'm doing pretty good. I still can't sleep on my stomach though.

I am on my last long stretch before being sleeved on September 9 th been on liquid diet since August 24 I am scared and excited.. Already lost 15lbs just on liquid but boy do I miss the taste of food..I don't feel hungry but my brain wants the taste what do I do ???

I have surgery on the 9th of September too! I am on my pre op diet, but it sound a bit more relaxed than some. Protein shakes 3 or 4 a day, then a lean cusine (or similar) dinner at night. I've done a few salads too. Just back from vacation or a long weekend. Work tomorrow, then surgery on Wednesday. I can't wait. Check in time 8 a.m.

Tomorrow! Surgery tomorrow!

Sept 21 here started liquid diet today

I am on my last long stretch before being sleeved on September 9 th been on liquid diet since August 24 I am scared and excited.. Already lost 15lbs just on liquid but boy do I miss the taste of food..I don't feel hungry but my brain wants the taste what do I do ???

How are you doing it? I'm having such a hard time sticking to my pre-op liquid diet and I'm extremely worried I won't loose but gain weight because my brain is freaking out and making me hungrier and I'm eat what I'm not supposed to. In the morning I'm ok and having my Protein shake but then I start getting hungry for real food and I begin to eat. Any suggestions??

Hang in there! Just keep telling yourself that it is only 2 weeks and you can do this for just two weeks or break it down into a day at a time. I just have to make it through today... then repeat gain tomorrow. Are you getting enough protein? I am using the Premier Protein shakes and that seems to help a lot. The first couple of days are the hardest usually as your body gets used to it. Your head is another matter - no tv because of all the food commercials, no thinking (or obsessing as I believe a more appropriate term for a lot of us) about food and if your thoughts go there, do something active with your mind to keep it busy (crosswords, solitaire, reading an exciting book, reading blogs to see that you are not alone and you CAN DO THIS!).

I keep telling myself that I don't want to contribute in any way shape or form to my doctor having to do an open surgery vs, laproscopic because my liver is too big if I don't follow the liquid diet as this will cause a much more painful surgery and longer recovery time. So I am looking at that as a bigger concern than wanting to eat something I shouldn't for those two weeks.

Thanks!! I'm drinking the Biatric Protein and whey Protiene Isolate, beef or chicken broth, sugsr free Jello, Water and propel water, Gatorade. So far today I've been doing good. Maybe I should go to bed early before I begin to get hungry. Maybe I'll have some chicken broth in a couple of hours and make it my last meal. I appreciate your input.

I am on my last long stretch before being sleeved on September 9 th been on liquid diet since August 24 I am scared and excited.. Already lost 15lbs just on liquid but boy do I miss the taste of food..I don't feel hungry but my brain wants the taste what do I do ???

How are you doing it? I'm having such a hard time sticking to my pre-op liquid diet and I'm extremely worried I won't loose but gain weight because my brain is freaking out and making me hungrier and I'm eat what I'm not supposed to. In the morning I'm ok and having my Protein shake but then I start getting hungry for real food and I begin to eat. Any suggestions??

Hang in there! Just keep telling yourself that it is only 2 weeks and you can do this for just two weeks or break it down into a day at a time. I just have to make it through today... then repeat gain tomorrow. Are you getting enough protein? I am using the Premier Protein shakes and that seems to help a lot. The first couple of days are the hardest usually as your body gets used to it. Your head is another matter - no tv because of all the food commercials, no thinking (or obsessing as I believe a more appropriate term for a lot of us) about food and if your thoughts go there, do something active with your mind to keep it busy (crosswords, solitaire, reading an exciting book, reading blogs to see that you are not alone and you CAN DO THIS!).

I keep telling myself that I don't want to contribute in any way shape or form to my doctor having to do an open surgery vs, laproscopic because my liver is too big if I don't follow the liquid diet as this will cause a much more painful surgery and longer recovery time. So I am looking at that as a bigger concern than wanting to eat something I shouldn't for those two weeks.

Thanks!! I'm drinking the Biatric Protein and Whey Protiene Isolate, beef or chicken broth, sugsr free Jello, Water and propel water, Gatorade. So far today I've been doing good. Maybe I should go to bed early before I begin to get hungry. Maybe I'll have some chicken broth in a couple of hours and make it my last meal. I appreciate your input.

sorry for the typos. I'm texting in a hurry.

Good luck