It's starting to really hit me...today I started my preop diet which means I am exactly 14 days away from surgery which is on June 23, 2015! I am excited but I also feel my nerves kicking in as well. My mind and emotions are all over the place!! I hope this will get better because this will be a long 14 days if I don't get a hold of mysel!! Does anyone else understand how I'm feeling? Is this normal? How did you deal with your emotions as your surgery date got closer?

I don't envy any of you working on your pre-op diets. I remember how miserable mine was. The headaches... the fatigue.... just feeling like I was starving all the time. It really does get SO MUCH better eventually, but you are in for a rough month or two. Hang in there and have patience.

The only thing that got me through preop diet was just continually thinking 'it's only two weeks!' The preop diet TRULY is a test of strength and endurance, and you all can do it. I was sleeved last week, and let me tell you the other side feels so weird. The pre-op diet really prepares your mind and body for this, then post-op we get to build ourselves back up by slowly reintroducing our body to proper nutrition.

The headaches and lack of focus and dizziness were all present for me preop, but none are post op! You can do it!

Hi LadyinBlue,

It's day 8 of my 10 day pre-op liquid diet. Surgery is this Thursday morning! Yikes!!

It's been a real trip. I'm on one of the strict diets -- liquids only!! -- and I've followed it to the letter. I've been consuming about 1000 calories and getting in a minimum of 83g Protein every day.

Day 2 was the hardest. My body was saying "WTF??" and I had a wicked headache. Things got much better on Day 4 and by Day 5, I felt like I was dialed in.

That's not to say it's easy. My son is eating pizza at this very moment (and chewing loudly! ) and, needless to say, I'm hungry. I've been more cranky than usual, and I've had a few moments of "What the hell am I doing?" but I keep my eyes on the prize. Last week I told my surgeon that my liver would be such a perfect specimen on operation day that he'd want to take a photo and submit it with his next academic article!

Being on this board helps ... people are incredibly kind, helpful, and affirming. Also, keep reminding yourself of the reasons you're doing this. The negative tapes that are playing in your head probably aren't really yours: they're society's tapes telling us that we shouldn't need to do this. Screw 'em. We've got one life to live, baby! Best of luck to you!!!!

I am on a very similar schedule & I understand exactly what you are saying. I started my pre-op on the 8 with my surgery scheduled for 6 /22. Besides making sure I am eating the right things I keep second guessing myself. I know that I have battled this all my life and have tried everything else. I just want to get through the surgery and on with my life. I am also struggling with who I want to tell.

@@Lizzie1957, regarding the issue of who you want to tell -- hope this isn't off-topic.

In the last 8 months I'd only told 3 people (dad, son, and best friend). Today I told two more because they had been relying on me to drive them to the doctor, and I had to explain that next week I won't be able to drive. It was weird to finally say it, and part of me felt like I didn't want to give up my private info. In this case, though, it was necessary. They are good friends and I think they'll be supportive going forward, and hopefully won't tell too many other people.

Well, 1 week from today a was scheduled for surgery so I could say I'm 1/2 way there. Then I get a phone call pushing my surgery to Tuesday. Trying to keep a positive outlook but daggone it.

Hang in there! I'm slated for 6/22, and I'm sorry you were bumped a day.

I thought I'd be less hungry after one pre-op week but not the case. The countdown continues! ????