Yep, just one week away.

I'm not gonna lie ... It doesn't feel real to me.

I've got pretty constant anxiety but other than that everything feels pretty surreal. How is/did everyone else handle the week leading up to surgery?

Since you only have a week to go, I would recommend three things.

1. Take a good before photograph of yourself, so that you have something to compare to after surgery. Many times we are blind to our obesity. We do not see ourselves. Therefore when the weight begins to drop off rather dramatically, we question if this is really happening. Photographs are a good visualization of our success. Many people carry a before and after photo with them, just to remind themselves of their success.
2. Walk 30 minutes each day, every day until surgery (or equivalent exercise). Walking helps the recovery process go smoothly and minimized the pain levels from surgery.
3. Wean yourself from caffeine and carbonated beverages now. After I gave up my 6 diet coke a day habit, I suffered from a week of severe withdrawal syndrome consisting of severe headaches and body aches. I was miserable. You don't want to combine the effects of caffeine withdrawal with the effects of surgery.

I’ve actually been walking 2-3 hours a day for the past several months to try and cope with my anxiety. Not all at once but like I’ll go out several times a day for 20-30 mins. (Overkill much? ?) I’m probably going to go stir crazy post op when I’m actually unable to walk that much for awhile and that concerns me a bit.

I don’t drink carbonated beverages but I am worried about hydration. How does one actually manage to consume 64 oz of water a day when you have such a tiny stomach? That just seems so impossible to me at this point but I know others have done it so obviously I’m going to have to learn as well.

I am so afraid of screwing something up in this last week. I’ve done everything the doctors and insurance have required up to this point and I’m just worried that somehow I’ll blow it.

I have avoided the before photo even tho I known it’s a good idea. I don’t want to know what I really look like right now. I’m going to try to make myself do it tho because what you said makes perfect sense. I may not want it now but having something to look back on will be good for me. Thank you!

You can do it. Believe in yourself and you will do it.

I’ve actually been walking 2-3 hours a day for the past several months to try and cope with my anxiety. Not all at once but like I’ll go out several times a day for 20-30 mins. (Overkill much? ?) I’m probably going to go stir crazy post op when I’m actually unable to walk that much for awhile and that concerns me a bit.

When I returned from the recovery room, I began walking every two hours around the clock. After the 2nd or 3rd time I walked (normally 5 lapses around the halls), I began to increase this to 15 lapses (around a mile). One of the nurses came in and scolded me. She said I was walking too much and that when the anesthesia wore off, I would be a lot of pain because I was walking too much. So I cut my walks back down to 5 lapses. Well I think the anesthesia wore off around 2 A.M. but I couldn't tell for sure because I did not experience any significant increase in pain levels. I also remember when the nurses came in the following morning to administer pain medicine, I declined the pain meds and the nurse gave me an ugly scowl.

I don’t drink carbonated beverages but I am worried about hydration. How does one actually manage to consume 64 oz of Water a day when you have such a tiny stomach? That just seems so impossible to me at this point but I know others have done it so obviously I’m going to have to learn as well.

It is common for your taste buds to change after surgery. Be willing to experiment. After surgery, my taste buds changed dramatically. Even water changed. In the hospital it tasted excessively chlorinated (like swimming pool water) and I could not drink it. So I experimented. Sugar free popsicles became my best friend. Some individuals find hot or cold can help with fluids. For me, I found that I could tolerate flavored water. So I began using Crystal Light. I also found a new drink Bai which I liked cold. In the winter, I found that I tolerate hot drinks such as piping hot cocoa. But you have to use the "No Sugar Added" variety. Also fine English teas were very good.

The fluid requirement is met by a combination. It is not only the water that you drink each day. But also the water you drink when you take your vitamins and medicine. It is the milk you drink. It is the fluids content of the protein shakes. It is the water component of the soups you take. It is met by flavored water such as Crystal Light. It is met by sugar free popsicles. It is met by tea and decaf coffee. It is a combination of all the fluids that you consume during the day.

I have avoided the before photo even tho I known it’s a good idea. I don’t want to know what I really look like right now. I’m going to try to make myself do it tho because what you said makes perfect sense. I may not want it now but having something to look back on will be good for me. Thank you!

It is pretty important so please make the time to take a before photo.

James, you are a legend! Thank you so much for all the advice. Seriously.

Just wanted to say - good luck on your surgery! May your recovery be swift and uncomplicated.

good luck, and I hope you have a speedy recovery!!!

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I think today is your day - it is 26th here in New Zealand, so 25th in the USA. I will be thinking of you. Xxxx

I'm home now! I got my days confused ... I was actually done on the 24th, not the 25th. The weirdest thing ... I gained weight over the weekend? I'm heavier now than I was on surgery day?! But that's gotta be temporary.

I feel like such a weenie compared to James. I could NOT do nearly the amount of walking I thought I was going to but I'm getting better about it. My pain was bad that first day. They had to actually go back in though because they thought I had a leak or a clot. I didn't but better safe than sorry. Day two was easier. Its now day 3 and I'm feeling much better. I think by tomorrow I'll actually start feeling more like myself again.

Lovely to have you back!