I was going to call this Break On Through To The Other Side (thank you Doors). But I figured I'd get sick of it after a while. I'm going to use this space to keep track on the 2 week march toward surgery and then to keep track of the recovery and progress. That way I can keep it all together and if I just do one thread, it's all in one place without clogging up the Blog Area. I'm sure it's gonna be excruciatingly boring to everyone--me included! I'm a list and minutia kinda gal. I like tracking and counting--although I can be equally lax about crap. So I stop just short of OCD town (not that there's anything wrong with that).

My official 2 week liquid diet starts tomorrow. I decided to jump on it today because Sunday feels like a great place to start and because it's hard to do better than yesterday as my last food day before surgery. I'm a Texan, born and raised, and yesterday we had a fairwell to my ass and thighs via a Texas BBQ tour through Houston and Tomball. I ate so much brisket, sausage and ribs, I can honestly claim to be over it. Growing up in a BBQ family, slow smoked meats is almost in my blood. So it was only natural that I would choose that as the last rights.

I'm having RNY on February 20th and as I understand it, moist (fatty) brisket might not be my friend post surgery. Supposedly high fat foods (which moist brisket is) might cause a sort of "dumping" in the poop department. So I figure my future, once healed, might only include lean cuts of brisket and smoked meats. It's a choice I will readily make to lose weight and get my health back.

So the morning Day 1 hasn't been very difficult--a little hunger and growly tummy, but nothing that makes me feel anxiety. Protein drinks on board and this afternoon will shop for SF popsicles, SF jello and bone broth. I think I'll stick to packaged bone broth so I can get the actual nutritional information from a certified source. There's no real way for me to tell how many calories and carbs are in the bone broth I make here at home.

My Pre-Op Plan includes: 80-100g of protein; low fat; 60g carbs and somewhere around 1000cals per day.

4-5 Protein Drinks containing a minimum of 15g of protein per serving. They must be low fat and low sugar and can't contain over 4g of sugar per serving. I can have clear low sodium broths, sugar free drinks, sugar free jello and sugar free clear popsicles (no fudgsicles or ice cream based pops).

I will do this from now until February 20th.

I'm pretty sure I will be doing plenty of the following:

Edited February 4, 20188 yr by FluffyChix

@Sosewsue61 You look absolutely beautiful and so confident!!! Did you feel like you were on top of the world? I've never been on a cruise before, but gosh that looks and sounds like such fun. Love the piccy of the dining room and the beach too! The food sounds divine! I don't know whether to say you are lucky or unfortunate that you're sleeved and don't have to worry about dumping like you would with RNY. But I suspect you realize what a slippery slope that represents. ((hugs)) Good for you for exercising temperance in your serving sizes and for not gaining while on vaca!!! Thanks for sharing it with us! Hope you'll hang around a while, now that you're back!!

21 hours ago, Apple203 said:

@FluffyChix I really can't believe that your two weeks are almost up -- seems like you just started!! How excited are you at this point?

I meant to tell you, I DID try banana+coffee, but with chocolate shake as base and espresso powder as coffee. And some spinach, just because. Its now my favorite shake!

I would be beyond excited but I have this nagging doubt that it's really gonna happen. I told the surgeon this week that I hoped it would not end up with me waking up and you saying, "Psyched! We didn't really remove anything..." And she smiled, reassured me, and told me that the plan is to do RNY and if anything would prevent that, then to do VSG. I said, ok. And asked if it was ok to get excited. She said it's ok. LOL. So yes, I'm beyond excited.

Your shake sounds super duper! What did you use for the banana? I swear the combination of banana and coffee, or chocolate, banana and coffee have been sustaining me for the past few days! The coffee really cuts down on the sweetness. And of course, I seriously love frozen spinach blended into my drinks!

I use bananas for the banana element I, too, feel like someone is going to pull the rug out from under me and there will be no surgery after all of this buildup -- its nerve wracking. Was at Costco yesterday with husband and it really hit home for me that my pre-op diet starts in a week and the way we shop and eat is really going to change.

Day 14 In the bag baybeeee! Boomshackalacka!!! (T minus 2 and counting!)

Yesterday was a super duper day! We spent part of it with our niece and great niece where she cheered at a school basketball tournament. Then we took B to lunch while G continued to cheer at another game. I was immensely proud of my restraint. We went to a BBQ joint where they have this "cafeteria style" ordering and it looked sooooooo meatalicious!!! But I got through it and ordered my cup of decaff and a tall glass of ice and we sat down. While they ate, I poured the decaf onto the ice and followed with my protein drink. As they ate, I sipped. And we had a lovely opportunity to visit and catch up! And my focus wasn't on food for once. What an eye-opener!!!

After lunch we kissed them goodbye and then went Targeting and HEBing. I got some last minute stuff and a pair of cheap-ass disposable house slippers to wear at the hospital, and laid in a supply of food for Mr. F. and Cakki my sissy who is coming to take care of me for a couple of days. That way, when I'm ready to go home, I will just toss them in their trash and no MRSA or C-diff will come home with me (or at least, I cut that risk down considerably).

I also ordered liquid sugar free acetaminophen (McKesson Geri-Care) and Gas-X strips online at Amazon. Thank you Amazon Prime. I you. Can you believe it's so difficult to get sugar free tylenol or Gas X strips in a brick n mortar?

By the time I finished everything I was seriously pooped and in big time Billy Badass pain, so threw Mr. F a port wine cheeseball and pork rind snack, made a cup of Herb Ox Beef Bouillon and sat in my chair. It was leftovers for the boy, and protein broth for me with jello and a SF Tropical Popsicle back. Good times. Tomball on a Saturday night!

Today I'm making a pork roast and a grilled ribeye with asparagus and a mixed salad with blue cheese dressing as his "proverbial" last meal. Tomorrow will be more leftovers and he and Cakki will have pork roast leftover for the week. Today I'm concentrating on getting the house straightened and clothes washed, folded and put away. Then tomorrow I will pack and relax! I'm not planning on working tomorrow at all! Say a prayer that really works out.

Here's Day 14 Food Log. (Using the Clear PP really brought the cals down. )

Edited February 18, 20188 yr by FluffyChix

20 minutes ago, Apple203 said:

I use bananas for the banana element I, too, feel like someone is going to pull the rug out from under me and there will be no surgery after all of this buildup -- its nerve wracking. Was at costco yesterday with husband and it really hit home for me that my pre-op diet starts in a week and the way we shop and eat is really going to change.

OMG. That is such a huge realization!!! ((hugs)) I was 228.6 before the last 4 days leading up to my pre-op diet. I managed through cunning and forethought to eat my way from 228.6 up to 234 as of the morning of the 1st day of POLiquid. How crazy right? It's the very thing I have posted for people to not do. And yet, I did it. And enjoyed every minute of it. Every day was a food funeral! But seriously...looking back, I was shocked at how much less I ate! I couldn't fit in all the meals or eat the complete meal even. We had leftovers for Mr. F! I would just encourage you to eat what you find the most and bestest! I went with cheap fatty crap and Texas BBQ, which is not cheap, lol. If I coulda found an RC Cola and a Moon Pie, I probably woulda had a couple of those too! One week is gonna be here SO dang fast girl!!!!

I don't know how to get us past that waiting for the other shoe to drop part. It's the pessimist in me, I suppose? But I also think we read the horror stories here on the board and see that it can be a reality so we're trying to mitigate potential damages as a coping mechanism perhaps? Dunno. ((hugs)) You are gonna be a rock star through this!

Hey! Why not make your own surgery thread story here so we can all come cheer you day by day? It's really been helpful to me, although it must be like watching attention seeking paint dry to everyone else!! I'd come cheer you on!!!

Edited February 18, 20188 yr by FluffyChix

So is Cakki Chix older or younger? Tell Mr F he's not forgotten, we all appreciate him for being loving and understanding of our Ms Fluffy. Few are called and even fewer step up to the plate at this time. Kudos to you Mr F.

Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

haha. Cakki is older. Nanny is older. I'm youngest.

So the youngest pullet in your flock is the cutest, got it. Smooth out your feathers, sink back on your velvet- coated perch and watch the world turn on its axis. You'll fly straight and true into the hospital, afterwards you'll soar like an eagle, land on the Losers Bench & Inspire Apple and me, we wanna join you soon.

Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

Thanks hon and I believe you all will!

Do you have any news on your review or you're still waiting for the Tuesday review board to meet?

Still waiting, I'm feeling discouraged, wrote in a few posts, started a thread or 2. Hey i wrote in one the other day about pulled pork, I've always had trouble with it although brisket and the rest go Just fine. She b******d me out, said she only wanted to hear from Post Surgery people, like my feet stink or somethin. Bet I never darken her virtual door, it did hurt my feelings. Creek Imp stuck up for me, said I was 72 and only trying to help. Geesh some people!

Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

Fluff, aw shucks, foot shuffle thanks! I am rooting for you big time chickadee. I will keep close tabs on you.

This humorous pic was taken on Curacuo JUST FOR YOU! The naked chicken restaurant.

2 minutes ago, kakatlady612 said:

Still waiting, I'm feeling discouraged, wrote in a few posts, started a thread or 2. Hey i wrote in one the other day about pulled pork, I've always had trouble with it although brisket and the rest go Just fine. She b******d me out, said she only wanted to hear from Post Surgery people, like my feet stink or somethin. Bet I never darken her virtual door, it did hurt my feelings. Creek Imp stuck up for me, said I was 72 and only trying to help. Geesh some people!

Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

I'm so sorry you're going through this. It's the PITS! And makes you feel so helpless. Just glom onto faith and hold fast! And we'll continue to pray like the devil's after us!!!

Yes, well I can't comment on that thread or that poster without violating TOC. I had to ask myself these 3 critical questions when I read it:

1. Does what is about to be said now, need to be said?

2. Does what is said need to be said right now?

3. Does what is said need to be said by you?

And it failed to pass. So I sat on my hands. But needless to say--her picture speaks loudly. Isn't a picture worth a 1000 words? I think it is! What I don't get is that we were all fatties. I'm pretty sure most of us were bullied and ridiculed either repetitively or at some point in our lives. Why on earth would someone who has managed to escape the bonds of their morbid obesity act like a mean girl skinny bi*ch? I just don't get it. I would think someone like that has perhaps a serious personality disorder.

1 minute ago, Sosewsue61 said:

Fluff, aw shucks, foot shuffle thanks! I am rooting for you big time chickadee. I will keep close tabs on you.

This humorous pic was taken on Curacuo JUST FOR YOU! The naked chicken restaurant.

Uncle Henry!!!!! Cover yourself for God's sake!!! Thanks for thinking of me sweetie!!! And um, I come from a long line of chickens that really like being nekkidy! hehehehe! LOVE this piccy and love that you thought of me!!! ((hugs)) (you know a sparkle heart is much bigger than a regular one, right?)

Wishing you the very best of luck with your surgery. You have taken a huge amount of time on your posts and I’m sure so many people will benefit from your food ideas and motivation. Will be thinking of you

Day 15 - Pre-op Liquid Diet Done! In the can!!! Woot!! (T minus 1 and counting)

I can't believe this day is finally here. Everything feels pretty surreal, but I'm oddly calm. This surgery has been about 2 years in the making from the time my oncologist first mentioned WLS to me. I was dead set against it at first, but like with any addict, I had to hit rock bottom in order to accept that it was time for a change and to permanently break up with crap food and eating huge volume. I've been on a weight loss mission since May of 2017 and as of this morning, I'm still down to 222.4lbs--a loss of 64.6lbs pre-surgery.

I'm not gonna lie. I'm fairly scared. But I'll do fine and get through it and onward through the fog to the losers' bench. I will be grateful to get there! Like with any trip, I'm impatient to reach the destination. Fu*k the journey. LOL. But, I'm mostly impatient to enjoy food again. LOL. Real food. I'm craving my eggs, spinach and mushroom breakfast like crazy! And turkey sausage crumbles. ha! IKR? All I can think about is a perfect 6 minute - 30 second soft boiled eggs with a 1/2tsp of KG unsalted butter and a steamed asparagus soldier. Crazy right? Yeah, still a little food obsessed.

I wasn't supposed to do a bowel prep, but it's been about 4 days since my last visit to the throne. I compromised and instead of my beloved Cherry flavored Mag Citrate sparkling bottle, I took 3/4 dose of MOM. Mission accomplished. Now I'm going to only have full liquids for the remainder of the day. I can have clear liquids up until about 5am in the morning. Weird right? We're part of a "new" program testing outcomes of not limiting fluid until 2hours prior to surgery.

Surgery is supposed to start loosely between 7-9am tomorrow, but we have to be there at 5:30am. That means we have to leave here at 4:30am. Which means I have to get up to get ready at 3:30am! Holy fu*k! So, yeah. If you happen to think of me tomorrow, please say a prayer or two that won't be a weenie baby and will finish with flying colors!

I got a lot done yesterday:

Laundry done, folded, put away - Done!

Pork roast and veggies/salads for Mr. F.'s dinner the next 2-3 nights -Done!

Breakfasts and lunches accounted for him - Done!

House cleaned and ready for post-op and Cakkie - Done!

Work Project Part 1 - Done!

Billing in case I buy the farm during surgery - Done!

And all I have left to do is:

Pack

Make fresh sf jello and homemade protein popsicles

Shave legs

Paint toenails happy orange

Laze around looking lovely and keeping my feet elevated

I'm thinking there will be a lot of time spent hangin' round here today! LOL.

Day 15 Food Log

Edited February 19, 20188 yr by FluffyChix