Hello! Newbie here!

I received my insurance approval a week ago. My pre-op appointment is on the 21st and I'm scheduled for surgery on Nov 6th. I have read hours upon hours of people's experience. I have devoured this site and others as well. I want to believe that I'm mentally ready for what's to come, but the reality is that I won't know if I am until I'm fully into the process.

Thanks to all of your contributions to this site, I have a clear picture of the many possibilities. The gas pain, the incision sites, the stalls, the liquid stage, the emotional roller coasters... the list goes on and on. I'm praying for the best, but preparing myself for anything. All I hope is that I won't regret it. I've read enough to know that there is a regret phase that most go through. I just hope I don't stay there! LOL

I am 5'5 with a BMI of 34. I tend to fluctuate between 200-210 for the last 7 years and at most have never weighed past 213. I am a Type 2 diabetic. My A1C climbed to 7.4. My body responded well to a low dose of metformin so after 3 months I'm at 6.6. I DO NOT want to travel down the road of medication and I also want to do away with fatty liver. My stomach looks as if I'm 8 months pregnant, because my weight is mainly distributed towards my stomach. I've slowly stopped living life to the fullest. I am holding on to the thought that the gastric sleeve surgery will help me move towards a healthier self.

I look forward to the support from those who are walking this journey.

Please share the greatest and most important thing to keep in mind while going through the journey.

@Mandogetsleeved Of course you can be the favorite, as long as I get a wardrobe too!

It's suppose to be for 14 days, but the surgeon let me start off on the weekend which means I do it for 13 days. I'm looking forward to tomorrow (day three), since today was not the best. To some extend, I wish that I had never learned that not all surgeons require the preop diet, because it leaves in question its necessity. Is it really to shrink the liver or to help ease you in to the life style change? Or both? You only had to do 1 week?! Was it all liquid or where you allowed solids in that week?

There are people here who went from a full course meal to surgery and seemed to do fine. What's the deal with that? Yes, that's my head rationalizing why I should be allowed to eat. LOL No worries... I know better! I woke up today with a pounding headache at about 9 a.m. That was my brain screaming "Where the f*!@ is my coffee?!" I didn't give in and grab a cup although I was so tempted. Did you have any GERD or the throwing up problems that accompanies it? I can't believe that I'm going to go through with this surgery. Did ever almost change your mind?

On 10/21/2020 at 7:57 PM, Doinmything said:

That gives me hope that they'll take fatty liver as a comorbidity in my case. I went to my consult with a BMI of 40 but I always fluctuate, and I'm scared of getting a bit under 35 bmi from the pre-op diet and them refusing to do the surgery. You're calming my nerves and inspiring me to keep going so thank you for the info!

once you are approved you are good. I was a 44bmi with no co's..... my doc said to not lose a pound till i did. Then after i was approved i could lose if i wanted to. On the 2 week liq diet i lost more than 10lbs.
When i got then sleeve my bmi was 31(8/28/19) with no co's, but even though it was done 2.5 years after band removal it still was considered a revision. He noted my chart with my first bmi of 44 (2009), what i had gotten too 26 (2017) with the band. Of course, my insurance didn't cover the removal or the sleeve.... 14k out of pocket for the sleeve. I am so grateful...... my bmi is now a 21. 5'2" 120lbs

@BayougirlMrsS and @catwoman7 you are both true inspriations for success! I appreciate that you both continue you post years afterwards!! @kalí̱ ygeía these are the true guru's!!

Yeah... the headaches were real the first few days. While there will definitely be days that you struggle and wonder WHY you're doing this (especially during pre-op when you start dropping weight), if you're like most of us, this wasn't a decision made lightly and without other trials and tribulations, so just keep that in mind when you're wondering. I honestly never doubted this decision or questioned what my surgeons plan was. They have a vested interest in having successful patients so they are going to direct you in what they KNOW works based on past experiences.

I definitely understand it's frustrating to see other people "having it easy" with pre-op. Just think how much more prepared for post op you will be.

Have a great day!

On 10/23/2020 at 2:16 PM, kalí̱ ygeía said:

Did you have to drink it black and decaff? I'm surprised that you're allowed to drink coffee. I'm going to ask my nutritionist. I need to have milk and honey with mine, so I don't think it'll slide.

Thank you for sharing your experience. Hopefully I'll mirror some of your success! Have you had to throw out many of your clothes? Were you happy to see them go or was there some melancholy with the process?

Your nachos sound yummy minus the sour cream! Not a fan of sour cream. I've read that taste buds change, so who knows maybe I'll like it after surgery!

Oh, one more question... how's your hair?

If you get an ok on coffee, mix it with protein shake to make it creamy and sweet. Plus you get the all important protein. Also, my surgeon’s office ok’ed regular at two week post-op to help me with constipation. Wins all around!

All the best to you!

Edited October 26, 20205 yr by WishMeSmaller

4 hours ago, WishMeSmaller said:

If you get an ok on coffee, mix it with Protein Shake to make it creamy and sweet. Plus you get the all important Protein. Also, my surgeon’s office ok’ed regular at two week post-op to help me with constipation. Wins all around!

All the best to you!

I'm okay to have decaff coffee. I'm prone to constipation now, so I hope that I get to drink coffee postop.

On 10/26/2020 at 5:09 AM, kalí̱ ygeía said:

To some extend, I wish that I had never learned that not all surgeons require the preop diet, because it leaves in question its necessity. Is it really to shrink the liver or to help ease you in to the life style change?

It's definitely to shrink the liver. The pre-op blood tests include one which tests how fatty your liver is and that should determine what your doctor tells you to do re pre-op diet.

On 10/26/2020 at 5:36 AM, BayougirlMrsS said:

once you are approved you are good. I was a 44bmi with no co's..... my doc said to not lose a pound till i did. Then after i was approved i could lose if i wanted to. On the 2 week liq diet i lost more than 10lbs.
When i got then sleeve my bmi was 31(8/28/19) with no co's, but even though it was done 2.5 years after band removal it still was considered a revision. He noted my chart with my first bmi of 44 (2009), what i had gotten too 26 (2017) with the band. Of course, my insurance didn't cover the removal or the sleeve.... 14k out of pocket for the sleeve. I am so grateful...... my bmi is now a 21. 5'2" 120lbs

Wow! Congratulations on your success! Hopefully I too will be as successful. Starting to doubt myself as this preop diet has not been easy for me. I reeeeally hope this is not a precursor to what's to come. It makes me wonder if I'm ready for this.

12 hours ago, Deb9386 said:

It's definitely to shrink the liver. The pre-op blood tests include one which tests how fatty your liver is and that should determine what your doctor tells you to do re pre-op diet.

That's very interesting. I'm going to ask my surgeon during my next visit.

On 10/26/2020 at 5:55 AM, MandoGetsSleeved said:

@BayougirlMrsS and @catwoman7 you are both true inspriations for success! I appreciate that you both continue you post years afterwards!! @kalí̱ ygeía these are the true guru's!!

Yeah... the headaches were real the first few days. While there will definitely be days that you struggle and wonder WHY you're doing this (especially during pre-op when you start dropping weight), if you're like most of us, this wasn't a decision made lightly and without other trials and tribulations, so just keep that in mind when you're wondering. I honestly never doubted this decision or questioned what my surgeons plan was. They have a vested interest in having successful patients so they are going to direct you in what they KNOW works based on past experiences.

I definitely understand it's frustrating to see other people "having it easy" with pre-op. Just think how much more prepared for post op you will be.

Have a great day!

You are so fortunate that you never went through that doubting period. On my 4th day now of preop diet and it's been a pain. I'm slowly starting to become more accepting of the process. I know I have to push through this and just deal with what comes at the end. I have to trust the process and somehow believe that I will be fine. I will be one of the lucky people who has an excellent postop experience. Also that my stomach will be able to handle food and I'll be able to eat like normal just small quantities, because my normal wasn't terrible. I could go all day without eating and then at night eat a huge meal. This surgery will help me with that.

On 10/22/2020 at 9:12 AM, ms.sss said:

Of everything really: what you expect to lose, how you expect to feel, what foods you expect to eat, how you expect people to treat you. I read alot of posts on here with peeps dealing with stress and anxiety due to a host of things they thought would happen, but didn't.

Though your posts read like you are the type of person who can take this stuff in stride...I suspect you'll do great ❤️

I hate to report that I'm not doing as great as we'd hope! You warned me to check my expectations and well... I don't think I did a very good job at it. I expected to do great with my preop diet and so far it hasn't been the case. Ugh!

Hang in there! You got this!!

7 hours ago, kalí̱ ygeía said:

I hate to report that I'm not doing as great as we'd hope! You warned me to check my expectations and well... I don't think I did a very good job at it. I expected to do great with my preop diet and so far it hasn't been the case. Ugh!

Do you know what you need to do to try turn it around?

7 hours ago, kalí̱ ygeía said:

I hate to report that I'm not doing as great as we'd hope! You warned me to check my expectations and well... I don't think I did a very good job at it. I expected to do great with my preop diet and so far it hasn't been the case. Ugh!

Sometimes pre-op diets are the hardest part of the process (especially if after you have no complications)

My first WLS, no pre-op diet required but I did one for a few days because I was nervous. Second WLS it was required and I wanted to fight it every step of the way, asked my Surgeon a few times why was it needed for "me", ?

Basically told me I wasnt special, everyone is going on it - even "me". So I toughed it out and it was tough. Everyday. But if taken day by day, one angry shower scream session at a time. You can do it. Don't give up.

21 hours ago, Deb9386 said:

It's definitely to shrink the liver. The pre-op blood tests include one which tests how fatty your liver is and that should determine what your doctor tells you to do re pre-op diet.

My pre-op labs are today, and I have been on the pre-op diet for... this is the beginning of my 6th day ? My surgeon just always requires a 10 day pre-op diet, apparently. Mine includes food, though, so it isn't too bad (anymore. Those first three days were rough. I am eating like an eighth of what I normally did.)

15 hours ago, ms.sss said:

Do you know what you need to do to try turn it around?

I spoke to my surgeon today as I was really starting to doubt myself and was almost ready to cancel the surgery. I was very close to doing so, because I reasoned that if I can't do this diet how in the world will I successfully handle the sleeve.

I got some reassurance from my support team, my surgeon, and this forum that I'm now feeling upbeat again! I'm genuinely excited and ready to take on the challenges that lay ahead.

I'm on Day 4 and I've lost about 4 pounds. I'm doing most things right, so why only focus on the minor setbacks! I'll learn from them but not throw in the towel!