December Surgery Buddies!

[MLC3409 41]

Whoo hooo!!! Good wishes your way!!!

my date (27th) fell perfect because my daughter is a teacher and is off work so the first few days she can come help me get situated.

oh I am so nervous with you 😂. I am chills and nerves for you. I look forward to hearing from you after the surgery to see how you’re doing.

[Felicia1288 9]

Can't wait to see how you recovery as well and well and keep in touch. We can all feed off of each other!

[CelticSoul 16]

Good thoughts being sent your way! We'll all be here to support you on your journey.

Edited December 5, 2023 by CelticSoul
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[Felicia1288 9]

On 11/29/2023 at 7:52 AM, Felicia1288 said:

Got my surgery date for December 27th. Very excited but also very scared as I never had a procedure done before but it's time for this momma to start caring of herself. Currently 212 doctor thinks I'll loose about 80lbs so I am excited to see. Also about 5'1 so pretty short. Anyone needs an accountability / super partner I am here!!

Just did my EDG 🎉 moving rigbt along!!

[Felicia1288 9]

Right*

[CelticSoul 16]

Had my final appointment with the surgeon today - my preflight check - We are a go for take off in 3 weeks!

Oh, and he is a cutie... although I'm too old to be a cougar! haha!

[sfugate89 10]

Hi friends! I just joined here and I am nervous and excited! My December date is 12/12!! Eek!!! I’m excited to take this leap and I’ve already implemented many of the lifestyle changes so I’m READY! Praying each of you have a successful surgery and that the road to recovery is filled with peace and a long pause to relax! I know Christmas is coming up and while there may be temptations, remind yourselves that this is the biggest Christmas blessing you could have received! A longer healthier, happier, life!! (Aside from Jesus, of course!)
Take care,
Savanna

[MLC3409 41]

Hey there, oh I know you’re excited!! I am sending you all the best wishes for a speedy recovery!

[Alex Areeda 5]

Hello,

My name is Alex and I am scheduled for the gastric sleeve procedure on 12/18/23. Growing up I never had a problem with my weight; as a matter of fact I was very thin. Due to changes in life and past trauma, I used food as a coping mechanism. I ballooned from 160 pounds at 18 years old to 475 pounds by the time I turned 31. I was "content" being overweight because I refused to deal with it.

At the behest of my wife, I begrudgingly scheduled an appointment to be seen by a primary care physician for the first time in years at the height of the pandemic. At this appointment, I weighed in at 475 pounds and was diagnosed with high blood pressure... extremely high blood pressure. This made total sense as I couldn't walk very far without being out of breath, I couldn't go up steps without sweating and having my heart pounding, and I couldn't play with my nieces and nephews. I was prescribed blood pressure meds at 31 years old and told that if I didn't make significant changes and lose weight, I was staring down an early death.

That was the kick in the ass I needed. I immediately got a gym membership, downloaded a calorie tracker, immediately made improvements in my diet and dove in head first. Over the course of the next year and a half I lost nearly 100 pounds through diet and exercise alone. I knew that to get to my goal weight though, that I needed more tools.... or a more powerful one. So I was seen by a bariatric provider and over the course of many months was approved for sleeve gastrectomy and was scheduled for surgery.

I am currently on the liquid diet and I am struggling. I am dying for flavor... the Protein Shakes, cottage cheese, greek yogurt, and Jello that have been my diet for the last three days are not cutting it. I've made a few mistakes... a piece of cheese here or a nibble of chicken there. I am striving for today being a good day.. but it has been hard. I am constantly cold, I'm less tolerant of daily B.S. than I normally am, and am just now starting to not feel as irritable as I have the last few days.

I am looking forward to having this procedure done, but I am nervous that I won't lose enough. I'm nervous that I'll ruin it or some other nonsense I keep telling myself. After being overweight for so long its hard to imagine not being as large as I am. I am looking forward to a healthier life, the ability to play with my nieces, nephews and daughter, and being in more control of my life.

Thank you for reading this very long post and I look forward to chatting with you on this journey!

[MLC3409 41]

Hey Alex! I’m so glad you took the steps towards a healthier life at 31. I have been struggling with weight for my whole life. I have raised two kids, limited with things I could do with them. Ji feel days I have robbed them of memories that we could have made together. Now here I am at 55 and I ,reading your post, feel everything you’re feeling. I now have two grandchildren and the first time I took them to the fair and I was not able to go on the rides with them. It was a flashback to not being able to do things with my kids. So I took the leap too. My surgery is 12/27.
sorry got sidetracked, yes the liquid diet is hard. Don’t be so hard on yourself for a slip of having a piece of cheese. The important part is you didn’t binge! That slip up is in the past. What you do today is what is important. Start over. I have taken a new thought on food. Everything I ate yesterday is done. My choices and decisions today is what is important. Find something to keep you busy. If you feel like “slipping “ take a walk then come back. Take a drink of Water, shake, or make a smoothie.

I have downloaded some mind games that take a lot of thinking. I will sit and play the game and before I know it time has past and it is either meal time or bedtime.

I am focusing on the restrictions are only for 8 weeks. Two pre and 4-6 post. I keep reminding my self it is 8 weeks out of the 8+years I have to enjoy my new life!

sorry for rambling. Wishing you the best with your surgery

[Felicia1288 9]

Hi Alex. Allow yourself grace. Yes easier said then done but your mind and body are all adapting to this new rapid change. No one is perfect! And you made the most important decision you could and decided you wanted to take back your life. And are giving yourself a great gift of adding years to live. I don't know if this will help but remember one minute at a time or moment at a time. We are human and mistakes are okay and you realized that and moved on.

MLC3409- well said and I feel you both one all of that year robbing. I am 35 and have a 7,4,and 1.5 yr old and feel this as well. Especially the yoyo weight loss effort I took with the 7 and 4 year old. Robber time from them when I just ended up back at my regular weight again. But now we move forward with a better choice to keep this weight loss and enjoy life more.

We are all here for support. Keep in touch!

[gwl_journey23 1]

I am scheduled Dec 13th! Nervous and excited and hungry. New me, here I come!

[SmoknDudette 7]

Just had my pre-surgery assessment yesterday and my surgeon was great answering my questions and helping me with the pre-op. I was starting to get hypoglycemic in the evenings bad so he had the dietician give me some ideas to add to my pre-op. So now about 2 hr after dinner I eat a medium cucumber with a light smear of fat free cream cheese to help keep my levels even. I feel better this morning than I have in the last two weeks.

Surgery next Wednesday 12/13 and on to a new life. So happy my hubby can stay at the hospital with me as well overnight. I wish all December surgerys good luck!!!

[MLC3409 41]

Yeah it sucks when sugars drop like that. I always do a big spoon of honey it is one of the fastest ways to kick your sugar up. Also orange juice or applesauce.

[SmoknDudette 7]

7 minutes ago, MLC3409 said:

Yeah it sucks when sugars drop like that. I always do a big spoon of honey it is one of the fastest ways to kick your sugar up. Also orange juice or applesauce.

Yeah, if I could I would have or had some complex carbs but its a pretty strict pre-op (no oils, butter, fruit, sauces, milk, sugar or fatty meats). Two shakes (breakfast and lunch) and then 5 oz lean meat (usually chicken or white fish) and 1 of five green veggies. They call it the liver shrinking diet. It says 800 cal but I'm barely scraping in at 550 cal a day. With the cucumber and 3 oz of sugar free Jello I think I hit like 600 cal.

I would get hypoglycemic when I was younger and its bad. I cry at the drop of a hat at everything but especially when overwhelmed and I get super shaky. Thankfully my dietician ok'd the snack to add and I actually feel a bit better this morning, physically and mentally.