TheTurtleLady88

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Thank you guys so much for the support! I'm at home, resting. I'm doing my best to move around and stay hydrated. So far I can only get down water and Isopure. Unfortunately, I've had to use the pain meds to get up and move around. I think my inside stitches may be pulling but it's painful to get up or sit down, even walking is a little rough. They said everything went well during the surgery but they suggested I go have some testing done for sleep apnea and I had a few breathing treatments afterwards. I was hoping to be up and moving around a lot more but I'm staying positive! Again, thank you so much for the support you've shown me, it's really been great!

Hello All!

I started my 2-week, full-liquid diet on October 29th. I am down 9 pounds as of 11/2/15. Technically 9 more days to go before surgery! I'm still really excited about everything that is happening although this liquid diet is a lot tougher than expected. I'm trying to get as much protein as I can but everything that I'm taking in is actually making me gag. The only thing I've found so far that works is Jello, really well blended and strained brocolli and cheese soup, and a couple cream soups that have been strained. Oh! I've also gotten a few bisques and pureed soups. I cannot have anything with tomato in it, or citrus things, other than that it's normal full-liquid retrictions. I can't even make myself eat/drink the broth because everything tastes like sweat to me. I'm not sure if it's a mind over matter situation or not. I can drink Atkins RTD protien drinks and I've gotten down a few of the kool-aid looking isopure RTD drinks but I'm not sure what else I can come up with. Does anyone have any recipies that they used before their surgery that might help? Thanks in advance!

Got the call today! I am officially scheduled for November 12th, 2015. I cannot wait, I'm anxious and excited at I can feel the pressure of all the appointments and things that I need to get in order but I can honestly say that I cannot rmember a time that I've been happier. I want to be as prepared as I can be, so hopefully everything will fall into place soon.  Much love!

I'm finished! I've officially finished everything on my bariatric checklist and now I'm just waiting for insurance approval! I can honestly say that I have probably never been this excited before. I'm trying to gear up for my liquid diet and grab everything that I can so that I'm prepared. I was thinking about trying the Isopure Zero Carb RTD flavored liquids, does anyone have any experience with these? They are rather expensive but I think they would be a great way to get protein and liquid in after the surgery. Thanks in advance for any advice!

Woohoo! So close!!!

I was cleared by my nutritionist this week! So I have one more appointment before I can submit for insurance approval. I have an endoscopy scheduled for September 9th and then it's the waiting game for my surgery date! I am so very excited yet so very nervous. I've taken care of everything that I can think of just in case something happens, I've started buying things that I'll need for when the surgery comes. Hopefully I'll be as prepared as I possible can for anything that can be thrown my way. 

I have to come back and see the nutritionist again in 4 weeks. She says everything looks great so I'm not sure how long these appointments usually take as far as being released but I'm really hoping that it isn't too much longer. It's discouraging that every time something happens the procedure is pushed back another month. My boss is pushing for a ballpark estimate on when the procedure is going to be because he doesn't really deem this important enough for the time off. So there's that. Plus, I have the opportunity for a new job, one that goes with my career choice and I don't know whether to pursue it or not with the procedure coming up. Help! I'm so stressed!

I have an appointment with the nutritionist today. Hopefully I'll be released(with any luck). I had my CardioCoach and EKG appointment yesterday and that went great! So the only thing left for me is the exercise evaluation! I am so excited that this process is rolling along. I should know how everything at this appointment has gone within the next two hours, but for now I need to start getting ready! Wish me luck. Also, can any of you suggest any good protein shakes? I've had the muscle milk so far in strawberries and cream and have to say that I was sorely disappointed, it had a chemical aftertaste that I was not expecting at all. It makes me nervous to spend money on the others. I've heard really great things about Quest but honestly it was from one of my petite friends who runs and I would like to hear from someone who is going through the same situation as me. Thanks!

I was released after psych eval today!!!! I am seriously started to get excited, all the anxiety(although I'm sure it will be back) is just disappearing. I have three more appointments and as long as everything goes smoothly, I should be completely released by the end of August. My CardioCoach/exercise evaluation is set for August 11th and I'm not really sure what to expect but I am oddly enough really looking forward to it. I am starting to get butterflies in my tummy from all the anticipation. I have a few more questions but honestly I don't know that they can be answered before I go through it myself. I know everyone's experience is a different one and it may be sad to say but some questions are too embarrassing for me to ask, medical professional or not. They aren't life threatening or anything just the ins and outs of how sex, mental illness and life in general might change after surgery. I do have to say though it is extremely difficult for me to not just start counting down until that day! I'm even oddly enough looking forward to being told that I can only have liquids(lol). I'm sure that's a lot harder than it seems right now but I know that once that starts I'll be 14 days away from the rest of my life...and what a fantastic life that's gonna be. Don't get me wrong, I'm fully aware that this isn't magic and it's going to be hard work, but I definitely want to use this tool to start a new, healthier lifestyle. I can't wait to skate, paddleboard, whitewater raft, hike, kayak and anything else that I'll hopefully be small enough to do. I'm so ready! 50 kagillion things on my WLS checklist down, 3 to go!!!!!!  

I have completed a couple things for my VSG medical clearance so far, now I need to be released from the nutritionist and the shrink. I also have an EKG, H. Pylori, Bone density and Exercise evaluation. It all seems like so much but I have 4 more appointments between now and August 11th and then it's just the waiting game for my surgery date. I really cannot be more excited and terrified. I am so ready for change. I've lost 26 pounds since the first discussion with my PCP about the surgery, I've gotten way more active and I'm even pushing through the pain most days because I'm tired of not being able to do every day tasks with my back pain. I'm 27 years old, I shouldn't need my boyfriend to help me get dressed in the mornings because I can't bend over without wanting to be sick. We've been walking A LOT. In fact, this program has been a great excuse to get both of us out of the house and we get to enjoy doing more things together. We've been to the park, the flea market, the farmers market, and there is an art festival coming up that we will be walking around. Two months ago I couldn't have said that -- I could barely get out of a chair, much less walk around and enjoy the warm weather. My left leg was burning, my toes were going numb and my left hip felt like someone was taking an electric sander to my joint. I may be in pain from time to time but nothing like before, and I can honestly say that I am really looking forward to being able to do more things without pain. I can't say that there are many times that I'm uncomfortable with my body, I am very comfortable in my skin -- that has never really been a driving factor for the decision to have VSG. Now having said that, I would love to be able to fit in normal size clothing instead of Plus sizes (If not just to get rid of the awful patterns they feel they need to put on big people). However, honestly, my decision to pursue surgery was and is much more about being fit. I am returning to college after a year and a half break to continue my studies toward a marine biology degree, in order to land most of these jobs I have to be physically fit and capable of SCUBA diving -- something that I am far from being able to do right now. I have been passionate about sea life since I was a child and the diagnosis with my back really sent me into a tailspin. I couldn't stand, let alone do a job that was physically demanding. Even my fall back career was being jeopardized by the news. I finally found what I consider to be my purpose and I was going to have to change everything I wanted because I allowed my weight to take over. It was the most disheartening thought that had ever crossed my mind. I am going into this because I want to be healthier; because I want to surf and paddle-board and SCUBA dive and hike and whitewater raft. Of course it will be nice to look better, to buy clothes from stores that I've never been able to walk into. It will be amazing to fit in my bath tub, and a booth at a restaurant, and a plane seat...but honestly, I want to live longer. I want to be able to play with my children when I finally decide to have them. I want to be able to enjoy life instead of sitting on the sidelines because I'm morbidly overweight. I want to enjoy the beauty that the earth has to offer with the people I love the most. I want my life back. Now it's just time to take the first steps...