53 Yr Old Mom of 7 and Ready to Do Something Drastic. Billings, MT

I jumped through the hoops and finally got approved. I almost got the band 8 years ago. I'm glad I didn't because I was not ready. I appreciate all the forums online, the pintrest info and the multitude of classes I have gone to at my clinic. They gave me a buddy which is great! The classes ranged from Emotional eating to regaining weight. They will continue after the surgery. I am getting sleeved on the 9th of March. The liquid diet is a challenge, as is the buying of all the groceries. I could spend hundreds of dollars making specialty smoothies. I obviously missed my calling--I should have been a bartender! I haven't felt hungry at all until today. I'm on my 6th day of liquids and my starting weight is 229 and I'm down to 221. I cheated tonight and ate a burrito and some peanuts. I am pretty sure it was because I went to World Market store and drank some tea with sugar in it. It simply made me hungry! Soooo, tomorrow is another day. Another smoothie. I am getting a hernia repaired as well as my gall bladder removed during this surgery. It ought to be fun! I guess my biggest concern is what to do when people invite me to dinner later. If I can only eat a cup full of food, I will be standing out big time. I don't want to stand out and answer a lot of questions. I'm glad it is Lent. I will offer all of this for peace in the world and the transformation of hearts!
Is anyone out there Catholic? How do I receive communion if I am a daily communicant? I appreciate all your help. Good luck to all of you doing this. I pray for a good doctor with steady hands and a kind heart!!

Today is Thursday night and I was sleeved on Monday. I'm almost off my meds because I just don't need them. My colace worked today -yeah! I didn't realize how bloated your gut feels when you haven't gone the bathroom for days. I thought it was just the pain and swelling in my gut from my surgery. I have developed a rash under my breasts on each side which I thought was leftover from the tape they used for the EKG. Then last night I developed hives in that area also. I have no idea what from. I took an antihistamine and went to bed. This morning I took a shower and feel better.
I have enjoyed coconut water with protein mix and a splash of coconut syrup that is used for coffees. I have had a hard time getting in 80 grams of protein! Only 60 and that is if I really push it. I also realized today that I wasn't drinking as much water as I was yesterday. I literally need to be holding a cup all day and evening!! I have no idea how I am going to do that at work.
I am going out tomorrow to buy myself new glasses since I have somehow misplaced mine. That will be a good change! A new robe is in order also! Tired of walking around in jammies and no robe! Blesssings to all of you in your journey....

I have talked and read many people's posts and I have met others who are in the classes my Hospital requires for this surgery and I have a personal friend who got the sleeve six weeks ago and her daughter got it done one year ago.
I am shocked at how different doctors and clinic prescribe different diets, meds, vitamins and even protein for different people. Either doctors are slacking off by not telling the patients or the patients are slacking off by not doing the reading, the videos, the handbooks. The amount a person is to lose before surgery is what I understood to be necessary because of fatty livers. This helps the liver decrease in size so the doc can get to the stomach and see it properly AND also, it shows the doc that the patient undergoing this procedure is serious about this surgery.
Then there is the post op diet for two to three weeks...as far as I understood it is necessary because of the healing of the stomach and that solids--even bananas in smoothies were to much for a newly sewn stomach to handle. I know people who had never even heard this! They were eating foods after three days and wondering why it hurts!! I had someone say to me last night that I shouldn't eat protein at all after this surgery because I will just gain my weight back! I told them that the protein was VERY important as it helps build muscle tissue as your body goes into eating its own fat and that it was necessary to have it to not lose your hair in 3-6 months. They had never read anything like that! Their daughter had had the surgery by the same doctor as my friend and had never heard of that either. (they don't live in the same state as I do)
I want to ask if anyone out there did their VSG on Medicare or Medicaid. These two people did and I did not. I question whether they are getting the best treatment available or if some doctors are just skipping some very vital information they are suppose to give patients...? I am going to send my friend the wonderful booklet that our Bariatric Clinic puts out and explains step by step and uses pictures also to explain the reasons for the steps that need to be done to remain healthy. It doesn't take a brain surgeon to know that just eating carbs and fruit juices are not good for your body after this surgery!!
I also have been researching and studying this for years now preparing my mind and heart. I did not do this lightly.
Even on this forum I find the differences amazing. Do others see the same thing??