Hi Linda, congratulations on being almost at your surgery date. I am three weeks behind you. I have to get my shopping completed, and my apartment ready, but I am mentally ready for this. See you on the other side soon. Hugs, Trish

Hey Lady T, sending special thoughts and prayers for an uneventful surgery and a gentle recovery. I am having the BPD/DS on August 7th, so today I started the clear liquids diet. We will be fine....I'm sure you have confidence in your surgeon as I do in mine. All we can ask is that they do their best. Best Wishes Linda

Congratulations, Tanya!! I'm so glad it all went well for you. I am only on clear liquids right now, so the only protein I might be able to get in me right now is from broth. Unfortunately, broth has a really metallic taste to it to me, and I haven't been able to drink any of it. I am drinking hot tea, a little cold water, and eating green jello - also the only color so far without that metallic taste. My doctor puts me on full liquids next week, and that's when I'll have to start getting the protein in. I bought a strawberry flavored one that I can mix with ice and skim milk, hoping it tastes good, but if not, I'll look for a flavorless one (is there such a thing?), and have to make it work. A friend of mine who had her surgery last year gave me a lot of recipes for drinks to use on full liquids that will help me get my protein in. I am making a 12 ounce cup of hot tea, and I can drink about 8 ounces in an hour and a half. The doctor wanted to make sure I could do 4 ounces an hour, and I am, so that's good. Also, I bought those little cups of sugar free jello. I ate about 1/4 of one yesterday, fed some to the baby, and ate 1/3 of it today to fini**** So it did take me long to eat the jello, but I'm not really hungry for anything right now, and the tea is very soothing. It's the Irish in me As for vitamins, I should be taking chewables - two of them - but I have not taken them yet. I purchased liquid vitamins, but I forgot to ask if they qualify as clear liquid, so since I see the doctor on Monday, I figured I could wait the couple of days until I see him. I know they are going to taste nasty, but so do the chewables, so I figured since I already spent the money, I should try them at least. I may be on chewables by the end of next week if I can't get these vitamins in. I'm not tired during the day, but I will say that since I've been home, I have been in bed at 10 and not up until 8. Normally, I'm an 11 - 6 kind of girl. It may be because I'm catching up with the loss of sleep at the hospital, or the fact that the kids don't have to be anywhere and hubby is off, so we have the luxury of sleeping in late. I really feel as though I have as much energy as normal during the day, but I totally crash at night. I would say DO NOT walk very far in that heat! You are setting yourself up to dehydrate. If you can't get to a gym or get a treadmill brought to you, just walk around the house. At this stage, any bit of exercise is going to help you. I joined a gym a few weeks back, but my husband won't let me go to the treadmill until the doctor clears me on Monday. As for the hospital weight - it will come off. That was a lot of fluid, and you've got to give it time to find the exit!! I'm worried already that when I can eat soft foods in two weeks (well, actually, just over a week now), I'll gain weight back. The foods I'm eating now have no calories in them, so adding calories would make me gain weight right? I hope not - I feel really good looking at the scale! Best of luck to you as you continue to recover - we'll keep tabs on each other

Hi everyone.... I've been on this site for quite awhile researching weight loss surgery, but never noticed this message board. I'm having my surgery this coming Monday, August 7th and I'm ready!!! I believe I know what to expect in the hospital. I went grocery shopping and purchased the food I will be needing. I have my vitamins and supplements and protein powders. Today and tomorrow I am on a clear liquids diet and I'm feeling a bit hungry about now...but this too shall pass. I am so ready for this new chapter in my life. I am going to get healthy and the bonus is, I'm going to look good too! Life is Good Linda

Hello All! My name is Lady T and my surgery is scheduled for 8/14/06. I am having the BPD w/DS. I am a little nervous but I am sure I will make it through the surgery. Wish me luck! Lady T.