I had my preop today. Not good. I have to go for a stress test nest week. I am bummed.

Now I have my pre-surgery appointments all set up as well as my 1 week post-op visit scheduled. Unfortunately not all of my pre-surgery appointments could be on the same day, so I'll have to drive 90 minutes (each way) twice, but that's a very small price to pay. I have sick leave and it's not a super-busy time at work. I'll have my EKG, blood work, get my admitting paperwork, and meet with the nurse educator on August 23rd (all morning appointments). Then I meet with the surgeon and anesthesiologists on August 29th (afternoon appointments). I start my pre-surgery liquid protein diet on August 22nd, so August 21st is when I get to use the gift certificate from my boss for a very nice restaurant here in town. Of course, I don't know WHAT I'm going to eat there since I'm already working to reduce my caloric intake and switch from high carb/high fat foods to low carb/fat high protein foods. Oh well, this too will pass and it will all work out in the end. Susan

I am September 5th also in New Orleans. Well im supposed to be Sept 5th right now it is all in the hands of the PCP at the Military Treatment Facility they are giving me a hard time giving their consent for surgery because I am not using the surgeon they recommend(sorry if i wanted the one that I personally know people that have used him and have gone through the journey of all the crap with). I will find out next wednesday if they are goign to give their consent if not i will just pay for a dr's visit and get another general practicioner to sign off on it.

I will see the Nutritionist. I'll do pre-admin. I suspect I'll have to do bloodwork. I'll meet with the surgeon. I'll meet with the financial counselor. I'll meet with the anesthesiologists. I don't know WHEN, but probably the week before you. I have to do 2 weeks of liquid protein diet. I've already asked about it and have been told 3-4 shakes a day -- and a minimum of 1 gallon of water. Then when you can't take the pure liquid any more, you can have a veggie only salad with no-fat dressing (< 60 calories per serving). Thank goodness for my Walden Farms no-fat, no-carb, no-calorie dressing in Thousand Island. The Ranch is "ok" but I love the Thousand Island flavor. I'll be glad to eat a big old head of iceberg lettuce, with baby spinach, baby carrots, and cauliflower and tomatoes with dressing for one meal! However, the day before surgery is a liquids ONLY day plus I have to take a dose of Citrate of Magnesium at 1:00 pm to clear out the remainder of the intestine and bowel. One thing I need to clarify at my day of appointments will be whether or not I should take my medications that day. As a diabetic, I'm already having to cut back my glyburide dosage as my carbs go down. I was starting to crater in the 50s mid-morning and mid-afternoon at work -- so I'd eat candy to bring my sugars back up. I don't need that, so I lowered my glyburide and my sugars are much more stable in the 90 to 110 range now. I know I will have to stop Piroxicam (a prescription NSAID) and probably my Inderal LA (beta blocker for migraine headaches) on August 31st. The question is: do I have enough Glyburide, Avandia, Lipitor, Nexium, and Lisinopril to make it until September 4th without having to get refills??? :D Susan

to hearing about how much your are down! This surgery, while scary, is a GOD send to obese people. Think about how many people have lived longer and happier only because of the surgery. Katie