Just 10 more days!!

I'm getting so psyched! I've done my labs, ekg, endoscopy, met with the nutritionist, had my chest x-ray....Tuesday I have my arterial blood gasses and pulmonary function test....Thursday I have my final pre-op appt! I have to say it was funny getting the endoscopy. Just before they started, the doctor put his fingers in my mouth like he was gonna put that camera in there while I was awake...I said "ho! whoa! I'm awake here..I don't wanna see this stuff" The nurse said, "I'll fix that....do you feel anything yet?" I said "no"....and I woke up in recovery. I love it when it happens like that. I bought all of my vitamins & supplements. I've started taking them and cutting back what I eat. The only thing I don't have yet is my iron. I could not find iron chewables anywhere! I had to order online. I will have them tuesday or wednesday this week. I tried the Unjury chocolate...I like it. I ordered chocolate, vanilla and unflavored. I bought some protein pudding and some isopure liquid and some isopure mango/peach mix. I bought a variety so I would have plenty of choices and hopefully I won't get incredibly sick of them. I tried crushing calcium citrate tablets and mixing it with a little water to get it down... I need some advice with this. I have an awful lot of these tablets. Is there any reason why I can't cru**** and add it to my protein shake? In the meantime, I bought a liquid form of calcium, I'll try that tomorrow. I'm feeling so ready. I'm nervous about the pureed food....I will experiment with that this week too. Any advice in this department would be VERY appreciated. Oh, and one more thing.... AAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! Just 10 more days!! Pam

Pam, your eagerness is contagious! Sounds as if your very prepared. I live in Lusby and had the bypass on 3/1/2005. I would love to have a "bypass" partner close to home. If any interest, please contact me or post a reply to this thread. Most horsepills, I chopped in half and had no problem swallowing them. Started swallowing them whole at 1.5 months out. No problems. Hopefully yours will go as smoothly. The bad taste of crushed vitamins was a big turnoff to me. Felt sick to my stomach most of the time, and decided if I was going to get them down, I had better try swallowing them. Worked out good. Make sure you keep everyone updated and I can't wait to see how you progress. TraciL

Hey Traci, You are in luck! I can give you more than one bypass buddy close to home! My sister just had the surgery the end of February, she lives in Compton (about 20 minutes from the Solomons bridge)...I live about 10 minutes from the bridge. I have a couple of other friends locally who have had the surgery...one is one year out and the other is two years out. They are all doing GREAT! I peeked in at your profile....45 pounds in one month!?!?! WOW! (I want that sooooooo bad). Do you go to one of the local support groups? I understand there is one at the Lexington Park Library. I don't know all the particulars, but I'll find out this week. There's another one in Leonardtown (i think)...or was it Mechanicsville?? I need to find out about all of them so I can get going. I don't want to drive all the way to Fairfax for support group meetings. That 495 and 66 KILLS me! Waaaayyyy too stressful for a little ole country gal like me! I mean....seriously...white knuckles and racing heart & prayer the entire time. AUGH. Yea, I'm going local, fer sure. Maybe we can meet at a meeting! Pam

Congrats on 10 days to go! Sounds like you are going to do great! (www)bariatricadvantage.com has all the chewables including strawberry flavored iron and they taste wonderful.. they even have a chocolate calcium, mint calcium, and cinnamon calcium. The multi comes in a tropical flavor and I think one other. I went from soups and liquids to soft foods. I really didn't have to make a lot of pureed stuff. Strained soups or broth, Mashed Cottage Cheese, SF Jello Pudding, SF popsicles, unsweetened applesauce, crystal light, protein shakes, and low fat yogurt ended up being my staples. Best of luck!

Hey Stayce! Thanks for the tip on the vitamins! Dang, I wished I had seen that before. Thanks for the food tips too. Do you have a favorite protein supplement? Also, congrats on your weight loss! You are doing great! How are ya feeling? Pam

I use a ton of different kinds. Pretty much everything bariatriceating.com sells. I like variety! I think my fav is the IDS Cappucino flavored lately. Susan Maria at Bariatriceating has sample packets so you can test out lots of different flavors. Just post op though I did a lot of Unjury (unjury.com). It goes down really easily. Thanks for the congrats!! =) I feel wonderful. Had a great workout at the gym this morning. Still a bit tired in the late afternoons though but that is to be expected.

Hey sis well Now it is 8 more days to go.....ya getting nervous yet? You will do great. I want that map so I can try and come there to see ya. Make a copy and have Jon bring it to me at work. When You find out about those support groups let me know I want to go too. WE could go together. I wish I could have came in when I droped off brit sunday but girl I was so tired I got home hardly made it to the couch and fell out ZZZZZZ.....LOL I have been working triple overtime getting ready for Inventory. I mean working 6am to 6pm shifts. I did that today too ..it was 6-645 today though. Got home at 7pm I am so wiped out. I got to be back at 6am again tomorrow Well dont forget that map and some written directions for me. Love ya bunches I am going to take me a shower and hit the hay I am so tired. Hey did your nutrionist give you a big binder??? what did they give ya. Call me at work if I am not home I want to talk!!!! Later lots of love to ya

Hey Sis! Not nervous yet. Wierd, huh? I think I'm only nervous about going to my final pre-op appt and having them cancel my surgery for some freak reason. They brought a temp in to cover me while I'm out and we started training her this week! I would feel like such a schmuck! All of my tests are done now. That arterial blood gas wasn't as bad as some had it cracked up to be. It was just like getting blood drawn....but this comes from a woman who has given natural childbirth 5 times...so who am I to say? I'll send the directions with Jon...BUT...you might want to get with Mike. I know he's taking off on the 1st ...and possibly the 2nd and 3rd so he can drive up there. You may be able to hitch a ride. That's NOT an easy drive. (FYI) I would never forgive myself if you got in an accident. The admitting nurse told me that I should plan on going home on Saturday, unless something prevents it. Girl, I know you MUST be tired. You better take it easy and take care of you. You better be taking in your water and protein. You are doing so awesome and you are looking GREAT...don't *@ck it up by not doing what you need to do for YOU. (that's just love talkin' sis) HEY, I got 4 containers of the Unjury protein - let me know if you want to try some. I share.... Much love, Pam

Well you must of had a nurse that knew what she was doing. THe one that did my blood gas hurt me so bad I just wanted to cry. My poor wrist hurt for a whole week. Well I could go with you on the 1st but getting up at like 2am would be a hell of a trick...LOL I was going to see if george could take me a little later in the morning that day. But if Mike wanted to put up with me that early in the moring that is cool with me Yeah I would like to try some of the protein, then maybe I will get some more engery. I got on the scale today it said 259 that means I lost 67lbs. so 60 more and I will finally be in the 100's!!!!! I cant wait I am in 2x now I can squezze into a 1x but it is really tight. Oh jon did not give me any directions today so I hope to get them tommorrow if I dont forget, So dont let me forget. I have to go to work at 3pm so I am going to come over before that to see ya. Later

just looked at my post it says I posted at 7pm that is SOOO wrong that is weird It is 10pm here Just thought that was funny anyway goodnight