HELP PLEASE!

Christie, I just read your message and it brought back so many memories. I had surgery 8 years ago and I am actually guilty of "forgetting" my 35 year obesity struggle......It took a long time and every so often I get back on this website and look at the posts and I remember. Your liver does shrink, I am a surgery nurse, I have heard the surgeons. Doctors do what they feel is best for your final outcome, and Dr. Krause has a fabulous reputation. You are in fine hands. When I woke up in the hospital, (I had an open procedure all those years ago) I was sure that I had made a huge mistake. A nurse who had the surgery assured me that I would look back at all my struggles in one year and I would know that every sacrifice that I had made would be worth ten times the effort. Looking back, even though I had a hernia surgery afterwards and an emergency bowel obstruction 2 years post-op, I often fail to tell those things when telling my story, because I am so happy to be 140 pounds instead of 278. I think weight loss surgery gives you hope more than any thing else. Keep hanging on, the rough parts aren't over, but the rewards are so magnificent.........remember they are worth ten times the effort. Maybe even a million!

Thank you so much for your words, i will remember them when I wake up and through the hard moments.

I was just approved last week for Lap RNY! Still waiting on my official date. I know that I will have to be on a liquid diet for two weeks pre-op...but I am starting now, to get my body used to it. My dietician recommended doing three shakes a day, either as meal replacement or as a snack. My typical day starts with a shake and a piece of fruit. I proceed to eat every two to three hours. I eat similar, to what my post op meals will be like. Sugar Free jello or pudding, broth, tea, soft foods, ect. I only eat 2-4 oz every two/ three hours. Drink your 64ozs of water in between! I am practicing eating slow and over chewing my food. I have done this for a week now...I think the hard part is over. The first three days sucked!!! I constantly had the hunger pangs! I didn't know if I could keep it up for three months! Now my body is getting used to having a small portion of food every few hours and the hunger pangs subsided. I eat one solid meal per day, but only about 2 cups in total...I feel stuffed after that! last night I couldn't even finish a 6 oz piece of meat with a 1/2 cup of veggies. You also have to put yourself in a mind set....determination to live, is the key. I look at this, as practice for what I will have to endure after the surgery. Just like every "diet" you have to find what works for you. Keep an honest journal of what you put in your mouth...weigh your food or portion your food in 2 oz containers(this is what I have done) there is less chance of over indulging pre op. Your symtoms are your body trying to adjust...it is a shock to your system, when you take out carbs and sugars! This is similar to a alcholic or drug addict going through a detox! I lost 5 pounds this week! It wasn't this easy, prior to my approval...go figure, it gave me hope, I guess! And by the way, don't feel like you are coping out. See the light at the end of the tunnel... My surgery isn't going to be until the end of march, yours is right around the corner! get excited and help yourself get there healthier! This type of pre-op diet does help your stomach to shrink some (never heard of shrinking liver?) It is neccessary to have some extra room to move the scopes. Both my parents had an open procedure, and only had to be on liquids for two days, but the recovery was a long hard process. Another reason to drink protien prior to surgery, is the recovery...the more protien your body has pre-op, the better the recovery. Protien helps the body heal faster. Hope this helps. If you need any other info, please let me know I am the fourth person in my family to go through this procedure, and I have a seen almost every aspect pre-op and post op!