How can we get this Quebec forum started?

Salem I haven't checked in awhile but am so happy to hear that we're almost following the same schedule!! Also you have a very cute puppy and when I figure out how to post pictures I'll put my dog up too.

Ok so back to surgery, I am having it at Rockland MD and for me its day surgery, I'm guessing you get to stay in for 36 hours or 2 full days? How are you feeling about liquids? I'm starting on Monday too and am a little nervous about it-- I was thinking we could probably have some low sodium chicken broth also, I plan on mixing some in with pureed steamed veggies and having some soups once in awhile to break it up. I was reading on another forum Vertical Sleeve Talk that the most annoying thing is that the shakes are sweet and sometimes you want salty which is why I'm opting for the steamed veggie soup.

So what are you getting to prepare. Today I went to Walmart and stocked up on some of the things that the forum says you'll need. The best purchase was the Magic Bullet which comes highly recommended for mushy food, purees, and soups. I also got some measuring cups and a water container, something to keep my Optifast in for when I'm on the go. I got some Gas X, Maalox, Biotin (for hair loss), and Centrum.

Let me know how you're doing and I'll check in a lot this week so we can get through this liquid stage!!!

Kassandra

Hi Kassandra, I am too in the preparation phase... I ordered some Da Vinci Sugar free syrup, blueberry and banana, to add to vanilla oprifast, to add some variety in flavor... For the broth, I don't remember that they talked about it in the pre-op reunion, but i figure it should be ok, because it's almost like water... It is a good idea to add some salty flavor, but as I have a very sweet tooth, I don't know if I will need it ! I love raw vegetables, and I will prepare them today, to have it ready to eat. I am ready to start the optifast phase and cannot wait to see the balance starting to go down. I've said goodbye to all the food I loved before ( like in that old song !!!)

I started making some purees and froze it. To make those, I used a " stick mixer" ( I don't know how to call it). I used to do that when my kids were babies. I think of the post-op diet like a baby diet, liquid, then strained purees, than thick, etc... so I bought some pablum, and some baby purees that I loved when I was giving that to my boys ( La mère poule make some really good ones...it's frozen, and you can find them at Jean Coutu). It's not cheap, but I bought a few ones for "treats" when I will be too tired to make my own...

I began taking centrum, and nutricap for hair loss. I have long hair but I plan on getting a short haircut this week, to minimize the possible hair loss and it will be easier to wash.

As I have two teenage boys, I also started to prepare some frozen meals for them.

And all I can think about now is the surgery, I look at every forum, very often. I wish feb 2 is tomorrow, but at the same time, it's coming too fast! I should be out of the hospital the next day after surgery, or maybe the day after. When you say a day surgery, do you mean you will go out the same night? or the day after?

Thanks for my puppy, but this photo was taken 2 years ago. He is now a big, active 3 years dog ( but still very cute !)

Good luck for this week,  sure we can help each other.

Diane

Wow look at you go with all the preparation!!! I did get some supplies and plan on working on some frozen stuff this weekend, I found a great site with recipes off one of the threads on this site, I'll try to track them down for you.

How are you doing with the Optifast? It's going down ok and with the water, I don't feel very hungry until around 5 or 6 which is my danger zone anyways. I'm tossing some raw green veg with Balsamic for taste as well.

I do mean day surgery as in I'll be home that night! I know it's a little freaky but the clinic is 5 min from my parents where I'll be recouperating so I'm feeling pretty ok about that. I know it'll fly by, but this seems like its going to be the longest 2 weeks of my life just because I'm so excited---

PS my doggie is 3 years as well!

Let me know how you're doing Diane! Courage!

Hi Kassandra!  I started Optifast today. I took a chocolate this morning and I hated it. It tastes like the first shakes that existed in early 80's ( nutridiet I think) and that my mother made me take, because I was a "chubby" kid! So I tried a vanilla one for lunch with Da vinci banana syrup. Wow!! I'm glad I got those syrups. I went to the store this afternoon and I almost fainted around 4 ( with only 2 shakes.) I had a headache and was feeling very weak. But now it's ok, I ate 2 big dill pickles, They were sooooo good! and another shake. I think it will be more difficult than I tought...
For me it's always aroud 3 pm that I am most hungry. I'm going to eat some broccoli now !

So far so good... Good luck!