Wearing My Heart on My Sleeve - My journey

[EyesOfATragedy]

4/27/11

Yes, the title of this journal is unbelievably corny, but I couldn't help myself. Besides, it got your attention enough to take a quick read, right?

So, some quick basics about me. I'm 28 years old, and I've been overweight as long as I can remember. Like a lot of people who have the sleeve (or want it), I've tried nearly every diet under the sun, only to yo-yo back and forth. (Don't get me wrong; I've never been slim, just less obese.) But as many of us have probably experienced, the weight comes back with a vengeance, with a little more added on each time. I'm tired of it. I finally admitted to myself that I needed some help with this.

So, here I am, scheduled to be sleeved on Monday, May 2. The whole process of approval seemed to last so long, but now I'm only days away from the big finale. I guess time flies when you're trying to meet a host of insurance and pre-op requirements. I think my least favorite was the upper GI X-ray; I almost puked on the radiologist. The ground-up Alka-Seltzer stuff is super gross. It was kind of neat to see my insides on the X-ray machine, though, as the barium shake was passing through!

I officially had my "last" meal tonight. (The way I talked about it, you'd think that I was being shipped off to the electric chair at midnight.) It consisted of a gyro from my favorite Lebanese place, with some frozen custard for dessert. For some reason, it tasted 100x better than normal, but that might be because I know what tomorrow brings: clear liquids only for the next four days. I'm a little nervous about this part, because I can be a bear when I'm hungry. My hope is that, when my stomach is growling and I want to gnaw my own arm off for food, I'll remember why I'm doing this in the first place.

I meet with my surgeon tomorrow for the last of the pre-op stuff, so I'll update with any information.

-Sarah

[leilani]

Congrats Sarah! Looking forward to seeing your progress!

[MissDeidre]

Congratulations!

As a joke, I bought my wife a small tube of superglue and told her that in case I bite her head off while I'm hungry she can glue it back into place.
Turns out, I didn't need it ... I wasn't hungry in the slightest for almost the full 3 weeks post op. I had to remind myself to eat ... You should be fine ... and you'll be GREAT

Congrats again!

[whtarrant]

I am 4 weeks post op and just starting to notice some hunger. There are times I crave something, but no true hunger until now. You sound like you have a healthy outlook and some humor to you. You'll do great!

[mommy23]

We are sleeve buddies, I am getting it done on May 2nd also. The day can't come quick enough for me. I have been doing the preop diet for 10 days now and am ready to move on! Welcome!!

[EyesOfATragedy]

4/27/11

Thanks to everyone for the kind replies. I really appreciate your support!

So, today was the pre-op with the surgeon. The guy's great, but I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed at his moderate disinterest in the whole thing. I know that I'm not the only patient (hell, he had 4 others in and out just during the hour I was there), but showing a little bit of concern would have been beneficial. The whole experience gave me that "cow on a conveyor belt" feeling. Ohh, well. As long as he doesn't try to sleeve some other major organ other than my stomach, I suppose we'll get along just fine.

He did answer the questions I've been concerned about, though. I'll get anti-nausea medication before being hit with anesthesia, so no worries about involuntary projectile vomit. I don't HAVE to take 4-6 weeks off of work. It'll just depend on how I feel. I get to keep my tongue ring; I just need to replace it with a plastic retainer.

Today is the first clear liquids only day, and I'm proud to say that I haven't yelled at anyone yet! Tonight's dinner will be a delicious fare of heated chicken broth, complimented by an ice-cold vanilla protein shake, to be followed up with either a popsicle or some Jello. Just to get crazy wild, I may have a nightcap of white grape juice!

It's good to read that people seem to not have a difficulty with hunger after the surgery. That helps put my mind at ease.

Well, we'll see what tomorrow brings! It'll be my last day of work for a couple of weeks, and I'll be packing up all of my stuff to head towards my mom's place (she's letting me stay with her while I recover, and the hospital is only 15 mins away). I hope I don't forget anything!

-Sarah

[laniesmom]

I am over 6 weeks out and still can only eat a little les than 1/2 a cup...and I am never hungry.
GOOD LUCK

[Amymbd]

Sarah,
I feel the same about my doctor, but I know even less because I am self paid, so they don't have to jump any hoops for me. However, I have heard that my surgeon is the best in East Texas.....so like I told someone else, I don't want to date him, I just need him to be good At what he does! I am getting sleeved on the 6th, so we will have much to discuss! Good luck Monday!

[Just Jess]

good luck, Sarah!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[argibson76]

Sarah .. I wish you all the best. I had surgery on 4/11. There will be lots of challenges and happiness too. My Dr. is the same way. This is such an exciting time in my life and he seemed to rather be somewhere else. However, he did successfully do the procedure and now I get to start my new life!
Good luck Monday. I'm excited to hear how things are going for you!

[MoreFitDiane]

4/27/11

... but now I'm only days away from the big finale.

-Sarah

Best wishes to you Sarah! And don't think of it as the "big finale"; think of it as the grand entrance into a whole new world!

By the way, my surgeon, my nutritionist, and everyone on their staff are wonderful. They take their time, answer all of my questions, and don't make me feel as though they are rushed at all. They congratulate my successes and ask about my life. They are an important part of my support team!

[ItsforME]

I too get sleeved on May 2! I am excted, anxious, nervous, scared but soooo ready! We will all have to keep in touch and share our progress. Goodluck

[laniesmom]

Sarah,
I feel the same about my doctor, but I know even less because I am self paid, so they don't have to jump any hoops for me. However, I have heard that my surgeon is the best in East Texas.....so like I told someone else, I don't want to date him, I just need him to be good At what he does! I am getting sleeved on the 6th, so we will have much to discuss! Good luck Monday!

I am in East Texas too...are you using Dr. Babineau(my doctor)? I had my procedure 3-17 and have dropped about 40 pounds including pre-op diet. Another co-worker had bypass with Dr.B last June and went from size 22 to a 4 now...Good Luck

[ItsforME]

laniesmom

I'm using Dr B too! Glad to know someone else that has. I have a friend that used him too in December and she's doing great too!

[Juney]

Good luck to those of you about to be sleeved. Let us know how you get on xxx