I am just checking in. I hope you are doing well.

Leah4697,
Today your life changes! Hope all goes well for you. I know you will most likely not see this for a few days. I am in January. Are you a school bus driver?

Lynnjust got my sugery today an havent been been allowed anthing to drink so i cant answer those questions at this time

Hi Lynn,
It's great to hear that you are doing well. It makes me feel better to know that I don't have to be perfect to make it on the diet. Has the surgery changed your taste? Do you feel satisfied and not like you want to eat? I know your probably tired so you don't have to get back right away.

Well, have a great good evening and take care. Leah

Hi Leah,

I'm doing much better, thanks! In the past few days I've been able to keep almost everything I tried to eat down. I just have to remember to eat slowly and stop before I think I should. One little extra bite will do you in.

The pre-op diet wasn't much fun, but it's not nearly as bad as some of the others I've read about on here. Dr. Camelo wants his patients to do 2 weeks of high protein/low carb and then liquids only starting 3 days prior to surgery. I didn't follow the 2 week one very well, but I did follow the liquid one. I wouldn't want to be on it any longer than 3 days, it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. Eating jello and yogurt helped. And I ate a lot of won-ton soup.

I intended to cut back prior to the surgery, too, but it didn't work out that way. I don't think you should worry about it too much. It's true that it's that much less weight you'll have to lose, but it's going to come off so quickly after the surgery, that, to me at least, it doesn't seem worth putting yourself through that before the surgery. I know that goes against conventional wisdom, everybody says you have to prepare yourself for your new way of eating, but the way I see it this surgery sort of forces you into on the job training. So, my philosophy is make it as easy on yourself as possible. Don't suffer through a strict diet before surgery because it will sort of become your way of life after surgery.

Hi Leah,

I'm still doing okay. My only problem is that I'm kind of having a hard time keep food down. I'm throwing up more than I want to (not that I ever actually want to). I think I've been too adventurous with my eating and I need to get back to basics.

That's a good idea to use the Christmas vacation to recuperate. Like I said it takes a while to get your energy back. The more time you have, the easier it will be. And besides, it'll be here before you know it.

As for my follow-up care, my friend is a doctor and he's keeping an eye on me. He's not a surgeon but he knows enough to be able to tell if there is something wrong.

You're right, this forum is a big help. I've relied on it a lot more than I thought I would.

Talk to you later,
Lynn

Hi Leah,

The surgery went great. Two day after surgery, I even walked a few blocks to the beach. The hospital was very clean, the nurses were very attentive and the doctors definitely knew what they were doing. My friend that went with me is in the medical field and he was very impressed with my care.

It will be a month next Friday since my surgery. My surgery wounds are pretty much healed and aren't sore at all (they never really were very sore, actually). I started at 204 lbs and I'm now around 182. Every protein shake or powder I've tried has made me throw up, so I'm trying to do this without them, which puts me at a disadvantage, I'm sure. I feel fine, but I can't say that my energy level is where it was before the surgery. I'm probably not eating enough or getting enough fluids, but I'm working on it.

I can't imagine a better experience than I had and I highly recommend Dr. Camelo and his team. I had a million questions before my surgery and I'm sure you must, too. I couldn't find anyone to talk with about Dr. Camelo and I would have felt much better if I could have talked to someone who had gone to him. So, feel free to ask anything! I'll be happy to help any way I can!

Lynn