T minus 9 Days!

I will be having my gastric sleeve surgery performed on January 9, 2013 at 8am with Dr. Hugh Houston at Centennial Women's Hospital. I'm terrified (but only about the recovery) and excited. I've officially reached over 200 pounds. I am only 5'2". This is a lot of weight to be carrying around on a petite frame. When I first started researching this surgery, I think it was initially for mostly vain reasons. I wanted to be thin again and look good. Now, as my weight has gone up and up, it is no longer about simply looking good. I don't plan on weighing myself until the morning of surgery, because right now it is too depressing to see the number. Last I checked, I was 202 pounds. I have had back pain for a while now that I believe is definitely caused by my weight. But not only that, I now have severe hip pain when standing for more than a few minutes or walking around. It's excruciating and so depressing to feel like I need to sit down for relief. My ankles also hurt, which I'm sure is weight related as well. These three things scare me. I am only 28, and if I am being realistic with myself, I know I cannot lose the weight on my own and KEEP IT OFF. Therefore these problems will only get worse with time, and new problems will be added along the way like high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol. I view this surgery as a tool. I have done extensive research. I literally have nothing else to read it seems. I know that this is not going to be a magic fix, but I expect it to be a helpful tool to get me to where I need to be.

A lot of surgeons require a two week pre-op diet of only liquids. This is to shrink the size of the liver so that the surgeon has more room. My surgeon only requires a two day pre-op liquid diet. This consists of things like chicken/beef/vegetable broth, sugar free jello, water of course, sugar free popsicles, crystal light, decaf coffee, decaf tea, sugar free kool-aid. My surgeon says the post-op liquid diet after surgery is torture enough, so therefore he does not require the long pre-op diet. So for two weeks (14 days) after surgery I will only be allowed clear liquids while my new stomach heals. After this, Stage 2 begins. Protein drinks are introduced during this stage, and it lasts two weeks. Stage 3 is the blended diet. It also lasts for two weeks. I will eat three meals per day, and I will need to mechanically blend some foods to a finely chopped consistency.

Stage 4 is the last stage and it is the High Protein Low Carbohydrate Diet. This stage lasts until 75% or more of excess weight is lost.

Protein and staying hydrated are going to be my biggest goals. This isn't going to be easy. I don't expect it to be, but I'm ready for a new beginning.