Is it January yet?

[nykegyrl]

I am so ready to get my tool in January. I am sick of being the biggest person at my job. My surgeon thinks that I can lose all 200 lbs within 18 months. That just blows my mind.

[ginany]

I know how you feel. That was me. 6 months seems like an eternity. It will fly by. Hang in there.

[Deleted]

There is so much you can do in the interim!! Build up your nutritional status. Build muscle mass. Improve your lung capacity. Look at this time as a gift. You have defined, limited time frame for being the size you are now....AND you have very concrete things you can do in that time to really rock your DS.

What you need to NOT be doing is something that one of my angelettes did: Do NOT sit on your tush and obsess about the minutiae of DS knowledge and living while ignoring the real stuff that could be done to make things better. Make yourself HEALTHIER and do it NOW.

Exercise/muscle building: It doesn't matter how disabled you are. You can still move more than you do now. I couldn't walk across a room without stopping to rest, and I was forbidden to do any type of activity that would raise my heart rate. Ah, but you can learn to exercise without raising your heart rate, as I discovered through the magic of specialized physical therapy called pulmonary rehabilitation. I literally started by sitting in my chair and lifting one leg after another many times in a row. Ditto each arm. I progressed to standing up and sitting down five times in a row, then ten, then fifteen.... I lifted my arms and legs with weights attached. I did muscle tensing exercises while lying down. Etc.

Nutritional status: Now's the time to get on a pre op appropriate supplement regimen. Get labs done and find out where all your levels are and fix them NOW. Don't wait for later. Start getting the simple carbs out of your life and adding the protein. If you don't already know the nutritional content of every single food you put in your mouth, LEARN IT. Take classes if you must, but learn nutrition.

Lung capacity: 1.) Blow up balloons. The goal is to blow up the balloon as large as possible, as fast as possible, in one breath. Work it HARD. 2.) Get yourself a flower. Take a humongous breath, purse your lips and then blow out so gently that the petals JUST BARELY move. Keep the petals moving at the same pace for as long as possible. Keep track of your results with these two exercises and get better at it. LOTS better.

Learn how to hydrate with plain old water. If you aren't already routinely drinking at least a gallon a day (yes, I know that's 128 oz. and not 64 oz. That's the POINT), start doing it. Don't tell me any picayune excuses about why you "can't" or it's "too much." DO. IT. If you get to the point of surgery feeling like piddling 64 oz. is an impossible amount of fluid preop, guess what? You're gonna be in a world of hurt postop.

There, that should keep you busy for a while .

[Leonie]

EN, exalt!

Every pre-op needs this advice after they have found the DS and a good surgeon.

I would add: learn to cook atkins style.
break any addictions like coffee, soda, cigarettes and alcohol.
Go to the dentist.
Make a file of recipes and quotes from the boards here
Attend a DS support group and make friends.
Come here often and share other's journey.

[mark540]

I exercised at the Y prior to surgery, swimming mostly. After surgery I was not able to exercise a lot for the first few months, walking mostly. Being in good shape was important to be able to take it a bit easier after surgery while initial healing took it's sweet time.

[nykegyrl]

Thanks guys. EN especially. I did not think about increasing my pulmonary function. I am making strides in cutting out things, and learning to eat protein protein protein. I had my labs done yesterday. I go to the MD on Monday to find out what I need to add/change as far as any nutritional deficits.
Thanks again!

[goodkel]

The better health you are in pre-op, the better off you will be post-op.

The time will fly by. Really.

[melissav]

En,

I find it very interesting the great differences between the RNY and DS. I am waiting on a DS revision. What great advice! Damn it is hard to blow up a balloon. I am going to take your advise and keep trying til I get it.

Also, walk, walk and walk some more. Walk circles in your home if you can.

Start learning the different types of protein. Get acquainted with the different types of sugars(if you aren't already).

Ask a lot of questions on this board as the vets on here are passionate about people succeeding. You may not always like what you hear, but they wont steer you wrong.