I have a date!! So excited!!

[brandy9776]

It's been awhile since I've posted on here. I come here to lurk and enjoy reading everyone's post. It's long overdue since I got my approval but I've been on vacation and rested up this past week. I got the call the day before I left on my vacation. I've been approved and my surgery will be Aug. 5th. I can't wait. I go this Monday for all my pre-op testing and a group meeting. I have so many questions, I just don't know where to start. The vitamins seems to be the biggest questions. I get so overwhelmed with them all. Did any of you guys feel this way too? I downloaded vitalady's schedule but it still a lot to take in. I applied to Celabrate Vitamins assistance program and was approved for 50% off all my orders with free delivery this is with every order I get the 50%, it will help with the finance till I can recover and get a job. I just don't want to (pardon my french) fuck up on my vitamins. Is there anyone who would be willing to be my "Angel" during all this? I could really use one. I know I will have many more questions to ask but now my mind went blank. I need to write this stuff done...lol! I have been waiting for this for the past 10 yrs, the ds I learned about 6 yrs ago have been researching the DS since. Thanks ladies!!

[illinids2]

Congratulations Brandy!

[brandy9776]

Thank you illinds2!

[west4thavenue]

Congratulations, Brandy! I am happy for you!

[PeteA]

That's great Brandy. I'm excited for you. Congrats!!!!!

[brandy9776]

Thank you West4havenue and PeteA!!

[cherylbaker]

This will be th e longest few weeks of your life. Congrats on the date

[historytracker]

Congratulations and get ready for the challenge. I love the surgery thus far, but remember you need to incorporate some good habits such as not drinking and eating. This was a huge one for me. Look at things that you can change in your life. Do not be afraid to ask questions. People are here to help.

[mistercy]

Jul 14, 2014 3:29:12 GMT -5 historytracker said:

Congratulations and get ready for the challenge. I love the surgery thus far, but remember you need to incorporate some good habits such as not drinking and eating. This was a huge one for me. Look at things that you can change in your life. Do not be afraid to ask questions. People are here to help.

Actually, the no drinking and eating together thing is something nutritionists say standard to all bariatric patients, but it turns out that it does not apply to DS patients. Since we don't digest our food well, having liquids with your food is not a bad thing, and may aid in digestion for DSers. There are numerous threads on this subject on this and other boards. Like almost everything else with the DS, it is a case of YMMV - do what works best for you.

[Girlrocker]

Hi Brandy, welcome! I'm Sharyl, I was revised to a DS from my RNY in December 2011. You're in a good place for information and support, hover your mouse on the Weight Loss Surgery Forum tab and you'll get all the main boards with the sub-boards. There's a lot to read here and that's one of the best things you can do besides ask all the questions you need to!

Here's a sticky thread that can help give you perspective on what to expect from surgery and how to plan (ignore the notice that appears about the thread being 90 days old, sticky posts are mostly resource threads for reading)

weightlosssurgery.proboards.com/thread/8801/surgery-expect-plan

As for vitamins, to get started immediately post-op, you'll do fine with just a multi and calcium citrate the first 30 days. Vitalady's pre-packaged regimen really helps make it easy, less thinking, just follow. As you get more familiar, many tailor their supplement needs to their specific lab results, get some from Vitalady, like D, A, K, that come in the higher dosages we need, Proferrin is the popular heme iron (better and more concentrated) and others you can buy at regular drug/grocery/health/warehouse stores, like multi, calcium citrate, Bcomplex, magnesium. Again the first month you'll be fine with a multi and calcium citrate.

It's a whole new world, learning to eat a way that makes sense for life, and the DS gives us a lot of flexibility in eating really delicious, interesting food. It doesn't cure any head problems we have, we still have to work on those! Eating/drinking is doable much further out, mostly because you just get full doing them at the same time when you're still new. But it's very easy to take a normal amount of sips while eating with the DS (less so with the RNY) later down the line, You'll learn what full really is, and many new doors will open, It's a wonderful thing. Hard work in the beginning, but the prize is so worth it.

Also, try a separate post that says 'looking for an angel' and let's see if we can connect you! Welcome!

[dawn4511]

Welcome Brandy and congrats.

[jmdenton]

I'm happy for you but jealous I don't have a date yet! Keep us updated!!!

[brandy9776]

Thank you guys so much for everything! I went yesterday for all my pre-op testing. I just got a call from the nurse that my potassium is low so they gave me a script for that to help bring it up. But, other then that I'm schedule for my surgery and everything is all set! I'm super duper excited but scared as hell but ready! The reason why I said I am scared is because I will be pretty much on my own after I get out of surgery. My husband has to leave that night to get back to work. We live 3 hours away from the hospital and he doesn't have any vacation time to use, so missing anymore then 2 days really hurts our pocketbook. The Dr. said I will be in there anywhere from 3 to 5 days depending on me. I hate being alone during this time specially being 3 hours away from my family. But, I will do it! Thanks everyone again for all the support!! It means so much to me!!

[goodkel]

I traveled to MX and back by myself for my DS. Granted the care was better there than in the US, but you should have no problem without your husband. Post-op, you'll be drugged out and sleeping most of the time, anyway. You'll be fine and we will be here to hold your hand, if you need us.

You CAN eat and drink at the same time. But, if there is only room to do one thing, you DRINK. Staying hydrated is imperative, more important than food.

I haven't heard anything good about Celebrate vitamins. You should be ok as long as you do not use them for your A,D,E, or K. Chances are, even on the off chance that they are the correct formulation, they won't be the proper dosage. Match up Vitalady's list with Celebrate. Where they don't match, ditch the Celebrate. Things like Calcium Citrate and C you will do fine with Costco or Walmart generics and much less expensively.

I live in Hampton Roads, VA. About 4 hours from Dr. Sudan. Other than making the trip to the hospital, I'd be happy to help you anyway I can.