It's Time.....

Well, I'm off to the hospital!!!! YIKES!!! I am already so thirsty and I won't even get a little sip of anything until tomorrow!!  Grrrr

 Have a great day, everyone!!

SW = 321lb
CW = 291lb

>>Less Of Josh<<

Night Before VSG PIctures

SW = 321lb

CW = 292lb

4-21-2014

>>Less Of Josh<<

Tomorrow!!!

more day until I get my VSG surgery!!!
The fear and nerves have really kicked in now. I will be getting to the hospital in about 12 hours!! Eeeek! 

I weighed myself this morning and have lost 9 pounds on the pre-op diet which I started this past Wednesday. Not too shabby! Wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, although it wasn't exactly easy. 
I have to be at the hospital tomorrow morning at 7:30am for my surgery that's scheduled at 9:30am. My parents will be there as well as Ty and my Brother and his fiance' at some point. I just hope it all goes smoothly. 

I am going to keep updated on this as well as posting videos to YouTube frequently. In fact, I am now uploading a new video to YT as I type this. 

Thanks for all words of encouragement as well as all the people who upload videos to YouTube documenting their journey - they have been very very helpful! 

SW = 321lb
CW = 292lb

>>Less Of Josh<<

2 Days Pre-op

more days until my life completely changes!!!! 

The excitement and fear are both building. I am actually having my breakfast Premier Protein shake as I type this. These are my favorite ones that I have come across thus far. They are pre-made and come in chocolate, strawberry and vanilla and I purchase by the case at Costco. I have been drinking the chocolate ones for quite some time now and am having my first vanilla one. I have yet to try their strawberry flavor. So far so good as far as taste goes. They are not too thick and have just the right amount of sweetness without a bad aftertaste. They don't make me full by any means, but they take the edge off and make my stomach stop growling during this pre-op liquid diet. 

I am taking these final days before my surgery (4/22) to make sure I have everything in order for when I leave for the hospital and for when I return home after. Ty took two weeks off of work to be home with me and my parent's will be here for the first few days as well in case I need some assistance. There's just so much to remember that I want to make sure that I don't leave any stone unturned. I would much rather be over-prepared than under-prepared. I have also been posting up a storm on Obesity Help and Thinner Times to converse with some people who are where I am or who have been where I am for some words of encouragement. I have some cleaning and laundry I want to get done as well as filming a few videos for my YouTube channel. 

I have all my liquids purchased and ready to go for my 3 week post-op diet: protein shakes, Crystal Lite, Propel Water, regular bottled water, sugar free Jell-o, broth and sugar free Popsicles. A few more preparations and I think I will be all set for Tuesday and when I return home (hopefully) on Wednesday!!

I am hoping to get a new video up by later today!

Here is my checklist of what I am planning on bringing to the hospital with me on Tues for my procedure. 

Anything with an * beside it, is what my DR wants me to bring.

Night clothes *

Loose fitting clothes to go home in * 

CPAP *

All medicines *

my WLS book *

Insurance card * 

Incentive Spirometer *

Personal care items (lotion, toothpaste, toothbrush, etc..) * 

iPhone

iPad

Charger ^^

Camera (for in the hospital and to hold against my stomach for the ride home)

Pillow

Chapstick

Gas-X Strips (need to call my surgeon tomorrow to make sure this is ok)

Body wipes

Pen & paper

Breath strips (need to call my surgeon tomorrow to make sure this is ok)

SW = 321lb
CW = 296lb

>>Less Of Josh<< 

3 Days Pre-op

In 3 days I will be going through the biggest change of my life! I get my VSG on Tuesday April 22nd, 2014.

I can only describe the way I'm feeling as 'scared excitement'. It is is such an unknown outcome and it's on such a per person experience that no amount of literature out there can possibly prepare me for when I open my eyes after the procedure is complete. I am going with the notion of expecting the worst, so hopefully I am pleasantly surprised. 

I think I have everything organized for my stay in the hospital and for when I return home, but it still feels like I have so much to do and so little time to do it in. Thank God I love making lists otherwise I would probably be feeling much more overwhelmed. It's funny how this process seems to take forever and then all of a sudden it seems to be going too fast and you can't pump the brakes at this point!

I would have been creeping on 3 months post-op at this point if I would not have had a torn meniscus in my right knee that I needed to have repaired prior to WLS surgery. I was originally scheduled for my surgery on 2/3/14, but after a lot of knee pain, I was told I would have to have knee surgery and then have to wait to have my VSG after 2 months of recovery. In a sense it was a blessing because I got a taste of what surgery would be like before the "big" one. My knee is almost 100% back to normal and now I obviously won't have any trouble walking, since that's such a huge part of recovery after WLS. There's a silver lining in everything, I guess. 

On Tuesday, I have to be at the hospital at 7:30am for my surgery at 9:30am. Thankfully I have a great support system and will have a lot of people there pre and post surgery. Ty, my parents, Joe and Roxy will all be at the hospital. My Mom has stated that she's not leaving my house until I am home and she knows I am "well". Everyone needs their Mom as they seem to always be able to make you feel better. Of course, I also have all my pets that will be more than willing to cuddle with me once I am home and on my road to recovery. 

Tonight I am going to take a bunch of 'before' pictures most of which will be for my eyes only, but I will take some that I can post too. I just need to pick an outfit that I will want to take pictures in from here on out to mark my progress. 

SW = 321lb
CW = 296lb

>>Less Of Josh<<