ShelterDog64

Avoid ALL sodium.

The pre-op diet and the NPO (nothing by mouth) the night before surgery are two completely different issues. Pre-op diet is sometimes to see if you can stick to a diet and often to shrink your liver so that less of it overlaps the stomach, and also for both reasons. The NPO after midnight (or bedtime) the night prior to surgery is to ensure that your stomach is empty. Generally, the concern is that you could aspirate your stomach contents (from reflux) during anesthesia and end up with pneumonia. When you're having an operation ON your stomach, there's another obvious reason...your stomach needs to be empty so that no food is incorporated into the suture line, or spills into the abdomen in case of problems. Either way, you need to tell your surgical team if you don't comply with their instructions...you want your stomach and liver to be in the condition they expect when they operate, not have them surprised by a full stomach or a still-huge liver.

@@WLSResources/ClothingExch **Ptish-tosh. You'll be criticized for something or other, so why wait? Make something up now and get the inevitable over with. It's the bariatric version of "lie back and think of England."** This is the VERY best thing I've ever read on BP. Thank you, I'll be able to laugh my way through a crappy Monday because of this

@@mrstkgreene Those post-op instructions are so bad, they're almost criminal. Good lord, how are you supposed to have any idea what to eat/drink and how to nourish yourself?? I'm on my way out the door, but I'll snap a pic of mine and post it here later on. I'm so sorry your surgical team gave you such **** instructions. And pardon my language, but poor healthcare just infuriates me. And PS...you're going to get some great advice here...and some of it will be imparted rather harshly. Don't throw the help you need out because of hurt feelings, please? You NEED help with this, if that's all you got to come home with.

@@hats123 You wrote, much more eloquently than I could have, exactly what I was thinking. @@krazykristen I hope you have a great surgery and that your personal issues resolve in a way that works for you! Make sure you let us know the outcome

GET A LIFE, DUB! is going to be my new go-to scream phrase. It just *works*.

@@Dub **If the hens bother you...........yer gonna hate on this cock.** Haha, just spit part of my precious 64 oz of Water into my lap....LMAO

There are some considerations regarding different surgeries, and BMI and co-morbidities are a couple of those considerations. I never considered a DS, was leaning heavily toward sleeve vs bypass due to my age, weight/BMI and lack of severe co-morbidities...happily, my surgeon agreed with me and was thinking of sleeve for me as well. It's a decision that should be made by the two of you, based on your knowledge of yourself and your habits and your surgeon's professional expertise. The one thing that needs to be clearly understood about WLS is that it's a partnership...your surgeon can do any of the surgeries and it will only work as well as the confidence you have in it and effort you put toward it. Good luck in making your decision!

Maybe just not feed this in any way? Responding = validation, in whatever weird universe some people exist in.

Can we do something more interesting than tacos for this round of 'What Not To Eat'? Don't any of you people ever go through the Dairy Queen drive-through? How about a big old Blizzard or something??

@DJ's Nana The family members who tell you this...are they heavy? Are they just jealous of the fact that you now have the ability to do something they can't? I'm so sorry they're not being more supportive...you WILL be able to get down to a size and weight where you feel comfortable wearing a tucked-in shirt and a cute belt! Heck, I've only lost 50-ish pounds and the difference is amazing! I've gone from a full, flabby size 16 bottoms and 1x tops to size 12 bottoms and medium tops and I'm still 70 lbs from goal. I can't even imagine what that size will be but I KNOW I'll start tucking in my shirts and loving the way I look very very soon Good luck to you!

@@OutsideMatchInside I agree about people being sent home when they can barely drink fluids...the ones that really scare me are same-day surgery patients. My potassium bottomed out during the first night pre-op...I wouldn't have recognized what was going on at home. I had to be able to drink (and keep down) the clear Protein I was given in the hospital before I could be discharged, as well as walk around unassisted and use the bathroom. I ended up staying a second night and I think I needed it.

I've only been here on BP for a few months, but I've found this to be an enormously supportive group. Welcome and I hope you stay around!

@@Inner Surfer Girl Those look fantastic...I could eat Brussels Sprouts every day, I love them!

@@LisaMergs I *think* it's a Snapchat filter, but I refuse to use Snapchat, sooooo....

For me, it's a tie between 2 Pearl Jam songs... "Present Tense" and "I Am Mine"

@@HopefulInVirginia With all due respect to the moron (which is NONE), f*&k him. You don't need that kind of bs in your life right now. Obesity is still something other people feel fine discriminating against and feel free talking to/about other people as though they're idiots if they're obese. I'd be willing to be you've spent more time, money and emotion on your weight than he's EVER had to put forth regarding HIS. Go and get your surgery and be proud of yourself. For caring about yourself, your family and the people who care about YOU. You'll soon be a healthier weight and along with it will come better self-esteem and a better head-space about yourself. You're growing and moving in a positive direction, people like your husband's co-worker aren't...they're stuck with their petty thoughts and ugly minds.

@@Bufflehead You ROCK!

@@Jentastic19 Only about a week to 10 days, they were so minor that I don't really recall. I had one incision (where they pulled my stomach out) that was sorer and still has a lump from the suture under it, but nothing really painful. I'm sorry this is all happening to you

Since you've already had a complicated post-op course, I wouldn't sit on this...call your surgeon/team and get seen ASAP. I had only tiny tugging pains directly under my incisions, so anything more would be very alarming.

I still have no hunger, so I don't get a 'satisfied' feeling because there's nothing to satisfy. I weigh and measure my food diligently and always eat my Protein first so that when my restriction hits, I've gotten what matters most into my stomach. I just eat slowly and really pay attention to how my stomach is feeling, because if I go a bite over, I'm miserable. The feeling is clear and unmistakeable (for me, it's like a STOP sign goes up and I'm DONE), but if you're eating too fast, you can already be a couple of bites over your limit before you feel it...then it's bad, for me.

@@leebick What kind of Protein shakes do you use? I'm back to them for a little while and while I DID use the Premier Protein during my full liquid phase, it's repulsive now. I'm looking for something a little more palatable while I get through this little speed bump I've hit.

I use MyFitnessPal, I like the mobile app and I like that it syncs with my Fitbit. I also use MapMyWalk, which integrates with MFP as well.

Actually, that is a very common and smart practice for most surgeons. This is part of the required 'time-out' at our facility. The surgeon who will perform the procedure comes into pre-op, goes over the consent with you for a final time and initials the limb/joint/whatever that you'll have surgery on. To the OP...the likelihood that you truly had the wrong procedure is extremely low, but that doesn't lessen your anxiety at all, I'm sure. It's probably a data-entry mistake, but you need a prompt (immediate!!) answer to you inquiry. The surgeon's operative report will detail exactly what was done, and should be provided to you right away. I'm absolutely stunned that someone thought it was ok to say 'well, we'll just have you in for a barium swallow to confirm' as though a) this is a common event and b ) it's fine to perform unnecessary tests on patients for our own convenience. My last thought on all this is that YOU won't be paying anyone else a DIME for ANY follow-up in this mess.

I hate to swim for exercise, but I do like Water aerobics. You can adjust the intensity as needed to get your heart rate in your target area. Walking is great, but I like to mix it up a little...use the elliptical, the stair machine, bike, recumbent bike, rowing machine. And I know you said you don't like weights, but strength training is important. Doing a circuit on machines is kind of fun because you get instant gratification as you get stronger...I love being able to add a weight plate on a machine because I've moved past the last weight I lifted. And last, mix it up as far as outside vs inside...I get bored with the gym, but also bored with my typical neighborhood walking routes. Get in the car and go somewhere different to walk or bike, take a different route around your neighborhood. I use the Map My Walk app to record distance but also to store routes. Good luck!