Shoelace

Everyone is nervous before any surgery I think but look at all the prep you've put into this..most people go into surgery with nothing other than fasting the night before!! Afterwards you'll be looking back thinking, what was all the hype about!! You've got this!

Maybe warm liquids as well? I had no problems, in fact was told to space out my sips but everyone is different. Just keep the sips up! The first few days are tough and you're over worried..you will get there..slow and steady!

I think it all depends on how your blood tests are looking after surgery..multiple blood tests of course. Even if one eats really well I think it's hard to get all the vitamins and nutrients out of food these days. They just aren't there anymore. So I would think this is a most likely event, some kinds of vitamins for life. But honestly, we probably should have been taking them long ago anyway!

I have always been very susceptible to constipation and had a couple of really bad issues, once before surgery and once after. I saw my doctor about this and I started a program of benefibre in the morning, Laxaday at night and then the stool softeners as well. I use Ducasate, not sure if this is available in the states but something similar. I'm now 4 months post op and have switched my fibre to a more natural one than benefibre and use the Laxaday every second day now, soon to move to every third day until I can stop it completely. The stool softerners, I might take those from here on in as I think I needed that type of thing long ago. But check with your doctor. I have been fine with the program I am on and have not suffered at all doing this!

I'm 4 months post op with no complications and no regrets. Best decision I ever made and I only look forward now. The first few days were rough but they are after most surgeries. Other than being tired, I could have gone back to work in week 2 I think..didn't but could have. Losing nicely. Not fast but that's just fine and so far no real excess hair loss. Absolutely no buyers remorse here!

I find this all quite interesting as I am 4 months out and am still focused on protein and fibre and not calories. I'm losing 1.5 to 2 lbs per week with moderate exercise but then last week lost 4 lbs. Who knows why but I'll take it! I think I need to try and track it all again..I just haven't as the portions have been so small I've only focused on the other. Lolo 2020 - I'm impressed with your exercise routine! You go!

I wore out what I wore in. Sweat pants and a loose top..t shirt type. No one cares what you look like and you go in, strip into hospital clothes until you go out. Sure, toothbrush, phone, brush, toothbrush and paste, slippers and i agree with the soft pillow for the seatbelt going home. My other suggestions are: earplugs, eye mask for sleeping, you have to bring your CPAP if you use one and something like lavendar to put over your nose if need be. I found the smell in the wards could be quite overwhelming. All you'll want to do that first bit is sleep. They'll get you up and walking but you won't go far..around the wards, that's it..everyone else will look just like you! Not likely you'll be able to read a book. Maybe do some social media on your phone but honestly, that gave me a headache in there! lol!

I'm 58 and had my surgery in November. Now I think I'm going backwards age-wise! I can walk again! Previously I could barely make it to the car or the end of the block..now I am back to walking miles in a day and loving it! Best decision I ever made and not looking back!

And it's a really great feeling afterwards when your surgeon tells you the surgery was a breeze! That's what it's all about..shrink that liver!

I agree with the above..beans give you so much..protein, fibre and texture and bulk. That's a win/win as far as I'm concerned! Better than craving sweet!

I had a hard time with the shakes after surgery as well. We are told to thin them so by the time I did that, it took forever to finish it. I use something called Liquicel which may only be available in Canada, but anything similar will work. For a while trying to get your protein in by drinking it will help as it becomes are of your liquid as well as your protein. Good luck! You will get there!

Agreed! Don't look back! And throw yourself in front of anything that is going to help you keep eating healthy..cooking classes, support groups, outings that include exercise. My goal right now is to get my steps to over 8000/day (10 would be better but 8 works for me for now!). I don't make it everyday for sure, but I'm slowly progressing. So as said above, focus on the future!

If you can handle skim milk or enriched soy milk, add a nice chocolate whey powder to a cup of either of those, blend with a hand blender and you are getting fluids and protein. I like Leanfit for the chocolate whey but there are many out there. We pay ridiculous shipping charges for anything from Bariatric Pal to Canada but they probably have eveything you might need to add to your protein count in a day. I think Amazon carries Leanfit though. It's constant research and learning I am finding!

I'm in Canada so didn't have to do the insurance loop but had very similar requirements pre surgery. We were told to expect 6 to 9 months before actual surgery and honestly, I needed that. They would have signed me off after 3 months as I was doing so well with the weight loss during that period but other things got in the way of that and really, I needed that time. There is a lot to learn as far as how you will have to eat after surgery so this pre time is a good time to educate and experiment and it will help you so much to really get into what you are going to be able to eat in the weeks after..it's very little so it really helps if you can make it interesting!! The couple of weeks leading up to the surgery vary depending on the surgeon. I went with the Optifast as I simply didn't want to think about making the pre-op diet meals..so I did 4 of those a day plus 2 cups of non starch cooked vegetables and it really wasn't too bad. I ended up doing this for 4 weeks due to scheduling issues but the surgeon said my surgery was easy and I have had very little pain after. Returned to work after 3 weeks but could have gone back after 2 I'm sure. My work is not physical mind you. There tends to be so much stress leading up to this..and it is not a small surgery by any means, but if you follow the directions as they are set out, it's not that bad either. Though each experience is different and there are those that have had a harder time and I sympathize with those...but be positive looking forward! This is a life changer and a lifelong journey but I don't regret it for a minute.

it's a tough one pre-surgery...should I, shouldn't I? Maybe I can do this on my own? And sometimes people can do it on their own. I did it off and on over the years..put on 50 lbs, took off 50 lbs, snuck up 50+, dropped maybe 20..and on it went over the years with the scale gradually climbing until at 58 I was up to 350. Sad...but the way it was. I'm 5 weeks out from surgery and definately one of the lucky ones for post operative issues. I've had very little pain, energy has been fine. I went back to work part time in week three and full time in week four but certainly could have returned full time week 3. I have to be careful, obviously, but I have followed the instructions and am not regretting it for a minute. Like Swanton_Bomb noted above, the stomach controls the volume (at least if one doesn't continually push it!) so when I get out of schedule and am really hungry (my bad for letting that happen!) I think I will be able to eat too much food as I am so hungry, but I just can't. After about 1/3 to 1/2 cup of whatever I've made, that's it, I'm done..I simply can't take in anymore. So I'm absolutely thrilled I made the decision to do this. I look at people eating their dinners now and I am amazed at the volume being consumed and I calculate what I could actually have from these plates and how much..it's amazing how the mind changes your whole concept of food. At least it has for me. Good luck on your journey!

I agree with Wanda247..the pre-op diet is all about shrinking the liver and if that's all you are consuming, it's got to be shrinking. I was on it for 4 weeks and only lost about 12 lbs but I had lost a lot before the surgery..the body does the strangest things...I'm not letting go! lol! I think you will be fine. Good luck!

I'm in week 4 post op and was having some anxiety before, thinking what am I doing with all the lead up and tests..you think you're going in for a heart transplant or something! This was much easier than both my gallbladder removal and the C section with my daughter. I found the first few days post-op a bit rough..but I took it very easy, sipped on water very slowly, took the pain meds as suggested and have had very little real pain or emotional swings...though I'm through menopause..maybe that's why? lol! I'm finding, even only at 4 weeks, that I'm looking at things differently. I see the amount of food people put on their plates and I'm in awe as I can only consume about the size of an egg..maybe a little more now but not that much! I watch them eat and I'm amazed! What annoys me right now is that I spend time getting my pureed chicken, carrots and sweet potato cooked and ready, eat my 2 tables spoons of the chicken (protein first remember!) and I can barely get a few bites each of my veg..! All that work and that's all I can consume! It's quite funny really. So, the anxiety will pass, you will get through it and then things change on the other side and you'll wonder why all the lead up fuss! Good luck!

Pre-op for me was 4 weeks of the Optifast 4 per day plus 2 cups of non starch steamed vegetables with a balsamic. I only ended up with 4 weeks as my surgery date ended up later than we had anticipated but the surgery went extremely well and my surgeon said it was easy. So, I'm not sure why you are that restricted in the shakes. I found having one every 4 hours worked very well. Each surgeon is different, obviously, but my liver shrank quite nicely on 4 a day.

So I'm 11 days post op and still feel the stomach cramping at times. Usually as I am waking up..probably dehydration..and then when I start my first shake in the morning, as that is all I can handle in the morning, I have to take it really slow as I will also experience stomach pain. Not the cramping but pain. We were told on leaving to hospital to keep the main focus on hydration, then protein. That being said, I haven't been able to get near the 5 or 6 cups of water a day plus trying to get protein in as well. There simply aren't enough hours in the day to do that right now and I can only sip small amounts of anything at the moment. Remember, your stomach isn't much bigger than a pencil at the very beginning so treat it ever so special! But again, hydrate very slowly, maybe at room temperature rather than cold water and just work up as you can. I still haven't hit my protein goals and I've stopper worrying. I just do what I can and make sure I'm doing my best to stay hydrated. I will get easier!

I felt really good in the hospital day after as well and honestly not too bad after. For me it's been getting the food and fluids and supplements in..not easy and the stomach is so small and one has to be so careful!

I had a really bad experience pre-op so made sure I was covered for post! i use Lax-a-day every day since about day 3 as well as the docusate..so both. This had kept things "flowing" quite well. 😊

Oh my! Thus my years of avoiding any kind of dating sites..no time for navigating through all the crap! Some are lucky and maybe didn't have to wade through all that! I have actually worked with men who think that part of their body is the best part they have and think that others will admire it! Not many, but a few. Sad.....

I think with your obvious pain level, something stronger makes more sense. I didn't have constant pain the first night and day at home but intermittent painful spasms. I get mild and shorter ones only on waking now. I don't sleep on my stomach at all so can't comment but I think with pillows and if you are comfortable? I don't get all my liquids or protien in yet but am working on that daily. I'm doing the 30 min break on each end of the "solids" now so it's going to be even harder to get fluids up but I keep at it. I still find water a bit painful at times, though even my shake was a bit painful this morning so I think it will be a slow day. But just keep at it and the routine will come! 🙂

I had my sleeve on the 22nd so 4 days post op. Did they give you pain killers? I find the pain comes and goes but the t3s help. I take 1 in the morning and 1 at night. You might need more for a while. I have been able to lay (carefully) on my side since in the hospital, I was told this was ok..but pain might hinder you there. I know in the hospital they were giving me 2 t3s or equivalent every 4 hours plus we were hydrated with the IV..I felt just fine..but at home it's been a different challenge for sure. Today I have been feeling a lot better do hopefully each day will get better for you as well. I'd work on the pain killers though.

I had my first shower today after surgery on the 20th and it was heaven! Removed the bandages, left the steri strips and am letting those air dry for a while. So wonderful to feel really clean! I too am having trouble getting as many fluids in as I would like as it really does hurt. Yesterday I only managed 2 of the 6 small meals we're supposed to have as I was still focusing on hydration. But I think each day will get better. Started today with a premier shake, wait 1/2 hour then start sipping water for 1 hour..wait 1/2 hour then work on next meal and planning to try to bring the protein level of that meal up a bit as I try to get closer to my daily protein goal. Quite the challenge. I'm also dealing with nausea, though mainly in the mornings, so taking gravol for that..it's supplements, sip, meals, sip, medications, sip...and on. But, down 6 lbs since surgery..don't plan to check it that often for the first month as we are healing..but was curious..nice surprise. We will get there and life outside 6 weeks will be much more interesting..give it time!