vabs

My surgery is Friday and I'm trying to get organized & ready for post-op. What are some must haves or anything I must do to make the first few days easier?

Thank you so much for the info. It's so good to hear that you are feeling so great so soon after surgery. Reading how crappy people sometimes feel was beginning to make me a little nervous. Best wishes on the rest of your recovery and on your new life!

Hi, vabs:
My surgery was last Wednesday, 6/8. I have never felt better in my life…I had a massive hiatal hernia that was repaired via gastric bypass.
I found it helpful to have a pair of shoes that fit rather loosely to wear home from the hospital. It’s unavoidable to be bloated after surgery, and you will need comfy shoes till the Fluid dissipates
I had a supply of sugar free popsicles in the freezer. I had about 6 boxes of them because a few weeks ago they were impossible to find.
Broth…check the sodium levels. You won’t want to be retaining fluid.
If you have a favorite Protein Shake, stock up. I was off Clear Liquids and on Protein Shakes from the day I arrived home which was 2 days post op.
I also stocked up on sugar free Jello, crystal light, unsweetened ice tea, and I had ice packs in case I wanted to ice my incisions.
I never needed a heating pad.
I had a box of tegaderm Patches even though my incisions were covered. I used the tegaderm as a safety precaution.
I had 45mg per bottle Fairlife Core shakes on hand because it’s a super easy way to get our Protein requirement.
My nutritionist also highly recommended Fairlife Skim or 1% milk so I stocked up on that. And Decaf coffee pods.
That’s all I can think of.
I packed really lite for the hospital. I wore the hospital gown and I was given compression stockings in the hospital when I was being prepped for surgery.
That’s all I can think of.
Best of luck to you. You will do great. ❤️

Thank you ... I'm 6 days post op 263 to 254 before surgery 5'6 and now 252 scale not moving! Horrible intestinal issues too [emoji25]

Sent from my SM-G998U using BariatricPal mobile app

I agree with lizonaplane. If you are early out not only do you have remorse because of the recovery process but your hormones are often going haywire for several months. I was able to eat almost anything by 6 months out and I did on occasion have treats. You will just find that you don’t really have as much desire for the higher calorie foods and when you do eat them you are able to eat a much smaller portion.

How long ago did you have surgery? If it's in the last month or so, what you're feeling is completely normal; many people have "buyer's remorse" after surgery. I sure did! I couldn't eat anything without pain and nothing tasted good for three months or so. By about 4 months out, I started to enjoy eating again. I can eat pretty much anything now at nine months out, though smaller portions. Which is exactly what I wanted. I could eat beef stew with rice (although, I'm not a fan of rice!). I just have to be careful not to eat junk food, which I can eat too much of too easily.
This is a very hard process and I recommend you meet with a bariatric therapist.
My family and I really enjoy going out to eat and trying new foods when we travel. We still do that, I just don't finish everything now. You will still be able to enjoy your husband's cooking. I think I appreciate food more now because I'm actually savoring it, not just inhaling it.
I think it will get better for you.

For the first few days all I had (and you will need) was water, jello, and clear broth. Actually, your clear liquid 2-day pre op diet continues that first week. Week 2 you can introduce protein shake, yogurt etc as you will be on a liquid diet. I'm still on my clear liquid and can't wait for Thursday to have yogurt.

Mine's was the 7th and yes I'm struggling like crazy. I've been reading my medical bible and googling everything. I confess I did a small sample of what my daughter cooked for dinner Sunday and instantly regretted it. My stomach hurt but once I vomited I felt a whole lot better. So follow your outpatient instructions to the letter. There is a method to the madness.

Thats hilarious! LOL...... My surgery date is the 21st so 3 days after yours.... I'll be rootin for you and praying for a speedy recovery. ☺

My date is June 29! Used to be my wedding anniversary so I’m glad to be replacing it with a much better memory ♥️

June 2021 sleever here, just popping in to your thread to say good luck & share some motivation. This time next year you are very likely to be at your goal & feel like a million bucks! You can do this, it’s not half as bad as it seems. Best thing I ever did for myself, I only wish I did it sooner. You got this!! ? It is worth it.

I needed to hear this! Thank you for sharing and congratulations on losing 200 lbs! Every time I walk up the stairs and get out of breath I am reminded why I am doing this, and I know every sacrifice will be worth it in the long run. It’s all just very difficult!

Hey everyone. My surgery is scheduled for June 2, and I’m on Day 11 of my 2-week liver shrink diet. It’s been an enormous challenge, and I did have a slip up yesterday (I ate a breakfast burrito in a moment of weakness), but have otherwise stuck to the diet perfectly. These past 11 days have really put things into perspective, and I can’t help but think about all of the food I’m not going to be able to eat for such a long time. I’ve been having a lot of thoughts like, “Why put yourself through this just to be skinny? You’ll be so unhappy if you can’t eat pizza or tater tots or cinnamon rolls.” I know that I am not going to back out of the surgery, but I hate that I’m feeling this way. I had a little breakdown this morning and cried - I think I was mourning the end of my messed up relationship with food, as strange as that sounds. It was very therapeutic. I’m not sure I ever really understood the depth of my food addiction until now. Is anyone else going through anything similar? Or has anyone else? I would love to know I’m not alone.

Hi, all: my surgery date is a week from tomorrow. Today starts my last week at school. I will be out of there 3 days before the ‘official’ end of school.
Today starts my 5 shakes a day and 2 snacks. I’m looking forward to the discipline of that. I am most compliant with fewer choices as opposed to more.
Wishing everyone best wishes on their upcoming surgeries.
Today I have a tele-visit at 4pm to go over pre-procedure actions. Tomorrow I am out of school for pre-anesthesia testing.
Wishing you all a great day! ❤️

I’m at the hospital waiting to start my pre-anesthesia stuff. My surgery is one week from today.
I started full liquid eating plan yesterday.
Want to know what I’m most freaked out about? (Of course you do ?) getting a negative COVID test on Monday afternoon. ?
I teach in a middle school, our cases have increased from zero about 2 months ago to a couple dozen now. I’ve gone back to wearing a mask. ? I’ve never stopped keeping everything in my room scrupulously clean…I’m always cleaning desks, chairs, door handles and washing my hands.

I just found this website and I'm SO happy! I'm 55 years old, 5'7", 236#, BMI was 35 last month at my last appointment. Surgery just bumped up to June 17 from July 11. So scared/excited!