Save others from making the same mistake!

I am about 3 months away from surgery, and am trying to make sure I have all of my ducks in a row.....but there is no substitute for experience!

You that have completed the process, is there anything that you wish you had known, or that you wish you had done (maybe advice you wish you had followed), but didn't?

Maybe your advice will reach someone else and keep them from making the same mistake!

Thanks in advance for all replys.

Be sure to try your drinks and protein supplements BEFORE your surgery. IF they are nasty before, they will be nasty afterwards. There are plenty of them out there which are tasteless/odorless (*that was a big thing for me) or tasty, whichever is your preference.

I wish I had known that I would be dry heaving for 48 hours after surgery (though that's probably uncommon), and how hard it would be to go a month without solid food.

Hi all! My advice is to not over pack, to have someone who cares about you there most of the time, and to remember that the first month after surgery is the hardest because you don't have any energy at all, you're trying to get in as much liquid and protien as you can which is extremely hard and can be discouraging. Most of all, try to remember while you're going through the first month that things will get better and that you will soon learn to love your sleeve and yourself too.

I wish my head would have caught up to my surgery (actually there are times I am still waiting for this).. The mindset of "having" to eat really messed with me, to the point I was trying to force feed myself in the first few weeks out... How silly in hindsight now to think that going 2-3 weeks with water/protien shakes and few protien meals would not be enough! I was too accustomed to eating 3 big meals a day...

Enjoy the first 12 weeks... your are healing and do not force feed yourself despite what your head may be telling you!!!

In the hospital, one thing that saved my sanity was my iphone. I didn't make any calls, but I did listen to music with noise blocking ear buds. It really helped me rest.

Maybe it's cheeky, but I wish I had done this sooner! Before my health issues started.

Also, I took too much "stuff" to the hospital and then had to pack it all back home. I didn't use my laptop, just my iPhone and I didn't read any of the book I took to the hospital. I also never put on "my" nightgown or any makeup. Since I only spent one night, I left the hospital too quickly to really use any of that stuff. I DO wish I had taken my body pillow (would have made laying on my side more comfortable because of the support) and I was very happy that I took my cape, which doubled as a blanket and a cover-up for when I was walking.

I wish I had looked at my liquid pain meds and known what the metric to english conversion was for it. Because I didn't, I had to spend the night I came home from the hospital in pain. I still haven't opened the bottle.

I also bought too much Protein powder and I didn't need the baby food that I bought "just in case". The Protein Powder is being slowly used up, but I really didn't care for the taste just after I came home.

Lastly, GO TO THE SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS if your doctor/hospital/center offers them. They have been invaluable for the support of the other sleevers, even though I'm not super fond of the psychiatrist who runs ours. I've learned almost as much from those folks as I have learned here.

I'm 58 yr. young. Boy oh boy, i wish i had my WLS 30 yrs ago (dinasour (msp)era :nonod: i now have all these health issues, oh well, whats done is done,. So anxious for my surgery 12/6/11.

I've gone to one support group so far. I was disappointed because just about everyone that was there were pre surgery like me :nonod: I was hoping to hear words of wisdom, and get some questions answered.

As far as what I'm gonna bring to the hospital, i primarily will me, myself and I. DH is coming too. I don't think i'll be able to concentrate on anything, and probably be in pain.

BTW - why does your side hurt so much/?? Don't understand that one.