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I just got my date for my VSG today (April 15).. Now I need to prepare my pantry for my recovery.. Can someone tell me what I need to buy before I have my procedure. I need some prep advice. thanks.

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I have a protien shake picked out that I bought from GNC a while back. I need to make sure it is ok with my surgeon.. I have tried all kinds of shakes. so Melissa when is your procedure?

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I wouldn't buy too much, cause you're probably going to be out and about after a few days. I know I was itching to get out of the house by day 7.

But I would get a couple of boxes of sugar free popsicles, boxes of sugar free Jello and some chicken broth. And it wouldn't hurt to have a couple of cans of Cream of chicken and/or Cream of Mushroom Soup. I pretty much lived on Cream of Mushroom and Protein drinks for a few weeks.

My fav Protein Drink (and the only one I've tried :) ) is EAS carb control chocolate fudge from Walmart (4 for $5). I liked the flavor enough that I didn't waste money trying more expensive things.

post-46516-13813664444901_thumb.jpg

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I had the surgery Jan 14th and my advice would be to have Isopure rtd shakes, crystal light and beef and chicken broth on hand for the Clear Liquids stage. My surgical team and NUT require clear liquids the 1st week with no "c's"- i.e. no calories, carbohydrates, caffiene or carbonation.

I enjoyed broth as a break from sweetness, but don't buy a ton of it, you will be surprised how little it take to sustain you. Also, I found that I really overbought for the creamy liquids and mushy Protein stages. If your experiences are anything like mine, you will feel well enough to go shopping again within a couple days of surgery, so don't feel you need months worth of stuff in your pantry. Your sense of smell will go absolutely insane after surgery, and you may hate things you loved before- for me I did a 180 in my feelings about Atkins shakes and sugar-free pudding- luckily my husband was able & willing to solve that problem for me!

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Protein shakes, sugar free popsicles, sugar free pudding. Peppermint tea helped settle my stomach in the first days. powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury chicken Soup went down very easy and gave me Protein. Vitamin Water zero is another favorite. I purchased some 1oz measuring cups to use the first week (amazon)

Having a heating pad helped alot also the first week. Have some liquid tylenol or generic on hand or a pill crusher ( I would put it in a spoonful of sugar free pudding) The tylenol worked better for me than the pain meds, but everyone is different. chewable Vitamins.

I made sure to put things I would need within reach, no lifting more than 10 lbs for a few weeks.

Have some comfy clothing, jeans would rub on your incisions, keep it comfy.

Here is a link to a helpful thread about what you need for surgery: http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/10081-the-official-what-you-will-need-for-your-gastric-sleeve-surgery-thread/

Congratulations on getting your date and Best of luck!!

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Small food scale makes things convenient when you get to soft stage too! I agree don't overbuy! I have a lot of broths and soups! I absolutely love sf Popsicles in the tropical flavors. I also recommend my fitness pal app. Practice entering your intake/water and exercise! It is amazingly easy. Most nuts want you to keep track of your diet through the liquid/ puréed and soft stages. MFP app will do that for you and you can print out a nice report just before your nut appt to turn in. I love this app. Plus you can friend a lot of the same people on this website and compare your diaries and get new ideas for foods to try! It is another source for encouragement and advice! Good luck! ;-)

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I do have my fitness pal and a small food scale. I will have to keep my daughter from eating my pops. DO i need to get some Gas x strips like everyone has said that they had needed? I do have some Peppermint tea I will be able to drink.. Has anyone had trouble with honey? I will be getting me some of those 1oz cups that is a wonderful idea.

If anyone has anymore advice it would be greatly appriciated.

Thanks for everyone's help.

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I'm sure I am just repeating others but be careful with overbuying on the Protein drinks. Your tastes may change after surgery and you sure don't want to be stuck with a bunch of stuff you can't stand. IMHO, isopuke aka Isopure is just awful. For my clear liquids I preferred Syntrax nectar powders, tons of flavors. Now my shakes are 99% Premier Protein from costco.

sugar free Popsicles rock!!!!

Sent from my iPhone using VST

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Congrats Melissa.. hope all goes well.. just don't get frustrated with the effort and it can be an emotional.. this vsg site has helped me... stay strong!

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I'm sure I am just repeating others but be careful with overbuying on the Protein drinks. Your tastes may change after surgery and you sure don't want to be stuck with a bunch of stuff you can't stand. IMHO, isopuke aka Isopure is just awful. For my Clear liquids I preferred Syntrax nectar powders, tons of flavors. Now my shakes are 99% Premier Protein from costco.

sugar free Popsicles rock!!!!

Sent from my iPhone using VST

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Bring it on.. has ur taste buds changed a lot from month to month?

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You beat me by a day I get mine on the 16th. But hey at least you'll always remember ten day considering its tax day. Time to take that stomach lol good luck girl

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Abrash... I don't know that they've changed monthly but they have since the surgery. I used to love Fiji Water and now I hate it and don't like Water plain either. I also like the premier Protein shakes from costco a lot more now than I did before surgery. unjury tasted great before and now not so much. Oh! And I now cannot stand propel zero or g2! I can only handle Powerade zero. Vitamin water zero is hideous to me! And I have no desire to eat sugar at all. :)

So my own tastes have changed. Yours might too. I have a bunch of propel zero I am feeding to my kids now because I tried to stock up lol

Sent from my iPhone using VST

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
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      1. LeighaTR

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

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        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

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