I'm officially starting my prep tomorrow. It's my 1st pre-op apt with surgeon's office after getting approval and this is when I make my pre-op class and tests schedules.

If you had the chance to do it over and plan differently, what would you have done differently for pre-op preparing for the actual surgery, for your hospital stay and for the 1st week at home?

TIA!

I guess I would say it never hurts to ask. Ask for a private room when you're in recovery. Ask a nurse or someone to hold your hand if you're scared. Ask friends to visit you with gifts and flowers and non-food treats (no scents). Let them know you likely won't have the energy to talk or visit long. Ask someone to make you a pot of soup to freeze. Ask for kisses on your forehead. Ask the nurse if you can stay another day. Ask for more pain meds if you need them. I didn't like being on the couch, so ask if someone can move your TV near your bed. I was too tired to read. Ask for an easy and uneventful procedure. Ask. Ask. Ask. It never hurts. Good luck to you, friend.

Just educate myself more on all possibilities positive and complications

I would have made some very good quality chicken broth and froze it.

This was the thing hat saved me during the pre op diet and I sipped it during the clear liquid phase.

I had no idea that good chicken broth would help me tolerate all that sweet that comes with the liquid Protein diet.

A nurse in my surgeons office who also went through bypass surgery told me how important it was 3 days into my liquid diet and suggested it.

Canned broth is horrible and tastes like dirty dishwater. You have to have the good stuff.

@@ImBringingLisaBack RNY Being on here is step #1! I researched everything I possibly could ... Vitamins, Calcium, Protein shakes, etc. I ordered and tried several types of Protein Shakes, powders (flavored and unflavored), bars. Try different recipes for the different stages you'll go through. Have your home stocked with the essentials. Being prepared is the key to success. I had my surgery at Mayo and they have two separate after care meetings once per month. One is for post-ops under a year and the other one year and out. I attended 3 months of meetings prior to my surgery and listened, asked questions and learned so much. I took ear plugs and an eye mask so I could get as much rest/sleep as possible in the hospital. Lucky for me, my surgery was at 8 am and I went home the next day at 6 pm. I was very blessed to be feeling wonderful by day 3 and off the pain meds by day 4! I'm almost 6 months post-op and I never leave the house without my little cooler complete with a protein Water, Protein shake, regular water and a Protein Bar. You never want to get stuck somewhere and "choose" to eat something you shouldn't because there wasn't anything healthy. There are no excuses if you're prepared