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Surgery in 2 weeks. Anything you wish you'd had available to you when you got home from the surgery? Guess I'm thinking about what to make sure to stock up on -- not just food, but other items that you hadn't thought of but you wish you would have? Thanks!

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I'm home a few days now. Before surgery I stocked up on sugar free pop cycles, chicken noodle Soup (broth tastes better to me than just "broth"), moved my recliner so it was right where I wanted it. Laid out pillows, it's amazing how much better you feel with a pillow wedged here or there when you sitting. Also walk around your house now and think of things you might bump into as you make your way around.

Good luck.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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Haven't had my surgery yet but so far things that I've purchased based on what I've gathered from other posts are:

Gas X strips

Pill box (the Monday through Sunday kind for all your vitamins)

Pill cutter

Heating pad (for the hospital and home)

I'm sure others have more suggestions!

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One thing that I never thought of but my NUT recommended and I use everyday is a mug warmer. I bought a little coffee mate one for $10 and it keeps my food/ broth warm while I eat it since it takes forever to get everything down.

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I brought extra small bowls and plates and baby spoons and forks to eat with. That really helped with Portion Control. Loved using the tiny spoons when I was able to eat yogurt. They helped slow me down.

A good scale came in handy when I was able to start purée and solids.

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Don't overestimate the amount of soup/broth you'll need. I had surgery in March and still have plenty of broth and Soup leftover.

A food scale is great to have once you start solid foods.

I loved my ninja blender for Protein shakes.

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My Dr gave me this list

strainer

Measuring cups/spoons

Baby/toddler utensils

blender

scale

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I wish I would have bought different tasting things instead of a bunch of the same. My taste changed a lot the first two weeks and it was hard to eat everything I tried pre-pp. For example, I only liked orange Popsicles and that was my least favorite before, the same with Jello.

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What I wish I had purchased ahead of time that I sent my mom out for today:

Gas X strips. So many gas X strips.

Some sort of laxative, those narcotics did a number on me in the hospital. I wouldn't wish this pain on my worst enemy.

I was allowed zero calorie sports drinks with electrolytes, these have really helped me today. This morning I swore I'd need to be taken to the hospital for dehydration. Water tastes absolutely disgusting right now for some reason so diluting the Gatorade has been wonderful.

Different kinds of Soups I can stick in a blender. I'm allowed strained/blenderized soups.. The problem is I went through a couple for I found one I could tolerate

Ice packs

It's been a trip so far!

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What I wish I had purchased ahead of time that I sent my mom out for today:

Gas X strips. So many gas X strips.

Some sort of laxative, those narcotics did a number on me in the hospital. I wouldn't wish this pain on my worst enemy.

I was allowed zero calorie sports drinks with electrolytes, these have really helped me today. This morning I swore I'd need to be taken to the hospital for dehydration. Water tastes absolutely disgusting right now for some reason so diluting the Gatorade has been wonderful.

Different kinds of Soups I can stick in a blender. I'm allowed strained/blenderized soups.. The problem is I went through a couple for I found one I could tolerate

Ice packs

It's been a trip so far!

Great ideas - I'm poaching some of them! I hope you have a quick recovery! You made me think of something else...soluble Fiber. It will help going to the bathroom. I had a c-section a year ago and that was something all my c-section friends told me to get before surgery since the last thing you would want to do is push too hard and tear stitches. Same thing applies here I feel. Made all the difference. Some other people have posted about a tea called "Smooth Move" - sounds like it works well too!

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I just made my home easily accessible. I cleaned, did laundry, washed extra comforters & my favorite comfy robe. I also made some vegetable broth and stocked up on 2 week's worth of Protein shakes/drinks. I stocked up on cat food and kitty litter, then moved things around so I could tend to them without lifting or bending the wrong way.

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My surgery isn't until Jan 4 and for some reason this post has me excited :)

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The one thing that helped me post op the most was a wedge pillow so I could go from lying down to sitting up with less pain.

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First 5 days I lived on Protein shakes, greek yogurt, Cream of rice, home made chicken broth, (frozen into ice cubes for easy storage... do this with all your Soups btw). Only thing I can think that I didn't have was chewable Tylenol. I munched a couple of Tylenol Jrs when needed rather than the narcotic Syrup they sent me home with. Just didn't need it and it tends to give me icky tummy on a good day so I skipped it.

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G2 Gatorade. Pill crusher. Sf Jello. Small pillow for your belly.

I'm 3 weeks out now from Rny. It's been great. No complications and am able to tolerate all foods so far.

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    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • 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. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • 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.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        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.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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