Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

What Should I Be Doing



Recommended Posts

So I have almost all my Pre Op Procedures done. I have 3 More Weigh ins. Dietician, Support Group Meeting and Psych Eval. Hoping for Surgery in August.

I haven't really been giving much thought to it at all though. Just saying Okay Surgery is in AuGustm.

I feel guilty like I should be mentally preparing or doing something but I'm not. I'm carrying my life as if it's regular day. Maybe it will hit me a few weeks before the surgery date

Any advice?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I also am looking at August if all goes well . I have most of my pre op procedure appointments made . I do think about it every day , but I feel so uneducated . Maybe as all of my procedures are completed I will have a much better understanding of this whole journey

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I believe you should start going to as many support groups as you can.

Such meetings are invaluable for information gathering. Take time to get to know the other pre-ops. Talk to the post-ops about their journeys.

Don't just ask about the weight loss and the how great it is to go shopping. Take enough interest to ask them to share the "rough times". Those experiences are the ones that you NEED to hear about. Hearing about the "bumps" in the road will keep you from being caught off guard. You will learn what to expect and can be "armed" and ready to face it if it happens to you.

Often times, at support group meetings there will be a guest speaker such as a plastic surgeon, an exercise coach, a bariatric cook book author, etc.

Also, many times Protein shake samples/drinks--other bariatric supplies are given out.

Other groups offer clothing exchanges which you will learn to appreciate as you rapidly go from size to size--never staying a one size long enough to wear anything out.

I hope I have offered enough examples of the good stuff that going to support group meetings can bring your way.

Besides, most programs mandate going to at least two support group meetings before surgery.

I am 5 years out and I still go to one monthly.

Go . You just may enjoy it.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

In the months before surgery I:

- Started an exercise program to get in better shape

- Eased off of caffeinated beverages

- Attended support group meetings

- Spoke to some post op folks after the support group meetings to see what their experience had been

- Read all of the materials that I had been given, including meals by phase after surgery

- Arranged for support after surgery for things like getting someone to walk my large dog for a few weeks

- Stocked cabinets with enough food for about two weeks after surgery

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I would recommend 2 things.

1. Walk every day for 30 minutes from now on. It will dramatically improve your recovery period and reduce the amount of pain from the surgery.

2. Go cold turkey on caffeine and carbonated beverages. I gave up my 6 diet Coke a day habit at the start and lost 20 pounds on that change alone. When I went cold turkey on caffeine, I suffered from a week of deep withdrawal syndrome consisting of severe headaches and body aches. Since you have to give these up for the surgery anyways, it is better to get this done and over with as soon as possible. You do not want to compound the effects of surgery with the caffeine withdrawal syndrome.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I totally agree with everything said here below. If I could go back before I had my surgery I would have joined or found a support group sooner than when I did, and started to weaning off of the bad eating probably a good 4 to 6 weeks before the liquid diet phase. I mean I did cut back on a lot of eating a few months before the surgery and wound up dropping about 40lbs before I started my liquid diet, I still think I could have done more to both help with recovery and to be more mentally prepared for what it was I was truly getting myself into. Support groups and/or therapist to help with the emotional stuff is going to be key. Even if you aren't emotional now, all the chemical changes your body will start to go through will give for a higher probability of you going though some serious emotional changes such as depression, and anxiety. Anxiety especially when it comes to eating foods again.

In the months before surgery I:

- Started an exercise program to get in better shape

- Eased off of caffeinated beverages

- Attended support group meetings

- Arranged for support after surgery for things like getting someone to walk my large dog for a few weeks

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Another issue is I smoke cigarettes and still have not quit :(

You definitely need to quit. I know my surgeon would not operate on anyone who had not quit and was committed to staying smoke free.

I disagree about going cold turkey on caffeine and carbonation. You have time to wean yourself off of both gradually without going through the hell of cold turkey.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Another issue is I smoke cigarettes and still have not quit :(

They most likely will not do your surgery if you haven't quit smoking. I believe you need to be 90 days without a cigarette. You gotta do it - you've already gone through so much to get the surgery - don't let this be a barrier!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I agree with the carbonated beverages and caffeine. I have cut down a lot since my consultation. I have just completed my second weigh in and I would say I am drinking less than half that I was drinking. I am a huge Diet Coke addict so this probably just as hard as quitting smoking (thank god I don't have to do both) . But it definitely is not easy and if I did it cold turkey I probably wouldn't have any friends left :)

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

So I have almost all my Pre Op Procedures done. I have 3 More Weigh ins. Dietician, Support Group Meeting and Psych Eval. Hoping for Surgery in August.

I haven't really been giving much thought to it at all though. Just saying Okay Surgery is in AuGustm.

I feel guilty like I should be mentally preparing or doing something but I'm not. I'm carrying my life as if it's regular day. Maybe it will hit me a few weeks before the surgery date

Any advice?

Go with it. I was so ready to have surgery and move on with my life, I wasn't nervous until my actual surgery date. The only reason I was nervous on that day? I had to day goodbye to my kids and promise them I'd be home and just fine 2 days later. I was far more worried about them than me. I knew this was the key to my new life and all was well.

IGNORE!!! I just saw that I was in the men's room. SO SORRY.

I turned out fine. No reason to work yourself up needlessly.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • 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!
      · 1 reply
      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. 💗

    • 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.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×