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What did you wish you knew pre-surgery/sleeve life?

Ashley Wright

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Ashley Wright    14

Ashley Wright
Posted

Hello everyone!

I just got my surgery date, Dec. 7!

I was hoping people could share one or two things they wish they knew before surgery. Maybe small things you won't necessarily hear from a doctor or nurse. Something maybe you brought with you to the hospital or the days after recovery that helped? Helped with energy or healing?

Thanks so much!

Ashley

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sleeveisa    333

sleeveisa
Posted

Hello everyone!

I just got my surgery date, Dec. 7!

I was hoping people could share one or two things they wish they knew before surgery. Maybe small things you won't necessarily hear from a doctor or nurse. Something maybe you brought with you to the hospital or the days after recovery that helped? Helped with energy or healing?

Thanks so much!

Ashley

Hi Ashley. I'm also scheduled for Dec 7. We are going to rock ???? I'm a little nervous because of the Holiday parties. How are you preparing yourself for the Holidays?

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Hi! I am scheduled for December 8th! We will be sleeve sisters!!

Sent from my SM-G928T using the BariatricPal App

Me too

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using the BariatricPal App

I'm December 7 as well

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Me too! Best of luck

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using the BariatricPal App

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Ashley Wright    14

Ashley Wright
Posted

@@sleeveisa I'm worried about that as well :( My liquid diet starts the DAY before Thanksgiving lol. I haven't really told too many people I'm considering the surgery either so I don't know how to navigate the 'why arent you eating/drinking' questions. Any advice?

I'm also new to my area and work from home, so that helps with not having co-workers or too many friends to be nosey hahha.

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YaneR321    63

YaneR321
Posted

Congrats! My surgery is on Dec. 8th.

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Autumn Fury    67

Autumn Fury
Posted (edited)

The things I wish I knew before surgery are:

1. Get the Vitamin Patches.

2. Avoid the Protein shakes as much as possible - try to get as much Protein from real food as you can.Your taste buds will change.

3. Fluids are a constant struggle, have a variety of options available.

4. An ice pack was my best friend while recovering.

5. You will have several incisions and they do take time to heal.

6. It's difficult to lay on your right side. (I'm 6 weeks out & still can't lay on my right side).

7. powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury Protein powder taste great in chicken Soup.

8. GENEPRO is a good Protein Powder but be careful what you mix it with.

9. Any local support groups you can attend are very beneficial.

10. Every day it will get a little bit better.

Sent from my SM-G920V using the BariatricPal App

Edited by Autumn Fury

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PorkChopExpress    826

PorkChopExpress
Posted

I wish I'd known about GENEPRO powder, I was so sick of chocolate "shakes" after four weeks of them...

Otherwise, I was pretty knowledgeable after all the time spent in classes and support groups, and reading the internet and such. I think there are unknowns that nobody can prepare you for because they'll be uniquely yours, because it's the mental component we struggle with that makes up the majority of this fight.

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LipstickLady    25,682

LipstickLady
Posted

Don't stock up on ANYTHING because your taste buds may change. I had surgery on Wednesday, was home on Thursday and was driving on Friday. I could get to the market to buy anything I needed.

Gatorade, a few Protein shakes, some SF popsicles and a can of broth would have been more than sufficient when I got home. I threw away a LOT of Protein powders, shakes, drink mixes, etc. because I couldn't tolerate them post op. A LOT.

Get rid of the mindset of "cheating". You're grown. You are making a major decision to have WLS. If you are eating something off plan, you are not "cheating", you are simply making a horrible CHOICE.


Will is be hard? Yup. Will it suck? Yup. Will you be constantly tempted and tortured and at times, a bit miserable. Yup. Will you wonder WTF you did to yourself and if things will ever be normal again? Yup.

Will it be worth it? ABSO-FREAKING-LUTELY.

Oh. And don't come to these boards, asking an enabling question (like can I eat chicken wings and pizza on my liquids stage) and get huffy when people tell you no. Your hormones will be crazy. Don't take it out on those of us who care enough to answer you straight. :D

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dr3am3rstarz    61

dr3am3rstarz
Posted

The things I wish I knew before surgery are:

1. Get the Vitamin Patches.

2. Avoid the Protein shakes as much as possible - try to get as much Protein from real food as you can.Your taste buds will change.

3. Fluids are a constant struggle, have a variety of options available.

4. An ice pack was my best friend while recovering.

5. You will have several incisions and they do take time to heal.

6. It's difficult to lay on your right side. (I'm 6 weeks out & still can't lay on my right side).

7. unjury Protein Powder taste great in chicken Soup.

8. GENEPRO is a good protein powder but be careful what you mix it with.

9. Any local support groups you can attend are very beneficial.

10. Every day it will get a little bit better.

Sent from my SM-G920V using the BariatricPal App

Can you elaborate on these vitamin patches? Where does one obtain then from?

Sent from my SM-N920P using the BariatricPal App

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Lioness2014    0

Lioness2014
Posted

Ashley, I understand how u feel! My surgery date is November 21st. I thought about that too. Something I have done that works with people who equate food and drink with love, is SHOW them I love them in other ways, such as really asking how they are and listening, hugs, just sipping on something and sharing your thoughts.

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

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Heidijenn    15

Heidijenn
Posted

Mine is December 8th too, good luck to all of us!!!

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Go To Topic Listing PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

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    • Alisa_S

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      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

        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

      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

        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

      CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
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