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Surgery next week



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My surgery is next week and it's becoming more real. I started the process in February (3 month supervised diet, insurance approval and my surgeon is in demand). Any advice for a newbie?

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I'm a newbie too. Welcome and excited for your decision to change your life! (Uggh, sorry, didn't see this was in the Men's Room. I just saw it in the Recent Topics area and wanted to wish you well!)

Edited by FluffyChix

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Make sure you take a good before photograph. And after surgery when you are in the hospital remember Walk, Walk, Walk.

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Thanks fluffychix. Good luck on your surgery.

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Thanks for reminding me James, I've had a lot of people telling me to do that.

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Everything @James Marusek said. Also, make sure you have your clears and Protein ready for you at home. None of us can stress enough the importance of walking. It gets that gas moving out and will really speed your recovery.

You will need to get used to taking small sips. You will feel the liquid enter your new pouch and that can be weird. No painful, but odd. If you take too large of a sip, your body will remind you very quickly to slow down.

You are going to do fine. I know everyone is different, but I swear to God that I felt better after 2 days after surgery then I did the week before. I'm 3 weeks out now and I feel 15 years younger already and have more energy than I can remember.

I packed all this stuff I thought I would need to the hospital with me and all I really needed was my phone charger with a long (6') cord, a pair of shorts, a pair of slip on shoes and clothes to leave in. Oh and a tooth brush.

Good luck to you and welcome to your new and improved life.

JC

Edited by JConforti

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As others have said... walk, walk, walk... it is one of the most beneficial things you can do immediately after surgery. Yes, prepare yourself for the liquids and post op diet regimen. I would also stress, Follow your Pre Op diet plan. Most programs provide it, and you owe it to yourself to follow it. Now, for some personal suggestions. Be prepared for stalls, they happen, do not get frustrated, your body is adjusting to the lower calorie intake . Don't trust your scale. HUH??? you might say? Take body measurements, they can sometimes be more truthful. Speaking of scales, Only weigh yourself on poop days, if you must weigh yourself. Why??? You are drinking Water and trying to get your Protein in, it is going to cause you to be less then regular. I've had friends, who have had surgery not go in 4-5 days... again prepare... Finally. okay maybe not, as I am sure others might add to this or make something I might have forgotten.... Never Ever Trust a fart.

Good luck on your journey....

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I would say don't underestimate the gas pains. I had tiny little burps for the first 24 hours, and thought I got off easy, because I walked over 100 laps around the nurses station. Silly me! Then, the gas pains hit and I was so miserable. I read and read about the gas pains, but I had no idea they could be that bad.

Sent from my XT1254 using BariatricPal mobile app

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Thank you all for the great tips.

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I am 2 weeks post op and absolutely feel incredible and I am so happy I had the surgery, but I can absolutely empathize with your trepidation. I was second guessing myself right up to the anesthesia hitting me. Try not worry. Good luck :) .

Edited by apu

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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!
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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. 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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