Hi post-op'ers. Is there anything you've learned through this process you wish you knew going into it?

Like, what to bring to the hospital?

How to portion/weigh your foods.

How to stay motivated?

I would love to get some feedback.

Liquid diet starts TOMORROW, surgery September 20th.

Thanks!

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Get some benefiber and stool softeners. Constipation was the bane of my recovery. I'm at seven weeks post and finally think I have it resolved.

Can we consume stool softener?

That I can never swallow medication for the rest of my life!

3 minutes ago, Amy1234 said:

That I can never swallow medication for the rest of my life!

Not necessarily. It's different for different people. I have a friend 7 years out who still chews or crushes her pills, but I'm 2.5 weeks out and I can swallow pills just fine. I couldn't for the first week, but it's no problem now. I just have to take them one at a time, sometimes with a sip in between.

Yes you can use stool softeners. I swallow pills fine.

Yes you can use stool softeners. I swallow pills fine.

Thank you

I wish my doctor had warned me about having a drain ( I wasn't told I would have one) and that would be worst of the pain I had.

That weight loss can be painfully slow one month and crazy fast the month. Mine was never steady. I would go weeks and only lose a few pounds then bam, lost like 10 in a couple days.

How scary moving onto solids can be, I wanted so badly to move onto the next stages then when it was time I was so afraid to actually eat something.

How normal I would feel 6 months later, and even better at 9 months.

I wish I had known that I'd still be dreadfully hungry after surgery. I'm exactly a week out and the soups and liquids are doing NOTHING to sate my hunger. I keep sneaking in solids like meat but that's a monster to digest. I'm miserable because I'm constantly drinking but feel like I'm starving. Although protein shakes kill the hunger, I can no longer stand the processed taste and it automatically induces nausea. I wish there was a way I could make an all natural protein dense liquid meal.

Have you tried Fairlife milk? It's a lactose free, high protein (13g in 8 oz) milk you can get at most grocery stores. They even have a chocolate milk. The choc milk is a bit too high in sugar, but I just cut it with the regular fairlife milk. This was what got me through the full liquid phase. I couldn't stand protein shakes after like day two. All those chemicals burned my tongue. Pre-op I could chug em down and it wasn't too bad, but now, sippin on the nasty drinks is more than I can handle. I also found a palatable "high protein chocolate milk drink" in the chocolate milk section of Sprouts. I think it's called Rockin Refuel, the low sugar one. It's not the yummiest chocolate milk, but it was better than the premier & muscle milk shakes I was trying to get down. I feel for ya. My liquid phase was miserable. Hang in there. Stay hydrated. You got this.

Have you tried Fairlife milk? It's a lactose free, high protein (13g in 8 oz) milk you can get at most grocery stores. They even have a chocolate milk. The choc milk is a bit too high in sugar, but I just cut it with the regular fairlife milk. This was what got me through the full liquid phase. I couldn't stand protein shakes after like day two. All those chemicals burned my tongue. Pre-op I could chug em down and it wasn't too bad, but now, sippin on the nasty drinks is more than I can handle. I also found a palatable "high protein chocolate milk drink" in the chocolate milk section of Sprouts. I think it's called Rockin Refuel, the low sugar one. It's not the yummiest chocolate milk, but it was better than the premier & muscle milk shakes I was trying to get down. I feel for ya. My liquid phase was miserable. Hang in there. Stay hydrated. You got this.

I will look into it but honestly it has gotten easier. I'm clear to have soft foods now and I've found a protein shake flavor that works for me. I told my surgeon about my hunger fiasco and he got me on some vitamins which helps some. Also coffee is amazing at killing my hunger.

Take a robe and comfy easy on/off slippers to the hospital. You have to walk and its cold in the hospital. Walk even when you don't feel like it, it really helps. Also a small pillow is awesome between you and the seatbelt. I used it for about a week or so. I think that I was well prepared for surgery but the pain that most people experienced I did not have. I had surgery on Wednesday and went back to work on Monday.

That the Weight comes off fast. And you can't wear your old clothes anymore.

That you may have gallstones from rapid weight loss. Have them take it out with sleeve

I wish I knew how much of an emotional roller coaster it was. Overjoyed one minute and bawling the next!

I wish I knew how others would judge you for having the surgery. KEEP IT TO YOURSELF!


5' 5"
HW: 259
CW: 235
GOAL: Healthy and hard 140-ish?

I remember having a lot of doubts about the lifestyle changes. Would I be able to eat less? Would I survive without fast foods? Would I be able to make better choices? Would I ever be able to enjoy my social activities again without the fear of food?

The answers were all yes, but it’s normal to worry. This was a huge decision for me. My whole life, my culture has revolved around food. But that way of life got me to a bad place physically and health-wise. The changes were necessary and honestly I wouldn’t change a thing. I have been able to get off 4 of the 5 medications I was taking pre-op and that has been worth every penny I spent and every minute of pain/discomfort I felt in recovery.

HW 205
SW 193
CW 158.5
GW 130

I wish I knew I wouldn't be able to eat. I am realizing I will never have a slice of pizza again. I am 3 months out and had a tiny bite of pizza and was so full ? I guess I thought I'd be able to have smaller portions, like one slice of pizza, not 2-3. But my cat literally can eat more than me!

Edited November 18, 20178 yr by Arielle

On ‎11‎/‎18‎/‎2017 at 8:11 AM, Arielle said:

I wish I knew I wouldn't be able to eat. I am realizing I will never have a slice of pizza again. I am 3 months out and had a tiny bite of pizza and was so full ? I guess I thought I'd be able to have smaller portions, like one slice of pizza, not 2-3. But my cat literally can eat more than me!

That will change over time. You are still fairly newly post op (I didn't even start solids until 10 wks postop) but over time the amount you can eat will change as the swelling continues to go down and your body settles into your new stomach. I'm 11 months out and I'm able to eat an entire slice of thin crust pizza and 3/4 a slice of Sicilian with no crust.

I make a pizza base from cauliflower and it is extra nice. Pizza will be possible, I just make mine as healthy as possible