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March 2020 Surgery Folks Come On in!



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Mello1 and ALL MARCH pre-ops!. RIGHT there with you that it’s getting REAL[emoji28]!!!! My liquids begin in 4 days[emoji15]. Stocked up. Each meal I eat right now seems surreal, bittersweet, somewhat melancholy. I remind myself that it’s not the end- it’s the beginning of what will be Wonderful. Out with the old, in with the NEW appreciation of everything. So very grateful for our community here[emoji3590], what would we do without it??? So many generous, knowledgeable, loving WLS veterans who have nurtured us along like ‘little chicks’[emoji3526]. We cannot Thank each of You enough!![emoji307]
This morning I Amazon ordered a fairly cute black zip up lounging type dress to wear walking the halls and also easy enough to wear home from hospital. Two front pockets for phone, etc. so I’m not schlepping stuff I want near. Going to order a front closure sports bra. The less I need to bend, twist, raise arms, etc. the happier and more comfy I will be. Eager to hear more pre-op prep tips anyone can share! Thanks and let’s replace any negative fear thoughts with positively thrilling exhilaration that our long awaited time is near![emoji2]
Hey Lily! The front snap bra and robe with pockets are great ideas. I'm nervous about the IV line though with the robe not sure it would work.
You should definitely enjoy each meal bc the preop diet is no joke. Are you able to eat a small meal on your or just liquid?

Sent from my SM-G950U1 using Tapatalk

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Slippers, comfy dress and front snap bra are all great ideas. I had cute comfy stuff picked out when I was in hospital to deliver last time and the top got ruined when they had to cut it off to put the IV in rather suddenly. So maybe put the robe or whatever on BEFORE the IV and it might be okay?

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4 hours ago, asnirak said:

Slippers, comfy dress and front snap bra are all great ideas. I had cute comfy stuff picked out when I was in hospital to deliver last time and the top got ruined when they had to cut it off to put the IV in rather suddenly. So maybe put the robe or whatever on BEFORE the IV and it might be okay?

They will not leave you in your clothes before you have surgery. You'll have the IV prior to surgery and once you are out of recovery/awake and able to move would be the soonest you can change. Having worked in the medical field I know it is NOT that big of a deal to disconnect an IV for a patient to change, but you run the risk of ruining your clothes. If you're a bleeder, or if you have a drain tube, you can bleed through bandages and leak around tubes. If you have an emergency, they will cut your clothes.

Honestly, you are better off to wear a nice loose hospital gown that does not get trapped under you and maybe pull against your stomach when you are in bed, and just take a robe you can belt around you and cover up your back (or ask for a 2nd gown to wear backward) when you walk if you're that concerned about how you look. Having been through major surgery before, though not bariatric surgery, I can tell you I could have given two shits what anyone in the hospital thought about how I looked when I was in the hall or anywhere else though.

I plan to wear in a front-zip sports bra with a loose knee-length cotton dress over leggings and hard-soled slippers to also wear back home and take a clean pair of underwear and socks. I'll take my usual 'trip bag of bathroom necessities' along with Biotin dry mouth spray and chapstick (for the dehydration/intubation), an eye mask and plug-in headphones (block lights and sounds), plus an extra-long phone charger, my phone, and wallet. I'll leave a pillow in the car for the ride home. Boom, one cinch sack packed, and I'm done. They'll give you anything else you need.

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11 hours ago, Slimmy-mommeee said:

Hey Lily! The front snap bra and robe with pockets are great ideas. I'm nervous about the IV line though with the robe not sure it would work.
You should definitely enjoy each meal bc the preop diet is no joke. Are you able to eat a small meal on your or just liquid?

Sent from my SM-G950U1 using Tapatalk

Hi Slimmy-mommeee! I catch your excitement girl, and you’re right, I do wake up SO happy each morning as if I’m going on vacation and that the time is NEAR! Woo-Hoo!! I know for me, fear is the negative tape of self talk that runs through my head at times until I TURN IT OFF, switch the channel to positive, heady Hooray! self talk. We’ve got this!

My pre-op calls for 2 Protein Shakes, and one lean meal of 2-4oz of Protein and a nonstarch veggie. Countdown is ON! And Thanks for your enthusiasm and contagious happy spirit!

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13 hours ago, Cia2020 said:

They will not leave you in your clothes before you have surgery. You'll have the IV prior to surgery and once you are out of recovery/awake and able to move would be the soonest you can change. Having worked in the medical field I know it is NOT that big of a deal to disconnect an IV for a patient to change, but you run the risk of ruining your clothes. If you're a bleeder, or if you have a drain tube, you can bleed through bandages and leak around tubes. If you have an emergency, they will cut your clothes.

Honestly, you are better off to wear a nice loose hospital gown that does not get trapped under you and maybe pull against your stomach when you are in bed, and just take a robe you can belt around you and cover up your back (or ask for a 2nd gown to wear backward) when you walk if you're that concerned about how you look. Having been through major surgery before, though not bariatric surgery, I can tell you I could have given two shits what anyone in the hospital thought about how I looked when I was in the hall or anywhere else though.

I plan to wear in a front-zip sports bra with a loose knee-length cotton dress over leggings and hard-soled slippers to also wear back home and take a clean pair of underwear and socks. I'll take my usual 'trip bag of bathroom necessities' along with Biotin dry mouth spray and chapstick (for the dehydration/intubation), an eye mask and plug-in headphones (block lights and sounds), plus an extra-long phone charger, my phone, and wallet. I'll leave a pillow in the car for the ride home. Boom, one cinch sack packed, and I'm done. They'll give you anything else you need.

Great advice! Thanks!

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Hi Slimmy-mommeee! I catch your excitement girl, and you’re right, I do wake up SO happy each morning as if I’m going on vacation and that the time is NEAR! Woo-Hoo!! I know for me, fear is the negative tape of self talk that runs through my head at times until I TURN IT OFF, switch the channel to positive, heady Hooray! self talk. We’ve got this!

My pre-op calls for 2 Protein Shakes, and one lean meal of 2-4oz of Protein and a nonstarch veggie. Countdown is ON! And Thanks for your enthusiasm and contagious happy spirit!
Yes 100%...I have to redirect my thoughts on an almost daily basis. I refuse to let worry or fear control me. I know this is the best decision for me and my children. I miss having the energy to be active with them. Thinking about all the physical things I'll be able to do again (hiking, volleyball, bike riding etc.) helps to keep my motivated.

And as much as I abhor this liquid diet I am starting to see my energy levels go up a little and it gets me so excited! Good Luck and I hope you have a speedy recovery!

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11 hours ago, Slimmy-mommeee said:

Yes 100%...I have to redirect my thoughts on an almost daily basis. I refuse to let worry or fear control me. I know this is the best decision for me and my children. I miss having the energy to be active with them. Thinking about all the physical things I'll be able to do again (hiking, volleyball, bike riding etc.) helps to keep my motivated.

And as much as I abhor this liquid diet I am starting to see my energy levels go up a little and it gets me so excited! Good Luck and I hope you have a speedy recovery!

Sent from my SM-G950U1 using Tapatalk

I'm glad I'm not on FB for this very reason. It can be quite the cesspool... I start my liquid diet on Sunday! But the 4 months of low carb has done wonders for my knees already...

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Well, my, my. I didn't know that thread starters cannot edit posts, or I would have placed this in my original post so that everyone could keep referring to it, but I went into all the March threads and put everyone's dates together so that everyone could see their buddies! I will put this in the other March threads as well. If you are new or don't see your name, I will be more than happy to add it!

March 2 Skywolfe, Earthquake88, AnnieK1073, Rearguard, Slimmy-Mommeee

March 3 Glannin, BigInJapan, Byrd0315

March 4 lucia.vsg

March 5 KSMermaid, gucci2018, ERYNN123

March 6 Pansypicker, Amber77

March 9 Angie526, auntCyn, highlyundermedicated

March 10 Confidently_Me, Nermada, Wellness Warrior, NewEnglanderGal, Amy Franks, finding.me

March 11 MaineDoc, 3charrm, lily66, asnirak

March 12 ronjsteele1, anyu3379

March 13 Q75j25

March 17 Mello1

March 19 medicpup2

March 20 JessicaMNCat, fiddlinjellybean

March 23 KingTeresa 2006

March 24 heavenlyscrts, jDubs, AngienHarry, SleeveCanadian, Learning2LoveTina

March 26 Cia2020, OnMyWay1956, Marthalynn

March 27 Ayemeeb

March 30 Stanlak

March 31 KhoricRitten

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On 2/22/2020 at 7:49 PM, Slimmy-mommeee said:

How is your preop diet coming? We are getting super close to the surgery. It's starting to get real for me.

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Well I’m on Day 3 of the liquid diet and I have to say it hasn’t been bad, but today I noticed not a lot of energy. I’m assuming it’s the body adjusting. I thought I would try the Premier Protein clear ( to get ready for Clear Liquids for Sunday) in tropical punch flavor and I gotta say it’s definitely NOT my cup of tea (too much of an aftertaste) ....lol. I much prefer the regular premier Protein Drinks. March 2 is getting real close!

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    • Aunty Mamo

      Iʻm roughly 6 weeks post-op this morning and have begun to feel like a normal human, with a normal human body again. I started introducing solid foods and pill forms of medications/supplements a couple of weeks ago and it's really amazing to eat meals with my family again, despite the fact that my portions are so much smaller than theirs. 
      I live on the island of Oʻahu and spend a lot of time in the water- for exercise, for play,  and for spiritual & mental health. The day I had my month out appointment with my surgeon, I packed all my gear in my truck, anticipating his permission to get back in the ocean. The minute I walked out of that hospital I drove straight to the shore and got in that water. Hallelujah! My appointment was at 10 am. I didn't get home until after 5 pm. 
      I'm down 31 pounds since the day of surgery and 47 since my pre-op diet began, with that typical week long stall occurring at three weeks. I'm really starting to see some changes lately- some of my clothing is too big, some fits again. The most drastic changes I notice however are in my face. I've also noticed my endurance and flexibility increasing. I was really starting to be held up physically, and I'm so grateful that I'm seeing that turn around in such short order. 
      My general disposition lately is hopeful and motivated. The only thing that bugs me on a daily basis still is the way those supplements make my house smell. So stink! But I just bought a smell proof bag online that other people use to put their pot in. My house doesn't stink anymore. 
       
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    • BeanitoDiego

      Oh yeah, something I wanted to rant about, a billing dispute that cropped up 3 months ago.
      Surgery was in August of 2023. A bill shows up for over $7,000 in January. WTF? I asks myself. I know that I jumped through all of the insurance hoops and verified this and triple checked that, as did the surgeon's office. All was set, and I paid all of the known costs before surgery.
      A looong story short, is that an assistant surgeon that was in the process of accepting money from my insurance company touched me while I was under anesthesia. That is what the bill was for. But hey, guess what? Some federal legislation was enacted last year to help patients out when they cannot consent to being touched by someone out of their insurance network. These types of bills fall under something called, "surprise billing," and you don't have to put up with it.
      https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
      I had to make a lot of phone calls to both the surgeon's office and the insurance company and explain my rights and what the maximum out of pocket costs were that I could be liable for. Also had to remind them that it isn't my place to be taking care of all of this and that I was going to escalate things if they could not play nice with one another.
      Quick ending is that I don't have to pay that $7,000+. Advocate, advocate, advocate for yourself no matter how long it takes and learn more about this law if you are ever hit with a surprise bill.
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    • BeanitoDiego

      Some days I feel like an infiltrator... I'm participating in society as a "thin" person. They have no idea that I haven't always been one of them! 🤣
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    • ChunkCat

      Thank you everyone for your well wishes! I totally forgot I wrote an update here... I'm one week post op today. I gained 15 lbs in water weight overnight because they had to give me tons of fluids to bring my BP up after surgery! I stayed one night in the hospital. Everything has been fine except I seem to have picked up a bug while I was there and I've been running a low grade fever, coughing, and a sore throat. So I've been hydrating well and sleeping a ton. So far the Covid tests are negative.
      I haven't been able to advance my diet past purees. Everything I eat other than tofu makes me choke and feels like trying to swallow rocks. They warned me it would get worse before it gets better, so lets hope this is all normal. I have my follow up on Monday so we'll see. Living on shakes and soup again is not fun. I had enough of them the first time!! LOL 
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    • BeanitoDiego

      Still purging all of the larger clothing. This morning, a shirt that I ADORED wearing ended up on top. Hard to let it go, but it was also hard to let go of those habits that also no longer serve my highest good. Onward and upward!
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