WLS prep

[minimamaz00m 61]

Hi All,

I'm trying to figure out what I'll need after surgery and in the life thereafter so I can prepare myself. So far I have:

• gotten bariatric sized flatware and plates (livliga.com and little ceramic crocks)
• gotten a mug warmer for keeping my food warm while I take forever to eat it
• figured out my favorite Protein Shakes and have a good supply of my favorites
• gotten unflavored Protein and chicken broth protein
• sampled Vitamins and worked with my dietician to figure out the best regimen for at least the first 2 months

Can you think of anything else you would do to prepare?

Do you think I'll need a shower seat for showering after surgery or will it only last a few days and I can stink that long?

Maybe will I need one of those wedge pillows for sleeping upright to prevent pain/nausea?

Thanks!

[GreenTealael 25,622]

16 minutes ago, minimamaz00m said:

Hi All,

I'm trying to figure out what I'll need after surgery and in the life thereafter so I can prepare myself. So far I have:

• gotten bariatric sized flatware and plates (livliga.com and little ceramic crocks)
• gotten a mug warmer for keeping my food warm while I take forever to eat it
• figured out my favorite Protein Shakes and have a good supply of my favorites
• gotten unflavored Protein and chicken broth Protein
• sampled Vitamins and worked with my dietician to figure out the best regimen for at least the first 2 months

Can you think of anything else you would do to prepare?

Do you think I'll need a shower seat for showering after surgery or will it only last a few days and I can stink that long?

Maybe will I need one of those wedge pillows for sleeping upright to prevent pain/nausea?

Thanks!

I don't think you'll need a shower seat but that's up to you but, definitely a (wedge or other style) pillow for comfort

I would recommend :

Measuring tape to keep track of losses that the scale may not reflect

water bottle with liquid measurements to track intake

Silk/Satin pillow case to minimize possible hair issues

Pill organizer

Good Luck ♥️

[RichelleGetsFit0309 51]

Shower chairs are expensive so I just purchased a smaller chair from Telco and have been using that when I shower. Some days I don’t need it but when I’m having a tough day it comes in handy.

[MandoGetsSleeved 444]

I didn't need a shower chair and was able to shower the day after surgery when I got home (I felt GROSS!!) - Can't say it was the most comfortable shower I've ever had, but I never felt weak or in danger. I also didn't need a wedge to sit up - Those can be pretty pricey also - I slept in the lounger off and on for a few days and that seemed to work.

Others can chime in here - But you might want to not go too crazy on post-surgery supplies with some of the shakes. Lots of folks say their tastes change. (mine didn't).

[MandoGetsSleeved 444]

2 hours ago, RichelleGetsFit0309 said:

Shower chairs are expensive so I just purchased a smaller chair from Telco and have been using that when I shower. Some days I don’t need it but when I’m having a tough day it comes in handy.

Richelle - Just looked @ your stats! You're killing it girlfriend!! I'm impressed and WAY TO GO!

[catwoman7 11,285]

recovery is pretty easy for a majority of us (although I know it's not for some). I doubt you'll need a shower chair. Even if you're one of the unfortunate ones who experiences pain with this, it doesn't last long - maybe a few days at most. As for a wedge pillow, I had one for plastic surgery - but that was much more painful than my RNY. I just propped up some pillows after my RNY. Although it certainly wouldn't hurt to get one.

[Arabesque 7,615]

I can’t imagine you’ll need a shower chair either. I was up showering the next day no problems - I just went slowly. I didn’t wash my hair for a few days just because I had long thick hair & didn’t want to lift my arms up high & did it over the laundry tub for a couple of weeks.

I had no issue sleeping in a bed & on my side as usual but I think I was a lucky one as I didn’t even have gas pain (don’t hate me).

Make sure you have all your prescription meds & over the counter meds (gasX, benefibre, aspirin, coloxyl, etc.) before your surgery. You may find a heat pack soothing.

Good luck with your surgery.

[Lynnlovesthebeach 627]

You shouldn't need a shower chair. If you don't have a recliner to use for a few days you may need the wedge. All the other suggestions given already are pretty accurate. The only thing I would add is a kitchen scale to weigh your food when you get to that stage. For me weighing and measuring my food is still an important tool!

[RichelleGetsFit0309 51]

On 09/21/2020 at 18:58, MandoGetsSleeved said:

Richelle - Just looked @ your stats! You're killing it girlfriend!! I'm impressed and WAY TO GO!

Thank you so much!!! I’m doing the best I can taking it one meal at a time.

[minimamaz00m 61]

On 9/21/2020 at 1:17 PM, GreenTealael said:

I don't think you'll need a shower seat but that's up to you but, definitely a (wedge or other style) pillow for comfort

I would recommend :

Measuring tape to keep track of losses that the scale may not reflect

water bottle with liquid measurements to track intake

Silk/Satin pillow case to minimize possible hair issues

Pill organizer

Good Luck ♥️

Thank you GreenTealael!

I have measuring tape, I'm a seamstress 🙂 I measured myself last month so I am ready for that.

I got a H2OPal Water bottle last year to help me with my water intake, I really like it.

I have a silk pillowcase anyway because my hair is crazy without it.

Pill organizer? For Vitamins or will there be a lot more happening? I have some of those but they are not large sized. Just the plain 7 day ones you'd get from a drug store.

Also @Lynnlovesthebeach I forgot that I did get one of those! I am really finding it to be a good tool also. Not just to make sure I'm not underestimating the food I'm eating but also works great for baking. I never realized that it would help so much in getting the right texture for the gluten free baked goods I make for my son (he's celiac).

Am I going to be hunched over in pain like I was after my c section?

Also on another note, I'm so bummed, my surgeon got all my labs and my A1C is a 7.1, and she thinks it's too high, so yet more time I'm going to have to wait 😞 I am having my endocrinologist send her a letter releasing me for surgery, I hope that helps me get on the fast(er) track!

[Lynnlovesthebeach 627]

You may be hunched over a little but probably not long. The incisions are very small. I had nerve blocks on both sides of my abdomen and wasn't hunched over...at least I didn't think so. I also never had any pain ever! I'm making up for it though with my lower body lift and brachioplasty I had 4 wks ago...hunched over for a week, burning pain in incisions. The arms are the worst! By the way, the GB is going to fix your A1C. Is the surgeon going to delay because of that? Sounds like you are pretty well prepared.

[minimamaz00m 61]

I'm not thrilled - 7.1 was my value when I went into the surgeon for the first appointment, and she seemed to think the number was fine, as long as it didn't go up before surgery... now we're at the point where I need to meet with her for the last time before she submits the packet to insurance. Her nurse emailed and said that it wasn't low enough. I looked at the ADA webpage and it looks like they recommend 7.0 or lower for any surgery in general. I tried to gently remind the nurse that I'm a type 1 diabetic not a type 2, but I really don't know what good that did because nobody is calling/emailing me to go to the next step. Based on my most recent blood sugars I think I'm going to be more like 6.6 at my next bloodwork, so I made my next quarterly appointment and I'm going to get my blood drawn next week instead of the 2nd week of October so I can show them I'm going down. If that doesn't get me some movement, then I'm not sure what I'll do. My immediate reaction is to go and be the squeaky wheel but I don't want to piss them off at me. I really need to do the surgery/recovery before the end of the year because of the way time off works at my company.

[minimamaz00m 61]

In the meantime, I'm shedding weight very slowly but surely, about 5 lbs a month, and walking almost every day. I'm starting to really feel healthier because my normal flat walk is starting to feel too easy. I look in the mirror expecting to see a new skinny me and I don't know who that fat chick is looking back at me.