Hey all!  I'm new here.. just found this site and SO excited!
My surgery for gastric bypass is Tuesday at 2:30pm.  Here's my problem... I start school on the 27th and we're moving on the 31st. 
What can I do to help my recovery be as smooth as possible? 
I don't plan to pu**** I'm doing a lot of packing ahead of time and we hired movers to load and unload.  But I do want to be able to be up and about as soon as possible.

Any tips and pointers would be great!!!!
Shans

I am pre opt also, so don't have any advice, but I wanted to say Hello, I live in middle Tennessee and my surgery is 9/11/12. I was a  patient of Dr. Clements but recently changed to Centennial for the DS. Good luck and good wishes for a speedy recovery.

Hey there! Congratulations on both of your upcoming surgeries!

I just had mine this past Tuesday and just spent my first night at home :D

This is my advice:

~When you are in pain let someone know immediately, don't wait until it is too unbearable. Get up and walk around the nurse's station I got up every two hours and walked 6-7 "laps".

~ Take advantage of the showers, it feels fantastic especially if you have lower back pain from surgery

~Take your breathing exercises seriously and do them diligiently

~Ask for a small "cough" pillow to hold over your abdomen, I found that I would get spasms that felt like they were hiccups and that really helped, especially getting up and out of bed, walking, and moving around.

~Rest!

Most importantly, remember why you are doing this, and the best of luck! Feel free to add me!

OMG! I had forgotten about the cough pillow!!! One of the BEST pieces of advice!! ((actually, when I got home, I would put the pillow in front and lean against the washing machine to cough))

My best advice is...let everyone else do the physical work, and you need to supervise! :)

This is the time in your life where you need to focus on YOU! Listen to the doctor ((and don't deviate from their advice))...BUT...listen to your body!

((NOT to scare you, but when I had my surgery, in the hospital, I kept telling my hubby something wasn't right (he thought I was being a baby). Not to scare you, and I'm sure I'm an exception to the rule, but I ended up having emergency surgery the day after coming home. (btw, my hubby listens to me now when I saw something isn't right, well, with my body he does...otherwise he says "UH HUH" and moves on with whatever he's doing (typical guy, LOL) The doctor felt pretty bad too. But now, I am 110% wonderful and happy!!))

Here is my best advice/comments after having the surgery: 
-DRINK DRINK DRINK! I HATE Gatorade now, but you have to sip sip sip. You don't want to get dehydrated. (Also, it helps with pooping, LOL)
-Baby food isn't all that bad. You just have to season it. (and once you can start your protein shakes, the baby food fruit (particularly banana) is a really good addition)
-CHEW CHEW CHEW!
-Do NOT drink after eating. I have done this ONCE. Not only does it push the food out of your pouch, the pain/discomfort is INCREDIBLE!!
-Take your vitamins!! (unjury has a great vitamin that you only have to take once a day, it's chewable (a little too sweet..but...) but you HAVE to take it!!
-Take your fiber (ugh, I know...but you don't want to strain to only produce a 'marble')
-While we are on the subject of poop, I take a stool softener..it seems to help
-Don't think you can eat something before it's time to. I have read where some folks pureed food the first week or two thinking it would be OK. Their pain tells me it wasn't.
-Exercise, at least walk. Makes a big difference

And the MOST IMPORTANT thing...Have fun and enjoy your new body. The transformation is surreal. I'm only 5 months out and 80 lbs down...but I look and feel so much younger. My energy now is UNBELIEVABLE! My daughter only sees me about every 6 months (she now lives 250 miles from home) She saw me the weekend before my surgery, but I saw her last weekend and she just smiled and said "Mom, you look so young!"

This is probably the biggest decision you have ever made. This is a tool, not a fix all. You will still have to watch what you eat and exercise...but it gives you the boost to get your new life started.

Good luck and prayers to you all!

 I agree with Lisa S. in that you need to let everyone else do the physical work, and you need to supervise!

I also would recommend the following:

-DRINK DRINK DRINK!
-CHEW CHEW CHEW!
-Take your vitamins!! 
-Take your fiber 
-While we are on the subject of poop, I take a stool softener..it seems to help
-Don't think you can eat something before it's time to. I have read where some folks pureed food the first week or two thinking it would be OK.   In other words, follow your surgeon's orders with regard to what you can and can not eat.
-Exercise, at least walk. Makes a big difference.

Best of luck to you.

My advise:  Don't overdo it.  You probably should not be lifting much.  You should not do a lot of bending. 

School 2 weeks post op and then moving?  That might be difficult, it all depends on how fast you recover.  Don't push lifting limits, expecially considering the fact you're moving.  Personally, I wouldn't have planned school or moving so soon post op. I see a lot of post ops at monthly support meetings.  Most post ops take full advantage of the 60 days off work from surgery. It takes some post ops that long to learn to eat again, learn to drink enough water, get over initial ill feelings, remember the new regimine of MANDATORY daily supplements, get used to drinking protein shakes, fatigue, etc. etc. DAVE

Dave- it wasn't really planned this way.  The move and school were already set.  My surgery date was just scheduled a few days ago and this was the only date they had.  Otherwise I would have had to wait until I have a break in school.  So it is what it is.
Thanks everyone for the advice thus far!

HI,
thats, good work.