Sooooo Nervous
Well, my surgery is next Wednesday. I have been waiting for this for so long, but now I am so scared. I have all of these thoughts like, what if I cant get enough protein in? What if I loose all of may hair? What if I am making the biggest mistake of my life? I am sure alot of people go through this. I went to the store to get my Protein shakes, instant milk for the double protein milk, baby food. I feel so lost. I am a nurse, so I would think I would be handeling this alot better. I dont have musch of a support system, and no one to voice my concerns to. Anything more I need to do to be prepared for life after bypass? Any feedback would be great.
Being nervous is normal. It sounds like you are educated about the changes that will be needed. Just BREATHE!!!!! It will be OK.
Come here for support and hand-holding, if needed.
At first, the protein will be a challenge, but it WILL work out. At first, your body will live off of nutrients that it has stored. Make sure that you get what you need to be healthy in the long run. Stay on plan and keep up with your supplements---that is the best way to keep your hair and stay healthy.
I also have files of great ideas for pureed and soft foods which I can post, or email to you if needed.
Hope this helps.......have a spectacular day!
Come here for support and hand-holding, if needed.
At first, the protein will be a challenge, but it WILL work out. At first, your body will live off of nutrients that it has stored. Make sure that you get what you need to be healthy in the long run. Stay on plan and keep up with your supplements---that is the best way to keep your hair and stay healthy.
I also have files of great ideas for pureed and soft foods which I can post, or email to you if needed.
Hope this helps.......have a spectacular day!
Revision on 04/19/13
Lisa, You will be fine. Everyone is nervous at first. You are doing the right thing. You will be able to get all the protein and water you will need. It just takes a while to adjust to it. No one is able to do it all at first. Remeber, you are having surgery. It takes time for your body to heal.
If you need support or just want answers, someone is always here to help you. If you have doults, everyone else has been there too. We are here for you.
Huggers,
LISA
If you need support or just want answers, someone is always here to help you. If you have doults, everyone else has been there too. We are here for you.
Huggers,
LISA
Baby food? I went to see my Dr. (Dr. Scott from SSM DePaul) and they gave me the 2 week diet to look over so I am ready whenever I am approved. Didn't say anything about baby food? After looking over the list of things I can have over those 2 weeks, baby food might be something that may work - or is baby food after surgery?
The baby food is after the surgery, during the pureed portion. I will tell you, it does not taste good at all :-( I am doing my 10 day pre-op, which is low carb, high protein. I am just nervous. I cant take any narcotic pain meds, like Codeine or Morphine because I get so sick. Thats my biggest fear, the pain.
Actually, the baby food is not all that bad if you add a little seasoning.
Another thing I did was puree food before my surgery. With each meal I cooked for my family, I pureed a bit and froze it in ice cube trays. That way, after surgery, I had perfect portions of each part of a meal to pop in the microwave. If you close your eyes, it tastes exactly the same!
I had pureed chicken, pork, brats, steak, potatoes (white and sweet), veggies of all kinds.......just in little frozen cubes.
Another thing I did was puree food before my surgery. With each meal I cooked for my family, I pureed a bit and froze it in ice cube trays. That way, after surgery, I had perfect portions of each part of a meal to pop in the microwave. If you close your eyes, it tastes exactly the same!
I had pureed chicken, pork, brats, steak, potatoes (white and sweet), veggies of all kinds.......just in little frozen cubes.
Congratulations Lisa on getting all the prequalifying done. As most, I was sure nervous too...very much as you write. If you'd like, read my presurgery fears on my page here. At this point I'm 11 weeks post op and can tell you that all went much better than I feared. You will make it through the first few weeks home on pureed foods. I'd suggest a little lowfat yogurt, cottage cheese, and some lowfat mayo and water packed tuna. Those plus the protien shakes, water, sugar free popsicles and crystal lite is what got me through the first 2-3 weeks after surgery. Then, be prepared for individual issues...for me, I discovered 2 weeks ago that at surgery, I lost whatever enzyme breaks down lactose in the body. So, for over 2 months, every single day, I drank protien shakes that made me feel satiated, but an hour later made me feel cramped and hurting. From what I've seen, there may be something unique to figure out later, but the first stages of recovery and healing should go better than your anxieties will tell you. Take a look at Vitalady; Bariatric Choice; Bariatric Fusion sites for products as you start to heal. Lots of good info here as well. Hope all goes great for you. The anxieties and doubts are all normal I guess...they sure were for me, but I'm sure you'll find that it is much better than you are thinking. Once you get through the first month or two, you'll feel much better...you'll be comfortable that any physical fears were unfounded, you'll know that you're on the right track. Not saying it's easy at this stage--it isn't!...but it's much better than you're thinking and it's the right thing to do. Great that you make the effort to prepare...you'll do great! Best wishes and congratulations on your decision for self improvement!!
Hi Lisa
I wrote a reply yesterday but it disappeared someplace so here I go again. First of all, breathe! Take a moment to reflect on why you chose to have this surgery in the first place. You did not make this decision lightly. It took me 5 years to get to the point to do surgery. It is not an easy decision to make. But you have gone through all the preop requirements so I am sure you are well determined that this is the right choice for you. Being a nurse, I would assume that since this is major surgery, you are more cautious due to the general risks of surgery and the healing process. I have to say I did not find it that bad. Recovery went better than I expected. I did not find myself in that much pain.
As far as foods go, you will find that if you choose your foods wisely it is no problem to get in the required protein. I ate a lot of pureed cottage cheese, scrambled eggs (after I was allowed to eat them) refried beans, protein drinks, yogurt and cheese. Your doctor should be giving you a chart on what to eat. I did not get mine until I was ready to go home after surgery.
We are all here to help you. We all have many ideas of foods to get your thorough your initial recovery and the following period. All you have to do is ask. You will probably be overwhelmed with advice.
You will find that everyone on here is great for support. Please check in on the daily roll call and tell us how you are doing. We all respond. Most of us have been where you are so we do understand the roller coaster of emotions. This is a fantastic experience. You are in for the ride of your life. Be prepared to be amazed, excited and enjoy it!
I wrote a reply yesterday but it disappeared someplace so here I go again. First of all, breathe! Take a moment to reflect on why you chose to have this surgery in the first place. You did not make this decision lightly. It took me 5 years to get to the point to do surgery. It is not an easy decision to make. But you have gone through all the preop requirements so I am sure you are well determined that this is the right choice for you. Being a nurse, I would assume that since this is major surgery, you are more cautious due to the general risks of surgery and the healing process. I have to say I did not find it that bad. Recovery went better than I expected. I did not find myself in that much pain.
As far as foods go, you will find that if you choose your foods wisely it is no problem to get in the required protein. I ate a lot of pureed cottage cheese, scrambled eggs (after I was allowed to eat them) refried beans, protein drinks, yogurt and cheese. Your doctor should be giving you a chart on what to eat. I did not get mine until I was ready to go home after surgery.
We are all here to help you. We all have many ideas of foods to get your thorough your initial recovery and the following period. All you have to do is ask. You will probably be overwhelmed with advice.

You will find that everyone on here is great for support. Please check in on the daily roll call and tell us how you are doing. We all respond. Most of us have been where you are so we do understand the roller coaster of emotions. This is a fantastic experience. You are in for the ride of your life. Be prepared to be amazed, excited and enjoy it!
Cat Lady
Hi! I just had my RNY with Dr. Nagle, so I've just walked the path you're now starting. I'm now heading into my 4th week post-op.
I recommend getting and reading the Complete Idiot's Guide to Eating Well After WLS (exact title?) by Furtado (sp?). It reviews all the nutrition and recipe info you'll need once you're past the initial post-op stage.
Immediately post-op, you'll spend a day or two sipping water every 5 minutes (for real). Then, you get to feast on SF Jell-O, broth, and tea before you're discharged. In the meantime, you're up every hour or two taking a stroll around the floor.
Upon discharge, they'll give you instructions, including what meds to resume. They won't talk to you much about supplements at that time, just tell you to take your Flintstones vitamin, get in your protein with shakes, Greek yogurt, pureed beans, pureed soup with baby food meat added, soft scrambled eggs, DPM double-protein milk, and FF cheese slices, etc. Also, you surgically attach a sports bottle to your hand and keep drinking (like about 20 oz in by noon, 20 oz in the afternoon, and 20 oz in the evening - minus any liquids you consumed as watery soup, coffee, or shakes).
Then, after your one-week appt, they'll likely instruct you to add one serving (1 to 2 T) of fruit, veggie, and start to that puree diet. At that appointment, ask for a copy of your surgery report and your most recent labs (you're going to start tracking labs).
If you drink a protein shake in the a.m. and one in the p.m. (I adjust how much protein powder I add to my p.m. shake in order to hit the 100g I'm supposed to have [b/c I'm 5'9"]), you'll hit your protein goal.
You will be able to do this. Of course, I personally am having a very difficult time waiting for more info from the nut and doc about my nut, exercise, and weight-loss goals. But, I figure I can work on this myself with a lot of help from the OH folks.
Consider acquiring LITTLE bowls, dishes, Thermos containers, Rubbermaid containers, Ziplocks, & fork/spoons (****tail utensils from Crate & Barrel). Also: 2-4 oz shot glasses, measuring cups and spoons, and shake "shakers" with the wire ball inside, a Ninja food processor, and an insulated lunch pail with freezer pack (to keep food cold). Keep a notebook to plan your menus and track your food (as well as other things) post-op. Consider using LoseIt! or other app to track food electronically.
Happy trails!
I recommend getting and reading the Complete Idiot's Guide to Eating Well After WLS (exact title?) by Furtado (sp?). It reviews all the nutrition and recipe info you'll need once you're past the initial post-op stage.
Immediately post-op, you'll spend a day or two sipping water every 5 minutes (for real). Then, you get to feast on SF Jell-O, broth, and tea before you're discharged. In the meantime, you're up every hour or two taking a stroll around the floor.
Upon discharge, they'll give you instructions, including what meds to resume. They won't talk to you much about supplements at that time, just tell you to take your Flintstones vitamin, get in your protein with shakes, Greek yogurt, pureed beans, pureed soup with baby food meat added, soft scrambled eggs, DPM double-protein milk, and FF cheese slices, etc. Also, you surgically attach a sports bottle to your hand and keep drinking (like about 20 oz in by noon, 20 oz in the afternoon, and 20 oz in the evening - minus any liquids you consumed as watery soup, coffee, or shakes).
Then, after your one-week appt, they'll likely instruct you to add one serving (1 to 2 T) of fruit, veggie, and start to that puree diet. At that appointment, ask for a copy of your surgery report and your most recent labs (you're going to start tracking labs).
If you drink a protein shake in the a.m. and one in the p.m. (I adjust how much protein powder I add to my p.m. shake in order to hit the 100g I'm supposed to have [b/c I'm 5'9"]), you'll hit your protein goal.
You will be able to do this. Of course, I personally am having a very difficult time waiting for more info from the nut and doc about my nut, exercise, and weight-loss goals. But, I figure I can work on this myself with a lot of help from the OH folks.
Consider acquiring LITTLE bowls, dishes, Thermos containers, Rubbermaid containers, Ziplocks, & fork/spoons (****tail utensils from Crate & Barrel). Also: 2-4 oz shot glasses, measuring cups and spoons, and shake "shakers" with the wire ball inside, a Ninja food processor, and an insulated lunch pail with freezer pack (to keep food cold). Keep a notebook to plan your menus and track your food (as well as other things) post-op. Consider using LoseIt! or other app to track food electronically.
Happy trails!