Surgery on 11/27 - any words of wisdom?

Hi there.  I'm new to this website and was wondering anyone would have some words of wisdom or advice for my upcoming gastric bypass on 11/27?  I'm starting to get a little nervous! 

Hello Just relax. I didn't, and I even did something crazy...I wrote goodbye letters, yep.. I did. But I have overcome a hurtle and so will you. Bring chapstick, your lips will thank you. Just take it easy, do as your doc says. And always read here. Everyone helps! If you have anymore questions, please email me. GOOD LUCK. I will add you in my prayers, Bless you and your chance at a new life.

Good am - First, WELCOME! Next, nervous is normal so you are not alone. Then, focus on the positives and remember that you are doing this for YOU and bettering your life. Take some time to read some profiles and posts here on the boards. I am sure you will find them informative and helpful. Try to relax (easier said than done) and give things to the Lord. My prayers are with you. All best....

Why the sad face???  This is suppose to be one of the happiest moments in your life.  This is where you get to regain control of YOUR life back.  YOU have an opportunity to be the healthiest person you know.   This is the moment where your life becomes all about YOU. Embrace this moment, because here is where YOUR life will begin. We all get jittery when jumping into the unknown.  BUT...that's the joy of this.  All of our experiences are different and are persoanl....BUT...are very similiar, too. So, take a deep breath....relax.....and enjoy the ride. Make sure that you have a few things to take with you....lotion, chapstick, slippers, robe, small blanket (I was chilly in my room, plus mine was comfy)....... For home, I went to Walmart and bought a baby sippy cup - it forces you to sip your liquids, a shot glass size measuring cup and a baby spoon to eat with.  My sisters gave me a disposable camera so I take pics each month (THAT was enlightening at the end of the year when I got the pics developed....WOW!), and I also bought 2 sets of new pj's.  For me...there is no better way to recoup than in new pj's - haha. It will be hard to get your liquids in the 1st few days.  Do the best that you can, but also recognize that you will hav e somethingin your hand all of the time.  You will need to stay as hydrated as possible. Have you started sampling protein powders yet?  Your tastes may change, but it does not hurt to have an idea of what you may or may not like available, because protein will be extremely important as it helps the body heal.   Good luck to you!!!!

 

Hey there  Welcome to the Va board.  Here you will find alot of good information and encouragement along the way.  Congratulations on taking this step to improve your health.  Nervous is a "normal" process we all go through right before surgery, any surgery in fact.  Words of wisdom ==== sip sip sip, walk walk walk.  The walking will help y ou heal faster and also help with gas.  My pain came from mostly the gas from surgery itself.  The more I walked the better I felt.   I echo what others have said, chapstick, favortie pj's , although I used the hospital gown, and a pillow for the ride home.  Those bumps can hurt your tummy , so the pillow will help to cushion your tummy.  Main thing is relax and remember WHY you are doing this.  I know it is a very scary procedure, but to me the scary part was NOT having it done.   hugs and keep the faith!

Hi Welcome to the VA board. Take time for you these next few days. Don't worry about getting every thing clean in the house or laundry done.....it will still be there when you get home from the hospital and recover enough to start in on it. I kinda stressed about that stuff, but don't. Take some deep breathes and relax. I know easier said than done. I too am Dr. T's patient. He is sooooo awesome. You are in very good hands. For the hospital I took sweats, pen and puzzle book, personal hygene stuff, and chap stick. I didn't have time for the puzzle book. If I wasn't sleeping, I was walking the halls. Take care and keep us up to date on you surgery and recovery.

Good luck with your surgery. Of course, you are nervous - this is major surgery but you will be so glad you did this. Every day I feel blessed to have had this surgery. Just walk a lot in the first few weeks and make sure you get in all or most of your protein. Drink a lot - and you will be surprised how quickly your recovery will be.

Be sure to start exercising as soon as you can - those new habits should be started right away. The best part is that you will be thrilled that you can do things - exercise, clean your house, walk stairs, play with your kids or grandkids that you could never do before. Also, get into a routine to insure you take all of your vitamins. With 90 pounds lost in about 8 months for me this surgery has been a miracle.

Ask for the triple martini!! I did...lol....I was in tears and thought I would be in horrible pain- I wasn't, I had to ask them if they were sure they operated on me.  I just had it done on Monday and I was in Walmart this morning...and really could have gone back to work the day I came home from the hospital.  You will do just fine!!

Thanks to everybody for the advice and kind words!  I guess I'm just being a big baby   I had my gallbladder removed laporascopically (not sure if that's spelled correctly) a few years ago, so I'm assuming that the pain/experience will be similar.  I go for my pre-op appt with the surgeon tomorrow, which will hopefully calm some of my fears as well.   I've started trying some of the protein shakes, but it's hard to find a small serving of them.  They're all these huge 5 lb tubs!  I've got a sampler pack ordered from Champion Nutrition's website, but that won't arrive for a few more days.  Any brands that you guys recommend?