Preparing for my WLS & having some concerns or questions

I am going to the surgeons on Feb 12 to schedule my surgery and the closer it gets, the more nervous I get.  I can only imagine how much of a basket case I will be once the date is set.
     I'm not so much worried about the surgery.  I've spent more time in a hospital then most.  The 2 things I am most concerned with have to do with dieting.  I am stressing over the pre-op diet and then the liquid diet after the surgery.  I would love to hear what everyone has gone through, to receive any information or helpful tips about this.  Maybe reading what you have been through will help ease my mind regarding this.  Thanks soooo much in advance!  

Hugs, Theresa

Hey Theresa!  Honey, your concerns are perfectly normal, so no worries about feeling like a basket case.  You're getting ready to embark on an amazing journey so it's good to have & ask questions.  Knowledge is power & helps to make things less scary. What would be helpful in getting your questions answered would be to tell us what kind of surgery you're having...lapband or bypass?  I had lapband.  There are different requirements to go with whichever form of wls you chose. Either way, you'll get good advice here.  But always, ALWAYS remember that when in doubt, ask your surgeon & his team.  They are your best resource for those hard-to-answer questions & that's what they get paid the big bucks for...may as well get your money's worth, right.

Opps.  I guess knowing my surgery type would be helpful!  I am having the RNY and it is being done laproscopically because my diabetes is well, beyond out of control and they feel that healing would be easier this way.  Because of the amount of time that I've spent in the hospital, the actually hospital stay and surgery aren't concerns of mine.  It's just the diet, before and afterwards that I am finding myself focusing on the most.  Thanks so much for writing me back.  Hope to hear from ya soon!

Good morning Theresa, Every doc has a different pre op diet. It really is just to shrink the liver so it's easier to move around,get behind and out of the way. I did 4 day liquids. The first two were hard I'm not going to lie about that. I wanted to crunch on something. I chewed gum but that didn't help and yes, I ate. I had mashed potatoes. The last 2 days were clear liquids and bowel prep. Now that part was really  nasty. Plan to stay home! Post op, I didn't have a liquid diet. I was released from the hospital on soft solids--jello,yogurt, taters, purees. That wasn't bad to me. By week three I was ready to add some texture again. I was release to 'regular' food on week 4. I promise, you will look back on this time and say What the heck was I stressing over? But nerves are NORMAL!!!! Keep checking in with us. We are always here for plenty of support.

I know the feeling! Im going to schedule MY surgery on the 8th!!!! Just a lil ahead of you! I havent been given the exacts on the Pre Op diet yet. But I am a lil concerned about it being that Im hypoglyxemic. Im concerned that I will be a jittery mess and not be able to follow it as it is asked of me. But I will cross that bridge when I get there. The best thing to remember is that everything you do from here on out is going to be for the good or bad of the surgery or the reult of the surgery. Dont let yourself sabotage your results :) Good luck! Brandi~

Whoa!!  Good advice and Great attitude there Brandi!!

Another thing that does concern me about the liquid diet, mostly the pre-op diet, is the fact that I am a diabetic. I take a highly concentrated insulin, U/500, and take approximately 1000 units a day. Only consuming the liquids, I am a bit nervous as to how to adjust the insulin especially since it is the concentrated type. I have decided to keep telling myself that the end results are so going to be worth all the trials and tribulations.

Thanks so much for writing back. I feel very welcomed in this site and am so learning alot that I need to know.

Are you keeping your PCP up to speed on all this new stuff?  With your concerns about your diabetes & insulin use, I would STRONGLY suggest you contact your regular doctor ASAP & get the answers you require.  Many, many, MANY wls folks overcome these problems with diabetes & so can you with the right guidance.  So run, don't walk, to your family doc or whomever you see to supervise your diabetes, tell them what you're about to encounter, & go from there.  VERY important that you do this. Keep us informed, hon...you got a lot of cheerleaders on your side!

Theresa, Congrats on making a life changing choice for health. I had one day of liquid diet. So pre-op, I got off easy. No bowl prep either. I hear that is nasty. After surgery I was on a liquid diet for a week, I think.  I did enjoy getting to go onto soft foods. Cuz the mental part of not getting to eat was hard. Just remember to go EXACTLY by what your surgeon says. Good luck.

Best thing I can contribute is afterwards, physical hunger is not an issue.  I had to force myself to drink my protein because it was required and the water, 2 oz at a time, minutes apart, stop water 30 minutes before and don;t restart until 30 miutes after,..... Sleep, vitamins, protein, water, walk, restart.  Throw that sleep in because at first sleeping more than 2hrs at a time took a awhile to get past, even through the night. The first two weeks are liquids with most RNY because, the new stomach is healing, the body is recovereing from major replumbing and anesthesia.  After two weeks you will notice the improvements if you play by the rules.  my diabetes has gone away post-op and quality of life overall has improved drastically.  I hope as much success and happines as I have had resulting from my decision to have RNY.  It couldn't happen fast enough once I got the date and now I'm 16 months out.  incredible and difficult to fathom...This will be you too soon.  Keep us posted. Oh,..and wear your seatbelt or find something to hold on too.  Its a wild and exciting ride.