So Overwhelmed!!!!!!!!!!

So, I went to my pre op class yesterday. And there was ALOT of information giving to me. I am so overwhelmed. I am afraid I am going to forget something..... you can have that this week and thiss next week.......you need to take all these vitamins but you can't take this one with that one..........then make sure not to eat this many sugars and make sure you eat this much protein..........MY HEAD IS SPINNING!!!!! I am afraid I am gonna mess up!!!!! Help!!!! How can I make sure I do everything that I am suppose to do when I am suppose to do it?

My nut had a manual that she emailed me.  Maybe you should check with your doc and see if you can get one.

I went through Dr. vR's program too. Do they still give you the manual like they did when I went through it? If so, that will help you a lot and you will refer to it a lot, especially in the beginning until things become more natural. Set up a schedule for yourself. Only focus on one phase at a time. You can do some shopping ahead, but don't over-buy. You may find you don't like some things. Keep a diary. That way you can assess where you stand for your daily goals. They used to provide a diary sheet in the back of the manual. You can use that or build one of your own. I built one of my own.

It is not unusual in the beginning to have trouble hitting the protein goals. That will come with time. Focus on the fluids and the vitamins. You can work on building the other things as you go along.

I promise you this will get easier as you gain experience with it. You will get there. It will all be fine.

breathe in breathe out. it will be ok. just relax, it will all get into your brain in time. just re read all the info you can, there are also some great books out there on the subject. just take your time and learn.

Yes. they did give me a big binder full of all kinds of information but it is soooo much. I wish there was a chart or timeline that tells me what to do and when. It is just alot of information and it really confuses me. I plan to order vitamins for after surgery today......buy the cleansing stuff for the day before surgery and buy protien and food for after surgery. Any suggestion on what to buy and from where?

I bought some food/protein related things from Bariatric Advantage in the beginning. But I really did not like anything other than their vitamins. So I wound up throwing a lot of that out after a while. I like to shop at the Vitamin Shoppe. They have lots of flavors of Isopure and they allow you to break cases and buy by the single bottles. The also have a good selection of protein shakes (prepared and powdered). Some of these can be purchased individually so that you can try them before you buy bulk. I also used the low carb Slim Fast, which is usually cheapest at Walmart. other than that, I bought  clear and creamed soups for early on. SF Popsicles are also popular and count toward your fluids.

i know there is more. But this is what I remember on the top of my head.

Thanks Debbie! I will be shopping this weekend. I wanna try some other protien and have some choices on hand for after surgery. Can I ask you something else?......What did you take to the hospital? The only thing they recommended was chap stick. Got it!!! Can I wear my PJ's, robe and slippers?

Slippers are good. You will have an IV which makes clothes that go over the arm difficult. Hospital gowns have those convenient snaps. You can even wear one in reverse as a robe. PJ bottoms might be nice for walking the hall. I was OK without them, You will want a change of underwear. Your clothing for the trip back home should be loose/comfy. Some folks like to have a pillow to hug for the ride home. I did not and was OK. But then again, everyone is different. Some have more pain/discomfort than others. I had to borrow a pen from a friend because I decided while I was there (and once I had permission to drink)to keep a stroke count of how many 1 oz. containers of fluids I drank. This made it easier when the nurses would ask me how much I drank. I did not have to try and remember.

If you use a CPAP you will want to bring it.

I did pack extra clothes, books, etc. and wound up not touching them. I was either sleeping, walking, drinking, talking to company, or watching TV. It all felt like it passed quickly to me. My hospitalization went like clockwork. I had my surgery Thursday afternoon and was discharge by Saturday at Noon.

a little off topic, but did you feel like "what have I done?" your first few days post-op?

Slippers are good, but don't wear PJs w/pants due to your catheter. Not to mention, you don't want to mess up your nice PJs if you get anything on it... you never know whats going to happen! Hospital gowns are better and if you have a robe just bring that!

You'll do GREAT, and in a few months you'll be educating people on everything that seems so overwhelming to you right now!!! 

And I'd be worried about you if you didn't feel overwhelmed! This is a huge change for you! Good luck in your journey!