Your Best Advice!
Ok here is my story...
I started the process of looking into gastric bypass last November. In December I started my 6 month plan my Insurance mandates and I just finished it May 4th. They told me at that apt It would be 2-4 weeks for approval and then another 2 weeks before surgery. so I was looking mid to late June or so I thought. It took only THREE days and my insurance came back with the approval. I go to my Dr tomorrow to schedule my pre op tests and Surgery. so in the next two weeks or so I should officially be a RNY patient.
So what is your best advice. Best before surgery recommendation? Best post op recommendation? best protein shake?
I started the process of looking into gastric bypass last November. In December I started my 6 month plan my Insurance mandates and I just finished it May 4th. They told me at that apt It would be 2-4 weeks for approval and then another 2 weeks before surgery. so I was looking mid to late June or so I thought. It took only THREE days and my insurance came back with the approval. I go to my Dr tomorrow to schedule my pre op tests and Surgery. so in the next two weeks or so I should officially be a RNY patient.
So what is your best advice. Best before surgery recommendation? Best post op recommendation? best protein shake?
Find out whether or not you need the bowel prep before surgery and have the stuff on hand. Schedule your day before surgery accordingly so you can hang out in the bathroom most of the evening.
Take chapstick to the hospital. I took a whole suitcase FULL of things but used nothing. Slept alo****ched TV, used chapstick.
Get your meds filled prior to going home. Get your spouse or someone else who is helping to do it if you can possibly get them the morning of your discharge. The ride home was tough for me and it had been since 8 a.m. that I'd had pain meds and it was 4 pm before I finally got them back in me.
That said, stay on TOP of your pain meds for at least 48 hours. Don't give yourself a chance to get to where you are hurting and can't get ahead of the pain.
Have help at home for a few days. I had problems getting up until day three at home because my left side hurt so badly. I could manage on my own but I needed my kids to play step and fetch it and bring me stuff up and down the stairs.
Use the belly binder they give you at the hospital. It makes you feel a little safer with your tummy and really helped me with the pain INSIDE; although its a tad sweaty/uncomfortable on the outside. I wore mine for three weeks.
Remember that the first few weeks WILL pass and it only gets better everyday after that. For me, day 18 was a turning point and it just got better and better.
Don't try to do too much. It will all be there when you feel better. For some reason I had this overwhelming urge to clean out closets and get things done because I was at home. MISTAKE. Set myself back several times during the first four weeks by trying to do too much.
For me? Best tasting protein shake is Syntha-6 Chocolate Peanut butter. It isn't like a reeses cup or anything but it tastes the least like protein to me and mixes well.
Take chapstick to the hospital. I took a whole suitcase FULL of things but used nothing. Slept alo****ched TV, used chapstick.
Get your meds filled prior to going home. Get your spouse or someone else who is helping to do it if you can possibly get them the morning of your discharge. The ride home was tough for me and it had been since 8 a.m. that I'd had pain meds and it was 4 pm before I finally got them back in me.
That said, stay on TOP of your pain meds for at least 48 hours. Don't give yourself a chance to get to where you are hurting and can't get ahead of the pain.
Have help at home for a few days. I had problems getting up until day three at home because my left side hurt so badly. I could manage on my own but I needed my kids to play step and fetch it and bring me stuff up and down the stairs.
Use the belly binder they give you at the hospital. It makes you feel a little safer with your tummy and really helped me with the pain INSIDE; although its a tad sweaty/uncomfortable on the outside. I wore mine for three weeks.
Remember that the first few weeks WILL pass and it only gets better everyday after that. For me, day 18 was a turning point and it just got better and better.
Don't try to do too much. It will all be there when you feel better. For some reason I had this overwhelming urge to clean out closets and get things done because I was at home. MISTAKE. Set myself back several times during the first four weeks by trying to do too much.
For me? Best tasting protein shake is Syntha-6 Chocolate Peanut butter. It isn't like a reeses cup or anything but it tastes the least like protein to me and mixes well.
Thanks for the info!
I do not have to do Bowel prep =)
I have a tummy binder allready =) ( I have had two c sections)
My husband is taking a week oof of work to be with me =)
Will put chapstick on my packing list
Will definitely try and take it easy. I know that has to be hard to just relax and rest good reminder to take it easy.
Will also make sure all my meds are pre filled. I had a mess up in the hospital when I had my c sections and they were not giving me pain meds even though I asked for them I went 12 hours on ONE darvocet before I could get anyone to listen to me and get me more. So I know how important it is to keep up on the meds.
and thank you so much for the info on the protein shake. that is one of the things I feel so lost on. I have never had one before and now i need to make decision as it will be my main nutrition for a few weeks or more
I do not have to do Bowel prep =)
I have a tummy binder allready =) ( I have had two c sections)
My husband is taking a week oof of work to be with me =)
Will put chapstick on my packing list
Will definitely try and take it easy. I know that has to be hard to just relax and rest good reminder to take it easy.
Will also make sure all my meds are pre filled. I had a mess up in the hospital when I had my c sections and they were not giving me pain meds even though I asked for them I went 12 hours on ONE darvocet before I could get anyone to listen to me and get me more. So I know how important it is to keep up on the meds.
and thank you so much for the info on the protein shake. that is one of the things I feel so lost on. I have never had one before and now i need to make decision as it will be my main nutrition for a few weeks or more
Get gas-x!
I wasn't prepared for not having anything in my mouth until the swallow test (the next morning!) so ask your nurses for mouth swabs or something to gargle & spit to keep your mouth moist. Or bring biotene with you. And make sure your dr gives you good pain meds for at home! I only had 120oz of tylenol with codine and used it ALL.
I wasn't prepared for not having anything in my mouth until the swallow test (the next morning!) so ask your nurses for mouth swabs or something to gargle & spit to keep your mouth moist. Or bring biotene with you. And make sure your dr gives you good pain meds for at home! I only had 120oz of tylenol with codine and used it ALL.
First ultra: Stone Mill 50 miler 11/15/14 13:44:38, First Full Marathon: Marine Corps 10/27/13 4:57:11, Half Marathon PR 2:04:43 at Shamrock VA Beach Half-Marathon, 12/2/12 First Half-Marathon 2:32:47, 5K PR Run Under the Lights 5K 27:23 on 11/23/13, 10K PR 52:53 Pike's Peek 10K 4/21/13, (1st timed run) Accumen 8K 51:09 10/14/12.
Good questions! Thanks for asking them. It is helpful information.
I haven't been told anything about bowel prep, so I'll assume I don't have to do it. What exactly is it...dare I ask?
I haven't been told anything about bowel prep, so I'll assume I don't have to do it. What exactly is it...dare I ask?
Jenny HW: 268 / SW: 254 / CW: 180 / GW: 140
First 5K: 4.21.2012 - Time: 34:45 - 2nd Place in age group
Second 5K: 6.2.2012 - Time 37:09
First 5K: 4.21.2012 - Time: 34:45 - 2nd Place in age group
Second 5K: 6.2.2012 - Time 37:09
The best advice I could give? I think a few things have helped me.
Be honest with yourself. If you think you have a problem with certain foods it won't get better by itself. It takes really looking at why you got to the place where you needed surgery and what you are going to do differently so you can make permanent changes. The surgery won't cure eating disorders. It will give you a tool that makes it easier to stick with a healthy eating plan. You can't expect to eat the way you used to and be able to lose weight and keep it off.
The best thing I did was acknowledge my addiction to refined carbs and keep them out of my eating plan.
I worked at developing a good attitude about protein drinks. At first I couldn't wait until I was able to get all my protein from food but I noticed that the most successful people were getting in a lot of protein and that it was going to be a very long time before I would be able to eat enough food to do that so I decided to get in at least 100 grams of protein a day. I followed the recipes from Bariatric Foodie and Eggface and started experimenting and making my own drinks. Now I look forward to my 3 shakes a day.
I also made it a priority to get in at least 100 oz of fluids a day. I don't care for plain water so I drink sugar free drinks that are diluted very heavily. I have a bottle near me at all times. I keep MIO in my purse so I can buy a bottle of water and flavor it when I am out. I am always drinking something.
Be honest with yourself. If you think you have a problem with certain foods it won't get better by itself. It takes really looking at why you got to the place where you needed surgery and what you are going to do differently so you can make permanent changes. The surgery won't cure eating disorders. It will give you a tool that makes it easier to stick with a healthy eating plan. You can't expect to eat the way you used to and be able to lose weight and keep it off.
The best thing I did was acknowledge my addiction to refined carbs and keep them out of my eating plan.
I worked at developing a good attitude about protein drinks. At first I couldn't wait until I was able to get all my protein from food but I noticed that the most successful people were getting in a lot of protein and that it was going to be a very long time before I would be able to eat enough food to do that so I decided to get in at least 100 grams of protein a day. I followed the recipes from Bariatric Foodie and Eggface and started experimenting and making my own drinks. Now I look forward to my 3 shakes a day.
I also made it a priority to get in at least 100 oz of fluids a day. I don't care for plain water so I drink sugar free drinks that are diluted very heavily. I have a bottle near me at all times. I keep MIO in my purse so I can buy a bottle of water and flavor it when I am out. I am always drinking something.
WLS 10/28/2002 Revision 7/23/2010
High Weight (2002) 240 Revision Weight (2010) 220 Current Weight 115.
As much as is possible, start living as a post-op. Stop drinking with your meal (and for at least 30 minutes after). Take the vitamins you'll have to take post-op. Practice chewing slowly. You've likely already cut refined starches and added sugars from your diet.
Try protein shakes and identify a few you like/don't like (don't get too attached to the ones you do like though as you may not like them post-op).
Buy the stuff on your post-op shopping list. Research post-op liquid/soft stage/etc. recipes (www.bariatricfoodie.com, www.theworldaccordingtoeggface.com are good places to start).
Start moving your body for at least 30 minutes a day. Any weight you lose now will be that much less you'll have to lose later.
And I know this sounds like rogue advice but if you are allowed DO have your favorite meal once more (don't go crazy with the Last Supper Syndrome though). If I had it all to do again, I would have had just one more juicy steak! I can't eat steak anymore and I miss it so!
Try protein shakes and identify a few you like/don't like (don't get too attached to the ones you do like though as you may not like them post-op).
Buy the stuff on your post-op shopping list. Research post-op liquid/soft stage/etc. recipes (www.bariatricfoodie.com, www.theworldaccordingtoeggface.com are good places to start).
Start moving your body for at least 30 minutes a day. Any weight you lose now will be that much less you'll have to lose later.
And I know this sounds like rogue advice but if you are allowed DO have your favorite meal once more (don't go crazy with the Last Supper Syndrome though). If I had it all to do again, I would have had just one more juicy steak! I can't eat steak anymore and I miss it so!
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