What I didn't know before Surgery that I wish someone had told me

I think that for those heading to surgery, some of us who have been through the whole thing should pass on a jewel of wisdom that we have learned........

I will start... I have 2 actually

1. Even though everyone seems to kvetch about constipation after surgery, to make sure you have your fibre and milk of magnesia......know that diarrhea instead of constipation is possible!

2. You will be covered in so much medical tape between the IV, blood tests, etc you won't believe it AND it doesn't come off. Take a small bottle of nail polish remover with you!

anyone else?....

I used Goo Gone to get the sticky off me!  It was gentle and smelled good.

I wish I had know that as a self pay if I had made arrangements with the hospital to pay monthly that they would offer you a deal to pay in full afterwards to save some money.  I fully paid up front for hospital and doctor.  After I got home, about two weeks later the hospital called an offered to reduce my bill by $2000.00 if I would go ahead and pay it off.  I told them I had already paid it off and could I have the $2000.00 back.  It doesn't work that away  I was told.  Thank you and have a good day.  Well that suck.

Tess

Oh Tess that's terrible!

 That I would be too sore to use toilet paper when I pee'd for a few days.  A bottle with soap solution would have been great to clean with.

That this would be so easy.  Weight was easy to lose and I have never once been hungry again.

That birth control pills don't work after surgery. Thankfully I didn't have to find this out the hard way. My coworker who is 6 mos/100lbs out is now 17 wks pregnant did!

O M G!  Birth control pills don't work after surgery????  What the?? My surgeon told me to start taking them again?  What's going on?

since you have to "eat" the pill, they do not get absorbed as well just like food, etc.
It still works, it's just not as effective.

I would find an alternative birth control method after surgery like depo, ring, etc.  I did the implanon back in Feb and it has worked great so far.

here is things that I wish I knew:

1. That even when you are super compliant - complication may happen anyway
2. even when you take all the vits and minerals the doc told you - that may not be enough and you may develop deficiencies.
3. Reactive hypoglycemia may be caused by a small amount of "good ccarbs"
4. if some routine is working for another person that had the same surgery as you  do - it may not work for you
5. You may gain weight 2-3-4 years post op even if you follow the plan
6. Transfer addiction is real and it may affect anyone. (i.e. alcohol) 
7. At size 6- 8 I may still feel fat. 
8. losing weight will not fix all your health issues. I t may fix some - but it may create others due to WLS.
9. That I would be seeing more docs, have more doc visits post op RNY that I have seen all my life before that... (all 45 years)
10. 3 years after RNY - I am on a very strickt diet so I fo not gain weight.  More strickt than I ever was in my life.  Reasons for the diet: limit deficiencies (lost of proteins, fiber); control RH and prevent more weight regain. 


in most cases - what is done - it is done.   So learn to live with it the best you can.  Use your toll.

1.  Everyone seems to have a different diet than the one you're on right after surgery.  Don't panic when some are on liquids, some are on soft foods etc...  Especially in the first days and weeks right after being discharged.

2. If you have no sutures or staples, and have steri-strips instead, they are a LOT more resilient than you think.  Don't worry about them in the shower or when changing clothes, etc...  As long as you don't pick at them they'll come off when they're good and ready to come off.  

3.  You've got pain meds, use them!  I spent several days right after getting home when I was wondering if I should just take regular Tylenol instead of the narcotic.  My rationale was that I didn't really need the narcotic and that Tylenol would probably take care of it.  But, there's no reason to even risk being in pain since controlling it before it starts is always the best approach.

4.  If you're someone who feels good after surgery there may be times when you need to remind yourself that you just had major surgery X number of days ago.  In other words, don't push things that aren't meant to be pushed.  Go ahead and rest and relax even when you feel like you COULD do more.  You owe it to yourself to be able to take those days off completely and just relax and de-stress.