Loser's Side..What is the best advice for newbies?

Ok y'all on the loser's bench... Here's a few questions I have and probably other newbies 1.  What liquids (please include brands) did you find to be most taste worthy right after surgery? 2.  Looking back, what do you wish you had brought to the hospital for a more comfortable stay? 3.  Looking back, what would have made your immediate recovery easier? Any particular items? 4.  What would you say was your biggest complaint or hurdle to get over from the time you left the hospital to say about 4 weeks post-op? 5. On average, when were you able to resume sex? Autumn

1.  What liquids (please include brands) did you find to be most taste worthy right after surgery? Nectar Fuzzy Navel  Low Sodium Chicken Broth  Propel Water  Kool Aid - SF  Crystal Lite .. all flavors  Popcicles 2.  Looking back, what do you wish you had brought to the hospital for a more comfortable stay? A different Husband .. my x was a pain in the butt ... LOL but seriously .. I took very little . I knew my stay would be grewling and I just laid there .. took the pain meds .. and dreamed of a healthier me ! 3.  Looking back, what would have made your immediate recovery easier? Any particular items? Pillows and more Pillows .  My Recliner 4.  What would you say was your biggest complaint or hurdle to get over from the time you left the hospital to say about 4 weeks post-op? Fighting Head Hunger  Smelling Food  Seeing Food  I got addicted to the Food Network during this period in my journey .  5. On average, when were you able to resume sex? 6 weeks later .. but I did'nt .. could not stand my x .. LOL .. but for the most part .. 4 to 6 weeks is the norm .

1.  What liquids (please include brands) did you find to be most taste worthy right after surgery?  SF jello & SF popcicles were my best friends, by far.  Still are!

2.  Looking back, what do you wish you had brought to the hospital for a more comfortable stay?  I was so zonked out by the happy drugs, I didn't miss a darned thing!!

3.  Looking back, what would have made your immediate recovery easier? Any particular items? Truthfully I would have to say I wish I'd had more knowledge of the day-to-day stuff.  But that's where this site comes in.  What my wls team didn't tell me, these folks did! As for particular items, I guess it would have been my own jammies, however, beings how I had to stay in the cardiac ICU, I had to wear their lovely little number with the snaps on the shoulders just in case they had to do cardiac intervention.  Thankfully, they didn't.  I don't know if you'd be allowed your own jammies, but perhaps your own robe for when you take "Ralph" (your IV tag-along buddy) out for walks.

4.  What would you say was your biggest complaint or hurdle to get over from the time you left the hospital to say about 4 weeks post-op? This one's easy!! Getting through the liquids only time. Or the ongoing education of friends/family on what I can & cannot do.  Or wishing I'd known that losing fat cells makes your hormones go whacky so that my poor hubby wouldn't have been afraid to be in the same room with me! And, like Tink, I too became obsessed with the Food Network...LOL!

5. On average, when were you able to resume sex?  Sex?? What's that???  I'm at 7 weeks & we STILL haven't! Not even after the wedding!!  Sad, huh?  Well, can't blame it on the wls...gotta blame it on Dennis!  He works us too hard so that at the end of the day all we have the strength for is to crawl into the bed in our horse trailer & die!!!!  All kidding aside, this would be a great question to ask your wl team or doctor, but suspect it would be when your lifting restriction time has ended.  Better to ask though, just to be safe.

I hope I've been at least a little bit helpful if not entertaining.

 

1.  What liquids (please include brands) did you find to be most taste worthy right after surgery? Crystal light & propel, I didn't have to do the liquid diet so I went straight to pureed foods so I can't really help you out much there.

2.  Looking back, what do you wish you had brought to the hospital for a more comfortable stay? Pillows for the ride home.  I loved that I had my own pj's & slippers.  It made it a bit more comfortable. 3.  Looking back, what would have made your immediate recovery easier? Any particular items? Nothing really strikes me here.  I stayed with my mom for a few days & then was home by myself.  Didn't have any issues. 4.  What would you say was your biggest complaint or hurdle to get over from the time you left the hospital to say about 4 weeks post-op? Feeling abnormal.  It was so frustrating learning my new eating schedule & having to schedule my whole life around when I needed to eat, when I need a protein shake & when to stop my water so I could eat.  Also felt really odd that I had to puree all of my foods so it took longer to get ready to eat a meal with my family and then because of eating slow I was always the last one done.  This whole feeling abnormal thing really got to me.  Then I talked to my stepmom who has also had surgery and asked her about it & how she felt & why no one ever mentions it.  She said first of all she focused on the fact that it was necessary to lose the weight and have a new healthy life, second, once you get to eating regular foods and losing weight you forget about those awkward feelings.  Third,  you are not alone, all of us here have been through it and are here to chat if you need it. 5. On average, when were you able to resume sex? My doc said 2 weeks, I was ready after one but waited til the evening of the exact 2 week day.  Ask your dr. what they think and don't be embarrased, that is what they are for and they have heard it all before.

Thank you ladies so much for your replies :) Lol as for #5, I was just curious.....hubby and I have a very hard time following doc orders on this one.  I had a vag. hysteretomy 3 1/2 yrs ago and I think we waited 9 days post op instead of 6 weeks. 

Hi Autumn, 1.  What liquids (please include brands) did you find to be most taste worthy right after surgery? Water, crystal light, popsicles, chicken, beef and veg broths, tropicana suagr free fruit punch....but U was on pureed foods so these were mostly for drinking.  I also enjoyed yoghurt a lot....... 2.  Looking back, what do you wish you had brought to the hospital for a more comfortable stay? Maybe my own pillow but I was really pretty comfotable - I had my own toiletries and pj's, slippers, gown etc etc 3.  Looking back, what would have made your immediate recovery easier? Any particular items? Stronger pain killers!! Also I wish I had had an electric recliner lift chair as sleeping on my own bed was not too comfortable for a few days...... 4.  What would you say was your biggest complaint or hurdle to get over from the time you left the hospital to say about 4 weeks post-op? To be honest I never had any issies or problems so I didn't have any real hurdles. My advice would be to read everything you can because the better educated you are the less stressed you will be when things come up that you did not expect - you will know what it is and relax.... 5. On average, when were you able to resume sex? I took six weeks off even though the book only said two ;-)))) I told my husband six and enjoyed the rest! Jackie

Just thought I would add a great idea from another board.  That woman used a memory foam pillow snuggled tightly to her stomach for the ride home.  Sounds like a great idea as I live down a country road....very bumpy