Nervous and Excited

Hi All,  This is the only place to be to talk about this stuff so here I am!   I'm a little more than a week out from my surgery and whoa nelly I am nervous. But also very excited!  Trying to balance my fear with my excitement is a challenge.  Overall,  I feel positive anticipation. I am looking forward to beginning a new healthier life.   I'm having  some trouble navigating the protein supplements. I've ordered samples of Unjury but want to cut through all the trial and error and get to the good stuff. What is the good stuff???!!!!  :)  Which do you all like best?  I'm nervous about all I feel that I have to have done before I go for this surgery.  I'm a teacher so I have to have four days of sub plans, plus report cards done.  I've got to get meals into the freezer for hubby and the kids and clothes for a week for the kids.  (I'm trying to make things really easy for hubby.  I feel for him. He has no idea what he's in for trying to get those two little lovlies ready for school every day! Of course they'll probably be a breeze for daddy!)   I'm thinking it won't hurt to have Stouffers prepare many of their meals and have hubby add extra steamed veggies.  My kids love the lean cuisine better than the red box so I feel a little better about them eating those salt laden meals.  I'm rambling now. Sorry!   What should I take to wear home from the hospital. I thought about buying a new empire waist dress, but will I fit it for long? Hopefully not!    Help me veterans!

For protein shakes I use WonderSlim shakes and smoothies (15g protein). I have one package in 8 oz of NF milk (8g protein) and add 1 package of unflavored Unjury (20g protein). Gives me 43g protein in one VERY TASTY shake. Joe

LOL Girl, you are just like me to be thinking of what to wear home instead of everything else. Be comfortable. I wore a velour matching top and pants home. Do they call this a jogging suit, exercise suit or just around the house suit? Anyway, it was very comfortable and when I got home, I was laying out in the bed with it on.......just be comfortable. You are going to want that. We will pray everything works out well for you. Crystal

The only thing with protein is that it is ALL trial and error. I have found some that were so terrible that I wanted to throw up just looking at them. I have found some that were pretty decent. Just stick to your samples of stuff for now... because after surgery your tastes will most likely change. For example, right after surgery, I LOVED the Coffee Mate SF French Vanilla flavor. LOVED it. Now, it tastes weird to me. I don't like it. I'm disappointed. I will tell you the best tasting protein I have found in a while has been Jay Robb's Whey Protein, Tropical Dreamsicle flavor. It was GREAT. The only problem with it is that SOMEHOW, despite the claimed 1g of carbs, I managed to not DUMP (this does not happen to me so much these days), but have a bad blood sugar spike and subsequent drop. (called Reactive Hypoglycemia... another thing to watch for as you get farther out) Nothing else had been different that day, so I blame it on the new protein. The stuff was so good though that I'm planning on going to get another sample of it and try it again just to see if it was the protein that did it. Are you having your surgery lap or open? You SHOULD only be in the hospital a couple days, and then you will be home, and it's not like you will be in a coma, so you could set up a command in your favorite armchair (I slept in a recliner (and fell out of about 3 days postop, while I was sleeping, haha) and just direct your family to do what they need to do. As hard as this is for me to really get through my own head, things DO have a tendency to work themselves out for the best, too. Don't stress that part of it. As far as the "what to wear home" thing... I would just wear a pair of your favorite pajamas or a sweatshirt/sweatpants combo. Not as sure with the freezing weather though... but I bet a dress would be colder. I think, if I'm not mistaken, that I just wore home what I came to the hospital in. Saves on having to think about it, and it's not like you're going to run right from the hospital to the Wal-Mart or something (and hey, you might fit in perfectly at the Wal-Mart wearing sweatpants or pajamas. :) ). I think, especially if you have a lot to lose, that buying something new will frustrate you, because in a week, two weeks, three, it will not fit anymore. Good luck with everything. Let me know if I can help in any way. PS: Unless you're a) married to Bill Gates or b) living in Great Falls, get to know your local thrift store. You'll be glad you did. My sizes aren't changing very much these days, but I still do most of my clothes shopping there.

Dawn - First off, I want to wish you the best of luck with your surgery.  (I live in Alexandria as well), if you need a local support buddy, feel free to pick me.  I'm still about 3 1/2 weeks from surgery.  I've heard that lots of folks taste buds change after surgery.  Also, sweatpants seem to be a great idea for traveling after surgery.  Good luck, keep us posted.

Take a BIG deep breath.  You will be fine.  We all experience this nervousness and excitement, because it is a new beginning into an unknown world.  How great is THAT???? Ok...the "good stuff" is any protein supplement that you can tolerate.  Some do well with AchieveOne, others do not...I do well with Micellar Milk, others do not...some do well with the bullets, and again...others do not.  So, be prepared for the trial and frustrating error of finding the right one.  It WILL be frustrating, because what works today, may not work tomorrow. Check out the local GNC and Vitamin Shoppe as well.  The Vitamin Shoppe will allow you to return (with your receipt) if it doesn't work out for you, and some even have some samples that they can give you. Just stay away from those that are high in carbs.  I stick with Matrix, Protein Delite, IDS, and IsoPure (when I was newly post-op, but tastes have changes).  They also carry Syntrax Nectar and the bullets. But...be positive, you will be fine.  Relax and know that a new life awaits you. GOOD LUCK!

Well congrat's! We are truly in the same shoes...my surgery is 16 day's away and counting! Hey, at least your's will be over with before mine... We are in the same boat with the protein too! I have had many WONDERFUL ladies on this board give me samples and even HUGE amount's of protiens that didnt work in their trail and error phase and I plan to just keep trying those out on different day's untill I find one I like. I have ordered a couple samples from baraiatriceating.com as well ( you might want to check those out ) I've got to run to the vitamin shopp too...Im still not sure if the chewable calcium I got is the right one or not because it doesnt say one or the other. I too have bene thinking about the pakcing for the hospital. Even after both my C sections, I was up and showered with curled hair and make up and a cutsey matching Pj outfit...Im a girly girl! I also need to get some work done aorund the house I have been holding off on to try and help me forget about thing's when it really get's down to crunch time. I also wanted to write letter's to my babies incase GOD FORBID...anything were to happen But we have been waiting for this time for a long long long time and it's finally here. Im thinking as postitve as possible and Im ok with the fact that Im nervous. My life is in god's hand's and all we can do is pray, do as much as we can to keep our mind's off it and keep on, keeping on! Good luck, make sure to keep us updated! Brandi~

Okay, I missed something somewhere.  What KIND of surgery are you having??  You're a teacher and you are ONLY planning to be out for four days???? Hopefully your nut will have samples of various proteins to share with you.  One of my FAVES is Syntrax Matrix Perfect Chocolate.  They have it at The Vitamin Shoppe. But it only comes in a 5lb bag, Good luck!

ALL great responses you've received so far!!!! First, nervous is "normal" HAHAHAHA ok I find it humorous cause I'm NOT normal but I digress. Ahhh the protein!!! Ok, I have tried so many different kinds and am 5 years post op and have finally found AchievOnes which I really enjoy the Mocha Java flavor and refrigerated. There are  other flavors - Vanilla, Cappuccino and Hazelnut. BLECH to the last 3. However, let's be serious even those some days are BORING! I still drink Sugar Free Carnation Instant Breakfast. I take 1 packet, add 8 oz skim milk, 1/3 cup non-fat dry milk and there ya go. That is a quick simple one. Its definitely trial & error & I truly hope that you are able to find things that work for you. Your tastes will change from time to time so best wishes there.  As for meals and such for the family I remember honestly making a week's worth of dinners and it was just heat & eat for at the time my hubs & oldest (2 1/2). After that week I was cooking again and actually began before surgery incorporating post-op type meals into our menus and they've stuck. You might consider for the kids having them pitch in and pick out their clothes, snacks, lunches etc ahead of time helping out hubs too.  As for what to wear home from the hospital I honestly wore what I came in which was a sweater, yoga pants and tennis shoes. Comfort is key here!!! Congrats on your upcoming surgery & best wishes for sure!

I have always struggled with protein shakes as I hate anything with a strong taste of protein - so I have used the bullets for 2 years and like them the best. If you can find another powdered protein you like you should purchase  small amoubt as the shakes really help fill you up..... but your tastes do change after surgery so that is why I say just buy a small amount before surgery.

As for what is the good stuff - any whey protein that you like and will drink!! I used Unjury in the beginning in stronger flavored foods like chili so I knew I was getting my protein in. At first it is hard to get everything in for the day, all your vitamins, protein and water - you seem to be constantly shoving something in your mouth. Enjoy this because it doesn't last lol! Try not to stress about all the things that need to be done -  it will all get done one way or another and it never does any harm for your husband to understand what you have to go through every day!! Your kids will not starve for a few days and when you do come home you will be fit enough to make decisions and get everyone moving on what they need to do...... You should not waste your money buying new clothes - something very leasurely and comfortable is all you will need. You will not feel like having a fashion show but I was well enough to shower and put my make up on..........  Anything new will not fit you within a month so save your money for the good new clothes you CAN wear in the near future. It will be here before you know it - it is a very exciting time for you and if you keep your attitude positive you will feel better faster! We are all here if you have any questions.......... and waiting to welcome you to the losing side! Jackie