Any Veteran Advice for this Novice?

I was just scheduled for my VSG surgery on November 29, 2013. I AM SO EXCITED!

BUT, I'm nervous!

I want to do everything right, SO... what advice can all you post-op pros give me for great success?

Best vitamins? Protein sources? When were you comfortable exercising more than just walking? What did you do to keep from losing your hair (I'm already losing mine from my surgeon required weight loss)? And anything else you can think of!

Thanks in advance!

Annie

First of all, CONGRATULATIONS on your date!!!! I'm so glad you want to do this right.  You've come to the right source for advice.  You may want to check out my book called Sleeved For Life to learn about the tips and tricks I used during my journey.  You can find it at my website (www.sleevedforlife.com) and I have a facebook page as well.  If you "like" it, you'll get daily tips and inspiration in your facebook news feed.

Now, to answer your questions, Please take an adult multi, not a childrens chewable. When you are early out from surgery, you may consider liquids or crushing your pills, but it won't be long before you can take pills.  I take a good multi, Super B's, vitamin D, Megared for Omegas and Bariatric Advantage Calcium chews (they taste like starburst so it's a treat & a vitamin - woohoo)

For protein, I LOVE the Premier Protein Chocolate shakes. On the food side, I eat a lot of chicken and chicken based sausages and meatballs as well as turkey and turkey products. You get a lot of bang for your buck on protein without as many calories as beef and pork, although I east some of that as well.

Please follow your doctors orders on the exercise front. He/She should tell you what you can do and when you can do it.

On the hair, I'm sorry to say there is not a lot you can do about that except wait it out.  it will grow back.

Best of luck to you on your journey and we can't wait to hear about your progress.  Keep reading this forum and you'll learn a lot.

Deb

For the calcium, were the chews ok right from the beginning, or will I need to start with chewable tablets? The only ones I see that are chewable tablets are Bariatric Advantage, and I don't want to be stuck with something I have to choke down if I can avoid it - the reviews call it chalky. And what's the best way to get down crushed medication (yuck)?

I did the chewables really early on just because I had a boatload of them from an OH Conference. I buy the BA Calcium chews at the Bariatric Choice website.  If you chewed them up really good before swallowing, I think they would be fine. They are the consistency of a tootsie roll or a starburst, so just keep chewing them till they are almost liquid in your mouth. I also find chewables to be chalky and don't like them. And yes, you have to crush your medications at first and it IS yucky, but we do what we gotta do.

Good luck!

Deb