10 Things I wish I had known before surgery

Sep 27, 2012

So I thought I was prepared.  I thought that the Kaiser Options program was going to give me all of the information I needed to get through this without a problem.  About 9 weeks into the 12 weeks of classes I started doubting that.  Now that I've had the surgery, I realize that I had NO idea what was about to come.  So here is a list of things I wish I knew about surgery, and after.  Please, if you skip any, make sure to at least read the very last one!

 1.  The Pre-Op diet.  I know each doctor is different. Since surgery I've met people who had NO pre op diet, and I've seen people on a liquid diet for two weeks.  MY pre-op diet was absolutely no starches for three weeks before surgery.  None at all.  I felt so unprepared walking out of the doctors office with the instruction to not touch carbs until after surgery.  As may people know, before surgery it takes a lot to fill you up, and carbs are every ones GO-TO for long lasting fullness.  Well that was ripped out from under me and I was NOT happy about it.  I knew it would happen after surgery, but BEFORE?!  What was I going to do?!  Which leads me to.....

2.  Carb Withdrawals.  Did you know that your body is addicted to carbs?  Did you know that without them you can go through withdrawals worse that quitting smoking or caffeine?  I didn't until it happened to me.  I was a mess, a huge crying screaming angry mess.  I actually flipped out on my sister for such a ridiculous reason that I couldn't understand why I was so angry.  My Dad quit talking to me for 3 days, and he usually calls me twice a day... Oh man, it was a mess.  This was the point when I called the surgeon to cancel my surgery.  That is when I was told by my NUT cousin that your body goes through these withdrawals and that they would subside.  At least I'm not really crazy and it was temporary.

3.  Magnesium Sulfate.  I had never heard of it, and I had no idea what I was going to do to my body.  Also, when it says "May take up to 6 hours" please wait the full 6 hours before thinking you may need more.... You wont. 

4. Rude people eating junk food and drinking sodas in the lobby while you're starving and waiting for surgery.  Wasn't prepared for that.  I guess they didn't see the "NO FOOD OR DRINKS IN THE LOBBY" sign right above their heads.  Not that I should have been warned, but it made me mad.  good thing when I woke up, I wasn't hungry anymore...

5.  The PAIN.  When I woke up from surgery I thought I was going to die.  The pain was so bad that I didn't think I was ever going to get better.  Also, I wasn't allowed to have anything in my mouth which was so dry and disgusting, all I wanted to do was brush my teeth, but they wouldn't let me.  The next day was even worse.  It took over 24 hours for them to even allow me water.  For about 48 hours after I woke up, I seriously thought that the surgery was the worst idea I'd ever had, and that I had just ruined my life.  It hurt to drink anything and to move and the GAS PAIN, well that was torture.  But I walked and walked, even though it hurt, and every day it got better.  I have to say that a week after surgery I was almost completely back to normal.

6. Complications.  I never thought I would be one to have a problem, but when I started to get the hiccups the day after surgery I knew something was not right.  Then the stomach spasms started.  It felt like the most painful charlie horse in the middle of my gut.  They lasted for 3 days and I would double over in pain whenever they hit.  These turned out to be from the pain medications.  The meds were causing me to sleep most of the day, so i wasn't taking in enough water and I was dehydrated.  All of which had caused the pain.  So get off the meds as soon as possible, and DRINK DRINK DRINK

7.  That soup actually sucks.  Drinking nothing but strained soup/broth and water was the most awful two weeks of my life.  I know some people have to do it for a MONTH! and I feel awful for those people.  I had to be on a liquid diet for 2 weeks, and by that 14th day I couldn't wait to put something more substantial into my new pouch.  THEN...

8. Mushy foods suck too.  If I have to eat another bean, fish, mashed potato, or yogurt I think I might flip out.  Too bad i don't eat cheese, because that might help a little, but man, soft proteins are awful... Can't wait until I can eat normal food with my family again, even if it is just two bites.

9. Exhaustion.  Even though I am taking in the amount of fluids and vitamins and protein that the doctor told me to at this point, I am still exhausted.  From what I hear, I have a little ways to go, but I am being optimistic about this.

10. That this was the hardest but most rewarding think I will ever do for myself.  I am almost 3 weeks out from surgery.  I have already lost 23lbs since my surgery, and a total of 35lbs.  I am now at the weight I was before I had kids.  Its still not where I want to be, but I see that I am on the way and it makes me feel AMAZING!  Also, it feels amazing to be able to eat a small amount and feel satisfied.  But one more thing... Weight yourself once a week, not every day.  I will only be weighing myself on Saturdays from now on, because I got addicted to my scale and realized that I can fluctuate 3 whole pounds daily! LOL.... So STEP AWAY FROM THE SCALE.

I hope this list helps others, and I am sure I will be updating it as I progress.  I often ask a lot of questions, and I don't mind people who ask me questions too.  Best of luck in your journey!

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