SPECIAL PREPARATIONS...

Is anyone doing anything special to prepare for post-op? Like starting vitamins or changing eating habits. Debbie

Deborah, My Dr. started me on multivitamin and calcium 6 weeks prior to surgery and an excercise program wi*****ludes walking and weight training to build muscle mass. Also I started using a salad plate instead of a big dinner plate. And I use a timer set for 30 min. when I eat to get use to eating slower and chewing more. I use a baby spoon and fork to eat with aas well. I have also been trying some of the foods that are on my list to get use to them. Good Luck with your surgery!!!! Cindy

Thanks! I dont have a nutrition class until the 27th of this month. I will check with my Dr. also. Debbie

I have my nutrition class the same day. The one thing I did to prepare myself if I gave up soft drinks. I am drinking nothing bu****er. Tomorrow makes 2 weeks and I am so proud of myself. This was the hardest thing for me. Seeing that I use to drink 3 to 4 soft drinks aday (i dont do coffee). but now Im drinking 96 - 120 oz of water a day. and Plus I have cut back on smoking, I used to do a pack a day im down to 2 - 4 ciggs a day. Tomorrow I start the week with NO CIGGS and No CAFFINE. Wish me luck!

A key to remember is every surgical practice is different and every dietician is different. With that said......... My dieitican reccomends that her patients be completely off of caffeine at least a week prior to surgery so there is no withdrawl headache in the hospital. So I have been reducing my caffeiene in an attempt to eliminate it. Also there are no carbonated beverages after surgery, so I am elimnating those as well. With the amount of water I will have to drink post op, I am trying to get in that habit. I also started trying to drink and eat things I don't like now, but I will need post op. Like cottage cheese (I hate that). I found these bottled drinks Sat called Hawian Tropic. They have nothing in them! No calories, no sugar, and unfortunately, No Flavor!, But for those who prefer something over jus****er it might be better. I personally would rather have water over Crystal Lite (YUCK). Leland Lap RNY 08/04/04 **(Just a side note, my surgical practice will not schedule smoking patients for surgery, so it is strange to me that the other surgeon would schedule surgery on the promise that you would quit by surgery)**