What are you doing to prepare?

Hi -- would love to hear what you are doing to prepare for surgery? Special pre-surgical diet? Getting house / foods ready for when you get home? You know stuff like that? Look forward to hearing from you! Thanks, Candy

Candy, First of all , let me congratulate you on your date. Now to answer your question. I have always started drinking my protein shakes. I am working up to 70 grams of protein daily. I also working on drinking my water about 70 oz. per day, Cleaning the house and clearing out the closet. The only thing I have not done is start my exercising. I need to do that 45 mins to 1 hour per day. These things (minus the house cleaning and the clearing out the closet) will help you heal a lot quicker with less complications. Kim

This journey has been SO long for me, that I felt like my surgery would NEVER happen. I am down to the wire now - and there is So much to do now I have all my post op stuff bought - vitamins, protien, small bowls/spoons. I still need to make some protein jello/mashed pototoes to have on hand for my stage 2 diet. house is pretty much done - i am sure I will need to do laundry again and I want to set up an area right by my lounge chair so everything is in reach. (will do that next weekend) My pre-op diet started early this week, so I am starving, but I will be strong because I know it will be worth it. I need to increase my excersize this week and work on NOT drinking with meals!

What a WONDERFUL thing for you to finally be able to say...."I am down to the wire now"....isn't that an EXCITING FEELING!!! YYYYiiiipppppeeeee!!!! So what is your pre-op diet like....there seem to be sooooo many different versions out there. I am SOOOOO with you regarding the NOT drinking with meals....first, I thought it would be impossible to stop smoking, then stop drinking Diet Coke, etc. etc. etc...but I KNOW for certain THAT is going to be the most difficult for me!!!! Vitamins -- what have you bought for post-op? Protein shakes....any particular "favorites" now? Have you tried Any Whey from GNC?

Yep - A little over a week now I do not have a particular pre-op diet from my doctor, but I have been on a 1,200 calorie a day for the last week and will continue till the day before. I make sure I get 80 oz of water and am testing protien right now. I am on Vista vitamins now. I will continue that until we do post-op labs and see what my levels are, then we can adjust if need to. I have not found a favorite Protien shake yet, actually I am kind of worried becuase none of them have been "great", but we will figure it out! I do have the Any whey that I have added to jello, applesause and yoguart and I have not been able to taste it - so that has been the way to go for now!

I am so glad you brought that up....Vista Vitamins....I have that on my list to review with the doctor. What are your thoughts on them....worth the investment? $75/$85 for six weeks, right? Did you order online? Are you starting out with the chewables first? Good to hear about the Any Whey mix....heading out tomorrow to pick some of that up!

I really like the Vista vitamins. My pharmacy sells them for $18.95 for two weeks - so yes, they are exepensive (about $10 a week with tax), BUT - I would normally spend that in fast food in a day You can also get them at bariatriceating.com for about $40 for a month. I have the chewable formula and they taste pretty good. Not to chalky or anything. I take 5 a day and that is the ONLY vitamins I have to take right now. I might have more problems getting them down once i am post-op (they are pretty big, but are easy to chew), but I am satisfied with them right now. They are what my doc/nutritionist recommends, so I would do them anyway - I am just glad they are tolerable and I do not have to worry about taking 4-5 different ones.

I don't have to follow any preop diet, but I am watching what I am eating so as not to overdo it. I think I will eat really light the day before surgery, then I am to have nothing after midnight. I have my vitamins and B12 drops already. My doctor told me Flintstones chewables with iron are good for the first few weeks until my pouch heals then I can go to a small vitamin pill. I am to chew two TUMS twice a day. Yuck! I am getting the liquid calcium citrate ...I cannot chew TUMS now without nearly hurling so I know I won't be able to do it after surgery. I am swimming some in my daughter's pool for exercise and have a stock of AnyWhey and the sample packs from BariatricEating. I am drinking more than 64 oz of water daily already and have my SF popsicles in the freezer, broth and clear soups in the cupboard. SF jello in the fridge.

Thanks much for the response....I ran out this weekend and purchased the AnyWhey at GNC. I joined a local circuit training facility in my neighborhood this weekend, too. I am approximately four weeks out and would also like to "wake up" my muscles!!! Can't seem to keep my SF popsicles in the freezer....my boyfriend has taken it upon himself to make those his "new favorites" and is going thru them like water! LOL

Candy - last night I cleared out the pantry. Made bags of things I don't want & can not have & will give them to a family from church that I know could use them. I'm pretty frantic right now. 10 days to go. Kristi