June 1st surgery date, and I'm getting NERVOUS!

This is my first time posting, and I'm so psyched to meet all of you! It's nice to finally be able to read about some "local" success stories! Any pearls of wisdom for a Newbee? Did any of you have to go on a liquid diet 1 week prior to a lap RNY? Can't wait to hear from any of you! Thanks, D

D- Welcome! I think you'll enjoy this site. The people here are very supportive and answer all your questions. No one is judgemental. Afterall, we are all in the same boat. My surgery is on Tuesday and I do not have to do a liquid diet beforehand. I have read other posts where some people have had to. I think it all depends on your doctor. Good luck on your journey! Christine

Christine, Thanks so much for the response. It's nice to feel a connection. Good luck on Tuesday!! What hospital are you having it done at? Any ideas how long you'll be in? Keep me posted on your progress. My husband has some classes he needs to take for work that will occupy about 10 hours a day 4 days after my surgery and I'm anxious to find out if he'll still be able to go. Again, thanks for your input and best wishes for a quick recovery! Dee

Hi Dee, Welcome to the CT Boards! We are a great group and I am sure you will find lots of support and information here. You may even find a bunch of new friends!! Each doctor has his or her own protocol's about pre-op procedures and post op diets etc. The best thing to do is go to as many support group meetings as you can prior to surgery and then definitely after keep up with them. Its important to hear what others are experiencing and to ask questions. My doctor does not require any thing special before surgery so I can't help you with the liquid diet thing but I am sure others will. We are having a CT Get Together on Saturday June 12th. Its open to all pre and post ops and their families or significant others. Watch the boards for more details coming soon. Hope you can make it!! Linda

Linda, Thanks for your feedback. I'm so psyched to find this support at my finger tips! Everyone seems so nice and informative. Take a look at my question to Christine if you have a moment. Am I crazy to think that I'll be okay at home alone 4 days post op? I'd really like my husband to be able to take this coarse, but I promised I wouldn't send him on his way if I'm not up to it. Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks again, Dee

Hi Dee, As Chryssie said it depends on whether you have open or lap surgery. I had the Lap surgery and I didn't need anyone around for anything after my surgery. The only thing you can't really do is lift but other than that I had little to no pain or discomfort. I had no problems getting up and down out of bed etc. You don't need any one to cook for you........ You sure want to play things by ear and see how you do but there is a good chance he will be able to take that course. Congrats on the upcoming date!!!! Linda

Linda, Thanks for your input. I'm cautiously optomistic about the recoup time, so I am hoping he'll be able to go. I'll keep my fingers crossed. Again, I can't say how psyched I am to have found you guys. It's such a comfort to know that you are all out there and have been through it and have so much valuable info to share. I'm just anxious to get thru it and start recouping!

Dee: Welcome. You are concerned about how you will be getting along after surgery because your DH will be out of the house 10 hrs a day 4 days post op is this correct? What type of surgery are you having? Open or lap? How long will you be in the hospital? There are several factors to consider. Can anyone swing by and check on you if your hubby is away? I will be having lap sometime this summer and I do not plan on my hubby taking any time off other than the day of surgery & the day I come home. I had my gallbladder out about 4 years ago and was fine after I got home. You can always ask your Dr. what he thinks. Best of luck to you. Chryssie

Dee, You must be so excited! Congratulations - you are almost there! I too am a patient of Dr. Barba's practice. Can you tell me when you first started the process and attended an info session? I started last November and had my appt. with Dr. Lorenzo in April. I am still waiting for a surgery date! The wait is getting unbearable. When did you actually hear from the office with a surgery date? I was told by the nurse and nutritionist that for lap RNY (which I will have too) you do have to do a liquid diet the week before, apparantely to shrink your liver so surgery is easier as the organ(s) are smaller to manuever around. I figure for people like you and I - we'll just get a week's head start on the radical diet change! Best Wishes! Leslie

Hey Leslie, I went to the October session. (I actually made my first call in June or July of last year.) I was very quick in getting in for all my appointments, however my wait to see Judy Carty, their nutritionist, was the appointment that held me up. I didn't get to see her until January, then my meeting w/ Dr. Lorenzo was in March and I kept my fingers crossed until I got the June 1 date. I actually had gained weight from my 1 mo nutrition appointment 'til my appointment w/Dr.L so I had to go to the review board. My 1 wk pre op appointment is on the 26th and if the lbs aren't gone they said the could cancel the surgery! (Okay, help me out here...if I could lose weight that easily would I really need this whole thing?!) So...tonights dinner at the Olive Garden will be one of my last regular meals. This week I'll be keeping my calories under 1000 to make sure the scale doesn't fail me when I see Dr. Barba for my pre op meeting. Wish me luck! Nice to meet you! Dee