How Did You Prepare?

Hello WLS Board............ I would like to know what things you did to prepare yourself for Gastric Bypass.........................things you did around the house, things you bought........broth, protein etc............and things that you did for your body to prepare it for the big day~ Thanks for any info you can give!! Bethany

Hi Beth, Hope your well. As to the things I did they are as follows 1 Started eating on those little dessert plates. Got me used to seeing smaller portions of food. 2 Bought myself a small food chopper.{12 bucks at Wal Mart} Tried baby food at stage three and it was yuck! I just ran whatever we were having thru the chopper to make my meals. Adding a little moisture to things like chicken make it easier to get down> I used mayo ,or ranch dressing. 3 Food scale and measuring cup to see just how much I was suppose to be eating. After a little while you will be able to tell by sight. 4 Try out different vitamins to see which ones will work best for you. I use liquid B-12 that I get from GNC and Viactive chewable vitamins {chocolate} and CVS or Viactive chewable calcium. {whichever I can buy cheaper} 5 Start reading up on protien suppliments. Ask folks on here. I Use GNC Whey protien powder mixed with non fat dry milk . 6 Lots of helpful folks on here to get you thru just about anything so if you have any questions, ask them. Chances are one or more of us have been thru it. Thats about it. Good Luck and know we will all be here to cheer you on! Take Care, Julio

Julio you are a wonderful man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks so much for all advice you have given me over the past few months...........I really appreciate it............... Bethany

Hi Bethany, I weaned myself off of all sugar/bread/fried foods/and diet soda...(sugar was my biggest hurdle and I actually gave that up a year ago this week.) I lost 10 pounds just from doing that.. (I did have 1 nice meal at my favorite restaurant prior to the surgery.) I didn't "pig-out" but had what I wanted with the exception of dessert. I cleaned my house top to bottom so I'd have no worries when I returned home. (HUBBY was a Godsend and spent the week after at home being my nurse.) I bought my chewable vitamins, B12 dissolvable tablets, Vicatin, and of course my protein shakes. Sugar free popsicles, lots of low fat broth. Low carb cup-of soup was a life saver. I also checked in with my PCP to give them an update and if they needed anything additional. A day before surgery I had to stop taking any meds I was on...you may want to check with your Dr's as well. Since it was late April when I had my surgery...I started walking short distances to get my endurance up a little...as soon as my surgery was done & I got the "ok" from the nurses...I was walking the halls at the hospital. It REALLY HELPS. Hope this helps you on your journey, Mickey

Hey Bethany, How exciting that you are getting so close! I made sure that I made meals ahead and put them in the freezer for my family, so all my husband had to do was to heat things up. I am glad I did it since it was hard to watch people eat when I was drinking the protein shakes. I also made sure I had the house clean and my foodstuff ready: fat free milk, protein powder, vitamins, pudding and jello mixes, sf popcicles. Good luck to you! terri

Hi Bethany~ Great question. I applaud you for being proactive in your journey. 1. I went to a nutritionist pre-op on a regular basis. This not only gave me a strong foundation about post-op nutrition, we created the foundation that has helped me from stage to stage. 2. I stopped drinking right before and during meals. And I found that by not drinking liquids during my meal I became full faster. Who knew? 3. I got the provisions I needed for the first 2 stages of reintroducing foods into my new post op life, per the instructions of my nutritionist within the my surgeon's guidelines. 4. I bought my own special dishes. Small bowls, baby utensils. Still use them to this day. 5. I began to document my food intake and weigh and measure my food. 6. I checked out the supplements I would need and got them into the house. I found that the liquid calcium (by Lifetime) is great and easy to get in. Make sure your calcium is CITRATE not carbonate. I get my B12 shots monthly at the docs office and take multi's daily. I used centrum chewable multi's in the beginning. 7. I tested out the protein shakes and liked the Real Meals which can be bought from them locally in CT. If you are interested, I can email you that info. 8. I bought a couple of bottles of Isopure (most people HATE it) but it was ok to use even during the clear liqud stages and began using it in the hospital diluted with H20 by 50%. You will find that your tastes are just that... your tastes. We are all different. So take what works for you and leave the rest. But find a way to make it work for you when you have a bump. We all do. Re: Julio's comment on baby food... ditto! yuck. So I took freshly baked chicken breast with the skin taken off (after baking) and put it into a blender with some yummy butternut squash soup from Trader Joe's to make my own baby food. YUM. This of course was for the stage that allows that kind of food. I did choose a few foods that I knew I would never eat again and had them... nothing in excess. There is no last meal. For me... there NEVER would be enough food to calm the savage beast. So I resided myself to have a few favorites and be done with it in time for the 2 week liver shrinking diet and then the 2 days of clear liquids my surgeon required. And one last thing... I began to talk to my body.. I let it know what was going to happen the day of surgery. I then THANKED it for all the years that it has stuck by me until I could find an answer to get healthy again. I made a vow that I would do my very best to never abandon it during the post op journey. And I said goodbye to the disfunctional relationship "I" had with food. I said... "honey?" This food thing is not working... I am changing the rules". Like breaking up with an old lover... "see ya! wouldn't want to be ya!." I had to make it very clear within myself that this was going to be a lifestyle and lifetime change. May sound wacky to some, but it helped me. Good luck with your journey. We at the CT board on OH will be here to help you along the way. Towanda

Almost THREE years later I STILL have the following items that I bought pre surgery: Jello in many flavors, Carnation Instant Breakfast in 2 flavors, A variety of 4 different protein shake mixes, and broth packets coming out my ears. Up until about a month ago I still had some SF fudgesicles in my freezer too. LOL. (I used to love fudgesicles, but not anymore, post op) So, here's MY advice: Do what you need to do to get your ENVIRONMENT ready for your return home. (make sure you have a comfy nest set up to rest in, think about items that you store high or low that will be difficult to get at, clean clean clean, buy some comfy clothes if necessary, think about having around you what makes you feel good and plan for it, like flowers or plants or classical music, etc) Mimimize your empahsis on food, expecially if you have someeone who will go to the market with you a week after surgery or so (hey- it's good exercise!) Buy A FEW types of canned soup that you can strain (they taste 1000 times better than broth) a few SF popsicles or fudgesicles, crystal light in one or two flavors and a beverage that you can drink hot (IE herbal tea or decafe instant coffee) Warm beverages can really calm the stomach, and mint tea helps with nausea/upset tummy. ONE or TWO types of protein shake in SMALL quantity (try sample packages from GNC) and that's about it! Think minimalist. The quantities you can eat are tiny tiny tiny and being able to get out of the house and poke around at the market/mall etc is a great way to keep moving and busy when you feel able. God luck to you!! Best, Lisa C