What do you wish you had known as a pre-op?

I wish I had known how long it would take for this new normal to feel normal.

Now that I've read all the posts so far, I feel like I'm a little out of the norm.  I don't have a problem getting in 64+ oz of fluid nor eating enough protein and I'm just short of 5 weeks post op.  I, too, don't tolerate the shakes without having to hide myself away due to gas and diarrhea so, if I feel I need a shake to make my protein requirements, I have to stay home.  I can eat anywhere from 1/4 to 1/2 cup at a time and sometimes a couple ounces more.  Mostly it's around 1/2 cup (4 ounces).  I do have a problem with trying not to drink 30 mins before and after eating because I'm thirsty so I find myself watching the clock so I don't drink.  

I also find that I am sleeping longer at night but, I don't feel like napping during the day.  When I'm out and about for the day, I'm really tired when I get home.   I have low energy and, because I want to do more than I'm up to, I get frustrated.  I have knee and back problems that limit the amount of walking I can do and that frustrates me.  I am anxious for the last of my scabs from surgery to fall off so I can get back to water aerobics and get in enough exercise.

I miss eating all the veges and fruits I used to eat, too.  I miss the big salads with the variety of veges and greens as now I focus on the meats/protein and that's what I have to do now.  It's so different from the many years of it being grilled into my head to "eat more veges."  The retraining is in affect and it's not easy.  Many old habits I was not aware of are coming to light and new ones are being made.  This is an adventure, indeed.

You CAN drink with your meals. That is one of the major (imho) benefits of the DS--our pyloric valve prevents liquids from flushing food out of our stomachs. That no drinking with meals is an RnY rule, not for us.

I love this place!  Thanks for the input... I am SO Rny trained and in retraining for DS thanks to this site.  What a blessing it is!

 YES!  I have not had a problem drinking while I eat;  I hate to NOT drink while I eat, it makes me feel sick.  :(  So yeah I am eating a little less because of sheer tummy space, but I'm ok with that.

 You'll be able to enjoy veggies and salads again, just not until you're further out and at or at least near goal.

And the best part is you get to have them with guilt free butter, and real salad dressing.  I like my veggies and salad more now than I ever did.  

Thanks, Joanne, for the encouragement.  I do like the not worrying about fat part of this surgery.  I enjoy the real stuff so much more.  I look forward to when the salad can again be a bigger part of my diet.

I wish i had gotten more chewable vits. I ordered chewable multi vites from vitalady but didnt realize they didnt have iron in them. I ordered calcium and i figure i could just open the caps as everyone say but i tell you when you are nauseated you dont want to be shooting down gritty calcium water. It is tasteless but the texture, ick:(

After that i got my chewable calcium and iron. Those i worried about the most then started adding in the smaller vites like A, K. Then D (makes sure your calcium had D in it!) and E. Im now working in getting my B vites.

This of course is #4 on your "worry about list"

Sip, walk, protein are the major ones. Vites will come when you are ready but it made me feel better to have the chewables and know im getting something in:)

Great question! Wish I had allowed my body more time to adapt to VitaLady's schedule instead of taking myself off and incorporating Ballastar's schedule. Now I'm trending down and will get my happy ass on VitaLady's schedule again. Also I regret buying worthless dry vitamins that do not have the true potency VitaLady's products have. Live and learn!

i wish i had taken more sick time off!!!! i felt good and went back to work but i could have stayed out for 3 months, i was worried about losing my job, but i got a new job anyway but no where near as much sick and vacation time i had before. it was hard adjusting from liquids to regular food and the portion sizes, i was always throwing away food or saving it for later.  make sure you take the time off and dont buy a whole bunch of protien shakes like you will never eat again! i wasted money on that too, you live and learn.