Surgery on 4/11 - I'm scared

Hello everybody, How lucky I was to find this site. You guys are amazing with all the love and support you give to each other. You guys deserve so much credit. I wish I could give each of you a big hug. I'm (237 lbs) having my bypass surgery on 4/11 and my husband (311 lbs) is having his on 5/2. I am like a crazy person looking for information on the internet. My husband, on the other hand, doesn't want to know much, he just wants to GET IT DONE ALREADY. I have several questions and I hope you guys have a moment to answer some of them. Here we go: please tell me about your first week after surgery. will we be able to drink coffe at all? do you feel deprived? can you ever eat chocolate again? I will put a photo up as soon as possible. A face is important. It makes it a little more personal. Thank you so much for your time and help. Mayra :type:

Wow both of you within three weeks apart. Do you have others to help you after your both recouping? Guess you'll have to wait till the next years or so OH Conference and attend as Losers. Just stay Positive and you'll both do very well. Mike an OH leader in Clearwater.

Hi Mike, Thank you for your good wishes. Yes, we are very fortunate. My parents, sister, and good friends are ready to help us out, if necessary. I'm hoping to not be a bother, but I also know that they would be happy to help. I CAN'T WAIT!!! We are also looking forward to attending next year's OH Conference. I hope to meet many of the wonderful people this site. Mayra

Today I'm 19 wks and 3 days post op. My surgeon is Dr. Paul Wizman, MD. you asked: Q: please tell me about your first week after surgery. I stayed in a hotel close to the MD's office. I was there for 3 wks in case any problems arose. The respet was very welcomed. I was able to relax and use the hotel's gym to walk VERRRRRRY slowly on the treadmill. .5 MPH for as long as I could stand it. It helped tremendously in the healing progression. I brought a food processor, tuna, cans of chicken breast, boiled eggs & cottage cheese... You will only be able to eat about 2-4 table spoons at each meal. A small fridge is perfect. 2 Low carb slim fast shakes per day, one between each meal. There was no pain whatsoever on the actual roux en y laparascope sites. I was released from the hospital on day 4 post op and went straight from there into a hotel. (my choice to do so) Q: will we be able to drink coffee at all? You bet!! Only thing, it must be de-caf. Caffine is a diauretic. Talk to your medical team about this. Liquids are VITAL post op. I make a small pot of de-caf in the morning and pour a low carb slimfast shake into it, which makes a nice tasting drink. That winds up being 30 oz of de-caf coffee with 11 oz of low carb slim fast shake, just under 1/2 of your daily liquid reuirement. Do the good stuff: I use Sam's Club Member's Mark decaffinated whole bean coffee and grind it up just before making it. It's one of the highlights of my day & evening. Q: do you feel deprived? I've felt no hunger since day of surgery, for me that was Halloween 2006. Deprivation is a perspective. Your "relationship" with food must change to becoming nothing else but fuel for your body. Try the simple act of catching yourself describing your "feelings" about food. ie: I love chocolate... ever tried to eat chocolate without any sweetener? I doubt any one could describe their feelings to that as being "love..." This may sound odd now, but you may understand this better later. Awareness to triggers of what compels you to eat is a life long journey. What's important to understand as soon as possible is this surgery is a permanent turning point for your life. A wonderful new journey awaits your family. The surgery isn't the end all, it merely opens the door to a brand new beginning of the role food has in your life. Q: can you ever eat chocolate again? Yep. Your sugar carbs must be under 7gms/serving or else you may experience a very negative side effect known as "dumping." It's described as feeling like a panic attack or heart trouble... Causes: sweating/nausea/vomitting/discomfort/dizziness, etc. usually lasting about 1/2 an hour. Treatment is to lay down somewhere until it passes. Sounded so bad that I have always read my lables and only use Splenda whenever possible... Chocolate Low carb slimfast shakes are very nice. So far, they seem to have the best flavor to me. I hope this is helpful... Kim

Hi, I think we all go through the bit about being scared. I know I did. I researched for 3 years prior to my surgery. Wanted all the 411 I could fine, good, bad and ugly. I even prepared my will and etc. I believe the more info one has, the less we fear the unknown. First week...go slowly with everything. I was on fluids for 2 weeks, clear. Very small meals of broth and protien every 2 hours. Lots of water. Walk, walk and more walk. It helps with the gas from surgery and with starting your weight loss. After 2 weeks, soft foods. Your doc should have given you a food plan. Deprived...not for the first few months or year. You will fill your wee little pouch very fast. Eat slowly....Yes your hunger returns. Don't confuse with head hunger. The wl process means a change in your relationship with food. Chocolate...There are some great protien drinks and powders out there. Also sugar free candy...READ lables...sugar comes in many forms. I hear dumping is not fun. I am one of the UN-lucky ones..I can eat sugar without dumping. Coffee...I love it...drink it all the time...the good stuff..Starbucks..not caffine free. But that may not be good for you, ask your doctor. I too mix it with my protien drinks...lovely...There is a company on the south east coast of Florida that has wonderful products. They did advertize on OH, not sure they still do as I have not been on OH in months. Good luck to you! Marla

Hi Mayra, my first week after surgery is a faraway memory. My DH is a great nurse and took very good care of me. I seem to remember it being fairly easy. I wasn't in too much pain and was back to my old self pretty fast. I drink lots of coffee...4-5 cups a day. Couldn't live without it. That being said, it can dehydrate you and you should drink lots of water. That goes for any caffienated beverage. I do not feel deprived, never have. I feel healthy and happy. I told myself that I was having this surgery to be a normal person and have strived to be just that. Yes you can eat chocolate, but you shouldn't for several reasons. You may dump and that is not a good feeling. It has calories you don't need. You want to have surgery to lose weight and change your life. Make it a point now to stay away from the foods that will sabotage the weight loss. Take care and good luck.

Mayra, I want to reply to your question about how I felt right after surgery. I am so close to so many that have had the surgery, my dh, my aunt, brother in law, dh's aunt, and so many more. Most of them just said it was not that big of deal, but my aunt told me the truth about her first few days and then I was prepared for things to come. She called on her way home and said for me to tell my dh not to see her for a while because she hurt like ****! So when I decided to have my surgery I was prepared, I have had several other surgeries and hoped that this would go just as well.....NO! Hysterectomy, Gall Bladder removed, DNC, and having 2 children...they did not compare. I HURT for several days. I just kept it in my head that it was just for a time. I would say that by day 5 I was feeling human again. I am not trying to scare you, or paint a dark picture...but I would want my aunt to be honest with me again so that I didn't go into it blind. With all that being said, this in no way is saying that you will hurt the way I did. But it is possible. If it does just remember that the end result is worth it! I went for my check up and at 4 months I have lost 65 lbs!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so SIKED and I would do it again, and I wish I hadn't waited so long. I can't wait to see how well you do & I pray for you it is better than I did! TNet