Need a list of items to have once I get home from surgery in Ypsi?

Hi everyone- I'm having gastric bypass on June 17th with my pat on the 2nd and of course very excited and nervous.  Just want to get some experience from you folks that have already had surgery.  What some MUST HAVE items to have after surgery? Lori

Congrats on your upcoming surgery!  The only "must have" I've heard of is s/f popsicles.  I too am heading toward my surgery date and would like to know if there are any more!  Good question!!

Allow me to say Congratulations to you both for your upcoming life changing surgery!!  It's going to be the ride of your life and you will see transformation upon transformation in a matter of days, and weeks. Each WLS and dietician have their own guidelines for what you can have and what stages you are to be at post op.  I was on liquids (clear) for the first two weeks, then pureed foods for the next 2 weeks, then baby food consistency for the next 2 weeks, followed by soft food stage for next 2 weeks, then slowly incorporate regular foods as tolerated after that.   I remember my thought on this:  Having Gastric Bypass is like getting a baby's stomach.  Don't put anything in you that you wouldn't put in a baby's stomach.  You feed them in stages.  Just a little trick or hint that I used post op for the first 6 months. I would contact the dietician perhaps pre op to find out exactly what kind of plan they will have you on but I can tell you some of the things I had at home post op. Yes those s/f popsicles are handy, and you will eventually get tired of them, but even today, nearly 3 years out, I still eat them as my sweet treat an I don't eat just one, I usually eat two.  It craves my sweet tooth and they have 15 calories and no sugar no fat, nothing. Liquids:  broths, (get low sodium), sf jello, juices:  I had to do a 1/3 mix of 1 part juice 3 parts water, I had to avoid orange juice because of the pulp, and the acidity.  Lots of water, sip all these liquids slowly, and keep a bottle of water handy with you at all times!!!!  Crystal light or sf kool aid, propel is low sugar and tolerable, and remember to go slow on all of this.  Pureed:  pureed chicken or tuna, with ff mayo, soups pureed, everything you eat has to be pureed.  and I mean PUREED.    It may look gross but take your time and eat slow and remember this is only temporary. Soft food stages:  scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, I used lean cuisine mac and cheese often, whatever you can handle that is SOFT.  When you are making food choices here, remember the consistency needs to be soft enough that its like mashed potatoes or scrambled eggs.  The mashed potatoes were my comfort food so I ate that alot. ** check with your surgeon or dietician on when to start vitamins and protein**  I did not have to start that until I was 3 weeks post op. every surgeon is different. And regular food stages:  slowly incorporate regular food in very small portions into your diet.  I remember chicken and poultry giving me a hard time as well as beef.  Each of you will have foods that you can or cannot tolerate.  It's a learning process from day 1.  And as you become further and further out, what you couldn't eat 5 weeks post op, you can eat now.  Or vice versa.  Keep the liquids handy that is most important.  and keep the water going in whether flavored or not.  That is very important. Hope this is of help....if not, do check with your WLS and Dietician or Nutrionist before surgery. and best of luck to you both!!! Stacey W

Your doctor should tell you but here is what I had 5 years ago: sugar free popsicles and puddings, protein shakes, soups, crystal ligh****er, eggs.  Make sure you drink as much as you can hold, I didn't and I got sick and passed out.   Best of luck......Robin

Congrats Lori! I had dr. schram on 6/4/07, so almost a year now.  My recommendation is those s/f squeeze freezes from Kroger.  Yummy green apple and cherry flavors.  The texture felt good post op.  The popcicles hurt my teeth LOL.  I would also suggest getting those new whey bullets from Barix in the lobby.  Its going to be hard to get your protein in the first few weeks, and for me that was the easiest way.  I hated those protein shakes with the milk and the fake sweet taste.  It was just faster to shoot a bullet.  That sounded funny.... Best Of Luck!!!

I can agree with sugar free popsicles or sugar free pudding. Your taste buds will definately be changed after the surgery so try a few things to see what you like.  Suzanne

I agree with what the others have said.  Don't go overboard stocking up on things.  Your tastes may change.  I know mine did and I could not tolerate whey protein at all after surgery, so the big containers of whey protein I had purchased were wasted.  And I had been fine with them prior to my surgery.  The sugar free popsicles were a lifesaver for me.  I would have 5-8 a day, early on.  They settled my stomach and counted as liquids, although each one is not very much "liquid".  When I was able to, I did the instant mashed potatoes with cheese in them. Oh and one other thing, I found it so much easier to eat post op with a baby spoon.  Those old habits of big bites are sometimes hard to break.  And mentally, I had to get a smaller water bottle because the 32oz water bottle I was using just seemed impossible.  I know it seems kind of silly, but I went and bought the little 8oz water bottles.  I would almost get "nervous" thinking about having to drink 2 of those big bottles in one day with tiny little sips.  LOL!  It was sort of a "mind over matter" type of thing.  It worked for me and in a month or two, I was able to return to my normal water bottle. You'll find your way.  It's nice to be able to know what worked for others, but remember we are all different and what works for some, may not work for others.  I say that, because beef was one of the easiest foods for me to tolerate when I was allowed to have solids again.  But it's good to ask questions and never assume that you are the only one experiencing the things you'll be experiencing after surgery!  Good luck!  Tina

I suggest a small fine strainer and campbell's cream of mushroom soup at hand.  Didn't like Cream of mushroom soup preop, but lived on it for a week or two post op.  Its a nice size because with the quanities you will eat, you don't have alot of leftovers.  Bean & Bacon pureed with some add'l water was a favorite of mine too. 

I just want to say THANK YOU for all the suggestions, well wishes, etc.  I go for my pats on Monday.  It's really sinking in that this life changing experience is finally going to happen!   I have been trying for 11 years for insurance companies to cover this surgery.  Even with doctors' letters telling it was absolutely necessary for me to have it done.  If I can wait 11 years for this I can handle ANYTHING this surgery throws at me.  Which I'm SURE it is going to be ALL POSITIVE! LORi