Any Advice?

I am scheduled for surgery (RNY) on Sept 18, 2008, with Dr. MacDonald and am looking for advice as to what I can do now that will make the transition easier when I come home.  What to buy, any special needs, best protein/vitamins, etc.  Any help or advice greatly appreciated.  Janice

I love Dr. Mac!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You're going to come home on liquids - so SF jello, SF popsicles, decaf tea, chicken broth are your staples. Some of the small dixie cups (bathroom size) are helpful. Go ahead and find your vitamins (his NUTs recommend the Optisource at Walgreens) if you haven't already - they're chewable and they're the only thing you'll be chewing for about 2 weeks. If you're on medications now you may want to get a pill crusher. Pitt uses Bost as your protein drink while you're there so I bought a few of those to mix my protein with once I got home. You may not want to buy lots of protein ahead of time as your tastes really can change after surgery. I got the variety package from Bariatric Eating and that was worth every penny to me because things I just knew I'd like - I COULD NOT STAND.

I don't know how much help you'll have once you get home but if there are things that you have to bend down to get on a daily basis you may want to consider moving now. (Dish detergent - laundry detergent - extra toilet paper etc.) For whatever reason that gave me a fit for about the first 2 weeks.

If you deal with female issues every month make sure you have those supplies on hand as surgery seems to bring it on.

Once you get home remember to get up and move around fairly often as this will help expel the gas from surgery. And when you get up to walk - get something else to drink because you've got to get those fluids in.

If you need anything please PM me. I am so glad I did this. I know you're excited and it's almost here.

Good Luck - Iris

Iris - Thank you so much for the advice  - I can see where it will be very useful.  Where do you find the variety pack of the protein?  Is Bariatric Eating a site?  a store?  Did you have open surgery?  How much time did it take to really feel good?  Janice

My RNY was done laproscopically. The variety package that came from Bariatric Eating is a website. I think it's just www.bariatriceating.com but you can find a link on the main forum page here - it's the block with the woman's head and a blue BE logo. They're got a really good website as well.

Everyone is different on recovery times but once they took out my IV in the hospital I haven't had anymore pain meds. I moved around fairly slowly the first few days but once the gases were gone I've really felt fine. With the exception of a dumping incident I've had no buyers remorse.

Hope this helps.

- Iris

I love Dr. MacDonald too!!!  He saved my life 6 years ago!!!  Anyway, I agree with what the others say, most of all just remember to walk and sip sip sip...  We'll polish a seat on the loosers bench for ya girl!