Post op questions

Hello AMOS Family How is everyone doing? I just thought I would ask some questions before my surgery. 1. How much protein are you expected to eat in a day? Does it depend on the person or the surgeon? How soon do you really need to get in the designated amount of protein? 2. Right now I enjoy drinking Crystal Light and the fruit flavored drinks. Is there a chance that my taste will change and I will not be able to drink them? 3. How much water/liquids are you expected to get in during the first couple of weeks? Again, does it differ from surgeon to surgeon and person to person? 4. How soon after surgery can you drive? 5. How do you cope with the "sagging" skin? Does everyone's skin tighten up to some degree? Does it depend on starting weight or age? 6. Has anyone had tummy tuck, breast reduction? What do they do about your sagging arms and legs? 7. Do you find it hard to eat and not drink? I have been trying to do this, but it is such a habit. 8. How long before you get discharged from the doctor? 9. Is there a site where recipes can be exchanged? Well, I guess that is all I can think of right now. Maybe I will have more after I go take a "refresher" intake class. Thank you all in advance for your answers. Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers. :angel? {{{{HUGS}}}} Brenda 15 more days!!!!

Brenda, Hun see what happens when you have time to wait.... You think of ALL these things, I know because that was me before.... I know for me I wanted to make sure I kept my protein up as best as I could because it aids in healing so I drank the clear zero carb Isopure drink the day before when I was on mt liquid diet and shakes as soon as I got home....I am told to have between 40-60 gms of protein a day but I think every surgeon is different. I hate the fact that I can not drink when I eat.....It was such a habit for me as well but you just do it because you do not have much room... Your taste does change but I found it not to be that bad, but everyone is different. I am only now getting up to the 2 liters a day but I have been close for a while now so you just have to build up to it hun....take your time. Took me 3 weeks before driving....sagging skin I have some already... Hmmmmm some that I could answer....yeah I am post-op... Take care hun Debra P

Debra Thanks for your answers. I appreciate your taking time to answer the my questions. I am just trying to get things in order because during the next two weeks, we have a lot going on. I will have to check into the Isopure clear zero carb for my liquid diet the day before surgery. What kind of protein shakes do you use? I have a nutrition store very close to the house and the owner is wonderful to talk with. He is very understanding and very helpful. He also gives samples before you buy a large container. I must drink over 2 liters of water a day now. I just cannot fathom how I can consume that much with the little pouch. I have been practicing with my sipping and not drinking with meals. I have even stopped eating pasta so I don't suffer cravings for them. It has been about 2 weeks since I have had pasta. Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers. {{{{{HUGS}}}}} Brenda 15 days to go

Brenda, I found the zero carb Isopure bottles (clear) for the day before at GNC and each 20 oz has 40 gms of protein thought from what I hear you can not absorb more then 30 grms at one time. All I know is it helped me keep my protein up. That is really all that matters to me, also I was taking a mutli every day before and when I got home I changed to taking 2 (chewables). For non clear shakes I have so many because I can not drink the same one day in and day out...eekkkkk... I have Isopure Choc, Champion vanilla and banana, and science something in Strawberry. Plus I also got some samples from bariatriceating.com, what a great place and I think I will just stick with samples from now on because I have 3 big containers of shakes that I get tired of. The Nector there is awesome thought I really only like the Lemon Ice Tea, others really like the lemonaid and fuzzy navel. Check it out, great site. Off soon to go to my 1 month check... Take care hun ~hugs~ Debra P

Hi Brenda: Congratulations on making the decision to have WLS surgery. I know that before my surgery I had a zillion of questions, so I'll try to answer yours from my own personal experience and to the best of my ability. So, here goes: 1. In terms of the protein intake, it may depend on your surgeon/nutritionist, but as for me I was given a calculation that determined how many grams of protein I should have. The calculation is: goal weight, divided by 2.2 x 1.25 = ideal protein. So for me my goal is 190 (I'm 6'2")divided by 2.2 x 1.25 = 107 grams per day. I can get this in by drinking protein shakes with "AnyWhey" and protein bars for my 2 snacks. Check out bariatriceating.com they have lots of variations of drinks just for us. 2. As for your taste buds changing, well I know mine have. For example, I used to drink water like a fi**** was refreshing and I drank lots of it. Now it seems as though I like to have a little Cristal Lite in order to make it more palatable. Again, this is one of those individual "wait-and-see" things that you'll experience post-op. 3. As for the water (fluids) it's usually 8, 8 oz. glasses of water per day, which is 64 ounces. But your surgeon and nutritionst will also tell you what they want you to consume. 4. I drove about 10 days after I came out of the hospital. That's what my surgeon recommended. 5. As for the sagging skin, I haven't gotten there yet, although my waistline was (still is...but getting smaller) pretty big, I'm sure I'll have some saggs, but again I think it has a lot to do with age, genetics, how much weight you have to lose, etc.. 6. I haven't gotten to my goal yet, but I know that the arms and legs can be lifted as well at the tummy tuck. If you have cable check out the Discovery Health channel. They always have someone receiving that kind of procedure so if you're not real squemish about that stuff you can actually check it out. 7. Not drinking with meals was really hard at first, I kept hiccuping all the time. Another thing I did was to not have any fluids around me at all until 30 minutes after I ate something. That helped me get into the habit. But I'll tell you something, your body will make you feel SO uncomfortable if you try to drink to soon after you eat. I know sometimes I have to wait 45 minutes! The thing that I do now is to try to eat a little piece of fruit at the end of the meal because it puts some moisture in there. 8. The interns wanted to release me on the second day, but my family and friends and I didn't think I was ready. I couldn't even walk without my IV pole. So I insisted on staying the 3rd day, which is what my doctor advised. If they try to make you leave before you're ready, don't go. Stay and get the recovery time that you need. 9. Bariatriceating.com has some recepies that may interest you. You also might want to purchase Susan Maria's book. I found it to be helpful during my early post-op stages and I continue to use it as a resource from time to time. It also has receipes in it. Hope this was helpful. And best wishes! Karen 7.

Karen Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. I know a lot of the answers depend on your surgeon and nutritionist, but I was just trying to get an idea of what things may be like. I am working hard on not drinking and eating. I will definitely go to the sites you listed and check them out. Thank you again. I don't think they will discharge me before I am ready. I have to be in ICU the first night as I have sleep apnea and then another 2 days on the floor with discharge on third day if the "leak" test is passed. I think I am looking for things to keep me occupied this week. The next two weeks will be very busy as my husband has 3 appointments and I have 2. Also, our daughter and her family are moving next weekend into the house they just purchased. Their first home!! We cannot help them move, but we can keep the two little ones while they move. Hope your day is wonderful! Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers. {{{{HUGS}}}} Brenda

hi brenda! I had wls on 5/23. Relax.....the last few days were a big hurdle- it all changes when youare on the other side. first of all you need to be drinking protein now. I bought sample apcks form bariatric eating and I learned what I could tolerate. My tastes changed and the chocolate now tastes terrible! Make up a box and fill ti with your vitamins. protein and everything you need. I keep my on the counter. Since I need at least 70 g of protein I keep the small packets in my purse to mix with water if I need 'a fix". In the fridge is the tolerable slim fast low carb premade shake. I stick one in my purse or drink when I drive. It is barely tolerable but my thought is that i crammed a lot of junk into this body to get into this postion so i may ave to eat some things that are not so great to get out of it! So I do have a lot of supplemnts handy. By the way I do get weak and shakey- I reach for my protein and supplements. WATER- everywhere I go I take H2o - You may choose to mix it with Crystal light- I drink it straight. I sip all the time. WHY? becuase I need NOT TO BE THIRSTY when I do eat. I need to have a bowel movement... take water with you everywhere. It is difficult not to drink with eating so get your water needs satisfied. And learn to take little swollows becuase you will never GULP again. SAGGING- I have been firming up- i will need a tummy tuck but that is it- I hope! I have not thought so much about this but so far I look pretty good. I am shrinking!!!! I also work out now. Driving- it depends if you are open or closed---- I was open and had a 12 inch cut- it healed nice and I drove 2 weeks later. of course i was tired as hell and in pain. It is 6 weeks later and I am FULL of energy again!!!! get your vitiamins and supplements in! Pay attention to your body. This is the best advise I can give. I have NEVER thrown up. I am lucky and can eat everything- However I will not touch sugar, alcohol, soda or anything processed. I was (luckily) and i did not ever eat sugar or white bread or anything processed- I got fat on great food, home made bread, european butter.... I have had the foamies a few times. Pay attention! We got fat becuase we blocked the cues- I was often full but had to keep going! I am still learning to pay attention to my body. Imagine the size of your stomach- an egg. You need to relearn to eat slow, chew chew and chew, and to only fill yourself up a bit. Play with your food! Take time to eat... Once I laxed and ate a shrimp quite fast- I thought I would die! old habits can be overcome, I eat slow, sip, chew, take small bites. You will adjust! I was scared out of my mind, unsure, alone, and now i can say that this was the best thing I ever did. Best wishes and keep learning! dawna