two weeks post-op

At least you're able to have the veggies, I wasn't allowed through TWH. Just a lot of jello - too much jello. Never want to see jello again.  :)

Thank you for the kind words. I found that the more research I did, and the more I could learn, the better prepared I'd be. This site definitely helped a lot. 

From a newbie in pre op thank you!. I read all the way to the bottom of all the responses and saw you had surgery via TWH! Toronto Western Hospital correct? That's where I got my welcome letter from last week. I have orientation on Aug 20th. I can't wait to get this journey rocking.

May I ask what your starting weight was? Is optifast a must for all WLS candidates or do you just try to loose weight while going through all your appts? Nice to have someone local from the same place I am likely to get mine done at :)

Congrats on your progress thus far too!!!!!

Tina

Yes, TWH is Toronto Western. It's the assessment centre, where all the appointments are. The surgery can be at TWH, St. Mike's, or Toronto East General (TEGH).  My surgery was at TEGH.

As far as I know, yes, Opti-Fast is a must. Unless there's a (medical) reason why you can't have it. It is only for the final 2 or 3 (or how many you're prescribed) weeks before your surgery. Its primary role isn't to make you lose weight, it's to shrink your liver. A way to detox your liver and make it healthy/ier, so to speak. 

Thanks. I have seen some people in the US who haven't had to do it at all. So I wondered about it. I guess all the appts and ultrasounds will tell whether it is needed or not. I'm just so excited I want to learn everything NOW! LOL

Tina

I learned early on that things are done very differently here vs. the US. 

I'm outside Detroit in the U.S., and there are some big differences-- certainly with the insurance, approvals, etc., of the surgery under the States' glorious freewheeling healthcare industry vs. what I'd heard about Ontario.   I think pre-op/post-op protocol is surgeon-to-surgeon here  without the stronger government guidelines.  My surgeon put me on 600-800 cal low carb diet about a week pre-surgery, and only on the liquid for the final few days.  Based on what I'd read about removing glycogen and shrinking the liver, I voluntarily upped that to another  full week on liquids+ protein, and last 3 days on liquid only.  Biggest thing  suggested that I did was to walk-- asap after surgery.     I was never a big walker, but have really gotten into it, even in the hospital.  I'm on post-surgery day 7 and I did about 11K steps today-- I'd even done 3000 later the day of the surgery and feel lucky I felt up to it, but I think it really helped.    Only way I could bust the damn gas bubbles.

Good luck getting that food and drink into the Jays game.  Last time I went, a few years ago, they frisk you at the door and don't let you in with anything. You could tell them it's a medical necessity for you to have proper food though, perhaps.

Great work, by the way! Glad you're doing well.

Rogers Centre allows you to bring in your own food and drink. I've brought tupperware in the past. They limit bottles of water to 600mL, although I got through with a sealed 710mL bottle. I think glass bottles and cans are a no no.