I have a surgery date...Now what?

I have a surgery date. Yeah! October 18th, 2004. I feel prepared for surgery but it is the post-op portion I feel a little apprehensive about. Can anyone explain what can/may happen. Recommendations on post-op diet? Ie: what kind of liquids got you through the first three - six weeks. Then, what kind of soft foods got you through the next couple of weeks and when you could "eat" again what did you start with. I need specifics on this please. Are there other site affects I need to know about WLS? (I know about loosing hair, but what is this about odor?) Ready to be educated. Thanks.

HI Elaine, Congrats on your upcoming surgery, may you heal quickly and feel great. Let's see I'll try to help as much as possible, it's been over 8 mo. for me, but I'll do my best! Lets see, it seems the first week was jello, broth, anything clear and with protein. The next week I believe was cottage cheese, pureed stuff like yogurt and such or baby food if you prefer. I think after that it was chopped up normal food, and then chunks and then freedom! Real food!! I was a protein drink failure so I made myself start drinking a cup of milk a day, and taking calcium when I was able to take the swallowing kind of vitamins. I couldn't take the Vista Chewables, but I love the swalloing kind, they make me feel great! And I can tell when I don't take them. I started loosing my hair at about 2-3 mo. just some in my brush at first, by the time 5 mo. had come I had "Widows Peaks" but no further, it then started growing back right now it is about 1" long, I can't wait until my curling iron will curl it! As far as odor is concerned I never had any, and not the bad breath that I was told about. I'll bet your next question is would I do it again... In a heartbeat! It's the most wonderful thing I have ever done for myself, I feel 10 yrs. younger, I look and feel so much better. My Blood Pressure is now normal, I don't have sleep apnea anymore, I could go on and on. I wish I would have done it years ago, but the truth be know I was a healthy overweight person until about 1 1/2 yrs. ago and then everything started going south! I hope I helped ya, I know the others will fill in where I was vague. We'll be here to welcome you to the loosing side of life. So keep askin' and we'll be here for ya! Catherine 275/196/150ish 1/22/04

Thanks you helped a lot. I appreciate your encouragement. I will be posting pictures afer my pre-op apt. on Tuesday the 10/5.

My doctor gave us explicit instructions on the post op diet. And I have read lots of different diets around on what people were supposed to eat before and after so you will want to follow your doctor's instructions. However that said, for 3 weeks post op I had to drink 6 one ounce cups of liquid protein. This consisted of a protein drink and added powdered protein so 1 one ounce cup had 5 grams of protein in it. I used the Nectar Proteins as I DON'T LIKE milk and most protein drinks are milky and turn into a thick pudding when mixed with extra protein - blechh. The Nectar Protein drinks are fruit flavored and stayed liquid like punch. Had to drink up to 15 minutes before a meal and not drin****il after 45 minutes after the meal. Drinks had to be clear liquids. 4 Chewable childrens vitamins a day, got mine at Costco they were the cheapest. I also had trouble with taking pills - my stoma (opening into the gut) was very swollen and tablets and pills gave me a lot of grief. The next 3 weeks it was scrambled eggs cottage cheese, pureed meats 5 - 6 one ounce cups a day. I cut it down to 5 cause I felt like I was living around those little one ounce cups. 4 Chewable vitamins, calcium - chewable cause it was a problem to swallow pills larger than a baby aspirin. A baby aspirin. The next 6 weeks it has been finely chopped protein, protein bars, jerky, cottage cheese, string cheese, and veggies if I have enough room after I eat the protein 4 times a day. I have to be very careful to eat enough protein because blood tests at 3.5 weeks showed my protein levels to be too low. So I usually eat 1/2 premier protein bar for breakfast (15gr protein) minced protein for lunch and mid afternoon meal and then the other half of the protein bar for supper. I get at least 30 gr of protein and closer to 45 grams a day. 4 Chewable vitamins, 2000 mg calcium, sublingual B12, baby aspirin a day. I treat the vitamins and calcium like dessert cause they are sweet. Maryanne

You go girl.......congrats on the date...that is awesome! Take it easy on yourself, get into the habit of walking now if you aren't already....and make sure the house is clean when you leave, LOL! Good luck and keep us informed!!! Brandi

Brandi, Thanks for the encouragement. I've started walking. Slow going. I weight 280 pounds at 5'6. I will be SO glad when I am below 200 and headed for that 150 pound goal. I'll keep you updated. It is nice to have this support. You all have no idea what it means to me (or maybe you do). God bless! Elaine

Maryanne, I love Costco childrens chewables. They are the best. I thought I was the only adult in the world eating childrens chewables until I came upon this site. Thank you for all the great suggestions. It helps tremendously. God bless, Elaine

I agree - the doctor will likely have a comprehensive diet you can follow, but as for me, I had no pain after my open RNY and was released from the hospital. I had tugging from the staples is all and sharp hunger pangs. I drank nothing for 3 days then had clear liquids the 4th day and was allowed directly to soft foods like cream of wheat, cottage cheese, soups, etc. I didn't have to puree anything - just stuck to things that I could "puree" with my teeth. Chew chew chew very well and follow the pouch rules. Protein shakes were important for me at first so I could get the protein in. Otherwise, I really didn't have a lot of rules to follow. No coffee or soda for the first month - soda (diet) longer (I waited a couple or three). No beef for 6 months according to my doc, but I had it anyway if it was really tender/soft. Hope that helps. Congrats on the upcoming date! Dina