19 days till my surgery
i'm very excited in 19 days i'll be sleeved. i've decided to start cutting back & starting a pre-op diet now. i'm concerned about my liver shrinking enough so my recovery will be easier. i just started a new job 2 months ago, my boss is extremly supportive but don't want to take too much time off. any suggestions or helpful hints??? any warnings???? anything will be helpful! thanks~ christy
Christy 
My recovery was pretty easy - the key is get up and get moving
while still in the hospital - even though you're tired!
The pain was minimal but definitely manageable. It'll feel so weird but it seems virtually impossible to drink (but you have to try!)
Not going to lie - my first week felt rough, like getting up out of bed to walk the hall or use the bathroom was exhausting. I was favoring my left side, afraid to stretch or move my body and pop my incision... silly now that I think of it!
I took 6 weeks off from work, probably could have gone back after two or three (at the most) I was feeling "normal" after two weeks for sure.
In my opinion what takes longest is the learning how/when/what to eat (and what NOT to eat), my taste buds totally changed post-op so some of the protein that I stocked up on I gave away because I could not longer tolerate it. Weird but at 10month out the individual scent of ketchup, maple syrup and garlic still make me nauseous!!
Most of all, be patient, we didn't get to this point overnight!
while still in the hospital - even though you're tired!
The pain was minimal but definitely manageable. It'll feel so weird but it seems virtually impossible to drink (but you have to try!)
Not going to lie - my first week felt rough, like getting up out of bed to walk the hall or use the bathroom was exhausting. I was favoring my left side, afraid to stretch or move my body and pop my incision... silly now that I think of it!
I took 6 weeks off from work, probably could have gone back after two or three (at the most) I was feeling "normal" after two weeks for sure.
In my opinion what takes longest is the learning how/when/what to eat (and what NOT to eat), my taste buds totally changed post-op so some of the protein that I stocked up on I gave away because I could not longer tolerate it. Weird but at 10month out the individual scent of ketchup, maple syrup and garlic still make me nauseous!!
Most of all, be patient, we didn't get to this point overnight!
I've been declared a slow loser - and couldn't be happier!!
I can, I will.
I can, I will. 
Your pre-op 'diet' shouldn't be about actually losing weight, but about limiting carbs. What 'shrinks' your liver is getting rid of the glycogen stored there, and you do this by cutting out carbs. At this point, you NEED to be eating a lot of protein, because it helps you to heal, and you're not going to be able to eat much of it immediately post-op. So don't count calories, really---just push protein and liquids, and strongly curtail carbs.
You should also start taking your vitamins now. Have you had baseline bloodwork done, to see how your vitamin levels are now? If you're low in anything, now's the time to start working on getting it up to par.
You should also start taking your vitamins now. Have you had baseline bloodwork done, to see how your vitamin levels are now? If you're low in anything, now's the time to start working on getting it up to par.
(deactivated member)
on 12/4/11 1:00 am - Califreakinfornia , CA
on 12/4/11 1:00 am - Califreakinfornia , CA
Don't starve your body prior to surgery or it will take longer to heal. Surgeons that are still pushing the long liquid pre op diet to shrink the liver are still in the dark ages and are causing pre ops to needlessly struggle through the healing phase by allowing them to start healing from a place of malnourishment.
Just eat as previously suggested ( low carbs & increase protein ) and stop all food and liquids 12-24 hours before you scheduled surgery time. I think 12 is plenty, but there are those situations where you find your surgery time may be bumped up due to unforeseen cir****tances, so I would do the 24 hour fast just for that reason alone.
Just eat as previously suggested ( low carbs & increase protein ) and stop all food and liquids 12-24 hours before you scheduled surgery time. I think 12 is plenty, but there are those situations where you find your surgery time may be bumped up due to unforeseen cir****tances, so I would do the 24 hour fast just for that reason alone.
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