Suggestions for Newbies and those with upcoming surgeries...Vets hop in Please!
on 2/10/13 11:33 pm, edited 2/11/13 1:32 am
Here is a list of things that will help after surgery:
1. Magic Bullet: (or some kind of mixer like this) I like my shakes really blended and the Blender Bottle does not do it for me (I use them as storage)
2. Insulated/Thermal Tote: I didn't buy one until about 3 months out. I just took my protein and snacks to work in a recycle grocery bag with some logo on it. Then one day, while at Target, I saw these Rachel Ray bags on clearance. I bought one. So glad I did!!! It has a zipper so nothing will fall out. 2 of the large blender bottles will fit in it with my snacks. It's solid black so it will go with anything. It is great!
3. Probiotics: This is so important, get on these as soon as you get home! I did not but found out a lot of people do. I have tried several different ones from the refrigerated - to generic Walgreens. The one's that work the best for me (albeit hard to find) is the CVS generic that compares to Align. This was the golden one for me. Usually, about once a month or so, they have Buy one get one free. YMMV. These are the ones that work best for me. You may find a different one works better for you.
4. Once your surgeon says "You can take your vitamins now" Start! Do not wait. If you can't get them down then grind them and mix them up in yogurt. Figure out a way! I was taking the hideous vitamins from the Dr and they were making me sick (even ground up). I stopped taking them for nearly 3 weeks. Then I realized, I can't do this to my body. I used Vitalady's guidelines to help me figure out which way to go. I just had new labs, so I've adjusted them. You will as time goes along. No matter what, take your Vitamin A supplement. This surgery throws our bodies into immediate Ketosis. We do not have any A going into our system from anything. The NP at the surgeon's office told the day before class of us - horror stories of people who just took a Chewable multi and not any A, and their eyesight was going downhill fast. That's the only thing my surgeon's office told me that was 100% correct.
5. Befriend Yogurt like never before, it is your best friend during the whole healing process. I just currently switched from Activia Light to Greek. Find one and stick with it until your body is ready to move onto other food.
6. Remember this: YMMV "Your Mileage May Vary". My biggest vitamin issue: Zinc, I took it before surgery fine! Now, I struggle to get a lozenge in a day because it makes me nauseated like I'm going to vomit. I take it at least an hour after I take my other vits. I don't know when Zinc won't bother me.
7. What you liked or what worked before surgery, may not work after surgery. Keep trying until you find one "Whey Protein Isolate" forget the rest. Use Almond Milk or Cream. I purchased a lot prior to surgery but realized it was making me sicker. I then kept trying any brand that said "Whey Protein Isolate". I would try a new one and vomit. I could use Jay Robb but it still made me nauseated. Then another DSr told me about Unjury, I've been using it ever since. Now I get the unflavored and mix in things!
8. Hair loss, it's going to happen. I was so excited when I didn't have any then poof, one day, I had 3 bald spots "1 massive". I have had surgery before (not a WLS though), I had hair fall out one time from Anesthesia but nothing like this. I can't remember what it's called Val knows, trauma to the abdomen. It's actually more than just that for us, it's a combination of that, anesthesia, with not enough protein, with not enough nutrients mixed with our body adjusting to the whole thing. My BFF gave me some Morroccan Oil brand (which is pricey I realize) hair growth serum. I have used it consistently since Thanksgiving, I have new hair growth. I just added 2 tablespoons of Apple Cider Vinegar at night (it can't hurt). My hair is naturally curly. I have had about 3 inches cut from the length. The texture has changed a lot - extremely unruly. For those of us with really curly hair, a cute cut is not as simple as it sounds. I use this product along HERE along with a little olive oil along with a cream. My hair is getting back ok . It will be ok, at 3.5 months is when my hair loss started happening, last month I was so frustrated. Now it's growing back. I know it's going to be ok! My hair is a big deal to me. As it is a lot of women! The other thing, my hairstylist said not to ever go more than 2 days without washing your hair. I bumped up my Biotin to 10000 a day plus added Horsetail.
9. Dry Skin. This is going to happen, you cannot control it. Some has to do with hydration, some it's just hormones and how our body reacts to this surgery. My gastro explained in detail about the hormone changes a person's body goes through with this surgery so some people have it more than others once again a YMMV. I bought a huge bottle of "Unscented" lotion called Everyday Naturals at Sprouts for $10. Then I use just plain California Virgin Olive Oil on my face, I did this for quite awhile. I bought a MISTO mister at World Market. Put the Olive Oil in it, and whenever I got up in the middle of the night or basically whenever I went to the bathroom and didn't have makeup on sometimes 5 times a day, my skin soaked it in, I'd spray a little in the palm of my hand and put it all over my face, neck and even my eyelids. Then went back to skincare last month. That really helped keep the dry skin at a distance.
10. Socks. My feet are colder now than they ever have been (even my body is). I wear socks all the time.
11. Saggy skin, there is no cream out there to help your legs or buttocks or stomach. Don't waste the money. Keep your skin moisturized and look forward to plastics. In a lot of cases, insurance will cover if there is skin rashes etc. When you get to that point, DO NOT just go to one Dr for a consult. Call around, ask questions, do they have experience with massive amounts of skin for skin removal? Do they try for insurance? Will they appeal if it's denied? I'm very serious about this. You have done this surgery to get there. The Plastic Surgeon you go with is the most important, this is how you will look in the end. Don't just go to one because the surgeon who did your surgery recommends him etc. Here is the site to go to to see credentials etc: http://www.plasticsurgery.org/
12. Last from me: REST. I am a go-getter and always have been. It is really difficult on me now. My body is still healing. I am no longer the energizer bunny just moments now. Changes are going to happen for the first year. Get your rest, sleep, tell your family, I need to take a nap or whatever. It will allow your body to heal!
One more thing, get in tune with your body! Listen to your body. Find a Primary Care Physician or a Gastro Dr who understands or you can teach about this surgery, the importance of labs etc. SO they will listen to you. If you have constipation, then find the reason why before it get's out of control. Learn how not to strain and control your bowel muscles so as to hopefully not get a fissure.
Good Luck!
Also - One more thing to pick up. There are little packages of Peanut Butter for .99 at Sprouts, Whole Foods, Market Street. I keep a couple in my purse so if I can't eat every 2 hours, I
A.C. -
Great list!
I have a suggestion that will help with the zinc. Solaray makes zinc capsules at 50 mg each. Take 4 daily, and you've got your 200mg zinc in for the day. If you order the complete DS package from Vitalady, you'll have entire array of vitamins in one order. It's pricey, but worth the convenience.
Greek Yogurt has twice the protein of regular, and the price reflects that. I buy quart containers of plain, and do my own flavoring with extracts and Splenda. Regular yogurt doesn't give as much protein, but in a pinch, it's better than nothing!
Unjury *is* whey protein isolate. Some DSer's have trouble with specific brands, and Unjury may have a different way of processing its WPI to make it more "gut-friendly".
HW 405/SW 397/CW 138/GW 160 Do the research! Check the stats!
The DS is *THE* solution to Severe Morbid Obesity!
" 3. Probiotics: This is so important, get on these as soon as you get home! I did not but found out a lot of people do. I have tried several different ones from the refrigerated - to generic Walgreens. The one's that work the best for me (albeit hard to find) is the CVS generic that compares to Align. This was the golden one for me. Usually, about once a month or so, they have Buy one get one free. YMMV. These are the ones that work best for me. You may find a different one works better for you.
Can anyone chime in regarding this. Do you take a pill? What does this do for your body? Thanks so much
on 2/11/13 11:47 am
It helps keep the good bacteria in the colon and our new configured small intestine. This is very important so that we can keep the bad bacteria at bay. Before surgery, I took them on and off because I had diverticulosis which would turn into "itis" which means it's infected and I would have to go on Flagyl.
After the DS, my GI Dr said this is the most important pill I take in a day (I just changed to 2 because I was on antibiotics).
It is very important for us to keep our flora in the intestines healthy. This is what it does.
It is a pill. I personally do better with capsules over tablet, because I have seen the tablet floating in the toilet. I now am very careful using only capsules except for one bcomplex I take.
