Surgery in less than 2 weeks - Questions

My revision surgery from Crap-Band to DS is on June 10. The closer it gets, the more nervous I get. Not that I don't think I have made the right decision, but that I am not prepared like I wanted to be. I have been reading on this forum, dsfacts.com, and other places for the last 6 months preparing myself and trying to understand everything. I thought I had it all down, but now I'm not sure that I do, so I just wanted to ask some vets a few questions.

What kind of vitamins do you take in the beginning? Should I find an adult chewable multi? My surgeons office also sells powdered and chewable bariatric vitamins, but I understand that those are not the best option long term. I just know that I won't be able to take 30+ pills a day in the beginning, but want to make sure I am taking care of myself. 

I plan to follow VitaLady's recommended vitamin regimen, but would like to save some money and buy the vitamins elsewhere. I am not sure what "tender" means. For instance, tender iron. Is that a specially formulated vitamin, or what? Also, I know that we can't take time release medications, but what about rapid release? Does that make a difference?

What kind of probiotics should I take? Are those over the counter or will I need a prescription?

What did you do for pureed foods? My doctor's office says that we shouldn't eat any fruits or vegetables until about 2 months out, so I just don't know what should be done for pureed foods. I am just not okay with pureed meat. I have even tried to taste the baby food meats and gagged. I was really hoping that I could eat vegetables and have mashed cauliflower or pureed squash and zucchini during that stage. Does anyone have any good ideas on what to eat during that stage?

Has anyone not followed their doctor's pre-op diet, but did their own diet to lose the weight instead? I know that sounds terrible that I want to be "non-compliant" even before surgery, but my doctor has us on a diet of their supplements that they sell in office. And to be honest with you, some of them are down right nasty. I cannot choke them down. It is essentially a very low calorie and low carb diet that they expect you to lose 6-10 pounds a week on. I am supposed to be on the diet for 2 weeks, so I figure if I can lose 15-20 pounds my own way, it's really not much different, right?

These are all of the questions I have for now, but I'm sure that there are many more I just can't think of right now. Sorry this got so long. I'm sure it is mostly just nerves, but it all just seems so overwhelming all of a sudden.

Right after surgery, all I took was Vitamin D, calcium (2x per day) and multi-vitamin (2x per day), plus I was taking Protonix (PPI) and a Probiotic  to help with the yucky tummy.  The probiotic didn't require a prescription.  I just got one OTC at Walgreens, and it has added fiber.  The Protonix did require a script.

I'm very lucky, in that the only other vitamins I've had to add thus far is B12 and Potassium with my D, calcium and multi-vit.

I never had to do the pureed foods stage.  When I left the hospital, they told me to eat whatever I could tolerate.  I started out with things like cottage cheese, tuna, scrambled eggs, protein pudding, ricotta fluff (there are wonderful recipes on here), I think I tried oatmeal once (but didn't want the carbs), lunch meat, yogurt, cheese.  I also was able to tolerate little bites of mashed potatoes (but again, I stopped that as I didn't want the carbs).  My though, in the beginning at least, was whatever I got in I was grateful for.  Again, I'm very lucky because I could NEVER have tolerated pureed meat. 

My doctor did not prescribe any particular diet prior to surgery - try to be low fat, low carb and lose what I could.  Every pound I lost made my liver smaller, which they want as small as possible as they have to get behind it to do surgery - so a bigger liver can possibly complicate things.  I don't think how you lose the weight matters, only that you do - of course, you don't want to starve yourself or something dramatic that will compromise your health.

I understand the nerves, but it sounds like you have a good handle on things and are in good hands.  You will do wonderfully, I'm sure.  Good luck to you - and I'll scoot down on the losers bench to make some room for you.

Best advice - be kind to yourself.  Rest, don't panic and drive yourself crazy trying to make sure you get everything in.  It's a little rough the first week or so.  Stay hydrated, which is way more important than food!

I can try a couple of these from my own experience.

First, the pureed phase is not really the place to start adding vegetables. The mantra that early is liquids and proteins, liquids and proteins. My experience was that I didn't have room for anything besides the meat. Look at different types of seasonings to make the pureed meat more tolerable. I kept mostly to chicken and different flavors of Mrs. Dash. (protein shakes too). another thought, I did pureed for 4 days before I decided to try and chew some meat without pureeing it. You mileage may vary.

Once you reach a point where you don't have trouble with your liquid and protein goals then look to add back some veggies. One at a time to check the effect. A lot of people like the mashed cauliflower. Just not early on.

I started vitamins with chewables and added regular pills when I felt I could handle them. About 3 weeks post op for me. I know vitalady has a lot of different chewables.

As for the Doctors diet I would say just make sure you replace like with like. If his is all liquids then replace it with other liquids and if it has extra vitamins make sure to get them from someplace. There is some discussion about a preop liquid diet but I figure it is your surgeons call.

The good thing is you have time to learn. You don't need to know everything before or right after your surgery. Given the liquid and protein the rest will take care of itself for the first month as you get your footing.

I have yet to figure out "tender" (more for minerals than vitamins I think) or probiotics. Others may have better ideas than mine that is the good part of a community.

Good luck.

Im two weeks out, and just starting to feel able to start vitaladys plan.  I already have her three months supply of vitimans, but up until today I was crushing all medication, and opening all capsles.  I swallowed my first capsle today, and so far so good.  I have been eating white bean soup, and green pea soup.  I have always found them delishes anyways.  There is even ham and baccon in them.  I seem to be tolerating them quite well.  Lots of stomach grumbles, but that even happens when I drink crystal light.  Thats just a givin.  Of course cream soups do well, and surger free jello.  Ive also gotton some soft cheeses.  Havartti, munster, cottage cheese is also good.  Just a couple of bites and you'll be full.  Then back off, dont try and take that last bite, otherwise you'll be in discomfort for a good while.  It will happen once or twice, and then you'll never let it happen again.  Diareaha is a givin, but as time goes by its not as watery.  And there has never been a sense of urgency with me.  Like I have to get to the tolet in a hurry or else.  If I hold it, my stomach just gets extra noisy.  I have a 100cc, in case your interested.  I got some chicken liver at the store yesterday, Ive always loved them.  They are soft when not over cooked, and I think I will be able to down maybe one ore two, we'll see.  I might wait a bit on that one.  Yesterday, I think I ate to much cheese, and had a couple of olives, and my stomach was a little sore last night.  Im going to stick to soup today.  I still havent tried a scrambled egg with cheese, but I will, and Im sure it will be fine.  I know the soup has some carbs, and in the hospital they give you apple juice, it has carbs.  I guess what Im trying to say is that in the begining when we are just trying to get food in, a "few" carbs arnt going to hurt you, untill you can really focus on straight protien.  Youll find your way trial and error.  According to my doctor, I should be on cream soups for another three weeks, but I knew from being on here that its not really true, and every dr. says different things.  I thank god for this site, I have learned so much, and I would rather listen to people that have aucturally been through these things, and have first hand experience...  After my three month labs, I plan On cutting back on the vitimans, like so many have, Ive heard that you can take a multi "generic" compariable to Centrum "no iron" three to for times a day depending on labs, and then suppliment the rest of the vitimans.  Im nervous about the whole vitiman thing also, but I know I will find the help on here that I need.  You just have to post your lab results on here and there will be people that will advise.  Even vitalady will help in this area.  Its normal to want to get the cost down. P.S  Im happy to hear your getting that crapband out.  From what I gather you will feel like a new woman....

I was taking pills the day I got home, 12 a day, one at a time, like...every hour I was awake.  You don't need designer bariatric vitamins or even chewables, which is good because they are butt-nasty!!!  I've never heard of anyone getting deficient from Vitalady's plan, so it's a great kickoff for new post-ops.  The "tender" is her own branding.  If you look closer, you'll find the exact ingredients and compare elsewhere. 

My only probiotic to this day is yogurt or kefir - and I reap the protein benefit from it too.  I did my day of liquids and day of soft in the hospital, and graduataed to tender foods when I was released to go home.  Whatever you eat at first will only be a few bites before you're full, so trust me, theres no room for veggies right away until the swelling goes down.

Just curious, I would love to eat some yogart, but when I went to purchase some full fat greek yogart, the fruit filling of course had carbs in it.  So I didnt get any because I didnt know how many carbs for that type of thing were considered acceptable.  Is your thinking that one a day wont hurt you, or are you buying plain?  I hope its the first one, I would love to buy me some yogart  Also when people say they need a probiotic, what is it needed for exactly?  diareaha, constapation???  Thank you so much for any advice you might have.....

I was never on the "Carb Nazi" train.  I took a more lenient but mindful approach without the OCD tendencies.  I'm not saying that there is anything wrong with this common practice.   It's just not for me.  Once you make me feel deprived for something, it's all downhill from there.

Here's my approach to carbs:

First of all, all complex carbs (veggies and whole grains) are free in my book.  It takes the body longer to break these down so they are less absorbed than the simple, processed carbs.  If I have to accept some sugar to reap the probiotic benefits and protein of Greek yogurt, then count me in.  The pro's far outweigh the cons of missing out.  When I was eating my first couple of years, I would be sure to finish every bit of my protein, then work on my veggies.  I would save myself the last couple of bites for whatever I wanted, be it rice, noodles, bread, or even chocolate cake.  I was nearly full, so I wouldn't get into too much trouble.  My rule was if said carbs were useful (as in greek yogurt) or gave me bliss, then I wasn't going to sweat it.  If they were there just to be there (like a hamburger bun) and I didn't get much satisfaction, then I could cut those back or out altogether.  

We take probiotics to keep our intestinal flora in balance.  For whatever reason, those of us with intestinal bypasses (RNY and DS) are susceptible to our bacteria (flora) getting out of balance.  Some suffer constipation, but most of us get very gassy no matter what we eat, lots of gut rumbles and diarrhea.  This phenomena does not seem to be expressed as much to the new RNY's, but amazingly enough, they start introducing probiotics and see results.   These days, I can simply tell by the odor of my stool.  I prefer to keep a natural balance, and yogurt gives me that.  Others take a heavier approach with probiotic pills. Some go the opposite direction and take antibiotics, thus killing off all good and bad bacteria.   When I'm feeling out of balance, I start with a bottle of kefir for a big punch, then get back on my daily yogurt regime.

Thanks Valerie, that made it simple enough.  Im buying yogart today...lol

My surgeon had a Book with everything in writing and a CD for me. Everything was planned down to the nitty gritty. I had a vitamin D injection day before surgery to cover that. 

When I got home I started out full liquids...meaning anything I could pour. So shakes, watered down pudding or yogurt. 

8th day I started soft foods and a bariatric multi-vitamin twice a day and two calcium tabs twice a day. This of course was with my Nexium etc. My foods were anything I could squish with a fork. No raw veggies. So I ate cottage cheese, soft cheeses, tuna, soups, canned vegetables, canned meat, eggs, yogurts, ANYTHING I COULD SQUISH with a fork. YOu have to get in as much water as you can as well as your three protein drinks a day. (some can only do a couple protein drinks a day. YOu are suppose to work your way up to three protein drinks, over 100 grams of protein and 64 ounces of water) Protein shakes and water with your vits are more important than eating...so incorporate a couple of meals or whatever you body can handle. It will increase with time. Never more than an ounce or two according to my surgeon. They say for best weight loss and maximum healing you need to not stretch your pouch or put pressure on your pouch at this point. So just a small amount of food...we are healing. 

28th day- started solid foods. Still no raw vegetables yet not till the second month. So far I have gone nuts trying ribs, chicken, pork, burger...you name it. I can eat about 2-4 ounces of food at a time depending on what it is I am eating. I can freely drink water down in gulps now. I eat about every two hours if I can. I drink three protein drinks a day. 

I never pureed anything. At that stage protein drinks were more important. 

 http://www.amazon.com/Renew-Life-Ultimate-Vegetable-Capsules /dp/B005GRGCWM/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1369889196&sr=8-9&keyw ords=probiotics+renew+life

  these are great - no prescription needed.  I started on Activia and then these even before surgery and I actually hid them in my suitcase and took them even while in the hospital once I had started on foods there.

I pureed poached eggs, tuna, tilapia, etc  with a small spoonful of mashed potatoes (made with Lactaid milk)  I also had a lot of yogurt.  You really can't eat more than a few bites at first, so if you have just a few things you like, that's all you need.