Exactly One Month to Surgery... Got Any Tips and Tricks?

Your tastes will probably change after surgery, so don't stock up on any foods. (Unless it's bacon.) There was nothing that I needed that I didn't have at home, but I wish I'd worked on getting in the habit of taking vitamins before surgery. You really should start taking a multi now. I'd also advise getting some baseline bloodwork drawn and start working on getting your levels up. Oh, and eat as much protein as possible this month---it'll help you heal after surgery. Oh, and check to see if your hospital will have fans available. Even though I my my DS in December, I burned up for about 4 days. (Then I got cold---really, REALLY cold. My feet haven't been warm since.)

I'd say it took a good three months to completely recover, but I had an open procedure and I was very heavy. I also had really bad knees, so getting around post-op was difficult. BUT---at three months out, I could work in my garden for hours, something I hadn't been able to do in YEARS.

I went back to driving as soon as I stopped taking pain meds. I wasn't working at the time, but I could probably have done a sit-down job at 3 weeks. A more physical job---well, after abdominal surgery of any kind you really shouldn't lift more than 10 pounds for about 8 weeks.

DS poop if you eat cleanly still stinks like poop but I would not say it is a killer. However, it does have a different smell than normal poop because it is not digested like normal poop. So yeah it is not something anyone is use to smelling because it smells weird. Therefore has a nasty rep. It has made me gag a few times. It is no worse than my sons stinky poop though. The only thing I really noticed is that it tends to linger longer than normal poo smells. Which is why the poo pourri and ozium are awesome. =)

BAD FOOD = BAD DS,  peel the paint off the walls poo smell

chapstick.................................in the hospital.  the oxygen dries you out............the a/c dries you out.....................

don't worry about stocking up on foods and protein powders.  it will amaze you how you tastes will change.  for about 6 months i absolutely hated the taste of bacon and butter, oh my god!!!  a ds'ers worst nightmare, right?

just be careful of lactose, gluten and sugar alcohols. many of us are intolerant to these directly after surgery.  when introducing new foods, one new item at a time.  this way you can figure out what your new tummy likes and doesn't like.

i am so excited for you.  you are about to embark on the wildest ride of your life.  don't get upset or frustrated, our bodies are unique and each one is different.   

good luck !

1) what worked for you

- using my pre-op diet to prepare for life post-DS (protein shakes, eliminate carbs and caffeine, listen to my stomach when I'm full, eat slow, etc.)

- begin exercising before surgery to allow body to recover quicker

- read the forum and bookmarked the posts that give useful tidbits of info for later use

2) what do you advise I have stocked

- bottled water

- crystal light for flavor variety

 -sugar free jello

- instead of chick and beef broth, I had chick noodle and veggie beef soup and drained the juice to use that.  Found it tastes better than pure broth.

- Immodium, Milk of Mag, Miralax, Tylenol, Aleve, bandages and tape, etc. NOTE:  if your prescription pain med contains acetaminophen, don't take Tylenol with it because it is also acetaminophen.

3) what didn't you realize that you needed

- Kleenexs because for some reason I had a runny nose.  Maybe because I hadn't kept taking my seasonal allergy meds?

4) how long was your recovery

- Sent home 2 days after surgery.  Was going upstairs in evening and downstairs in morning first day home.  Hung around house for one wee****il I couldn't take it anymore and had to get out to do stuff.  No nausea, vomiting or diaherra.  Runny stools but controllable.  Off of prescipt pain meds 7 days post surgery.

5) How long was it before you could resume things like driving and working?

Drove and went to store at 7 days after surgery.  Drove to 1 week followup dr. appt and stopped and snowball stand to get a sugar-free one the next day.  Went to WalMart following day (did use buggy for support when walking.)

Ate out at Chilis 10 days.  Tanned by pool, went to driving range to watch my husband hit a bucket of ball, went to sports bar to watch college baseball game and ate Wendy's chili at 11 days.  Did more of the same at 12 days but ate a few boiled shrimp and sweet potato fries.

Back at work (office job with computer work and walking around buildings to meetings) 13 days after surgery.  Added tuna fish (with mayo, mustard, relish and eggs) and sugar free pudding to diet.

Today is 14 days post.  I walked for half an hour in the pool yesterday and today.  Also met a friend for supper at a mexican restaurant.  Had a couple shrimp from her fajita plate and mixed refried beans, cheese, sour cream and salsa as a topping.