PLEASE SHARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey all,,,

 

Saturday was a BIG DAY… I had my pre-surgical dietary consult today. I met with a nutritionist who prepared me for life pre and post op.. So I guess that’s a good sign that I’m getting closer to the prize.

The nutritionist made a few suggestions about how I could prepare for what is to come.

She suggested that I start to stock up on Broths, Protein powders etc. She also suggested in the coming weeks I try a practice run with the Liquid and Soft Diet to get myself organized and ready for the time when I HAVE TO DO IT.

So next week I am going to give it a shot. ANY SUGGESTIONS??? On products and how one will survive that faze of the process? ANY and all advice is WELCOME.. I want the week to be successful.

 

Also,, I was wondering.. I don’t have to use that OptiSource that they recommend do I???

WHAT IS Impact Advanced Recovery?? Why do they want me on it 8 days prior to surgery?? What does it do??? They will let me use homemade broths and stocks right??? I was thinking of just making a few and freezing them…..

As to stoking up, your tastes will change after surgery and you could be stuck with tons of stuff you can't stand. Several of the places offer sample sizes you can order and that might be the best. If you taste them now, remember you might like or dislike them later. 

Swanson broth has a garlic chicken (Woodmans) and it saved my life because it was a change in flavor. Also we made SF jello jigglers so we had something to chew.

The prep period (10 days) was just a pain and we just did it--pretended it wasn't happening and got on with it. Don't know the optisource info or the Impact advanced recovery. My doc didn't use that. We had ten days of 5 carnation SF instant breakfasts a day. PM me if you want more info.

Connie 

Thanks for all of you insite that will help a lot!!!!!!!!!!!! In the weeks to come. Next week my plan is to do Liquid Sunday - Tuesday then Soft Wed - Friday.. I figure no need to torcher myself with a whole week yet. I might try it again but for now that will be enough practice so that I know what to expect from those. .NO ONE told me that my tastes would change so thanks for the heads up.

When you go into a fast/ perceived starvation, your body pulls it's reserves directly from the stored fat in your liver. So a rapid wt. loss makes your liver smaller and easier to get out of the way during surgery (surgery will be easier for the doc and less painful for you.) Less chance of complications if they can see where they are working etc.

You don't have to use the optisource etc. Lots of excellent information, recipes, etc at www.bariatriceating.com

Make homemade broths and stocks. Eat them, but also freeze ice cube trays full of them. You can use them later both for drinking during the clear phase and for mixing with other foods during full liquids and mushies.
 

Thank you so much for the link,, and all the advice.. I think I'll be fine... And I agree with the nutritionist about a practice run.. Im going to run that through my PCP so that I know I am well supported medically. The nutritionist that I spoke to is the nutritionist that works with the Surgeons office. The nice thing about working with her is that EVERYTHING is kind of spelled out from start to finish. How to start??? What to watch out for?? Etc... So They have kind of prepared me well. Though I do see HUNGER coming into play during that faze Im pretty sure that if I fallow their instructions to the LETTER.. Then I should be OKAY. We'll see....

I start my impact recovery shakes this Thursday. I pulled this from the Novartis/Nestle website

A unique, patented nutrition beverage that prepares patients for surgery - and a speedy recovery.

Often, surgery is just the first step on a potentially long and difficult road. IMPACT ADVANCED RECOVERY™ is specially formulated and clinically proven to shorten that journey with faster recovery times and reduced risks of infection. In clinical studies, patients who drank IMPACT ADVANCED RECOVERY™ before major surgery enjoyed better clinical outcomes, fewer postoperative infections and shorter hospital stays than those who had standard feeding. The patented formula is also ideal for patients with pressure ulcers and other chronic wounds.


Hope this helps.

Maria

THANK YOU!!! For that one.  What was the price tag?? was it covered under insr???

The impact advance recovery drink was not covered by insurance. I bought it from my surgeon's office, and I also checked online to see who was less. They were both the same price. I got 14 shakes for $50, so it averaged out to about $3.50 a shake. I thought that was pretty reasonable.


Maria

Probable difference between the above mentioned brand name and any other low fat/ low carb/ high protein shake - Novartis spent the $$ to do the study so they can say proven. There are other studies with non-brand names that show the same outcomes. If the cost is the same and you like the taste - go for it. If you can't stomach it, or can't pay for it, find something similar that will also meet your needs.

I did 6 weeks of Optifast, a RX diet of drinks, bars and soups that my surgeon required pre-op. It cost me about $115/week. It seemed hard when I started but I fell into a habit that made my post surgery diet easier.

Post surgery went very smooth for me. I had lapband which require shorter diet phases but the same phases. The one thing I strongly urge you to buy is a Magic Bullet blenderd. It is so handy during these liquid phases. I love putting my protein powder in it with ice cubes, skim milk and maybe half a banana. A delicious shake comes out. It was super handy when I started the post-op phases.  Put a can of Healthy Request soup in it and out comes a smooth creamy soup. Want a variation for Jell-o. Make Jello with ho****er only and add 1 cup of fat free cottage cheese. Blend it and you have a parfait. 

-- Tom