Pre-Op Jitters

I'm getting a little worried about my pre-op diet.  You know I don't like those shakes.  Yesterday, I convinced myself not to have a single one all day!  I know that's not good.  I swear, I am not going over my 800 calories a day.  I'm only eating proteins.  And I am still in ketosis.  But I'm worried about my level of compliance.   Oh, Lord, please don't let me start cheating before I ever have the surgery!

And I'm a little concerned about my weight loss--or lack thereof.  I lost six pounds almost immediately, and then I have not lost another single pound.  Good Lord!  I am only eating 800 calories a day!  Why aren't I losing?

Another problem I am having, pre-op, is getting up and getting starting on my vitamins and supplements.  I know I'm not doing that right.  I tend to get up and play around on the computer for a couple of hours before I'm ready for breakfast.  At most, I drink a glass of water when I get up.  This is not how the plan is supposed to work.  I should be getting up, taking my calcium and multi-vit, then having my first shake of the day.  I must try and do better.

Did anyone else have so many problems and doubts about themselves before surgery? 

First of all, we all had issues ... some of us still have issues. So like an alcoholic or an addict, we must take it one day at a time. Because we are addicts ... food addicts. We must relearn how to eat, how to live. I'm still learning, and I'm 6 1/2 years out.

But ... that said, this is what I do. My problem pre-op was I had to have my coffee first thing in the morning, before eating breakfast. And not just one cup, but a whole pot. So I solved that. I found a protein with coffee ... so I get my caffeine and my protein ... problem solved! So now I start my day with a protein coffee. Yummy!

As for vitamins, you shouldn't take calcium with a multivitamin ... they cancel each other out. Take your calcium two hours before or after the multivitamin and/or iron ... if there's iron involved, it cancels out the calcium. And make sure you're taking calcium citrate because it absorbs better.

As for if I had problems/doubts pre-op, of course, we all did. I committed myself. What do you want most -- the food or your life back? As for the shakes ... maybe you haven't found something you like. Consider it this way: You are only really going to do the shakes for two, maybe three weeks of your life. The food will still be there after that, just in smaller quantities. 

What shakes are doing? Is it a program your surgeon/physicians group recommends? If not, could you try something else? The Atkins shakes aren't bad. There are others out there ... some will give you samples. Vitalady, for example, will sell you samples. 

If you need to talk yourself through this, send me a message. Don't work yourself up about this. You can do this. We'll help. 

Vickie, Eileen is right...you will only be on the shakes for a very short time!!! Try different ones if you can!! Its only for a SHORT time that you have to do this!!! You HAVE to do this so you CAN HAVE THE SURGERY!!!! Do you want to show up for your surgery and have them tell you "sorry you didn't follow the instructions so now you can't have WLS"? You have to do it Vickie...its now or never!!! Make it a game when you get up...first you have to do the shake THEN you can play on the computer. I found at GNC the ANYWHEY protein to be tasteless and can mix in either hot or cold beverages. You can even bake with it. Call your dr and let him/her know that you are having a problem with the shakes. Maybe they can suggest something else for you to try. Good Luck!!

HUGS

I hated those shakes too... my doctor let me do the liquid protein. It's in tubes- can't remember the name though. They were thick and sweet tasting but I could get them down quickly.  The vitamins are easier once you get a good routine going, but don't expect perfection.
Julia
PS I can figure out the name of that protein if you need to know.

Thanks, Julia.  But it's just 4 more days.  I guess I can hang in there that much longer!  :) 

We all did and still do. It's life. Just do the best you can and hang in there. I didn't like those shakes either, I had to drink Impact, put it on ice and put the straw further back on my tongue and drank it, I remember those days, I didn't cheat and yes I lost weight but it also slowed down as your body says what the heck are you doing to me. You are normal. The shakes are to help heal you after surgery and to shrink your liver.  Hugs to you. You are normal!! Debbie

Your fears and worries are normal, however, the fact that you are not compliant with your pre-op diet is not a good start to this journey.

Please redirect yourself, because post-operatively, it is extremely important to follow the instructions the way they are given. The major reason is your long-term health, but also to maximize your results. With this surgery the things you are told to follow are MUSTS, there are serious consequences for not doing them, so sorry to jar you into reality, but if you are not willing to do what you MUST then perhaps you should reschedule this for a time when you can and are willing to do things the way you are directed.

Post-operatively, vitamins fill in the gaps of what our bodies no longer get from our food and those nutrients are essential for ongoing health, not complying can lead to serious health issues, including death. Post-operatively, our bodies need 64 oz. minimum of fluids because our rerouted body does not work the way it did pre-op.

As for not losing weight, read my profile, I was the queen of stalls, this journey is fraught with ups and downs, but if you do your part, the weight will come off. If you change your behaviors, longterm success will be had. It is not a destination and done, it is a lifelong challenge, the tool will get you where you want, but YOU will keep yourself there.

Suggestions are: Take a picture before you go for surgery, full frontal and sideview, take it somewhere you can do it every month, taking that picture monthly on the same day will help you see what your scale may not show you. Also, take measurements monthly, because often enough the measurements are the true test of what is happening. It was told to me that the scale is not my friend while I am in the losing process, pictures and measurements are, I actually had to have someone hide my scale.

I am not trying to scare you, but trying to encourage you to do the right things, because doing them is what will get you where you want. I am a support group leader at my place of surgery and I've seen it all and longterm success is about compliance, not defiance!

It's your journey, your choices will dictate the results! Fear can be a healthy thing and it is certainly normal for this journey.

Best wishes to you, Laureen

P.S. Most of us don't like the shakes, but you will not be on them forever, there are other forms of protein, the Profect bullets, three or four swallows and done. . . research and talk this stuff over with the surgeon and/or nutritionist, if there is one available to you where you are having your surgery.

Thank you everyone for your input and advice.  I did better yesterday.  And I only have 4 more days to go, then 1 day of clear liquids, and then surgery.

I understand the purpose of the pre-op diet.  I know it is to shrink my fatty liver, which must be "tough" enough to withstand the pressure of the surgical instruments without tearing.  But I do just feel a tiny bit compelled to explain that I am not eating junk or carbs.  I've been substituting chicken or tuna for the shakes, just plain, low or non-fat proteins.  I haven't exceeded the 800 calorie/day limit and I'm still in ketosis.  I know this because I bought some ketostix and I can measure the level of ketones in my urine.  I'm burning fat like I'm supposed to.

I was under the impression that we would continue drinking the shakes after surgery.  My surgeon says we need to get 80 grams of protein daily in our diets.  I don't understand how we can get that much protein in each day if our eating is so restricted.  I just assumed that shakes would be part of the post-op diet.  But apparently not.  So that's good news.

I also understand the mental rigors of compliance, maybe better than anyone.  This is my second WLS.  I had a gastric banding done 18 years ago.  It was a forerunner of the lap band.  I lost 140 lbs, which was wonderful but it didn't last.  Some of that was because the band failed.  But some of it was because I failed.  I let Coke and chocolate back into my life.  And I regained some of the weight because of it.  Then the band failed and eventually the rest of the weight came back.

I certainly hope that I am smart enough to learn from my mistakes.  I did not come to the decision to have a 2nd WLS surgery easily, and I do understand that compliance is key to success.  However, last time I did not have a support group like this one, and I think that was a vital missing piece!  There is also so much more information available now about nutrition and vitamins and supplements for bariatric patients.  I have received way more education and support this time around than I ever did last time. 

I'm grateful for a second chance and hopeful that this surgery will be the last one!

YOU WILL SUCCEED and WE will be your cheerleaders

BTW, there are ways to make the shakes more palatable, by making them more like a smoothie, using sugar free syrups and some ice cubes. . . have you tried any of those methods, trust me, I did not like them and have never gone back to them, wish I could sometimes, but they are not something I ever liked, more so when I HAD to have them, isn't that the key with us, rebellious (lol). . . anyway, I know I may have sounded harsh, but the truth is in the past couple of years, I've seen so many in my group regain and not just the bounce back that is a part of this journey for some, but substantial amounts of weight gain and while the tool will always work if we work it, picking up bad habits, especially when we are hardwired to do that, is never a good thing, and I do speak from personal experience. Our surgery is an extreme measure taken, not lightly, by most of us and yet, the real change has to occur in our minds, too bad that have not discovered a way to do both at the same time (lol). . .

I truly wish you the best possible outcome and am here as a supportive part of the process.

Laureen

Thank you, Laureen!  You did not sound harsh; you sounded concerned!  And I'm not so skin-thinned that I can't take a bit of helpful advice.  But you don't know me yet, so I felt the need to explain a little more about myself.

I know exactly what you are talking about when you say we are hardwired to revert to bad habits.  That's exactly what happened to me!  I don't know what all the stressers in your life are yet, but I'm aware, just from a few days' reading, that you are having problems at home.  Oh, girl, don't give in to them by eating for comfort!  That's what I did, so many years ago.  I had an extremely bad and stressful 18 months about 5 years after my first surgery, and during that time period, I let myself go back to my two comfort foods: Coke and chocolate.  And once I did that, it was all downhill (or maybe UP-hill?) from there.

So I'm aware of the pitfalls.  I talked it all out with the psychiatrist on my surgeon's staff.  And I have given this surgery much reflection and prayer.  I'm not going to put myself and my family through a second WLS just to screw it up again.  At least, I don't plan to.

But geez Louise--these shakes are the pits!    Aren't they?

I'm glad to hear that they're temporary!

Thanks for your kind words, Laureen.  I really mean that!

Vickie