60 days !
Hi All -
In exactly 60 days from today, I will be at Barix-Langhorne having my surgery. I have this cute little calender on my desk and I have been x-ing off days since my consult - this is my first "milestone" towards better health.
I have started to change my heavyweight ways:
1. I've started a strict vitamin regimen. I take a multi-vitamin and calcium every day. I'm trying to get good habits started now and I want my body to be as healthy as possible prior to surgery.
2. I'm drinking my water. Attempting to sip, rather than gulp.
3. I'm decreasing my caffeine intake slowly - I'm switching from high test to half-caff this week and will continue until I get to full decaf by surgery time.
4. I'm really trying with the C-pap machine, although I am still having trouble keeping it on. I may have to start wearing it while I'm awake to get those 200 hours in.
My next huge step is to begin an exercise regimen. I have the tools....I have a Wii and I have a sidewalk....haha. Getting started is the hard part. My energy level is super low.
I would love to hear of any other ideas/suggestions for pre-op readiness.
Thanks, Lisa
In exactly 60 days from today, I will be at Barix-Langhorne having my surgery. I have this cute little calender on my desk and I have been x-ing off days since my consult - this is my first "milestone" towards better health.
I have started to change my heavyweight ways:
1. I've started a strict vitamin regimen. I take a multi-vitamin and calcium every day. I'm trying to get good habits started now and I want my body to be as healthy as possible prior to surgery.
2. I'm drinking my water. Attempting to sip, rather than gulp.
3. I'm decreasing my caffeine intake slowly - I'm switching from high test to half-caff this week and will continue until I get to full decaf by surgery time.
4. I'm really trying with the C-pap machine, although I am still having trouble keeping it on. I may have to start wearing it while I'm awake to get those 200 hours in.
My next huge step is to begin an exercise regimen. I have the tools....I have a Wii and I have a sidewalk....haha. Getting started is the hard part. My energy level is super low.
I would love to hear of any other ideas/suggestions for pre-op readiness.
Thanks, Lisa
Lisa - you are doing a great job getting ready! Might want to add a B12 supplement too - sublingual.
Also try and live "our" post-op life style - start cutting back on the carbonated beverages, sweets and carbs. The more weight you loose pre-op the easier job the surgeon has. Seems that we loose the fat off of our livers first and that makes the laproscopic tools easier to use because the surgeon can maneuver around in there easier!
Starting walking is definately a good thing too - do what you can, anything helps!
Liz
Also try and live "our" post-op life style - start cutting back on the carbonated beverages, sweets and carbs. The more weight you loose pre-op the easier job the surgeon has. Seems that we loose the fat off of our livers first and that makes the laproscopic tools easier to use because the surgeon can maneuver around in there easier!
Starting walking is definately a good thing too - do what you can, anything helps!
Liz
Hi!
You sound like you are really ready and embracing what it takes to be successful in the post op life. I would suggest wearing the CPAP during wake hours to get those hours in. You do not want to get to PATs and have them tell you that you can not have surgery due to the hours not being enough. Truly, I wore mine everyday after work for a couple of hours for about a week maybe longer just to get my hour count up. It is so important and continue to sleep with it. The CPAP does help but it takes time to get used to it but you do feel a difference in how rested you feel. Plus after you lose some weight you may not need it anymore...after I lost 60lbs I was cleared to stop using it so now it is great and my hubby says I don't snore anymore!! So try your best!!
Good luck!! Cant wait to see you on the losers bench!
Laura
You sound like you are really ready and embracing what it takes to be successful in the post op life. I would suggest wearing the CPAP during wake hours to get those hours in. You do not want to get to PATs and have them tell you that you can not have surgery due to the hours not being enough. Truly, I wore mine everyday after work for a couple of hours for about a week maybe longer just to get my hour count up. It is so important and continue to sleep with it. The CPAP does help but it takes time to get used to it but you do feel a difference in how rested you feel. Plus after you lose some weight you may not need it anymore...after I lost 60lbs I was cleared to stop using it so now it is great and my hubby says I don't snore anymore!! So try your best!!
Good luck!! Cant wait to see you on the losers bench!
Laura
Laura
"Two roads diverged in a wood..and I took the one less travelled by and that has made all the difference." -Robert Frost
Over 176+ lbs lost since surgery!! :-)
See my profile for my OH Blog!!
hi Lisa,
I don't have the perspective of a lot of time yet - my surgery was only this past wednesday. But I would like to suggest a couple of things that seem to have made my experience a bit easier so far.
1. CPAP... if you are having a hard time adjusting to the mask, try a different mask. There are numerous styles and sizes, and the key is to find the one that is the most comfortable for you. Once I found the style that was most comfortable for me, I wore it at night for a short period of time while reading in bed before going to sleep. That let me adjust to it gradually and before I knew it I was wearing it at night without the whole ritual. And let me tell you... I've never slept better and more restfully (and I didn't know I wasn't sleeping well beforehand!).
2. Stretching and basic gentle exercise. We got a Wii (and Wii fit) and i just started working up to about 1/2 hour every couple of days - a few yoga poses, some of the balance games, a little bit of the aerobic (hula hoop)... a bit of tennis and bowling. Just that extra little bit of activity (and particularly the stretching) made me feel SO much better. And those stretches are precisely what Dr. P recommended starting a few hours after surgery to start moving gas and making me feel better... especially the "salute the sun" and "half moon" and the hula hooping.
3. Walking is always a good idea - just whatever you can get to! Everything you can get yourself to do, just do it. It will put you just a little further ahead of the curve in your recovery.
Hopefully these insights will help! But trust yourself - you'll do just fine. You're on the right track, have your head in the right place, and you're working actively to make yourself a success!
Karen
I don't have the perspective of a lot of time yet - my surgery was only this past wednesday. But I would like to suggest a couple of things that seem to have made my experience a bit easier so far.
1. CPAP... if you are having a hard time adjusting to the mask, try a different mask. There are numerous styles and sizes, and the key is to find the one that is the most comfortable for you. Once I found the style that was most comfortable for me, I wore it at night for a short period of time while reading in bed before going to sleep. That let me adjust to it gradually and before I knew it I was wearing it at night without the whole ritual. And let me tell you... I've never slept better and more restfully (and I didn't know I wasn't sleeping well beforehand!).
2. Stretching and basic gentle exercise. We got a Wii (and Wii fit) and i just started working up to about 1/2 hour every couple of days - a few yoga poses, some of the balance games, a little bit of the aerobic (hula hoop)... a bit of tennis and bowling. Just that extra little bit of activity (and particularly the stretching) made me feel SO much better. And those stretches are precisely what Dr. P recommended starting a few hours after surgery to start moving gas and making me feel better... especially the "salute the sun" and "half moon" and the hula hooping.
3. Walking is always a good idea - just whatever you can get to! Everything you can get yourself to do, just do it. It will put you just a little further ahead of the curve in your recovery.
Hopefully these insights will help! But trust yourself - you'll do just fine. You're on the right track, have your head in the right place, and you're working actively to make yourself a success!
Karen
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