16 days until surgery... not that I'm counting the hours or anything!

I'm gearing up for the preop diet, which I start on Monday. I steeled myself for the liquid only diet that I've read about here, but my NUT surprised me by giving me a meal plan that's basically just low carb/starch... It's a protein shake for breakfast, a low carb protein forward frozen or fresh meal for lunch and dinner, and for snack another protein drink or veggies or a piece of fruit. I think I'll manage this two weeks coming up, but I already feel a bit nostalgic about my 'last ice cream cone' etc.

In other news... I am going under the knife with a respected surgeon at a respected Boston hospital, and I know that the complication rate is low... but I've been thinking about writing a letter to my kids that they would receive in the event that I became one of the statistics. I hope that doesn't sound crazy... What kind of things should I be doing during these two weeks before surgery? I'll be doing the diet plan and coordinating my work schedule with coworkers who will cover my absence. I've only planned for a week out of work, but I have a largely sedentary job so I'm hoping that will be long enough. I have help with childcare postoperatively. Any other thoughts or advice?

Congratulations on your countdown! This is an exciting time. The pre-op phase goes by quickly and hopefully you will breeze right on through!

I didn't write to my son or anyone else, but I did make sure I told everyone I love just how much I treasure them, without making them worry that I was saying goodbye. I'm only 2.5 months out, so still solidly in the honeymoon period (long may it reign!), but I have absolutely zero desire for any of the foods (I'm looking at YOU, ice cream) that I craved and binged on in the past. If anything, the thought of these things make me feel mildly grossed out. I did have some food funerals before starting my 2-week pre-op diet, though. If your experience is like mine, I think that you will feel mercifully disconnected from all such attachments, and will feel set free to restructure your life and your priorities along much healthier lines. As I said, I recognize that I am in my honeymoon phase, and I know that maintenance will require much more attention, care, and discipline.

There really isn't that much to prepare for, other than filling any prescriptions, perhaps getting bottled water ready, SF jello, SF popsicles, broth, protein powders, etc. I took a tablet and my cell phone with me to the hospital, but didn't use either very much. I bought a new robe but ended up just putting a second hospital gown on backwards, over my first hospital gown. Glamorous to the hilt! But you won't care. If you are female, you might want to bring a soft sleep bra. I found I didn't care and didn't wear mine. You won't be able to drink after midnight before surgery, and you will desire water. You will be on an IV so you are actually being hydrated, but your mouth will be dry. Bring along lip balm, and ask for mouth swabs, which do help. They will give you cute socks with treads, you won't need to bring slippers. Some people feel more comfy wearing an abdominal binder or firm-ish shapewear after surgery, but that wasn't my experience - I preferred less, rather than more, pressure on my incisions. Still, get something like that for yourself, as you may fall into the first camp. Have some non-constricting, easy to wear clothes for when you get home. Some folks sleep in a recliner for the first few days and some use a wedge pillow. I just slept in my bed, and fortunately had no pain in rolling over, getting up, etc. I would have appreciated a firm, comfortable wedge pillow, but honestly the regular bed and pillows were fine. Bring along a small pillow to pad your tum from the seat belt on the way home. If you've quite a drive, bring a second pillow so you can nap comfortably. Make sure you have stocked up on supplies like food and litter for your pets, etc., as driving will be out until you are off of your pain meds. I think you should do beautifully! Best of luck!

Thank you for all of this info and advice, and for the support! I picked up some of the grocieries that I'll need postop, and am going to look into the abdominal binders tonight. I'd read about the car pillow in someone else's post, but didn't quite understand what it was for until now.

Congrats on your surgery coming up! One of the most significant things that I started in my pre-op phase was a journal. I logged my food, my exercise and what I was thinking and feeling about the experience. I still write most days and it has been interesting to see how things have changed over the months.

Thanks for the advice and support! I am going to keep a journal soon, likely on my iPad after the kids are asleep since that seems like the only time I can catch a few minutes of quiet time!

Congratulations; this is such an exciting time! You're very lucky to have been given a preop diet that includes real foods!

I wouldn't have been able to return to work after only a week, but others here could have, so hopefully you'll be more like them than me.

Thanks Kathy! I am psyched to have had chicken and zucchini for dinner when I was anticipating shakes and water.

I've read other posts about being foggy for a while postop, and that's likely a big hurdle for me since my work is mostly a desk job, but I need my brain at its max capacity to get through the days! How much time did you take off, and how were you mentally after returning? Did you have problems focusing or thinking quickly and clearly?

I retired early so didn't have a problem with going back to work. For me the problem would have been physical though; I had no mental fog, but did have a lot of exhaustion and would fall asleep almost instantly when I got tired.