Support for Pre-Ops

It occurred to me that sometimes we get so caught up in our own situations that we forget (or at least I do) that there are some new folks out there that are very anxious about what is ahead for them.  They may be just exploring the possibility of WLS or maybe they have a date and are just waiting to have their surgeries.  

SO.........I just thought it would be nice to post a thread that would be insightful for them. 

If you are post op and could tell someone one or two experiences that you have had (WLS related) that you were not expecting, or maybe just one little suggestion that you might have that would help them know what to expect.  Please share. 

I'll start by saying:

1.  Take some chap stick with you to the hospital.  My lips were so dry after surgery!  Someone told me, but I didn't listen.   I wished I had. 

2.  The first few days of the pre-surgery diet are VERY hard for some people (it was for me).  Once your body gets rid of the caffeine and food carb addictions it will get easier and easier each day.   Just hang in there and you will find. 

3.  Try to dwell on the positive and not the negative.  ( I have done both at times).  Believe me, the power of positive thinking outweighs the negative thoughts any day of the week!  ( no pun intended)

NEXT................

Hi.

As someone waiting for their consult to schedule surgery (already approved) I appreciate you starting this thread. I do have lots of questions, but keep telling my self to wait to ask as the Dr or NUT may answer them. But anything people want to volunteer is great!!

Some things that I would like to know mostly..

What did you eat? Is there anything besides broth and s/f jello?

What brand of vitamins do you take (where do you get them)?

How long did it take after surgery for you to feel "normal"?

How much time did you take off work? Did you need it all or do you think you would have been ok with less or need more?

And for the women who have lost most of their weight or hit goal... Did you lose your boobs?
I have always been top heavy. Even had them reduced years ago. Not enough for my taste and with weight gain they came right back so I am hoping since I gain there first I will lose their first. What was your experience?


Thanks again!!

Telisha (real name Sher)

Hi, Sher,

I will try to answer some of your questions. As to what to eat, do you mean on the preop diet or after surgery? The preop diet varies from surgeon to surgeon. I'm sure they can tell you what you will be allowed just before surgery. Afterward, I was on clear liquids while in the hospital and then came home on full liquids. For me, the full liquids went down very well and were tasty too. I loved the strained cream soups. I used the condensed soups and mixed them with skim milk instead of water. Cream of potato was my favorite. It was very soothing to my new pouch. Mixing it with milk instead of water adds protein. I also bought SF pudding mix and mixed it with skim milk for added protein. I was tired of broth from the liquid preop diet so I didn't do any of that after surgery. I also used some of the light juices during the first couple of weeks. Ex: Light Apple Juice ****tail, Light Cran-Apple and Light Cran-Grape Juices. I was on full liquids for 10 days and was then moved to mushy food. The first thing I tried was a scrambled egg. It was wonderful. I made it soft scrambled so it wasn't as likely to get stuck. I love eggs before surgery and still love them now. It took several weeks before I could eat a whole egg but now it is still my favorite breakfast. Now I usually add a little lowfat cheese to it. For ideas for each stage, you should visit Eggface's blog. Google "the world according to Eggface." It is a great resource.
I get my vitamins at Walmart. Just after surgery, I took two Centrum chewables. I found Chewable calcium citrate at The Vitamin Shoppe. I took 4 of these per day. Now, I buy regular Centrum Vitamins and regular Calcium Citrate from Walmart. I was able to take regular tablets and vitamins after I reached the 2 month point.

As far as when did I feel normal? I think at about 1 month I was able to move around without being ginger with my abdomen. I felt completely recovered and like I had never had major surgery. One month seems long but it really wasn't that bad. I was more myself in a couple of weeks but still had a little soreness until a month out.

I don't work so I don't have an answer for that.

Boobs. Yes... they are almost gone already.LOL I'm down about 42 pounds since surgery and most of it came from my chest. Not really because it wasn't there in the first place. I was never what you call "well endowed". I have gone from a 48 C to a 42 B. I can only hope that I will have something left when it is all over. If finances allow in the future, I might consider augmentation someday. However, I would trade what little I have if it means getting healthy. That is the most important thing to me right now.

I wish you the best of luck.

Karen

Here are a few of my favorite suggestions:

*Do your research - read about every type of wls available, then decide which one is best for YOU.

*Take plenty of pictures BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER

*Take measurements all along the way. When the scales won't move, the tape measure always does! You will need this encouragement during times of plateaus and it seems the weight is not coming off.

* Take a pre-surgery picture as close to naked as possible (bathing suit, bra/underwear)  Trust me, you will one day wish you had. Try different angles, side, front, and a frontal/side angle. You could also do this each month during your weight loss

*Take a picture (naked or again, perhaps in a bathing suit) after reaching your goal weight

*Do not buy a lot of clothes at ANY phase along the way.  You will undergrow them very fast.

*Shop at thrift stores, goodwill, or become part of a support group that has clothing swaps

*let your friends know you need "hand me downs"

*One thing I would do, get a garment that you want to get into some day.  Try it on every month to see your progress.  One day, It will fit! And this will be a great milestone for you.

*Do not buy a lot of protein products PRIOR to your surgery. Your taste buds change and you will probably NOT like the same things after your procedure.

*You can buy sample protein packs from Bariatric Eating. This might help you later after surgery so you are not stuck with pricy protein products that you cannot stand!

*Ask your support group for samples of protein powders and products that they enjoy and use. (A container may cost $40 but there are many servings. I'm sure they won't mind "lending" you one scoop of protein powder!)

*After surgery, try some protein powders that you tried previously but did not like. If you purchase protein products, hang on to them if you don't like them. Your taste will change every so often, and I am finding still that what I did not like 6 mos after surgery, I now like at 18 mos postop! I sure gave away a lot of products that were worth a fortune... I could have saved myself a lot of money!

*MY BIGGEST SUGGESTION:  To optimize best weight loss, do not use or keep these to a limit:  milk, protein bars, protein snacks UNTIL you reach your goal weight.  SUGAR FREE PRODUCTS are wolves in sheep's clothing.  They often have just as many fats, carbs, calories, as the real deal.  READ the labels.  If you don't know how to read nutrition labels, learn as quickly as you can.  You will need to do this for the rest of your life.

*For a list of products you can get locally, here is a link to a blog I put together and try to keep updated.  What Can I Buy Locally?    This will help you all during your journey as well when you can add other foods

My tips:

1) if you blend your protein shakes, do not drink the foam! (this will cause major cause that scared me to death and had me in the ER!)
2) I was off work for a week but i would suggest 2 weeks.
3)I began to feel normal and real good about a month out.
4) Do not buy expensive clothes. Even times when the scale is stuck (and it will happen) you will be melting. Size 16 (which i was sooooo happy to hit), lasted about 2 weeks!
5) Be patient.
6) Follow your surgeon's rules to a T. Don't fudge them.
7) I take Celebrate vitamins (www.celebratevitamins.com)and i love them!
8) exercise as soon as possible. it does make a difference not just in weight loss but your mental state and attitude.
9) surround yourself with supportive people (use these boards..i don't post a lot but I read hours each day)
10) drink water water and more water

Good luck to you!!!

Love this thread!!!   I can just speak from my bandster perspective...  but as far as that goes...  

Don't over pack!!!   I was only in for same-day, besides a small picture of Connor which I held onto the entire time (except in surgery)   I brought chapstick, cell phone, and two pillows.  (the first two I stuck in my Mom's purse, and the pillows I left in the truck for the ride home!) 

IF you are going to have to stay I'm sure there will be more you will need.

WALK, WALK, WALK...  sip, sip, sip..  the gas they use to blow your tummy up to make room for tools, takes what seems like forever to get rid of...   and walking does help to work it out. 

Fills are not bad, don't psych yourself out!  (From personal experience I did, and then I felt really silly.)   I have a LOW pain tolerance, still amazes me I have a child!   

OK...  so...  with that being said, let me say something else not to panic about...  your port (or in the case of Denise, pork) might MOVE.   It seems it is rare, but mine did.  IT is NOT a big deal...  they can still get me filled, I just have to have the radiology department's help. 

With the band realize, you can cheat, so you have to have STRONG willpower.  There is no dumping for us, so there is no stopping us from filling up on pudding, ice cream and cake.. nothing except our want and desires to be healthy and slim. 

As with all surgeries, everyone stalls...  I hit mine, kicked it up... and I'm back to loosing!

Good luck, and anyone with questions is welcome to PM me..  but know, I know more about the band surgery than others...

Again, GREAT THREAD!!!!

And most important...

BREATHE!!!!!

That may sound like a small thing, but there will come a time that you will be on the verge of a "freak-out".  The thoughts of "OMG, is this gonna work", or "Oh Oh, I ate that, have I been doomed to eternal failure"

My son told me this one day during football practice (the wisdom of an overweight 9 year old at the time).  They were running sprints, and he was always the last one to finish.  His buddies were making fun of him, and it hurt me!  I wanted to kick some 9 year old tail, but my senses got the best of me!  This is what he said...

"Papa, slow and steady might not win the race, but it always finishes!"

So, follow all the suggestions you get here, most are truly helpful and informative!  But, and right now I have a big butt, take time to ...BREATHE!!!!!

Have a great day!

I can't help but laugh at Scott's advice...  I found out last week WHY Scott's advice is BREATHE!!!!!

He teaches CPR classes!  That's what he yells at his dummies. ....   no, I don't mean the students in his CPR class!    I mean the mannequin thingy that he teaches on!! LOL

Scott did you really think I would let that one go by? 

I'm adding your son's quote as a daily reminder. Tell him THANKS for me!

This is a life change, not a diet, so be prepared for it.  There is no getting back to "the way you were". You will be better!

Find a mentor, preferably someone who is at least a year postop and at goal or close to goal.  That person will have more experience that a new post op and will have gotten through the easier first year.

Buy the best quality vitamins and protein you can afford.  The deficiencies caused by inferior products don't always show up for years, but they are incredibly serious.  And, be prepared to take them for the rest of your life.