I'm just days away & dotting i's & crossing t's

As I approach my surgery date (Sept 14) I want to know if anyone has any advice or suggestions for me. I especially would like to hear from RNYers, patients of Dr. Houston & Centennial patients.

You know like this:
If I had known what I know now I would have ....
I wish I had done ...... before having surgery
If I could do it over again I would do ... differently 

I have my chapstick, ear plugs, robe, pillow, blender cup, GNC extreme 60 protein ready for my hospital stay. I have my protein, Crystal Light, 2 & 4oz containers, jello, popsicles, single serving blender, flavor drops, etc. ready for my return home.

Hey girl!! The countdown has begun!! I had Dr. Dyer and stayed at  Centennial. The nurses are wonderful there they really care about you! I too brought my own protien Syntrax Nectar, but after surgery I couldn't tolerate it and had to use the Unjury the hospital provided and put it in my chicken broth. They give you Crystal light with every meal, and you can have unlimited drink, popscicles from the room by the nurses station. The day of surgery was the worst cause I was so thirsty and they make you do those swabs all day, nothing to drink till the day after.

Also just to let you know even though it hurts make yourself cough, and breath deeply!! That was part of the reason I was put back in the hospital a week ago till Friday. I had an infection around my drain and pulmonary infection from not breathing like I should and it brought on a bad fever.

It is hard to comprehend after surgery that the walking, burping, gas release, coughing, and deep breathing helps but it seriously does and gets everything back to normal.

I am two weeks and a day out from surgery and today I am back at work, and breathing good, and the excess gas in my stomach is gone.

Good luck to you I will be praying!!

Thanks for the advice and glad you are better. I am returning to work after two weeks also. Are on full liquids now or blended foods? What are you having to eat/drink today?

If all goes well at my followup appt today I will start stage 3. I really hope so cause I have been on liquids for 6 weeks!! I am drinking for stage 2 the EAS Advant edge drinks. They are alright, but I am so tired of the same thing. So my daily routine is 4 protien drinks, crystal light, popscicles, jello.  I am looking forward to my blended chicken with my allowable mayo!!

Good luck on your followup appt today. Are you going to wait until you get home to try the blended chicken?

Oh definetly!! I am still adjusting to learning my body after surgery. What is gas pain and what is you better get to the bathroom quick!

my biggest advice would be to walk!!  While you are there, because it will make recovery go SOOOO much better.

As soon as you are allowed to get up, WALK!!  I'm telling you may not want to or feel like it, but it is VERY much needed!

Good luck!  And you will be glad you did what you did!

Michael.

Walking is high on my list along with using the spirometer as much as possible.  I want to have a speedy and uneventful recovery and I know those two are necessary. Thanks!