Important survey I am conducting... Please reply and participate:

Thinking about your wls journey, the time just rpior to surgery ( a month or so before) and then post op at any stage.... What would be information or tpics that you feel are critical to wls patients, and that you wish more info had been available for on this topic or subject area?

Please include as much as you'd like to in your reply. The more feedback I get the better! Thank you in advance for participating in this, and helping me to identify key areas of needs for bariatric patients.

The two issues I personally experienced dealt with protein shake intolerance and severe constipation.  In both instances, I underestimated the difficulties that arose. 

My NUT warned and admonished us pre surgery to investigate and sample as many protein powder/shakes as possible.  I decided to wait until my pre-op diet...big mistake.  Hence I was unprepared for the difficulties that followed.  I would encourage pre ops to make certain they have a protein supplement they like prior to surgery.  Even though their tastes may change post op, at least they won't be running around post op trying to find one they half way like.  I learned the hard way.

I would also heavily stress the fact that constipation can be a really big issue due to all the calcium supplementation and drastic diet change.  We touched on that in our class, but what actually followed was far more severe than I imagined.  I underestimated that issue as well.

Very good points. I thank you so much for taking the time to share your experiences and insights. I hope you are dong better on these issues. If you still struggle with constipation, try miralax. It mixes in to any beverage and is tasteless and you cannot even tellit is in there. The protein is also a big factor to contributing to constipation, and iron as well.. ahhhh the joys huh??? lol.

For myself,  I don't think the issue of "head hunger" can be stressed enough.  I find myself eating when I'm not hungry sometimes and that's what got me here in the first place.

I also agree with Dasie on the points of protein shakes and the constipation.

Another suggestion is finding exercises that will do you some good without having to stand up.  Due to additional medical conditions, traditional exercise is almost impossible for me.

Just my thoughts.

Thank you very much Colleen for taking the time to reply to this! All very good points!

I think there should be more classes on coping with different strategies when you hit a roadblock in your progress.  We sometimes are our own worst enemies when it comes to living with the significant changes we have made in every aspects of our lives.  It is easy to fall back into some of our old habits that lead us into obesity in the first place. 

Sessions in helping family members deal with the needed changes.  More things on cooking with less carbs, healthy fats, incorporating other foods, affordable, into daily life.  Using things commonly found in local supermarkets.  Family exercises, walking together. 

I am grateful that the surgeon's office uses OH as one of the resource areas for wls patients to go to for online support.

Very very good topic suggestions. Thanks Kathy for taking the time to reply to this. So many of these things you listed are definately challenges to many wls'ers.

This site has been great for all my support I can't be thankful enough!  what  would have been nice is a link to list sheets of helpful ideas to have for post op or right out of surgery like maybe one of your links to offer sheets to print out of helpful ideas to take along or post where needed, what I did that helped me was I copied / pasted different ideas what friends wrote anything to premake any shakes / jello  / broth and add in small containers for easy access after surgery etc.  also I got ideas with receipe's for few months out  from your receipe site here in your discussion area from some time ago where all can add info. this was nice.  Love the topics on "what's working for me" OR "what didn't work for me"   I thank you all on this board for always being there for us     wish I could be here more but I do check in at least 1x per wk. hugs to all!   and keep up the great work your doing for all   Cathy.

Thanks for taking the time to reply to this. AND it is SO GOOD to hear from you lady! I sure have missed talkng with you in our messages back and forth. Hope all is well with you!
BIG HUGS coming your way!

It's been getting hard with Ed's Cancer, his numbers are going up quickly so this means tumor is growing, I pray for good days and strength.  I'm a stress eater and have been not eating like I should these days, I made myself get on board again to get support needed to control my bad eating habits that may stay around, good thing is that I'm still loosing wt slowly and if on stand still my wt stays put unlike b4 surgery it would yo yo and just go up. I know I'm a walking risk to go up again slowly due to eating foods that are high calorie so I'm getting back on track.  Thanks again! hugs... Cathy