[wegonefishindark]

I am wondering If I need to educate myself more on what I need to be eating after surgery beforehand? I did not get an appt. with a nutritionalist from my doc. I saw that others have done this so I ask the doc and he said some insurance companies do not require it. So I really did not get an answer on where I will learn what I need to do. Will it be at the hospital after my surgery? All I have left to do is bloodwork and sign some presurgery papers. Is it a trial and error thing to do on your own? I have learned lots of info here, I may start jotting stuff down to remember.

Maybe MsVikie can help me on this one since she saw the same doc. as me.

Also, my doc did not beleive in the BMI charts and I should stop at what weight I feel healthy at. He said I would ideally go to 180lbs. I guess is that winged also, when you get there - see how you feel???

[Perfesser]

Originally Posted by wegonefishindark

I am wondering If I need to educate myself more on what I need to be eating after surgery beforehand? I did not get an appt. with a nutritionalist from my doc. I saw that others have done this so I ask the doc and he said some insurance companies do not require it. So I really did not get an answer on where I will learn what I need to do. Will it be at the hospital after my surgery? All I have left to do is bloodwork and sign some presurgery papers. Is it a trial and error thing to do on your own? I have learned lots of info here, I may start jotting stuff down to remember.

Also, my doc did not beleive in the BMI charts and I should stop at what weight I feel healthy at. He said I would ideally go to 180lbs. I guess is that winged also, when you get there - see how you feel???

If your insurance will cover it, make an appointment, get a referral, whatever you have to do, but see the nut! You can get a lot of questions answered here, but everything we know is tailored to us, not you. Learn all you can from us, but talk to a nut, too. Most preferably prior to surgery! When you're home suffering is not the time for trial and error, especially error! Besides, how can you stock up on what you need if you don't have a shopping list?

As far as goal goes, it's not a science. Your body will tell you. If it decides 165 is it, that's where it'll take you, but 180 is a good number to start with.

Good luck! We've got a place on teh bench for you!!

CT

[FinallyFree]

Totally agree with Perfesser. Talk to your nut well before surgery, so he/she can help you get ready for the aftermath. I'm really glad I knew what I needed to have at home and was able to buy it before I had surgery. Made coming home from the hospital less stressful; I didn't have to think too hard.

As far as your goal weight, this is a mystery to me. I'm between 5'4" and 5'5". My surgeon says that due to my muscle mass, she'd be happy with me weighing 170. I think 150 is better, since I know I'll gain back some of what I lose. I weighed 150 about 3 years ago (for about five minutes, but it still counts, LOL) and wore a size 6/8. I thought I looked good. The BMI charts say I should weigh no more than 138, so go figure.

At this point, I'm resigned to following my surgeon's program, exercising regularly, and figure that whatever weight I'm supposed to lose will come off. I may end up at 170, 150, or somewhere in between, and that's OK. My main goal is to healthy and active, so I'm trying not to fixate on a number on the scale.

[DocSanae]

If you can get a nut appt, do so.
Also, did you get a lot of papers and educational stuff at your info seminars and meetings? Check through that and see if it includes the immediate post op eating plan, most people are given such paperwork.

As for your goal weight, your mind and body are going to go two different ways, so don't stress over that, just follow your surgeon's insturctions, and your body will find where it's best for you and your health.

[kimtindall]

Make sure that you have someone that has dealt with WLS patients. I used one at the hospital that I worked at and she was almost as cluless as I was. Good Luck to you!

[Kenyar]

dont try to wing this at all. see someone to help plan your meals if you can.

[ragdolldude]

I'd strongly urge you to attend local support meetings. Many surgeons have their own--I know my surgeon sponsors 4 meetings per month. These support meetings, whether sponsored by your surgeon or not, are very important to the WLS patient. You'll get diet information, meet other patients, be able to discuss any issues you're having and get any help on diet or current data on your surgery. My surgeon's office is constantly monitoring the data on RNY surgeries, and minor "tweaking" of the surgeon's protocol for the post ops is revised as needed. I know these meetings are very important to me, and I attend 3 meetings per month. DAVE

[kitty56]

I agree with everyone with what they all have said. This is what I have done, I saw a nutritonist a few times before surgery and she helped me on what type of foods I will be eating and what to expect. But my daughter was a huge help too because she had surgery in Dec. of 2006. So I learned alot from her. But as far as some things go, you will not know until you are in those shoes. I would ask my daughter about some things and she told me of her experience and I just could not understand, then she told me that I will understand when I have the surgery and go threw those things. One thing that I had a hard time understanding from my daughter is why she felt fat with all that she had lost and she looked so teriffic. Now I fully understand where she was coming from.
As far as weight goes, I think the body lets you know when it is time to stop. My daughter could not lose anymore weight after she got to 160 pounds. That is where her body settled in at and she is very happy with herself. I hope I can get down to about 180 pounds becasue I have about 20 pounds or so of skin that I have to deal with when the time comes. Once I have the skin removed If I am between 160 to 170 pounds I will be very happy with that weight.

[MsVickie]

Im so sorry I havnt been on this week to help you out some. You will see a nutritionst at the hosptial before you have surgery. This is who he sends you to. She is great acutally. She will give you a packet of stuff to follow and her number if you have any questions. I never had a return appoitment to see her however I did have her number to call her if necessary. She came to see me before I was discharged after the surgery.

This is done on the day you will go have your PST. That is the lab work etc you have done before surgery.

You will find that people on here are required to do different things than us. Some match some dont. Just like he requires us to see a physchrist before he will schudule the surgery and some on here dont. He requires us to have a EGD before surgery and some dont. Its there own plan.

That is why I found this support forum so useful to me because we dont have a support forum to go to with Dr. Quioco.

[judijo]

I had all kinds of paperwork and nut info in the SIX MONTH course my dr and ins. co. required I take before I could see a surgeon. Actually, the surgeons office loves us patients from that medical group....we have already done our homework.

Yeah, it is totally worth the time to have an appointment with a nut.

Good luck!