[kimmarie]

I am crossed between being excited, nervous, scared, and anxious. I have been waiting for my surgery for 1 1/2 years (darn insurance company). I am scheduled for my surgery in 1 week OMG, this time next week it will be done!! I am looking for any advice, tips, suggestions, ANYTHING that i can use to feel more prepared.

[PirateSmile]

Congratz!! I'm so excited for you and trust me going through 5 different emotions in 5 minutes is normal right now. You've found a great place here. This forum is wonderful, there is so much great info and amazingly caring people. I'm five weeks out now and one thing I wish I had done is send away for protein shake samples. There are several places online you can get them for really cheap. I'm sure you doctor told you to have a thermometer and liquid Tylenol. I didn't like the taste and ended up taking Jr Tylenol Meltaways. Make sure you have a food journal cause you will think you have ate or drank more or less then you have alot of times. Just remember to breathe this week will go fast and it's a crazy, exciting ride ahead.
<3 Pirate

[kimmarie]

ok tell me about the therometer and the liquid tylenol??? I was told a baby spoon and a timer to take with me to the hospital. I have my pre surgical visit and meeting with dietician on tuesday so i am sure that some of this will sound a little more familiar!

[PirateSmile]

As far as over-the-counter pain meds your down to Tylenol only after the bypass. They will send you home with something stronger but alot of people only need that for awhile. The thermometer is to take your temp if you start feeling bad. Having a temp can be a sign of infection. The baby spoon is a great idea. I had tiny forks and spoons that came with my flatware set, didn't know what to do with them before and now I love them. I also took home a couple of those 1 oz plastic cups the nurse brings you meds in and drank liquids out of that for the first couple weeks. It helped me remember not to gulp water and cheer every ounce of protein shake I got down. I am sure you will get LOTS of info this coming Tuesday. I know my pre-op visit made me go "WOW this is really happening!".
<3 Pirate

[DocSanae]

Welcome to the board, thank you for joining us.
Congratulations on your date.
((((((HUGS))))) May your journey go well.

The following thread should help you figure out where to look for what
http://www.renewedreflections.com/fo...his-board.html
Happy Readings!!

[MsVickie]

My recomdation is not to go buy protein powders of any signifigant proportion. Many have a hard time finding one they can tolerate. Alot got to GNC etc in here. I found mine at walmart in a smaller container to atleast try to see if I could stomach it. I did. Trust me as soon as i could get my protein in from food I did. LOL. Get reusuable bowls like Glad ware. If you dont have them already. That is about all I found I needed. When allowed a small can of tuna lasted me a week. Cheap date eh? LOL You will find more and im sure you will be given some great advice when others post to this. Just beware of the protein powders and dont over spend on them like just about everyone here did to find they couldnt stand them and lost alot of money doing so.

[ragdolldude]

Best tip I can give you is to ROUTINELY attend a local support group. I attend 3 a month, and these have been most beneficial in my RNY success. I attended one meeting a month for the first 7 months post op. I lost 100 pounds from my surgery date at that time. I stopped the meetings. In 2 months, I'd put back on 20 pounds. I went back to my monthly meeting. At 24 months I attained my lowest wt, and have attended 3 meetings a month since that time. Statistics show that those who attend support group meetings on a regular basis, are those that do the best with RNY surgery. You'll find a host of people to share issues and successes with, ask questions about any problems, and learn how new information to help you on your journey. DAVE

[judijo]

I second dave's suggestion. This program is a 3 legged stool...if one leg is missing, the stool is bound to topple. 1) nutrition via nutrition-rich foods and supplements. 2) movement via walking and other forms of exercise. 3) support with others, either online (here) or face2face.

I also ADAMANTLY agree that you should not buy too much of any product. Do not have more than 7 days or so of protein sups...the stuff you think is yummy now may make you ill post op. I gave away over $100 of protein drink after my surgery. You will be able to make little trips to the health food store after a week post op.

My favorite thing post op was my silver cocktail fork my dad gave me. Tiny fork for tiny bites of food. Baby spoon was also good.

Congrats! I am thrilled for you!

[morrtigan]

My advice is....after surgery things may taste different....even water...so like everyone else said don't stalk up on too much....

[kitty56]

I agree, if you can get sample protein powders to try becasue they all do taste different and I have noticed that there are some protien powders that my daughter can drink and I cannot and vise versa. I also bought an over abundance of canned fish, tuna, smoked oysters, becasue I use to love them before sugery. Guess what I ended giving it almost all to my boys, becasue I could not eat that after surgery, it came right back up once I ate it. Your tastes really change once you have gastric bypass. I to this day can hardly tolerate the tuna and other canned meats. I like to eat meats that are made from scartch, they do not bother e like the refined foods do. I can only do the hams or chickens in sandwich meats and cannot do any other kinds. I do not know why but the hams and chickens or turkeys agree with me and no the others. One thing that I never gave up was my ketchup, I could always eat that and it took me almost a year where I am starting to like light miricle whip and I use to be a big fan of Ketchup and light miricle whip. Like everyone says food tastes do change so do not stock up to much of one kind of foods, your tastes will change. I also was a big gusler of water, so I got me a few sippie cups and that got my drinking in control so I did not gusle my drinks. I like t use smaller plates and bowls, gives you that enough on a plate feeling and this way you do not overload your plates. I still use small plates and bowls. I guess it is all a mind thing because my plate or bowl looks full and satisfys me. Stay away from sodas once you have the surgery, the bubbles will stretch your pouch. If I crave a soda, I put it into a cup and fizz it out overnight or all day so that the fizz is all out of it. I do that very rarly becasue I do not crave soda hardly ever. I am hooked on the sugarfree koolaids. I love the variety of drinks. Oh I also use the teapoons to eat and not the tablespoons, becasue I am afraid to get to much in my mouth and swallow and getting sick of getting to much in. I hate and if I do not have I will not. I only 2 times the first two weeks of sugery
and this Spring when I got the stomach flue. Make sure you chew your food and eat slowly, eating to fast will most of the time result in .
Listen to your pouch, it will tell you what you can tolerate and what you cannot. Walk to get the gas out of your stomach after surgery.
Congrads on your date and I am excited for you. Hang on for the ride of your life and soon you will be on the losers side of the bench.