LizzLosingIt

Hey everyone! Gastric Bypass July 9th here. I had my pre-op appointment yesterday and they were extremely thorough! For those interested, I wanted to go over the details of what my process has looked like so far: - My insurance required an EKG, blood work, and gallbladder scan. So, during my pre-op, they redid all of those to compare the previous values with the most recent results. normal EKG, no high cholesterol, no high BP, no gallstones, normal thyroid levels, higher-ish estrogen, and borderline pre-diabetic which was NOT fun to hear but will hopefully be resolved with Bypass. - I spoke with the nurse and my (very handsome lol) surgeon, who re-reviewed all possible risks and complications. He explained how he would do the surgery (five incisions, robotic) and what to expect before and after. He also checked me for hernias, which I don't have. - Met with my dietician to re-review my pre-op diet and just to check in with me. She provided me with info on how to set up future appointments if needed as I transition through the phases. - The clinic gave me information on how to get my family member informed on what was happening. The hospital I am using has an app and the surgeon's team will text updates periodically. - I'm expected to be in-patient and will stay for one night unless I have complications. - They provided me with the sterile soap, Hibiclens and instructions on how to use it. bathe with half the bottle the night before, the other half the morning of (they gave me a sheet i have to mark down the date and time of the wash and turn it in the morning of). wash hair, no products, no contacts, no invisalign, clean sheets, clean pajamas. - the doctor gave me my prescriptions, which include: Gabapentin, acetominaphen, ondansetron for nausea, promethazine syrup, ursodial to prevent gallstones (thankfully i don't have any), and prilosec (OTC). - I had a chest xray and was asked if I had any implant anywhere (i don't.) all came back normal. - spoke with the anesthesiologist who weighed me, took my height, and explained the overall process to me. i've only been under once for a 70-minute MRI a few years ago but i know approximately what to expect. I will also be getting a 96-hour abdominal block to help with pain along with my (very strong) medication. - They provided me with information on what to eat and drink the night before (light breakfast, protein shake, clear liquids, and then four hours before the surgery, 16 oz of water), day of (clear liquids) four days after, two weeks after, (heavy liquids) one month after (maintenance phase). - set up a post-op appt 10 days later, and another one a month after surgery. - The morning of the surgery i arrive at 7:30 am, am checked in and put in pre-op, surgery should last two hours, one hour of recovery, and then moved to my private room where my sister will be waiting for me. no overnight guests because of COVID but this hospital has a designated bariatric surgery floor so all of the nurses are specialized in this, and even nicer, all of the equipment accommodate larger patients. so, large recliners, large beds, laaarge gowns, large chairs, sturdy IV machines, belly bands. very comfortable. - i'm planning on bringing an ipad, books, lip balm, lotions, warmer socks, grippy sandals, button down pajamas, a small pillow they recommended as a "splint" when i get in and out of bed, and toiletries. I feel pretty ready i suppose, but it doesn't feel quite real yet! crazy to believe that in a few months i'll be down a significant amount of weight (hopefully) and look slimmer. I am on my two-week pre-op diet which consists of two protein shakes and one light meal a day, with "free" snack foods including fat free cheese, lean meats, sugar free jello popsicles and pudding, high protein yogurts, and non-starchy veggies with light hummus or light ranch. hasn't been super easy but I'm trying my best. and LOTS of water. Let me know if you have questions, i'll be glad to answer them.

I completely understand these fears and have a lot of the same ones, particularly the failing, regain, and loose skin. Failing and regain is what I’ve gone through my whole life with failed diets, and though it’s a possibility still after surgery, this tool is going to help me more than my sheer willpower ever did. as far as hair loss, there are so many advancements in hairpieces! I have worn a lace wig since high school due to a condition I have called short Anagen syndrome, so hair loss isn’t even a concern for me only because my hair is already extremely thin and short (like a baby’s) and I wear wigs 🤷🏻‍♀️. Look up YouTube videos for “lace wig install” and you’ll see how easy and realistic they are, just to hold you over until your hair regrows. Loose skin is a concern because I know it’ll prevent me from looking like I always dreamed I’d look, but there are surgeries for that. Additionally, the way I see it is, either I deal with the extra skin, or deal with the extra fat. It’s only one or the other, no other choice. I’d rather deal with extra skin and fit into nice clothes and feel energetic and healthy, than continue down this path and gain more and more weight. doubts are normal! This forum has helped me a lot in seeing that there are more successes than failures in this process. Best of luck to you.

I too wasn’t sure about telling people because I was certain they’d judge me, think it was “the easy way out” or suggest things like “accept yourself, go to a gym, have you tried…” etc. My friends and family have all been supremely supportive and excited for me. My girlfriends are excited to go shopping with me in earnest (they’re straight sized and though I join them, I’m a bystander or buy shoes and accessories) and my cousins are ecstatic and so supportive. I’m so grateful. also, who are your favorite youtubers?

That’s a great list, thanks! There are some things I can’t eat, like edamame for the starch and some of the red or processed meats like sausage, but a lot of the rest of it looks great. Much appreciated!!

Oh wow… they are letting me have a light meal up until about a day before surgery, when I switch to births and clear liquids.

Haha that’s exactly what I’m on! I didn’t realize that broccoli and corn are considered starchy. Bought some to eat raw, and there’s corn in my mixed veggies bag. So I’m just going to eat it and have it done before the official diet starts a week from today.

My surgery is scheduled for July 9th, so officially three weeks from today. my doctor needs me to do a two-week pre-op diet, consisting of two protein shakes a day, one light meal, and several light snacks like sugar free jello and crudités with lite ranch. Decided to ease into it a week earlier so that I’m more successful during the real portion. struggling to come up with meals that don’t consist entirely of pasta and rice! It’s what we eat a lot of in my culture. Entire meals could be a bowl of rice. here’s a dish I made today of ground chicken, avocado ranch, salsa and light cheese on a romaine boat. I’m still hungry but am hoping that with time, I won’t feel so anxious to get the super full satiated feeling I’m used to. i ate two of these, and could eat a third if it were available. Intentionally only cooked this amount. what are some of your favorite quick recipes? What are some other items you were told were okay during pre-op dieting? Trying to practice what mynew diet will look like once in the recovery/maintenance stage.

Hello! I’m scheduled July 9th for bypass. I’m sure each surgeon is different so do what yours tells you. But mine wants me on a two-week diet prior to surgery in the hopes that I’ll lose 10-15 lbs and help shrink my liver for an easier operation. my nutritionist needs me on two protein shakes a day and one light meal, with some snacks. Salads cauliflower cucumbers etc are unlimited with lite ranch. Some mother snacks were on the list. My clinic is extremely thorough and even gave us a shopping list and discount codes for certain protein shakes and vitamins. They want me to also change behaviors prior to surgery, such as no alcohol, no fizzy waters, hew food extremely thoroughly, so I’m used to it by my surgery date.

Two days from now will be one month until my surgery, July 9th. My insurance process was relatively easy, with almost exactly one month between my initial consultation with my surgeon (April 21st) to insurance approval (May 20th.) I have Cigna, so no six-month diet/nutrition evaluation required. But I do find myself having those "food funerals" mentioned above, partly because I need to eat through the food I bought prior to realizing how quickly the process would go for me, and also as a way to have my "last hurrah" with foods I won't eat again for a long time, or probably ever. So though I'm grateful my insurance process was relatively short, I think I would have found some value in having had more time to adjust my eating habits before surgery. My nutritionist wants me to lose 10-15 lbs before surgery, and only put me on a two-week pre-op diet of replacing two meals a day with protein shakes, and one meal must be light, protein-focused, and have little to no carbs/starchy vegetables. I'm going to do it for three weeks instead to make sure I actually lose those 10-15 lbs. Right now, I'm preparing a grocery list for pre- and post-op shopping trips I'll have to make, so that I have most of everything I need for the pre-op diet and not find myself wandering the aisles in the grocery store, longingly looking at my favorite snack foods before surgery.

I've read about some people failing the psych eval and it's always baffled me. What is this psychologist looking for as a "pass/fail" sort of patient? Most, if not all, people who have struggled with weight maintenance and weight loss have an emotional attachment to food, yet it feels like that's what they're on the look-out for. What is it that "fails" someone at the eval, if you don't mind me asking?

Hey all, question for al of you, whether pre-op or post-op: what were some surprising things you discovered during the bariatric surgery process, whether about yourself, insurance, people around you, diets in general, unexpected occurrences etc? What should someone in pre-op be ready for?

I’m on my last week of birth control since I have to get off of it for one month prior and one month after... not starting a new pack even though the days don’t align perfectly. mom only required to do a two-week diet, so I’m using these weeks prior to that time to have my “final meals” with stuff I’ve already purchased so it won’t go to waste. Enjoying my last bits of fruit juices, ice creams, rice (which is HUGE in my culture). Stopped buying snack foods since I won’t finish them all. Stopped buying new clothes back in April when I started the process. I’m nervous for July 4th weekend since my surgery is on the 9th. I want to be able to enjoy myself and food just feels like such a big factor in doing so. My family and friends are extremely supportive and said they’d help find foods I can still enjoy that fit my low fat diet but still sort of nervous of inconveniencing people.

Hey everyone! I just got my insurance approved yesterday and am scheduled for surgery on July 9th. My nutritionist is very thorough and gave me a lot of food tips, but am interested in following others who are further along in the journey. Do you know of any Tik Tokers, IG’rs, or YouTubers who have interesting recipes or tips for food prep? TIA!

Hey July surgery buddies! Just got my insurance approval this morning and am scheduled for July 9th. Excited!