Any words or warning or advice? Any surprises to look out for?

[MlkPas 5]

Anything you'd do different if you had your surgery to do over again?

I am two weeks away from my VSG surgery, and I THINK I am pretty well prepared. I am prepared for it to hurt, I am prepared for the possibility of complications, I am prepared to get up and walk as soon and as much as possible, I'm prepared for the weight loss to be slow/on-and-off/start-and-stop at first, I'm prepared to be depressed/moody for a few weeks or even a few months. I'm prepared to be tired for some weeks. I'm prepared for my hair to fall out (although I'm in total denial that it's going to happen to me), I'm prepared for some saggy skin, I'm prepared for awkward questions (I figure I'll make up the answers on the fly), I'm prepared to be hungry, to be not hungry, to be nauseated, to feel great, you name it. Basically I realize I won't know what it's like until I get there, and I think I'm okay with that.

BUT...

I like to be prepared. So I'm asking you VSG veterans for you best advice. Was there anything you found totally unexpected? Any bad (or good) surprises? Anything that seems laughably predictable now, that you just didn't think of in advance?

Any and all input would be greatly appreciated!

[Stacy160 201]

Off the top of my head, truly the only thing I'd have done differently was not bought so much Protein beforehand (I love the nectar and am making my way through 6 lbs. of isoflex, but have only used the powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury chicken Soup twice, the unflavored twice, and have another jar of unflavored unopened). That, and I'd have not bought chicken broth and Tomato Soup by the case.... I was still in that mindset of eating "pre" portions instead of "post" portions when I got it. Not that it'll go to waste, but still.

Other than that, nothing really!

[johan22 0]

if you are really prepared to everything you write, you will be ok.

i wasn't prepared for so much pain,and had to suffer for a day and a half.....

i couldn't get the good stuff pain killers cause i couldn't wake up after the surgery/anesthetic.

[Tiffykins 673]

My biggest "shock" was once I got to mushies at how little it honestly took for me to be satisfied. The other one that I didn't mentally prepare for was for food to taste, smell, look horrible. I knew my tastebuds would change, but to be totally turned off of food, that was a big mindtwist for me. It still is to this day. My eyes are literally bigger than my stomach, and I still find myself wanting to load up my plate. But, then I realize, "ummm, you can't eat 1/3 of that, don't do it."

I'm a pretty logical person, and for the most part had my head screwed on straight, but there were little things here and there that still left me scratching my head in disbelief.

[mb20mom 9]

I think I was most unprepared for the nausea in the hospital, but it went away soon. I recommend getting some very small bowls or plastic containers with lids because you will open a can of Soup and take 4 days to eat it. The Bullet is great for mixing Protein Shakes, and Carnation Instant Breakfast (sugar free) makes a Protein Shake taste much better!

[NtvTxn 1,262]

Y'all have answered a lot of questions for me. About the Carnation instant breakfast....you add the Protein Powder to it? Is it made with milk or Water? We cannot have milk in the beginning, correct? The first week is what I have heard.

[Mary Gordon 3]

maybe to have waited so long to take the decision......other than that, i don't regret anything.....goodluck!!!

[mb20mom 9]

Yes I add the Protein powder to the Carnation Inst. Breakfast and mix with milk. I think it comes out to over 35 grams of protein. My husband mixes protein with Water, but it sounds icky to me. And yes you aren't drinking milk during the clear liquid stage, only on the full liquids stage. I was on full liquids the first day home, so each surgeon has a different recommendation.

[LAN2k 18]

I had a haital hernia repaired during the sleeve surgery. I don't know if that was why but I had, (and was not prepared), some very strange hunger pangs in my esophagus! I felt hunger but the sensations were up high instead of in my belly. I recall telling my surgeon that I was starving and that the hunger pangs were high up!!! I must have been very dramatic because he looked at me strange and sort of chuckled as though it was all in my head...but it was real.

[NtvTxn 1,262]

Yes I add the Protein powder to the Carnation Inst. Breakfast and mix with milk. I think it comes out to over 35 grams of Protein. My husband mixes protein with Water, but it sounds icky to me. And yes you aren't drinking milk during the clear liquid stage, only on the full liquids stage. I was on full liquids the first day home, so each surgeon has a different recommendation.

I thought adding Protein Powder to Water sounded disgusting too, but the guy at GNC said that is what HE does, so I thought I'd try it. I got a Jay Robb vanilla whey protein packet (i'm trying out different ones before surgery). Added it to six oz of cold water and a few ice cubes...it was 'ok' - so I added about a cap full and a half of cocoanut extract, that perked it right up! It seriously made a difference. It needs to be cold and it needs the extract to be good. I think the chocolate would be better, but they did not have it in the packets.