what do I need before surgery? help!

[sheree212 21]

Hi I am being sleeved on 6/4/13 and I dont know what to buy if anything. Havent went over specifics with my surgeon yet so im lost. Can someone pleasd give advice on what you bought before meaning Vitamins, drinks or anything specific?

[want2clessofme 26]

This should all be covered prior to your surgery. Vitamins - in fact all medication must be chewable, liquid or crushed and added to small amount of food for the first 4 weeks. After that, nothing bigger than an M&M can be swallowed - FOREVER! Adult gummy vitamins are an example of chewable. You will need non carbonated/caffeinated, low fat/sugar fluids to drink: Crystal light, sugar free Jello, popsicles, Soup broths, teas ... 64 ozs. of fluids per day. You may want to buy some ready-made Protein Shakes or whey isolate Protein Powder. Some surgeons have their own products they recommend. Also, I got rid of all my drink cups with straws - can't use straws anymore. Get the kind that allows you to "sip" from the lid. Hope that helps. This forum is great for getting info. Check back often

[wordnerd 0]

I would say you need to talk to your surgeon.

Every one of them has a different set of guidelines. Mine are totally different from the above poster.

Good luck!

[gg955 4]

You will be told what Vitamins to take, what your Protein goals will be. I made lentil, pea and asparagus Soup pre op and puréed it in the blender then froze it in two ounce portios. Ditto turkey breast, chicken. BariWise makes wonderful high protein low calorie fat free powdered drinks you mix with Water that are good for all phases, EAS make a low fat, low sugar high Protein Shake I still drink daily because they are yummy and 17 grams of protein (EAS Carbadvantage) Livestrong and Cornell university have samples of diet plans for each phase so you can get some general ideas, but it will be up to your sugeon what you eat and when. When they tell you to sip liquids, SIP! And when they say bites no bigger than a pencil eraser, they mean it! Chew, chew, chew.

I am 10 weeks post op, have had zero food intolerances zero vomiting, have lost 35 pounds. Really listen to your body because you WILL feel different when you eat. Your feeling of fullness will be different( or at least mine was, helped to realize fullness by eating slower, small bites ang chewing well)

Hope this is helpful.

[sheree212 21]

Thank you all so much. Ths really helps. I am looking forward to my nutrition class may 13th and my visit with my surgeon. I didnt know that I couldnt swallow anything big ever again. Thats interesting to know. I really appreciate the feedback.

[wordnerd 0]

Thank you all so much. Ths really helps. I am looking forward to my nutrition class may 13th and my visit with my surgeon. I didnt know that I couldnt swallow anything big ever again. Thats interesting to know. I really appreciate the feedback.

I think it's misleading to hear you're never going to swallow anything big again. Obviously we aren't going to eat huge portions of food anymore (I freak at some of the stuff I used to eat!!) and we wouldn't cram anything bigger than a bite in our mouths anyway.

They won't leave you in the dark. Hang in there!

[sheree212 21]

I think it's misleading to hear you're never going to swallow anything big again. Obviously we aren't going to eat huge portions of food anymore (I freak at some of the stuff I used to eat!!) and we wouldn't cram anything bigger than a bite in our mouths anyway.

They won't leave you in the dark. Hang in there!

Thanks you! That makes sense. I usually dont swallow too much at a time anyway. I feel like I will get everything I need from the surgeons before my surgery. If not imma ask lits of questions. Its always nice to hear opinions from others as well.

[want2clessofme 26]

@ wordnerd: It is not "misleading" to say you can't swallow a large pill or Vitamin after having this surgery - it can get stuck! This had nothing to do with "food bites." She was asking specifically about purchasing Vitamins and drinks.< /p>

[axd0424 33]

I swallow my pills just fine. I thing everyone is different and there is no status quo. My cymbalta only comes in capsule form and there was no was I was giving it up right now and going through the withdrawals. It's not recommended to empty the capsule either. So after asking on these boards and getting answers from yes to no I tried it and it went down fine. Do they recommend it? Nope. If it got stuck I'd figure something else out but to date it's been fine - sleeved 4/23