Surgery 5 days away now! Looking for suggestions.

[Cervidae 2,389]

So, as the title says, my RNY is only 5 days away now, on Monday! I've reached an emotional point where I feel very little nervousness and a lot of calm certainty that this is the right thing for me, and that my life is headed in a really good direction. I'm not even having problems with the extremely limited 5 day pre-op liquid diet I'm on.

I'm looking for general suggestions here on ways I can further prepare my body for surgery. I know a lot of surgeons require a whole bunch of things pre-op, like bowel prep/colonoscopies and such. My surgeon doesn't even really require a pre-op diet, only that I drink nothing but Clear liquids two days before. So I put myself on a 1 week liquid diet.

So what are you all doing, or will you all be doing, in terms of body preparation for surgery? Do you take any specific supplements for your hair or skin, or use certain lotions that help with skin elasticity, or eat/drink certain foods to help prepare your digestive tract? I just want to be as prepared as I can possibly be. It's my way of staving off any anxiety I might start feeling.

Thanks!

[Sunshine3073 22]

Is your surgery being performed laproscopically?

[James Marusek 5,244]

Two things come to mind. The first is walking. Make sure you get 30 minutes of walking daily. It will help with the recovery process. After surgery, generally they require that you walk every 2 hours (round the clock). This is to avoid blood clots. Do it. It will help in the recovery and get the soreness out. The second thing is that if you haven't cut out caffeine, do it now. I went through a week of withdrawal syndrome (severe headaches) when I went cold turkey. You don't want to compound that with the effects of the operation.

[Cervidae 2,389]

Yes, it will be performed laparoscopically, unless there us some sort of complication during surgery (lets hope not!)

I should probably be exercising more, I will definitely focus on that for the next five days. Luckily I don't drink anything with caffeine so that is one less thing to work on.

[ShutterGirl1829 41]

I am really interested to see what suggestions you get @@Cervidae because my surgeon also doesn't require a preop diet really other than the 3 days of liquid prior to surgery. I too planned on doing at least a week, just to be safe..

[Cervidae 2,389]

Yesterday was my last day of solid Protein Bars. Today and until saturday I'm drinking Ensure Light nutrition shakes (12g Protein, 70 cals, 0g sugar) 3 times a day, herbal tea, and organic chicken broth. What are your plans?

[geronimo 52]

My surgeon requires a 2-week pre-op diet of essentially Stage 1 of the Atkins diet, with the big stresser being keeping carbs below 20g/day. Then, 1 day before the surgery, Clear Liquids only. Then nothing 8 hours before surgery.

Also, the day before surgery, at around noon, drink a full bottle of liquid Magnesium Citrate, followed immediately by 8oz Water, to help clean the system out. If it doesn't work by 6pm, then drink a second bottle (and water).

1 week before surgery hold all NSAIDs, hold Fish Oil, hold alcohol, prioritize sleep.