Surgery Monday 10/19- new beginnings

[BairwithMe 144]

Hi all- well it is finally here. My surgery is on Monday 10/19. Last night was my LAST Monday for everything Pre-surgery. If that makes sense. The last Monday I get to exercise in Jazzercise. (for a while-I just started going a month ago and love it) the last Monday night I will sleep in my bed with the same stomach. Last Monday my body will be this same condition it is in. I had a mani and pedi this past weekend with my girlfriends and had to have all my nail polish off-one of the restrictions for me is that we cant have fingernail polish on for the surgery? I have been feeling like I am nesting. Cleaning my house. getting last minute things taken care of. Shopping for broth and puddings and cream Soup. Getting my Vitamins all ready to go in a mediset for the right times.Writing down on my calendar what days to do what phase of the food plan after surgery-starting with broth and popsicles- then moving on to pudding and strained soups-bought some loose pajama shorts and tops to wear- slippers for the hospital safe ones with grips on the bottom to push IV pole. charging up my kindle fire-I will probably be out of it and wont even read. who knows. Anyone else feeling this? or felt this as the days close in ? I am excited and nervous. I haven't told anyone except my husband what is going on. He supports me totally. I know I am blessed that way. I just don't want to be judged by other people that I am taking the easy way out. As we all know on here this is not the easy way. I have had colon cancer and breast cancer. and I have survived. I lost my 20 yr old son two years ago to leukemia even though he was in remission.I got breast cancer six months after he passed. and if none of that killed me then I am doubting this will. I do feel like I am here for a purpose. We are here for each other on this earth. You are me and I am you. Our struggles and challenges all look different.but Everyone we meet has been hurt in some way and struggles with something. Any other advice about pre-surgery things?All the people here are so positive and upbeat. Thank you so much!!

[thisfathasgot2go 235]

Good luck! It's not easy, but I must say I did better than I thought I would.

Get some pre-made Protein drinks, clear and non-clear too. The day I went home, they still wanted me to hit the 45-60g Protein mark with clear only. I could not wear my own pj's/bathrobe because of the iv in my hand, so I just used the hospital gown the whole time, including my walks. My hospital had several pairs of the non-stick socks for my use and also toiletries. I would suggest a heating pad. Helped with my bloated stomach and painful incisions, plus the hospital room was freezing. I tried to sleep mostly, vs. watching TV or phone or reading.

Work on your breathing exercises to help you clear out phlegm and trying to burp. The pressure on my chest was rough, but once I got the burp out, it felt so much better. I had to use the end of a toothbrush several times to get myself to gag and burp. Not glamorous, but it worked. I never threw up or had gas in the hospital, though I tried just to get rid of the pressure.

Edited October 13, 2015 by thisfathasgot2go

[BairwithMe 144]

Hey thanks @@thisfathasgot2go for the great advice. I forgot about the slippers. Those purple ones with the bear claws? with grips. those are awesome. Yes I am worried about the gas as well moving up to my shoulder and neck. but who knows might not have it. Heating pad sounds great. Thank you for the tips! I am having my surgery at Richmond Kaiser. amazing how different all the plans are. I had to lose 12 lbs before I could get a surgery date. But no Protein diet or liquid diet at all. It is interesting to hear all the other requirements. thank you for sharing!!! All great ideas.

[thisfathasgot2go 235]

@@BairwithMe

I had to do the 3 months of Options classes and lose 10%.

I lost the 10% and more.

I did not have a pre-op diet from my surgeon.

I do have the post-op diet which is posted on the Kaiser West LA site:

https://xnet.kp.org/misg/bariatrics/after.html

I also had to have all my Vitamins before hand because they expected me to start them the day I went home.

[Kathy Krebs Robertson 30]

Bairwithme, best of luck,you sound prepared!

[Whynotnow 30]

No nail polish? Why would that be?! I'm going in for the sleeve on the 19th too!????

[katie456 1]

I have my sleeve surgery on the 19th too!!

I'm so nervous! I'm only 24 years old too... ????

[ASUgrad 61]

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Edited October 18, 2015 by ASUgrad