Hi everyone,

I am Amanda 29 year old wife, mother of two, and professionally I am the supervisor of a 4 1/2 Star Resort Hotel Spa.

This journey for me has been tremendously long...3 years to get a consult with my surgeon(who I absolutely love,) managed to slip me in with only a 5 week wait till surgery. (usually another year). So here it is, my life is going to change forever.... and I am starting to officially freak out. Surgery date is set for March 17th 2008.

The good news is everyone at my work knows what is happening, my husband is fully supporting this big step, my family ( siblings, in-laws and the like ) are being kept out of the loop until post op. They were not on board 3 years ago when I told them I was on a list for this. I am currently 290lbs, and excited but terrified!

My life is going to change forever, but I feel like I don't have all the information, have been given little in the way of guidelines for eating, and am basically on my own for post op care,(I have to go out of province for the surgery to begin with). I am terrified. When do you start the ground diet, What types of protein shakes are suggested, how long for the liquid...how much fluid in a day, how do you manage the mini meals.....my mind is swimming, and all the while the date gets closer and closer. I have looked at many sites, but this one seemed to have a certain air about it...Do you mind another Newbie??? Can you set me a liitle at ease???

Thanks so much for reading.....
Amanda

Hey Amanda


Glad that you have come aboard now just start with the library it has tons of information that will really help you and read blogs that members have written it will help you understand things that you will face I wish you the very best and remember everyone is here to help so others will answer you with lots more information that will really help you....sending you the best and sending hugs

Congratulations and welcome Amanda. You are showing a lot of common sense logging in now before the surgery. Head on over to the neighborhood library and read up. Kaye's written volumes of stuff on what to eat and how to live post op, so read as much as you can.

The life really isn't that hard, but it does take planning and faithfully following the basic "rules."

Keep posting and keep asking questions.

Welcome to the neighborhood Amanda! Congratulations on your date. I truly believe that the more you read and the more informed you become, the easier you will feel as the date approaches. Like you I was fortunate to stumble onto the neighborhood several weeks before my surgery. I never got the 'willies' like a lot of people do because I was prepared for everything in advance and I knew that if I had questions, someone here in the neighborhood would answer my question or point me in the right direction. Best of luck to you and I hope to see you here often!

Welcome! If I were you, I'd call in sick for the next two weeks and do nothing but read the articles in the Library!

I have to say that it does bother me that your surgery is being performed in such a way...with no support or information. This site didn't exist prior to my surgery, but my WLS center had me take classes to learn before and after my surgery. I was educated by the group that was performing my surgery.

Since you ARE on your own...read, read and read some more. Then come back and ask the questions that have you confused.

Best to you!

I think it's a trade off....in Canada you don't have to pay for this surgery....you don't have to get approval, you do pre op, but the majority is done the week before surgery. The trade off is the information, the preparedness is all up to you. Your post op care is provided by your family practitioner....I am so happy to have found you all!!!

thanks for the replies ladies!

sorry double post.

Hi Amanda...see, now here is the part that bothers me...all the folks that are out there that aren't as smart as you are. So many already think that this is the magic bullet. To go in without the knowledge just seems like bad medicine!

I'm glad that you are smart, but my heart goes to all of the others. Read my friend, read and learn. There is so much!

Hey Amanda!!

I totally know what you mean about freaking out.. My surgery is next tuesday.. 6 days and counting!! I feel much of the panic you've mentioned as well.

As the others have posted, read read read the library here!! Also, you might want to go to your Local Library or bookstore and get a book on what to expect. I think pretty much peeps can tell you what to eat and not eat, but the life style change is huge too.

Is there a support group in your area? I would give anything to have a group of folks to talk to face to face (I'm 2.5 hours from my center, so I miss out on a lot of this stuff). I bet if you could find a local group, it would be a wonderful experience.

Also from what I've read, it seems all Doctors/Centers are a bit different on what they "allow and dont allow". For the first month, its all about healing that pouch of yours. For example, my first 2 weeks I can only have liquids..and 60-80 grams of that should be protein. Week 2-4 is pureed foods again with 60-80 grams of protein.

But I haven't even done my WLS yet.. so these other Guys and Gals have much more experience to offer!!

GL-- I'll be thinking about you!

Hi Amanda and WELCOME!!

Now listen up!! THERE WILL BE NO FREAKING OUT!!

Bottom line...you have 3 weeks..NOW DO YOUR HOMEWORK!!!

Yes, there are guidelines but it seems that ALL SURGEONS are different in their protocol so you will have to read and learn and then by trial and error..do what works for YOU and YOUR BODY!

I am 4 years post op as of yesterday. MY surgeon had me on liquids (broth, sf jello or popsicles and water) for 1 week. ON the 7the day I was to have an egg for breakfast, then liquids the rest of the day, day 8 was an egg for breakfast, soft protien for lunch and liquids for dinner...day 9 was soft protien like the egg, cottage, refried beans etc. I LIVED ON REFRIED BEANS! lol..

I've seen some doctors that start with 3 weeks liquid or even 6 weeks liquid...so its really a bummer that the doctor who will do your surgery is just going to do the bypass and then just set you free..like FLY LITTLE BIRDIE!

THAT AINT RIGHT! Not for SUCCESS anyway...so it IS up to you! BUt your here and that is what counts! YOU CAN DO THIS!!

I know it is scary for all of us at the point your at....but the one piece of advice is to NOT have the mindset that your NEVER going to EAT REAL FOOD AGAIN or the things that you love..cuz you will..it will just be different and you will learn what works best for you, your body and your success!

This is why EACH of us...have our own journey!

We are here for you!! Whatever you need...just HOLLA!!

IN the meantime as Dr. Phil would say:

"GET EXCITED ABOUT YOUR LIFE!!"

COngrats on the upcoming date! I look forward to being a part of your journey!!

Julie aka: Sunshine

Amanda,
Welcome to the neighborhood. I am so very glad you found us. I am sorry you won't have much support locally.
My program had me on soft diet once I left the hospital...cottage cheese, eggs, canned tuna & chicken, also pureed soups & broth. My protein requirement is 60 gms, although I feel better if I'm closer to 80 gms. My water/non-caloric fluid requirement is 64 oz. For vitamins/meds: multi-vitamin, iron, B-50, zinc, Ranitidine (to reduce acid), calcium.
I wish you all the best as you begin this adventure. Please know that we are here for you & you can ask anything.

Hi Amanda,

I think you are normal to be freaking out. This is lifechanging! I'm 4 months post op and I'm here to tell you life on the other side is good! Different, but good!

You may have issues with not being able to eat life's frustrations away. But if you get all of the nutrition worked out you will feel a lot better. Plus the weight loss is pretty fast and that really feels good too.

I felt unprepared and alone also. My WLS center offered little coaching and would answer questions if I knew the right ones to ask. (Usually - read the workbook we gave you that contained a lot of inconsistencies) So do research this website - it will really help.

I also sent you a (way too long) note about your food choice questions thread.

Again - tons of prayers and good wishes. You will be fine, and the better than fine!!

Rp

I was on liquids for 3 weeks and then pureed food for 3 more weeks. I ate SF popsicles, lots of soup that I put through a strainer, SF pudding made with lactaid milk because I found out the hard way that most people are lactose intolerent after having this surgery. I can have regular milk now but in small amounts. I still can't eat tuna cause of the smell. Don't worry about portions cause after 3 spoonfuls you will be full! LOL I wasn't ever hungry for like the first 8 months. I get hungry sometimes now. I can eat most of what I want in small quantities. I supplement 3 times a day with a protein shake (whey) that gives me 25 grams of protein per serving. But at first I couldn't stomach the shakes or the vitamins. Just keep trying cause you HAVE to have both of them after this surgery. I was also told to ONLY drink decaf beverages, since caffeine dehydrates the body and to get in at least 64 ounces of liquids daily. At first getting more than 40 ounces of liquids was really hard but just keep sipping execpt 30 minutes before and after your meals and NEVER drink with your meals. That was the hardest thing to get used to for me personally. Just to let you know there really is a book called WLS for dummies that you can buy from amazon that has great information in it. You can buy it right from this website. Good luck to you and just remember that it is totally normal to be freaking out. I know I did but everyone here helped me through it and I made it and would not change it for anything in the world!