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I am a newbie!

SaaxySam09

Hello to whomever is reading!

My name is Sam and I am 24 years old. I started my life-long journey in May (2015) by choosing to make the most important decision I have ever made: preparing for RNY bypass! I have already had some ups and downs, and I have finally made it to the final stages of surgery!

I had my pre-op class on the 3rd of December (today is the 5th?) and my surgery date is scheduled for December 28th - 23 days away! I am very eager and anxious, but am looking forward to being healthy for the very first time in my life.

I have been struggling with PCOS, hypothyroidism, high cholesterol levels, chronic migraines (1-6 per day since '00), chronic body pain, Bipolar Type I disorder, and other various ailments.

If anyone has any advice for pre/post surgery and during recovery (in hospital/at home) I welcome any thoughts! Thanks so much for reading.

Sam O

Replies

SaaxySam09

Oh- and I just got a Garmin Vivifit on Thursday, advice for those too??

AngieViolet

Congrats on making the decision and getting a surgery date! Best advice I can give is to take some serious time and read the posts on this board. I've learned soooo much from members on here sharing their progress, thoughts, and learnings. Ohh and get an awesome warm robe for the hospital and one of those sit up bedrest pillows for home! You can friend me if you'd like.

Tawnykakers1

Its exciting to get your surgery date! Angie is right with the above information. I would add chapstick. My lips were so dry and I was so greatful for it. I was just fine with stacking two pillows but some people need to have more support. A pillow to hold on your belly for the ride home may also help with bumbs and turns. Remember it gets better every day.
You may also feel free to add me.

anbrdr

Don't bring the laptop, it's top heavy to rest on your stomach. If you need something to pass the time being out borrow a tablet. I brought mine, but barely used it. I mostly slept and walked

gaining_while_losing

Congrats on making one of the best decisions of your life (in my opinion). I would suggest you prepare as much ahead of time as you can, with regard to making sure you have tried the various protein shakes out there and picked a few you like. Premiere Protein pre-made are really good. I wish I had known about them in those first couple months. I had done the powder protein and the pre-made ones are so much better (again, in my opinion). Also plan to have some help the first few days with, as there can be some pain that makes it hard to get around. I had one incision that was really indented that made it very painful for me for nearly 4 weeks, but the minute that bad-boy popped I was pain-free.

Another great resource for me has been my Instagram family. There is a HUGE weight loss surgery community out there filled with the best of the best. Very supportive group of people. They have been a wonderful support for me.

Best of luck to you!!!

cmchandler74

Congratulations and welcome to the group! I had a sleeve done last February, so I'm no help with RNY, but there are plenty of people here who are. (I also have a Fitbit Flex, so unfortunately, I'm no help there, either.) This group is an amazing resource. Feel free to add me as a friend if you would like.

SaaxySam09

Thank you SO much everyone for the support! I am super excited

bcedl1982

Gas-X thin strips (they just melt on your tongue) really help with post-surgery discomfort. I started using them in the hospital & am down to twice a day now (3 days post-op).

sinderstorm

Take slippers or comfy shoes with room for your feet to swell from the fluids you're pumped full of to the hospital. I hated walking in the no skid hospital socks and was very grateful for my own slippers and a lightweight robe to wear over the gown before they pulled my IV while walking. Don't bother with a laptop or even a tablet- I was in for 3 nights due to severe nausea, and never pulled mine out. I just used my phone to facetime with my kids and occasionally respond to FB messages. Your job once they let you get up in the hospital will be to walk, sip, rest, repeat. I was really glad to have my own pillow and good lotion and lip balm- the hospital was SO dry.

Find a non straw water bottle that you love and buy a few of them- you will use them a LOT and for a very long time, so make the investment in ones you like and will actually use. Same with a food scale and consider an immersion blender to help mix your shakes and make purees while in the early stages.

Finally, take some good before pictures (clothed so you can share them) and have someone take your measurements. I did the pics, but wish I had my preop measurements to see how far I've come. Many times you lose inches while not losing weight, so it is good to do both. The surgery is an awesome tool, but you have to work at it still. Weight will not magically come off every day, and stalls will happen. There's a pretty notorious one 3-5 weeks post op that most people experience and panic that the surgery didn't work.

SaaxySam09

Great info! Thanks

gdnplnty

Hello and welcome Sam,

Congrats on your date! I am not sure if you will have a pre-restriction diet or not, but letting you know that the first couple of days on mine, I was miserable. By the third day, I was not sure I was going to do it. A few calls to my Rah-Rah committee (yes, I do have one, my wonderful friends) and it was better to get over the hump. I just kept my eye on the prize. I kept reminding myself that this is the final test to do, and if I can do this, I can do the rest.

So far, four months later, and my tool has been one of the best things that I have done for me. I work my program and my results have been what I have expected and more. As others have mentioned, I did not like the powder shakes either. I preferred the pre-made Premier. Now, I use them in my coffee as creamer since my coffee restriction was lifted. (YES!)

Best advice I can give, listen to your tummy. If you are drinking and/or eating something and you get a woah nellie feeling, LISTEN AND STOP!! You may think that can't be enough that your getting in, but trust me, that little tiny amount will be.

And, if you just need an ear, hit me up and I will be happy to chat away with you as well.

Tina<<---Bipolar type II here :-)

mdelynn01

Hi. I am going in for an initial consult on the 14th of January. I'm so nervous. I am scared to do a permanent change to my body but feel like I have no other hope. I'm so down right now about it all: (

cabennett99

I was worried about how extreme my RBYGB procedure seemed when I first considered WLS, but 13 months post-op I can tell you it was a great decision for me and no real lifestyle impact (restrictions) other than good ones. Sure, I take vitamins everyday, but I no longer take perscriotion medicine for blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides, or acid reflux. I can eat anything I choose, but I'm able to make better choices now. I'm in control.

Lisa51Me

Amen! I am only 2 weeks out, but can already see/feel the difference. I had doubts and fears as well until I went to a seminar and attended a couple support group meetings. Once I was informed I knew it was the right path for me. Good luck!

nataliestratton3

Best of luck to you and welcome!