Bariatric Surgery on Monday What do I need?

[fatgirlslimmer]

Spending the weekend preparing for surgery on Monday. Currently cooking food to purée and freeze. I’ve been told to add chicken to my puréed soup for protein. Anyone else done this, how did it work? Hospital are very against protein shakes. It’s NHS 4 weeks purée, 2 weeks soft.

This has been a long rollercoaster journey I would welcome ideas and support on what I need to take into hospital and beyond. I’ve got my vitamins and some marine collagen and have lost 1lb a day on the diabetic LRD. Hospital said the first 4 weeks can feel brutal.

I can't help personally - but I do follow a lady (US based) on insta who had bariatric surgery - you could search back her posts I think she's documented her entire 2 year journey. She looks incredible.

instagram.com/fluscheeitaway?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==

What surgery are you having? I had the gastric sleeve done over ten years ago now! I was on clear soups for the first two weeks then thin soups with no lumps before moving on to purées. Puréed meat tastes funny to be honest. I ate a lot of baby food!

I still have protein shakes as they are a good quick source if you are in a rush. There are some good brands out there and they are easy to get. You can even get protein water now.

Be ready that if you over eat you will get the foamies and will need to vomit that up. Not pleasant but you learn from it.

Make sure you take comfy larger size knickers in with you, a large size nightshirt and Vaseline!

Ask me any questions I am happy to help.

Vaseline? Prey tell? I have some loosish pjs but no nighties, will I swell up? Yes ideas on what I would need to be comfortable in hospital would be welcome. I’ve been advised to use a straw so that I don’t gulp water and that I have to eat a purée meal before discharge.

I’m having a sleeve. I made some veg soup yesterday it was yum and then puréed some chicken and added it, the taste and texture was strange.

Vaseline for your lips and face as they will get dry. A cup that keeps water cold with a straw attachment will be great. Head phones and a kindle if you like to listen to music or read. You will probably have the boots on that inflate and deflate to stop blood clots so be prepared to call for a nurse if you need the loo while wearing them. A nightshirt was easier for me because I had 5 wound sites and couldn't even stand my knicker band against them so tucked it under my stomach, very glamorous. I had to eat a yogurt before I could go but then had to be on clear liquids for two weeks so it felt very strange.

Take peppermint tea as you will have bad wind and you can't usually move much the first night. Then try to get up and walking if they let you because that does help.

Oh and just a warning I fainted twice in the first two weeks as my blood pressure went very low and I was told to try complan.

Thanks @wonderingwhatlifemeans ive been and bought a nightie where I won’t wake up with a boob hanging out. I have a cool bottle with straw. Downloaded a book and have a bit of Xmas shopping to finish off. Have a fresh mint mouth spray, peppermint tea and a pot of Egyptian Magic cream that I use often, it’s half way between Vaseline and 8 hour cream. And my trusty crocs for the dirty floors 😁

Sounds good. I use the Egyptian cream too it is very good.

Oh also be prepared that you may find swallowing tablets difficult after the op for some reason. I had a slight infection in one wound so had to have kids liquid antibiotic and my goodness they were awful!!!!!

Be prepared you may eventually put some weight back on and saggy skin is unfortunately a fact of life now. I put on a stone and never got below 15 stone but I had lost 12 stones so it was life changing.

Buy only a few new things as you will go down through the sizes quickly. Leggings and hoodies were my go to for quite a while. It also took quite a while to stop second glancing at myself in shop windows wondering who this slimmer person was who looked like me!

Good luck @fatgirlslimmer - hope it goes ok - let us know!

Wow 12 stone that is life changing. The saggy skin is one of the things that has delayed my decision, I am a lot older now and my skin has lost elasticity so I know I'm going to deflate. I'm doing this for health reasons now.

I have lost weight and regained it so many times (4 - 5 stone) that I have a loft full of different sizes, so that should help me over the initial weight loss. Pharmacist said I may need to crush some pills and mix with water.

I really appreciate your replies.

I’m done and needed virtually nothing because I slept for the whole time. I read a bit book while waiting to go down to theatre, I wore my dressing gown and slippers to walk there. Then I slept, in the gown they provided, I wasn’t allowed a straw in case I took in wind, I was too tired to read or wash or shop online and as soon as I got up to put my nightie on the next day they sent me home!

Hope you are doing ok. Just rest loads but make sure you consume what you are allowed to. It is easy to forget as you don't feel hungry.

@fatgirlslimmer good luck!! You should have been told to take a good multivitamin too as it's hard to get enough while your diet is limited at the beginning.

Oh yes I do centrium chewables and I double dose every day. I also take added vitamin d