jannam
New Member
Posts: 2 
Surgery Type: DS
Surgery Date: Around August 2015
Surgeon: Dr. Salameh
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Post by jannam on Apr 7, 2015 16:56:41 GMT -5
Hi All,
I have been lurking for a while, doing research, but this is my first post.
I will likely be having a DS in early August. I have started the process of doing all the things required by insurance and surgeon pre surgery like visits with the dietician, sleep study, upper endoscopy and Psyc eval.
Other than doing as much research as possible, is there anything else I should be doing at this point to prepare? It is a bit too early to order vitamins and protein powder.
Should I just chill? Or is there something I should actively be doing?
--Janna
edited to correct spelling on title
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Post by goodkel on Apr 7, 2015 17:34:43 GMT -5
Welcome, Janna! A blood test to check for any deficiencies you can correct before surgery. You can find a lab template at the following link to see what needs to be drawn: weightlosssurgery.proboards.com/thread/8800/lab-templateStrengthen your lungs either with a spirometer or by blowing up balloons. Anything you can do to be in the best health possible going into surgery is worthwhile to do. I would skip the post op vitamins purchase until you are closer to your surgery due to expiration dates. Yes. Read, read, read. The more you know, the easier the difficult early transition will be. I've sent a pm to another Salameh patient about you. Hopefully, she's be along to answer any questions, too. Nice to have you here! Kelly |
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Post by caprice on Apr 7, 2015 17:53:13 GMT -5
Welcome, jannam!
Yes, everything Kelly said. The healthier you can be going into this the better. If you are extremely sedentary, and it's at all possible to do so, start walking. The breathing exercises now will be a big help later. Voice of experience speaking... I didn't prepare well on that, then made recovery more difficult because I wasn't forcing myself to breathe deeply (post op) and i ended up with moisture in my lungs that I could have avoided. Nothing life threatening, but an inconvenience that made recovery from surgery take more time than it might have had to.
Please, keep reading and asking questions.
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Post by historytracker on Apr 8, 2015 4:59:33 GMT -5
I would start changing some of the things I eat and practice low carb dieting. Research recipes and change out some of the things you eat now. I gave up pasta first then I cut out the potatoes, rice and bread in the next couple of weeks. I made changes gradually and lost 36 pounds before surgery. To strengthen your lungs is a must. I used the incentive spirometer so much in the hospital. Start walking even it it is a little. Good luck in your surgery.
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jannam
New Member
Posts: 2
Surgery Type: DS
Surgery Date: Around August 2015
Surgeon: Dr. Salameh
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Post by jannam on Apr 8, 2015 8:58:53 GMT -5
Thank you so much, ladies. I hadn't heard about the lung strengthening at all before, so thank you for that. I have been working on my habits and what I eat. Trying to eat slower, chew all the way, put down my fork, etc. We already don't eat a lot of pasta, but potatoes...those will need to be cut back. There is also the morning bagel. That has to go.
I have been trying to cycle the bagel with a breakfast smoothie or eggs, but haven't moved it completely out of the rotation, yet.
Thanks so much.
When I first saw Doctor Salameh, he recommended the DS for me and said his second choice would be the Sleeve if I wasn't comfortable with the more complex surgery or thought I would have problems sticking to the diet. These boards helped me tremendously with my research and deciding to go with the DS.
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PeteA
Full Member
Posts: 221
Surgery Date: 4/15/13
Surgeon: Dr. Phillip Schauer
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Post by PeteA on Apr 8, 2015 9:40:25 GMT -5
The two things I wish I had done that early in the process would be to 1) This follows what Keyy suggested. Address any lows and deficiencies your blood work may show before having to fight the e malabsorption post-op to get your levels higher.. Especially vitamin D which most pre-op people chronically run low on. Better to push it up pre-op along with anything else. 2) I knew this but didn't really think about it pre-op. You should increase your protein consumption, maybe just the 2 months before surgery. Having higher protein levels are supposed to help with the healing process after any surgery. I wouldn't worry too much about modifying your diet right now. Some of that will happen naturally post-op with your limited intake and having to get in liquids and protein first. It will be a while before you have any real time/room for things like a bagel.  Pete |
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Post by caprice on Apr 8, 2015 9:52:00 GMT -5
Thank you so much, ladies. I hadn't heard about the lung strengthening at all before, so thank you for that. I have been working on my habits and what I eat. Trying to eat slower, chew all the way, put down my fork, etc. We already don't eat a lot of pasta, but potatoes...those will need to be cut back. There is also the morning bagel. That has to go. I have been trying to cycle the bagel with a breakfast smoothie or eggs, but haven't moved it completely out of the rotation, yet. Thanks so much. When I first saw Doctor Salameh, he recommended the DS for me and said his second choice would be the Sleeve if I wasn't comfortable with the more complex surgery or thought I would have problems sticking to the diet. These boards helped me tremendously with my research and deciding to go with the DS. You may be one of us who totally lost all desire for the carby stuff right after surgery. Honestly, if someone had threatened bodily harm unless I ate a whole bagel, I'd have had to take the beating. No Way would I have been able to eat more than a bite or two of such a thing. That changes in time, but I still can't eat more than half a cup of pasta at a sitting. Everyone's experience is different on this, so don't count on it, I'm just saying it might happen. |
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Post by west4thavenue on Apr 8, 2015 12:31:53 GMT -5
The two things I wish I had done that early in the process would be to 1) This follows what Keyy suggested. Address any lows and deficiencies your blood work may show before having to fight the e malabsorption post-op to get your levels higher.. Especially vitamin D which most pre-op people chronically run low on. Better to push it up pre-op along with anything else. 2) I knew this but didn't really think about it pre-op. You should increase your protein consumption, maybe just the 2 months before surgery. Having higher protein levels are supposed to help with the healing process after any surgery. I wouldn't worry too much about modifying your diet right now. Some of that will happen naturally post-op with your limited intake and having to get in liquids and protein first. It will be a while before you have any real time/room for things like a bagel. Pete Yes, Pete. I'm a little more than a year out now, and I would be hurting myself if I tried to eat a bagel.
My tastes have changed. Part of that is probably due to my inability to digest carbs. Hard to miss a food that you know is going to put you on a toilet for hours! At most, I can handle a slice of whole wheat bread. I wouldn't even try to do more than that. From what I have read, my progress in eating a wider variety of food has been slower than most people. I DON'T MIND! In the first place, I am alive today, a condition that was very much in question when I went into surgery last year. I have also lost all of my excess weight and have a great life.
Jannam, get yourself as healthy as you can prior to surgery and put your mind in a place where you are open to change. I think the mental adjustment is just as profound and critical as the physical one you will be making. Ask any questions you like. We want to help!
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Post by jpcello on Apr 9, 2015 6:46:47 GMT -5
In my opinion (for what it's worth) don't worry too much about your diet right now. Yes, focus on getting any deficiencies corrected, but other than that (and the lung thing) I wouldn't stress about it. Until you live with the DS you really can't prepare for the eating side of the surgery. It takes months/years to to get a handle on your diet, what you can/can't eat, what works for you and what doesn't. When we talk about "eating" immediately post-op, we're talking a couple of bites. It's hard to wrap your brain around it until you're actually there. Should I just chill? Or is there something I should actively be doing? Yes. I say enjoy your life and your food, and get your pre-op tests done according to your doctor's instructions. When the time comes you'll know what to do. Don't stock up on anything because you don't know what your tastes will be like post-op. The DS is a marathon. You've got to pace yourself. |
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derinoe
Junior Member
Posts: 75
Surgery Type: DS
Surgery Date: 06/04/2014
Surgeon: Dr. Marek L.
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Post by derinoe on Apr 9, 2015 14:03:45 GMT -5
Welcome to the forums. It is a great place to find support. Vets have so much knowledge. Couple things that I can add to what have been said is: I had to have cardiologist evaluation preop and the pre op diet was the hardest part of all the process for me. It is good that you have time to prepare, if you have kids make sure you have some one to watch them after surgery, help around the house and such. You will do great!
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Post by aa on Apr 10, 2015 16:41:22 GMT -5
Welcome.
I'd try to eat more protein, if possible. Also consider having a Dexa Bone Scan. It's often helpful to have a baseline prior to having the DS.
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Post by Gail R on Apr 19, 2015 23:54:42 GMT -5
Two additional things I would suggest: I was astounded by my fast weight loss which included lost of muscle mass. Start now with an exercise plan. Try to walk 3o minutes a day, for example. You should wean off coffee as you won't want it right after surgery and, if you are like a lot of people you will have headaches from withdrawal.
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Post by caprice on Apr 20, 2015 6:07:30 GMT -5
Two additional things I would suggest: I was astounded by my fast weight loss which included lost of muscle mass. Start now with an exercise plan. Try to walk 3o minutes a day, for example. You should wean off coffee as you won't want it right after surgery and, if you are like a lot of people you will have headaches from withdrawal. Oh! Good one! I completely agree about the coffee. I (surprisingly) was smart enough to quit the coffee a month before surgery. The morning after surgery, Dr. Ungson came to my room and was grinning as he asked how I felt, and did I have a headache? I grinned right back and explained that I'd gone through withdrawal already, so I felt just fine, thankyouverymuch. Got a chuckle out of him. Great reminder, Gail. |
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Post by mark540 on Apr 23, 2015 9:38:33 GMT -5
I cut back on carbs and carbonated drinks. I also tried to exercise a bit more by walking as much as I could
You might want to also consider getting the frog puppet off that poor kitten in your avatar and giving him back his dignity. lol.
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Post by goodkel on Apr 23, 2015 13:49:05 GMT -5
I think the kitten avatar is adorable. I have also never known kittens, puppies, or human toddlers to have one ounce of dignity to be taken.  |
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