Honestly I started exercising before surgery I also made sure to follow my surgerons diet plan and that will help drink plenty of water before and after and after sip, sip, sip and walk, then rest. You will do great

If you drink coffee start cutting down on it and if you drink cokes start cutting them out all together. Have plenty of SF jello, soup broth and water for after. And don't forget the SF popcicles.

Kathi

Practice eating like a gastric bypass patient (no drinking 30 minutes before and after a meal). Move as much as you can. When I started walking I couldnt even make it to the end of the street but you have to walk a lot after surgery and 2 weeks is enough time to build up some stamina.

JJ

Clean your house and do the laundry, lol. I would also suggest exercising.

I was just thinking of this today:
1. Increase your water intake
2. Start moving around
3. See a therapist or Overeaters' Anonymous to find out if you have an unhealthy relationship with food and start to work on it
4. I put a binder together of:
a. Clinic info
b. Doctor contact info/surgeono
c. Handouts from the clinic
d. Emergency service numbers
e. Warning signs of complications
f. What = liquid, soft/pureed, and more challenging foods
g. A "no fly" food warning (gathered from this site, what foods trouble many).
h. A sheet on causes and symptoms of dumping.
i. Additional sheets for my emergency and other visits: Date, who I saw, outcome and concerns/questions remaining.
5. Stop straws.
6. Stop diet drinks and coffee (I am living on and loving decaf tea every day).
7. Chew your food now. Learn to eat tiny, pencil eraser size bites. And, as others have said - stop drinks with your meals.
8. Prepare your statements for these responses from friends and strangers:
a. "What happened to you?"
b. "What's your secret?"
c. "Are you sick?"
d. "Couldn't you just do it through diet and exercise?"
e. "Must be nice, the rest of us have to work at it."
9. Get someone in to clean your house and do the laundry.;)
10. Try some of Eggface's meals ahead of time so cooking the portion and getting the ingredients is second nature. You may try to freeze some of the ice cream and other stuff so you can just pull stuff out of the freezer when you are tired.
11. Sit your closest friends and family down and explain to them that you are going to need some help: no carrying things, opening heavy doors, cleaning, cooking, etc. ASK FOR HELP.
12. Know that your emotions will be in flux for some time after the surgery and allow yourself to feel them: warn others they are coming, lol.
13. Start a journal now if you have not. It teaches you what you can and cannot eat, tracks your protein, water, moods, bowel movements, blood sugars. At first, when you are tired, it is time consuming. It may be essential if you ever require emergency services.
14. Take your last bath for a few weeks (I am a bather and totally miss/ed them).
15. Appoint a Bypass Buddy. Someone you love, who is somewhat active and who can go for walks with you each day until you are ready to go alone or run!
16. Read, read, read everything you can on the surgical healing process. I read eight books on GBS, but think inspirational, healing and spiritually uplifting materials would have been better for me.
17. Divorce yourself from bread and pasta. It may not be forever, but get used to the thought that you two are on a break for a bit. Until you are better towards each other. :)
18. If you have an exercise you like (biking, swimming, walking), get some gift for yourself (pedometer, new suit, weights) that you will look forward to using after the surgery. For the first few weeks, just get comfy shoes and a good walking pant.
19. Put lists everywhere. On the fridge: food choices and protein amounts depending on the stage you are at. Change as the stage changes. In the pantry: what you need to buy. On the mirror: why you are doing this and why you choose to love yourself.
20. Put together a bypass shopping list (they are everywhere, see:
here is Eggface's: http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/search?q=shopping+list). If you have a checklist, you can send it with people or get what you need quickly.



Shopping list (things I had to get later):
1. Pill crusher
2. Ice crusher
3. All of your vitamins
4. Something comfy to sit on, something comfy to sleep on (pillow, etc.)
5. Find a tolerable to you protein shake (pre-made) and protein powder (you make).
6. Buy some sea salt scrub and some body oil to assist with dryness, shrinkage and preparing your skin before and after surgery for weight loss.
7. Buy some Nioxin hair products and ask your team about biotin as well, to prevent the look of and actual hair loss.
8. Scale, measuring cups and spoons, baby cutlery and a nice tiny dish and bowl set. Oh. I got a sippy cup.


That's all I can think of tonight, but I trust our team will keep filling these in.

Best of luck to you.

O

Oh, just in case: find out from your doctor what constipation treatments you are okay for the first week post-surgery and buy them.

It's ugly, but it's necessary.

Wow - that's a lot of good information. I just joined this group and my surgery is about a month away so I'm going to start making lists!

What a FABULOUS list O! I'm saving this one. Mahalo!!! -Jenny

One thing I wish I would have done is try to up your protein intake because protein helps with recovery. also cleaning the house and having you house stocked with the items you can have after surgery. I would stock up on chili and freeze it chili has a lot of protein and blinded