My Gastric Sleeve Pre-Op Haul

I decided from the beginning that I would journal my journey for this surgery because I have spent HOURS scouring the internet for any information I could find about the process, the prep, etc. So, if you found me because you’re going through this process too, then WELCOME and I hope these posts help!

The Deets!

To start out, for those looking for my details, here you go:

I am a 43 year old female with the following comorbidities that made me eligible for surgery even though my BMI was under 40:

• Require a sleep apnea machine
• Elevated cholesterol
• PCOS/Insulin Resistance
• BMI between 35-40
• Osteoarthritis
• Chronic back & joint pain

I spent over six years working with a bariatric doc trying non-surgical methods and had great success while on meds. The meds were wreaking havoc on my body, so I eventually had to decide what was more important, my physical health or weighing less. Unfortunately, once I was off the meds I gained about 50 pounds in 6 months and was referred to the surgical weight loss program.

My heaviest weight was 246, not long before my first weigh in for the surgical program. My highest size is a snug 20 and XX and I am 5’5″. My current weight is 238 which puts my BMI at 39.6.

My Pre-Op Purchases

My appointments with the nutritionist and dietician are next Tuesday, but after a lot of research over the past months I had a pretty good idea of what I wanted on hand for the 2-week liquid diet before surgery.

First, the reason for the 2-week liquid diet prior to surgery is to shrink the liver. I don’t have a diagnosed fatty liver, but since the surgeon is working so close to the liver, it is best practice to do as much as you can to shrink it to more easily keep it out of harms way and see what they need to see.

Also, since I had a hysterectomy in November of 2021, I’m REALLY hoping that they will go through my existing scars, since it is often the same incision layout. But whatever works I will deal with.

Since Amazon Prime has no such thing as 2-day delivery anymore, I figured I’d better get on the ball and order some protein shakes and other goodies to enjoy during my liquid phases (pre- and post-op).

(These are not affiliate links, they are just what I bought and where I bought it from.)

Protein Shakes

 

 

I chose a powdered option (ISO100) and a grab-and-go option. I will say that the darn Fairlife Protein Shakes are super hard to come by without paying an arm and a leg so I’ve been stalking this brand for a while before I finally snagged a pack.

Mix-Ins

Powdered peanut butter is honestly one of my absolute favorite mix-ins for my protein shakes, especially my chocolate protein shakes! I’ve tried many different kinds, and usually prefer Naked PB, but the PBFit grabbed my attention this time around.

I also like to mix in either sugar free jello mix or sugar free jello pudding mix to change the flavor of my powdered protein shake from time to time, so I have to pick those up, and some ready-made sugar free jello.

Other Drinks

Since I know I’ll get sick of protein shakes I decided to get a case of Protein20. It’s actually pretty good and reminds me of those Bai drinks. And the case of Diet Snapple is my treat drink. Still zero sugar and only 10 calories, but they are nummy.

Extra Goodies

I can have sugar free freeze pops, so I figured I’d give these Goodpops a chance. I’m going to ask my nutritionist about them before I jump right in though. I want to be sure they are okay since they are fruit juice. I may need to pass these off to the kids and get the plain, old, sugar-free popcicles from Walmart.

Accessories

 

 

 

 

And here are all of the “extras” I’ve picked up over the past month.

Scale – Honestly, I bought a new scale so I had one that was a little more reliable and I had money I needed to spend from my medical savings account! Double win there!

Pill Case – I felt like I needed to upgrade here. Since I will likely be adding some mid-day meds, I needed something a little more universal. This is great for traveling too, no risk of the box accidentally opening in transit!

Nintendo Switch: RingFit – This one came highly recommended from my therapist. She actually showed me how it works by using her own while we were on a Zoom call. I was intrigued and so far I’m enjoying it. A little competition is a helpful motivator!

Stanley Cup – Yeah, I jumped on the bandwagon, but honestly I left my favorite HydroFlask in the airport after an ungodly trip home from Dallas, TX and needed a replacement. So, I figured I’d give this a try and I love it! I can take the straw out and put the plug in and use it as a drinking cup without the straw too.

Compression Socks – I have seen many recommendations for compression socks post surgery all over the Bariatric Surgery groups. I figured if that many people listed the same product in their must-have lists, it must be a helpful tool to have.

And The Other Stuff

The planning that goes behind this surgery reminds me of the prep for having a baby. Making sure you will have what you need on hand afterward, planning out your hospital bag and those must-haves (I’ll make another post about that).

And honestly, on a scale of 1-10 for excitement, I don’t think my excitement for having this surgery is much lower than my excitement for having my babies. I am so ready for this! I’m ready to start a new life and focus on me again. It’s time and it’s necessary. And even if this surgery only relieves a fraction of the pain I’m struggling with right now… I will consider it an absolute success because LESS is better than where I’m at currently!