More Pre-Op Doctors Appointments

Yesterday I had an appointment with a cardiologist.  They asked questions about my health history and that of my family, ran an EKG and cleared me for surgery.  Tomorrow I have an appointment to have pre-operative lab work done followed by a Bariatric Pre-Admission Testing Education class at the hospital.  The class consists of dietary and nursing education, expectations for the hospital stay and post-operative information.  I also have an appointment scheduled for Jan. 11th for pre-surgical pulmonary clearance.  I'm not sure what that involves but I have to take a chest X-ray that they will take tomorrow.  I expect that to be fine as well, I don't seem to have any medical issues other than being over weight. 

The second packet of papers that came in the mail had a list of all my doctors appointments as well as instructions for what I need to do in the weeks and days leading up to my surgery.  Ten to fourteen days before surgery I will follow a Pre-Op Liver Shrinking Diet.  This is done because some patients have a much larger liver than average and if it's big enough it could block exposure to the stomach  during surgery.  Following the diet could help the surgery go more smoothly and lessen the chances of the surgeon having to preform an open surgery as opposed to laproscopically.  The diet is composed of sugar free liquids, including liquid protein mixed with water, two multi-vitamins a day, caffeine free/sugar free drinks with very low amount of carbs and about 500 - 800 calories a day.  It does say I can have lean cuts of meat or sugar free jello if I feel light headed ... well thank goodness!

Two days before surgery I have to do a bowel prep ... Oh Joy!  Day one is clear liquids only; bullion, coffee, tea, plain jello, strained fruit juice, Ginger Ale, Popsicles or jello gelatin pops but nothing red or grape in color.  Day two is clear liquids only plus drink 1 bottle of Magnesium Citrate (that's a laxative if you didn't know) at 6:00pm (Not cherry flavored.)  Then I have to stop eating and drinking everything at midnight or 12 full hours before surgery.  Of course, nothing to eat on the day of surgery. 

Only 23 days left until surgery now.  I guess it's time to start cleaning out my cabinets and cooking or getting rid of anything I won't be able to eat starting 2 weeks before surgery.  That might be a good job for me on New Years Day.  I have cut way back on groceries since I found out that the surgery was approved so I shouldn't have too much stuff to sort through.

We have a date!

Got a call from my doctors office the other day to let me know my surgery has been scheduled for Friday, January 21st.  I have a doctors appointment December 30th for pre-op labs, hope that goes well.  I got a packet in the mail today that I need to go through before I go to that appointment.  Time to start preparing for surgery I guess.

What will I eat?

   Today I'm sorting through the Bariatric and Weight Management binder I was given at my last appointment.  Of particular interest to me today is the "Gastric Bypass Grocery List."   The diet for the first few days after surgery will consist of clear liquids and for two weeks after that will be liquids with the addition of things like pudding and yogurt.  Following that I'll be on a soft mushy diet for 2 weeks.  Here's whats on the grocery list:

Sugar Free popsicles
Sugar Free Jello
100% Fruit Juice
Crystal Light
Flavored Water
Fat free Milk
Sugar Free Pudding
Low Fat/Sugar Yogurt
Oatmeal
Cream of wheat
Instant Grits
Chicken, beef or vegetable broth
Tomato or vegetable juices
Diet V8 Splash
Variety of canned soups such as chicken noodle, beef vegetable, tomato, cream of chicken (blended or strained)
Propel Fitness water
Soy Milk
Decaf coffee and tea
Artificial sweetener
Protein supplement (200 calories or less and at least 20 grams of protein per serving)
Prenatal multivitamins
1200mg calcium citrate + Vitamin D
B complex vitamin
B12 supplement
Iron supplement

Who wants to come have dinner with me?  We'll have some broth and flavored water, bring your appetite! 

   I have been looking at that and thinking of how my shopping list will change after surgery and how I'm going to have to change the way I order food when dining out.  Whew, lots of changes to make!  No more burgers, fries and deep dish pizza.  Hope I'm ready. 

   Further in the binder is page called Gastric Bypass Diet progression, the goal is to eat 60 grams of protein each day once I'm on the regular diet.  Look at all the stuff I have to avoid:

Ice Cream
Doughy Breads
Thick cuts of meat
desserts
milk shakes
fried foods
Dried Fruits

This should be fun.  You may hear me whine from time to time about not eating fried foods.  Of all the things on that list I think that is going to be what I miss the most.

Getting things in place ...

I've just found out that I'll be having Gastric Bypass surgery in January, 2011.  I decided this might be an interesting thing to blog about so I'm getting things set up for it.  This month I will have to go to many doctors appointments, seminars and classes about the surgery I'm about to have so I'll talk about all that as it happens.  My goal here is to take pictures of myself  and write about my journey so that I can see the progress I've made.   I don't really expect anyone to be interested in reading this thing but feel free if it strikes your fancy.