What do the beginning steps look like for surgery?

Colleen,
Yes, I am day 5 post surgery. So far, so good. Surgery went pretty well as I have not had any pain really from the actual bypass. What I did have pain with was that they found a Hiatal hernia while they were in there and they fixed it. The first night was significant aching in the center of my chest and my back between the shoulder blades. I simply could not find any position for relief. By morning the ache had subsided from maybe a pain level of 6 or 7 to a 2 or 3. After the second night down to a 1. Right now, I don't feel it at all. This is an ache I have dealt with for 25 years. Usually a drink of cool water took care of it. However, three times, the first two about 5 weeks apart and the third maybe 6 years ago I went to emergency. Each time it simply would not go away for many hours and I tested negative for a heart attack. I did get my gall bladder taken out during after the second incidence. It is because of those incidences and that I had my esophagus dilated a couple of years ago is why the Roux N Y surgery was the route we went.

So far, so good. The second day in the hospital I was given some pureed scrambled eggs and peaches. My first thought was wow, this is going to be difficult couple of weeks eating this. But at home, we found we can modify the blending such that there is plenty of moisture, it will run off the spoon, but still looks like its worth eating. We have tried different meats for plus greek yogurt for protein and for take one of the meds that is a capsule that I need to break open. After the first couple of days, I found I could take my meds as a tablet as long as they were small. If there was question, I cut the tablet. Its better than chocking the dust when its ground up.

Trying one thing at a time to see how it works. If it works, we try something a little different. I will still have to use the protein shake to make sure I get the protein I need, but I will only be able to drink a little bit at a time. Pre-surgery, I had to drink 4 of them a day. Post surgery, I think I may be able to get my with 1 or 1.5 throughout the day.

One recommendation I would make to those following this post. This is a recommendation mentioned by one of the speakers during the therapy session. I purchased package of 8 baby spoons to eat with. Taking a small amount of food on a regular spoon might still be too much at once. With a baby spoon, a small amount is really a small amount. It makes it easier to eat slowly, especially if one actually puts it down after about 3 bites and waits. The other thing recommended that I did was that I got several small containers with screw on caps. The containers are marked for 1 oz and 2 oz. I eat out of them. If I get full, I simply cap what remains and put it in the fridge for later. They will heat in the microwave. If I finish them, then I pretty much know exactly how much I eat. Both tools have been well worth the $15 to $20 I spent on them.

Deborah,

If it is like me, the purpose the liquid diet is to reduce the size of the liver so that it is not in the way of the actual surgery. In my case, I did 12 straight days of liquid diet. I lost about 8 lbs or so, but the surgeon said my liver was great. So, though the liquid diet is not easy, it was not in vain and it did the trick.

Hang in there. I won't say it gets easier going into surgery. But going into surgery you have a goal to work towards. Once surgery is completed, then the goal is to recover as smoothly as possible. I am in the second phase now. As you prepare in the first phase, just remember to keep your eye on the prize!