Tips from fellow patients
Here is a list of tips & tricks - not from us, but from patients that wanted to help others going through the same process in future. If you have more to add to this list, please email us!
Preoperative
- VLCD: Try different brands and flavours. Everyone will have different tastes. Make sure it is a VLCD though. Chat to your dietitian if you're not sure
- Meal prep - after surgery you won't feel like making food. Prepare as much as you can and batch freeze it (soups etc)
- Pack your hospital bag: don't forget to bring
- Charging cables
- Your own pillow
- Comfortable clothes
- not your best pyjamas, there's a good chance you'll stain them
- top and pants - your wounds will be checked frequently so don't wear long dresses!
- Toiletries - toothbrush, toothpaste
- Lip balm if you're prone to cracked lips
- Mouth wash/breath mints if the keto breath bothers you
- Slippers or thongs for walking around the ward
In Hospital
- Noise: it can be pretty noisy on the ward! bring earplugs if this bothers you
- Socks: if you're prone to cold feet, definitely bring socks in addition to the stockings they will provide you as they are not warm
The first two weeks
- Sip sip sip!
- Walk walk walk!
- Nourishing fluid ideas: Plain water can be really hard. Try these options - broth, thin yoghurt, apple juice, diet cordial, protein water, lemon sorbet, flavoured tea, icy poles. If you're not sure or it's all too hard - just go back on the VLCD
- Icypoles or ice cubes with hydralyte - an easy snack especially in the heat of summer
- Constipation - get on top of it early! as it can be very painful and cause the shoulder tip pain to come back
Beyond the first few weeks
- Hair: some people get significant hair loss. This is normal and related to the relative low calorie state. You can buy all sorts of things for this - silicon supplements, hair supplements etc - but the best and only one with an evidence base is
Nioxin, in a shampoo/conditioner or serum
- Where does it go? The weight tends to come off your chest area first... and your belly last.
- When does it go? slow and steady. Don't be worried if your weight falls off, then plateaus, then falls off again - this is normal.
- Gallstone disease: the faster you lose weight (and the more you lose overall) the more likely it is you will develop symptomatic gallstones. Dr Blackham also performs gallbladder removal surgery (lap chole) and happy to discuss this with you after seeing your referring GP
