Shapewear, Your post op MUST Haves, No pre surgery liquid diet??

[shelbysmama]

Hi all,

I have a few questions. My surgery is 11 days away and I am trying to purchase my needs now before I get in a panic and have to rush. I have known some people have opted to wear a shapewear top to help with the pain.

Does anyone recommend a specific shapewear top? Is it worth it to wear one? I am thinking of my pain more than how I look.

What were your must haves after surgery? I have already ordered a few sample packs of protein shakes and liquids. I am planning on buying some more protein shakes but I know I should be stocking up on others as well. What would you say you couldn't live without?

My surgeon told me that he did not do a pre op diet because he said that he didn't see big differences in people who had and had not done the liquid diet. Has anyone elses DR said the same thing? I trust him but I have researched this for a very long time and I thought you always had a liquid preop diet.

Thank you all for the info. I have a toddler and I am trying to set myself up now so when my husband goes back off of leave I am not in a bind.

[3bandds]

My understanding of the pre op liquid diet was to shrink the liver, because fatty livers (which many of us have to varying degrees) are a problem during surgery- as far as getting in the way. I was told to do a 3 day clear liquid diet, others were longer.

[slags68]

My surgeon only has you do the day before clear liquids. No other special pre-op diet. It worked fine for me. (They did tell me after surgery that my liver looked great)

As far as shapewear, I didn't buy any and my surgeon orders a special binder to wear immediately after surgery until the first pre-op appt. I think it helped right after surgery, but I was REALLY glad to get it off at my pre-op visit!!!

[sraebaer]

Be happy you don't have to do the pre-op diet! Every doctor is different.

I have never heard of wearing shapewear after surgery. I was happy in my loose clothes, but once again, every doctor is different.

[Omy]

I love my eas advantage carb control ready made shakes. These are my go to when running out the door. As for shape wear right after surgery? No. I did wear a slim belt. Kept my tummy wrapped and was in less pain, because it is adjustable I still wear it for working out now.

[LivelyTerry]

I had to do a one week liquid diet. It depends on the surgeon and your BMI. Higher BMI's usually have to do longer pre-op diets.

I can't imagine wearing shape wear after surgery. Heck no….I liked my loose clothing, and it's what my doc recommends.

[christine53]

Shape wear, omg. I didn't want anything touching me. And as far as diet went I had to do a 2 week liquid diet but ate chicken and vegs for dinner.

[lornadoone629]

sheesh...I had a 4 week pre-op diet with 2 protein shakes a day and one lean protein meal (and a couple of veggies from a specific list), then 1 full week of 5 protein shakes a day and 1 day of clear liquids. I lived through it. lol

Shape wear? I didn't use anything either. I do, however, now wear a "shaping" camisole under my shirts. It just makes me feel a little firmer since I've lost some of my top roll, but it's a little more jiggly. I actually picked up a white, black and nude color ones from Ross for $4.99 each.

Protein drinks and buying for afterwards. I wouldn't go out and spend a lot of money right now since your taste will probably change after surgery. I couldn't drink much of my protein drinks after surgery...too sweet and any liquid or supplemental protein made me sick to my stomach. Then they were too sweet to drink when I got over that. I wasted a lot of money 'getting prepared". You'll be driving within a week or so, if not sooner, so you can go and get what you need when you graduate from clear liquids after surgery. good luck!!!!

[princessdi]

Abdominal surgery isnt fun! I heard about shapewear but truth is that stuff is toooo tight! You will be more comfortable carrying a small pillow with you. Esp on the ride home, or when you sneeze and cough! Hold it against your belly at those times and it lesses the lain in great amounts!

[bikrchk]

Shapewear for pain management? I could not have tolerated anything tight over my incisions for the first month and didn't need it as the incision pain was minimal anyway. Today, now that my skin is getting all "loose" I wear shapewear every day. I don't like the "wear your own bra" ones. They pinch near my underarms. Post-op, I preferred non milk based protein drinks. Syntrax Nextar makes several. Just easier to get down for me.

[barrbdoll]

I took my Spanx with me to Mexico and was soooo glad that I did! They feel like a 2nd skin to me and gave me some added support! If your experience with shape wear is that it's too tight more than likely you are buying the wrong size. Just my opinion.....

As far as pre-op diet.... all surgeons are different.. Personally, I had started my pre-diet early, about a month before surgery. The surgery was going to be a shock to my body so if I could ease that shock by starting my diet early than so be it.. Was smooth sailing for me.... At almost 2 years post-op, it still is..

Best of Luck!

[65fl]

My doctor did not have me do a pre-op diet other than liquids the day before, I think it is more common than you realize because people don't have to struggle with it. No one is going to post, "I'm on day 3 of my normal diet and having a tough time."

Other than the protein drinks stock up on some clear soups. Or if you enjoy cooking make your own chicken and beef stock and freeze it. That is the far superior option.

[ximmia]

My doctor gave me a compression garment which helped the first few days post of with the incision site pain. I would have warn it longer except it started to be too loose lol.

[JustWantToBeHealthyAgain]

I had 5 days of a liquid diet. Every doctor is different. Mine just does it for all his patients so that their liver will shrink and make surgery easier.

I didn't wear shapewear afterward and probably never will. I squeezed a large pillow when I felt pain and that help. I didn't have incision pain that much. It was more gas pain and pressure pain. I also had wicked heartburn immediately post op but that's gone now.

Get your protein shakes and ask your surgeon about getting something like omeprazole for heartburn. Gas X helps some. Get a large insulated bottle to carry around for your liquids.

[NancyN]

Didn't have any type of shapewear or banding or dressing either. Just wanted comfy sweats and no bra! Good for you to not have to do the pre op liquid! It might shrink the liver, but really doesn't prepare you for life post op! You may or may not tolerate the protein shakes, so don't stock up too much. Sugar free jello and popsicles are good to have on hand. Some type of broth (you can strain chicken noodle soup and feed the noodles to your little one). Check the stages of your diet, once you're cleared for "full liquids" you can have skim milk (a little carnation instant breakfast adds a bit more protein and tastes good) and creamed soups (I used campbells cream of chicken, made with milk, don't eat the chunks the first few days) Sugar Free pudding and greek yogurt (no chunks) will be added pretty quickly. You'll probably be able to have cream of wheat or cream of rice cereal the first week, made very thin with milk. You'll be amazed, one can of soup will last you 2 or 3 days, so you don't really need to stock up much. If you end up lactose intolerant, it could be more difficult. Good luck!