The Stuff They Don't Put in the Discharge Papers

If you've ever thought, “Why didn't anybody tell me this before bariatric surgery?”—this book is for you. 💗

The Stuff They Don't Put in the Discharge Papers is a real-talk guide to bariatric surgery and life after, written from a perspective you don't often get: a bariatric patient who later became a bariatric and obesity medicine nurse practitioner.

More than a decade ago, I traveled to Mexico for sleeve gastrectomy after my insurance would not cover the surgery. I came home without a local bariatric team and had to navigate much of my aftercare on my own.

Years later, I found myself on the other side of the exam room—caring for bariatric patients and answering many of the same questions I once had.

This is the guide I wish someone had handed me.

Inside, we're talking about the REAL stuff, including:

💗 Preparing for bariatric surgery

💗 What recovery actually feels like

💗 Hydration, protein and navigating food stages

💗 Vitamins, supplements and long-term lab monitoring

💗 Hair loss, loose skin and body-image changes

💗 Skin removal and plastic surgery considerations

💗 Reflux, gallbladder issues, kidney stones and bone health

💗 Blood clots, leaks, ulcers and other complications you should know about

💗 Hypoglycemia and blood sugar changes

💗 Fertility, birth control and pregnancy after surgery

💗 Sex, intimacy and relationship changes

💗 Mental health, transfer addiction and emotional eating

💗 Weight stalls, regain and getting back to basics

💗 Returning to work, exercise, travel and everyday life

💗 Traveling out of the country for bariatric surgery

💗 How to build an aftercare team when your surgery was performed somewhere else

💗 Practical tools—from portion cups and toddler utensils to protein options and tracking apps

💗 And the lessons I learned from my own journey that I wish I had known from day one

This book is for the person preparing for surgery, the newly post-op patient wondering “What did I just do?”, the long-term bariatric patient navigating life years later, and especially the person who traveled for surgery and came home wondering, “Okay...now what?”

There is no judgment here.

Bariatric surgery is not the easy way out.

It's a tool.

And we need to know how to take care of our tools.

Welcome to the conversation they should have had with us before we left the hospital. 🎀

— Chivas Harris, MSN, APRN, FNP-C

The Pink NP

Stay Pink & Powerful. 💗

Educational Disclaimer: This e-book is for general educational and informational purposes only and does not replace individualized medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always follow the recommendations of your surgeon, bariatric team and other healthcare professionals familiar with your individual medical history.