March 15, 2011

So I spent my ENTIRE day at the hospital getting all the last minute things crossed off my list.

First I had a consult with my Surgeon. He was very nice and to my surprise I felt quite comfortable talking to him and asking my questions this time around. I was weighed, then brought to the exam room. He leafed through a binder on me and told me all my test results look normal. (EKG, Chest x-ray, endless bloodwork, etc) He very briefly described the surgery then had me lie down and lift my shirt so he could show me where the incision, camera, and stiches would go. I asked where the drain would be and he told me he doesn't insert one, and that its not medically neccessary! The man has an incredible reputation and I trust him completely but I was pretty surprised by this... every account I've ever heard involved a drain and a catheter. (Also not included in my surgery I was told!) The whole consult took about 20 minutes, with questions, and was pretty painless. I left feeling pretty good and went to another suite to wait for a nurses' educational seminar to begin.

The Nurses' class was basically just reading aloud of the booklets we received on whats going to happen when we arrive at the hospital, what we should expect when we wake up, a detailed diet plan for the first 6 months... all that good stuff. They said they implemented the class becuase people were taking the book, not reading it, and then not following directions or calling the office a million times. They actually made me a little scared to call with questions because they said it drives them crazy and they are just going to tell us to open our book to page...whatever... to find the answer. All told, I chose this office becuase its such a great program, but the customer service has a lot of room for improvement... The best part about the class was that I met two other women who are getting ready to get sleeved in the next few weeks, as well. Im sold on attending the support group at the hospital, the gals made it sound REALLY helpful.

After the class I had to scoot around to another building for my PAT - Pre-Admission Testing. A rep in the business office went over my paperwork, took my down payment, and filled out my financing application. She shared with me that her best friend (age 51) was a patient of my surgeon and got the sleeve 2 years ago and 'looks and feels like she's 16 again'. I took it as a good sign. Next I met a registration nurse who asked me a lot of questions about my medical history, went over my lab results again, drew blood for a type-cross-match (just in case I need an infusion) and had me sign some consent forms. It was a little creepy filling out advanced directives but I know its in the unlikely event I need it so... I put on my big girl pants and did it. She also shared that she was a former patient of my surgeon and had gotten the bypass 10 years ago. She showed me pictures of herself on her desk and I would NEVER have believed it was her! She also disproved my fear that people who've gone through WLS seem to age a lot in the face. She looked beautiful and I'd never have even known she had surgery. I guess I've just known a few who did...

Anywho, after that came the meeting of the surgical nurses and Anesthesiologist, more questions, more reviewing of lab tests. Make sure ALL your lab work is done before your pre-op consult because they will want to review every little thing 2-3 times atleast. I guess its good to be thorough though! The Anesthesiologist was in disbelief that I've never had surgery before and even made me show her my tonsils to prove they hadn't been taken out when I was a kid. She seemed a little worried that I have no history to suggest I will or won't have a bad reaction to the anesthesia... but everyone has to have a first surgery right? Im a little worried about that myself. All the consent forms listing all the terrible-things-that-could-happen-if-something-goes-wrong are a little overwhelming. I was at the hospital , in all, about 6 hours but now everything is done and the I have my booklets to read, items to go shopping for, and a time and date to show up for surgery!

6 days and counting!