sleever4life

I started this journey at 6'1" tall and 377lb. Pre-op: I have good insurance so I didn't have a six month waiting period. So I was able to jump through some hoops and get a date. I started my pre-op diet with the Protein shakes and gatorade for 10 days before scheduled surgery. I remember meeting with my surgeon and we set a date. I don't think the gravity of that hit me then. It was like I was scheduling a physical or something. It was tough. Your happy go lucky for the first few days. On day 6,7,8 it's gets old fast. I just had to stay focused. And knew I couldn't screw this up. I got my date for September 29th. The day before I had to do Clear liquids. This was apple and white grape juice. Nothing else. It was hard. I didn't work that day because I knew I would be tired and sluggish. Surprisingly it wasn't that bad. I think my body had adjusted to the low volume and low calories. My advice here is to just focus and STAY BUSY. Go to movies, just do something. When your life is always geared towards eating it's hard to do. Surgery day: I arrived on Thursday morning around 6:00am. My surgery was scheduled at 8:00am. I checked in at the desk and without my wife I went up stairs. They took me to pre-surgery and I met the nurse. I changed into a hospital gown and some seriously sexy socks. They took blood from me and swabbed my nose for a MRSA test. Did blood pressure and signed some forms. Frankly a lot of waiting. They brought up my wife at 7:20am to talk. It calmed me down. My surgeon came out at 7:50am to chat and answer questions. I kept it brief and he assured me. The anastegeolist came out and asked about prior treatments and my reactions. I had been under before so kind of knew what to expect. Then the PA came out and I followed him to the surgery room. I walked into the room and it was cold. Lots of people scurrying around. I laid on the table. Above me there were 5 large flat screen tv's to show the surgery. On another table I saw the surgery tools. Kind of scary. They pulled out these arm extensions and I laid my arms out. They put in my IV at that point. The lights were very bright. Then all I remember is them saying "We are going to.......zzzzzzzzz" Recovery room: my surgery lasted for 2 hours. I came to sitting in a 45 degree angled bed. Had a lot of pressure in my stomach not really pain. First thing they did was put on a blood pressure cuff. It was high, 185/91. They seemed concerned. I laid there for a while reconciling what the reality was. They injected me with some meds to bring down my blood pressure. I laid there for about 2 hours. I did not have a cafader but the nurses said that two things had to happen before going up. Blood pressure below 160 and I had to pee. No easy feat. They gave me a container to pee. Man I tried. I just would not go pee. Two more shots. The fourth hour the said they were going to cath me. I started to argue. I was starting to really hurt and was very nauseous. I complained about how I was sitting and there was no way I could pee. At the 5th hour I convinced them to put me lower. They complied. About ten minutes later I had a coming to God moment, the best feeling I had felt.....I urinated. My blood pressure immediately went down. They took me up. My wife freaked that i was up there so long. My advice here is we know our bodies. Argue if you need to. Had I not I would of had an unneeded and rather painful process. My room: I was very uncomfortable. Tired. My incisions were hurting. The gas is painful. Not going to lie here. Expect it. It was gas pain and pressure like one that sends people to the ER. Not trying to scare you. But you need a reality check here. I wasn't ready for it. The nausea was there to. I had an IV drip next to me. I had compression braces on my legs for the first night. Those suck because they expand and contract every 45 seconds. I get the purpose. But trying to sleep with that sucks. They gave me drugs. Lots of them that I can't pronounce. They gave me these little 1oz plastic cups. I used them for drinking. I never thought that sipping those down would be hard. They woke me up all night every hour to take my temp, blood pressure and oxygen levels. First day and night was tough real tough. They made me walk. I was fine to do so with my new buddy the IV cart who i named George. I knew he would be with me every where i went. I would get so light headed using the sparometer. Glad I did to prevent anything worse or Fluid build up in my lungs. Friday: was better than Thursday. Very tired from lack of sleep. I had a private room and my wife stayed with me. That helped immensely. It became a routine, hours went by quickly waiting for the next time with the meds.. But then I was given something that helped. Torridol. Ask for it. Apparently surgeons love it because it reduces swelling on the sleeve and your stomach too. The liquid pain meds sucked and made me sick. The noises coming out of me sounded like two raccoons fighting in a garbage can...all the growling...gurgling. It became a game with the nurse assistants and nurses that they would put my bed at 45 degrees. They walk out and I lowered it to 35. Made a big difference. I was taken for a test to have barium and a xray. It was cool having the screen right there. The radiologist was right there. They leaked tested the sleeve and all flowed well. Saturday: I was due to go home at 11:00am. I was sick. Nauseous and weak. I stayed and my surgeon was concerned. They didn't kick me out. Now again I was better than Friday...getting the drift here? Next day is better tan the last. However I didn't pass gas yet. This was an issue. My nurses said it was normal. And then the glorious event...I waged war on the air....oh sh%# ......literally. I was horrified. I told my wife to turn around and not look. I got up and went to the rest room. I won't go into gory details here, but you need to put a towel under you...trust me. You won't be able to control it. But at 37 years old no one was going to wipe my rear...No sir... Sunday: was feeling better. They actually let me sleep for a 4 hour set. Felt much better. I was released at 11:00am. I really asked the nurses a lot of questions. That helped my mindset. Use them. They see multiple patients and know what happens. The ride home hurt. Lots of bumps and you feel the all. I rested for the day and got in my fluids. Monday: My first day on my own was tough. You really feel vulnerable. But when woke up I was weak. So I got hydrated with some gatorade. I was set with my taped shows, remote, cell, towel on my seat ;0P and my liquids. I had to sleep on my back which is tough because I am a side sleeper. It's hard to get comfortable and the 8 bullet holes in me hurt. Not just the incision part, but underneath. Remember they have to go through muscle and fat. Today was the first day I was feeling better. I rested....my advice is get setup with what you need for the day. And take your walks. They do help. Today: I was able to lay on my side for about 30 minutes this morning. Today was better then yesterday..again that theme. I have been making sure my urine is clear. That is your tale sign for dehydration. I Had apple juice, grape juice and some broth. I thought I would starve. You really don't. Your not hungry. It's true what they say. I am looking forward to Friday when I can go back to liquids like Protein powder and some Soups. My 1 week appt. is Friday. I have lots of anxiety about things. I am really nervous about leaking. I asked the surgeon about it and he said they are rare. What are the symptoms? Fever, pain, nausea, and rapid heart rate. So I take my temp a few times a day and take my blood pressure. You really have to listen and pay close attention. Well it is one day at a time. I decided to weigh today. Pre-surgery I lost 20 pounds in 10 days. Today post op I was down 8 pounds in 4 days. So 28lbs in two weeks!! I hope this post can help others about a very true account of my experience. I will post more on my recovery and will have some pics tomorrow.

Ms C I have no idea sometimes what I am doing. I have the books from pre-op about the should and shouldn'ts. I am concentrating on my liquids for now. Walking to but only a few blocks. With only 6oz of Apple juice in me in the morning I expend that energey quickly. Like Jack said its a good tool. Right now it is kicking my butt. But I get it and where it is going. But it still sucks....right now

Papa jack....your one lucky guy. I wish my recovery was as easy. I couldn't even imagine an outpatient surgurey for this..wow. 6 hours I was still in recovery. When I got up to my room the IV bag was getting a workout with the pain meds, nasusea etc. I was getting blood thinners. If I had to go home then I would have been in bad shape. There was no way I could have taken all the meds orally. Then my surgeon says you have to wait 24 hours to have the barium leak test after the sleeve swelling goes down. I would never have left without that test. In my opinion only if you have the insurance and are doing this in the USA, get the in patient surgurey. I think there are less complications and some risk avoidance. Jack your just lucky man. I live over an hour away from the hospital too. If I had to go back to the ER I would have to go local and see some emergency surgeon without bariatric experience. No thanks. I think the different experiences heard on this open forum is great so you can get the full stories and hopefully end up like Jack...

I have the gas x strips. iPad...reading material....anything else? Going shopping tomorrow to stock up on the clear liquids, Gatorade, apple, and cranberry juice. Any other suggestions that you wish someone had suggested? Tomorrow is my clear liquid day pre surgery...gonna suck big time....

My surgery is on Thursday. I get the whole clear liquids while in the hospital. But I am going to be released on Saturday. How the heck can one survive for an additional 4-5 days on only clear liquids....no protein shakes or anything...no calories? How have people coped with that?

Ms. Diva have read a lot of your postings in here and appreciate the wisdom and experince you bring...I will try and post more on the guy side...Not speaking for them, just adding perspective on my own experince and I think I am pretty typical...

Hi, For about 3 months I have been working through the process of getting bariatric surgurey. I have struggled with my weight my whole life. I have never been thin...well maybe when I was 5 yo. I am at an age where it will start to matter. I am not diabetic, thank God, but have high blood pressure and cholesterol etc. I want to stick around and have many more care shows to go to. I am going in on Thursday at 6:00am. My starting stats 6' 1" tall and 377 lbs. I have been on a liquid diet for a week now. This really sucks....only Protein shakes, crystal light and sugar free popsicles.....its hard. My energy has come back though and I am feeling better. Wednesday I can have no food other than gatorade...I have not taken this decision lightly and it will change my life for the better. Eventually I will be able to eat whatever I want, but in a very small quantity is all. Hey I will save money! I am still very nervous and those thoughts keep coming up in my head. Like having the angel and the devil on my shoulders.... Do you really want to do this? There is no going back!!! <--Devil You have always failed to stick with this, use this as a tool to keep it off <--Angel You know how it goes. But I am almost having to disasociate from it all. I have been through a surgurey before and honestly being put under is kind of scary...It weird when they say ok starting counting back from 10.....10.....9...Hey where the hell am I? You wake up with no concept of time even if days have passed. Not looking forward to that part but it is like jumping off a ledge...You just do it. I have a really good support system at home. No kids so it makes things easier. I am supper committed and ready for this. I can't wait to get this weight off and feel like what it means to not be "The Fat Guy"... I have lost 16 lbs in a week and my goal is 20lbs by Thursday morning. I am pretty sure I will hit that. So not to bad to lose 20 lbs in 10 days...I know that will never keep up though... I am making You Tube videos that I will post, and I read these forums everyday which has really helped me in the pre-op and post-op....

I am sure your right...And wouldn't you know it I have been through those things 100 times before and it turns out fine. Just doesn't make it any easier till you experince it first hand. But it does help. I am going to write in permanent marker on my chest...Sleeve!!!! I don't want to go in and get a band or anything.....

I think all the posts on this site have really helped me wrap my mind around this. Like how to prepare for the surgurey. Gas X strips...Gummie Vitamins....how to prepare when home. I finally told my close buddies today. I waited because I was really ashamed, and its not a normal subject to talk about. But I feel having that support and encouragement is needed. They are all thin and always have been, so I know it is hard for them to understand, but a few of them have quit other habbits like smoking etc which I know is just as much of a struggle. One of the things that had a real impact for me was last year when I went to Manila in the Phillipines. I have traveled all over the world for work. When I was in Manila I was about 370. To put this in perspective the average guy in Manila is 5'2" and about 130lbs. So on the way to my office building I had to walk down between several other buildings. These buildings were all under construction. When I would walk through in the morning the construction guys would actually stop what they were doing and stare as I walked by! And I am not sloppy fat....Meaning I don't wobble, or walk funny. I appear more as a football player, but I knew why they were staring....It was very painful and embarrasing. I was at a meeting at an outside restaraunt that night and a cute lady came up and started chatting up our group. She looked at me and said I should go on the biggest looser!!! Apparently that is a popular show there...In front of everyone!! I was mortified...I laughed it off....But that was when I started researchign this and went to my PCP.... On a funny note when I was in Bangalore, India, having a large belly in that country meant you were RICH!!! I never got funny looks there and was treated well. Some of the street people would stare, or if I was walking by there would actually pat my belly and smile...and say "Rich Man, Rich Man".....Other countries I have been to were different depending on how Westernized they were. In Singapore, I was ignored, in Tokyo, I was normal, in France I was a "Fat American Pig" or something like that....In Italy I was Italian! I just want to be normal. Thin. Fat acceptance in the USA is much different outside of it. But if you think people accept it or like it your kidding yourself. Now I am not huge into vanity, but traveling outside the USA I really noticed it becuase it is not an accepted thing like it is here...or at least people don't say anything... I want to be healthy...but I am not going to lie and state the looks part of it isn't just as important. I think my weight has held me back in that solcial aspect in a lot of ways....