Hi My Name is David. Surgery date was Nov.10th 2010.
The only advice I can offer is to try and loose as much weight as possible before the surgery.
It is critically important that you follow the pre op. Liver reduction diet that the surgeon and consultant dietitian will give you. this makes it easier to manipulate your stomach and reduces any potential damage to your liver.
My own procedure went as follows
Arrived 7am
talked to anaesthesiologist 7:30am
talked to surgeon 7:45am
talked to staff nurse 7:50am
went into pre surgery 8:00am
you lie on your back on a surgical table with the arm of your choice out (if you are right handed make sure they use your left hand and vice versa.)
the operation demands that your pelvis should be slightly elevated when you lie down.
you will feel a couple of sharp stings but just talk to the anaesthesiologist and please relax.
you will fall asleep and wake 5 hours later gently. The recovery nurses will ask if you understand them and that you know who and where you are. YOU WILL FEEL NO PAIN. you will probably not even feel any after effects of the anaesthetic ( I did not).
for the next 12 hours you will be offered pain killers. I had a morphine drink from a small sachet on request.
You will have a saline drip in your arm and this will be monitored constantly for upto 24 hours. I had 4 litres of saline. antibiotics will also be added at various stages.
6 hours after the operation it is important that you attempt to stand up and and try to walk. The nurses are also making sure that you can go to the toilet and urinate. Do not be afraid to tell of any discomfort also there should be no blood but if there is then as always relax and tell the nurses.
Pre op visit 438 pounds.
Pre surgery I was 417pounds
20 weeks later I am 358 pounds.
I hope this answers your question. This was the best thing I have ever done to help with my weight problems.
