back2barb78

I wish I had done one while I was there. I will try to find out too. There were other patients there for fillers and dental work that I met, but no peel. {)i(} Sent from my iPhone using VST {)i(}

P.S. I had this daydream once about the sleeve bursting and someone talked some sense into me- you would vomit the food up first before your stomach would burst. {)i(} Sent from my iPhone using VST {)i(}

Good luck to you and everyone else getting sleeved today. You'll do great just stay positive {)i(} Sent from my iPhone using VST {)i(}

My doc does triple stapling plus stitching and I had leak test prior to discharge. Postop instructions should be followed. Ask your doc about their technique. I made sure I picked a doctor too that does this all the time. I didn't want someone who I had no clue how many procedures they've done. I've been in the operating room with multiple doctors doing c-sections- same surgery, but they all have different techniques. Some do a great job and can get it done quickly and efficiently, some can't. That makes a difference in recovery as well. {)i(} Sent from my iPhone using VST {)i(}

Great job girl. You can barely see your incisions! {)i(} Sent from my iPhone using VST {)i(}

I walked into the OR and saw the surgical tech setting up the surgical table. It was very interesting being on the other side since I'm a nurse and go in the OR all the time. The nurse was strapping my arms down and was putting the SCD devices on my legs when my body started to feel tingly and warm. I asked the anesthesiologist if he gave me something. He said yes fentanyl and versed, at which point I knew I was going to sleep. I told them take good care of me and that was it. Next thing I knew I was waking up but my vision was blurry. I could hear someone talking to my right so I turned my head and saw a chocolate blur with lots of white in the middle of the blur- it was my mom smiling at me. I fell asleep again. Then I felt something inflating underneath me and started surrounding me and I could hear activity around me. They used an inflatable device to move you from the recovery bed to your regular bed. Again asleep. Then I remember being asked to wake up to get up and walk. I was handed a small kid-sized Water bottle to start sipping and away I went! {)i(} Sent from my iPhone using VST {)i(}

My packing list -Elastic/safety pins -music/headphones -Wallet/passport -Chargers for all gadgets -Bp cuff thermometer -loose underwear -abd binder -pillow in car -incentive spirometer -baby/ body wipes -Comfy Pajamas / Nightgowns -Warm socks/slippers -Loose fitting clothes -Laptop/ iPad w/Skype -Cell Phone -Book/gossip mags -Soaps/Lotion /Deodorant/perfume or body spray - face wash/moisturizer/toner -Toothbrush /Paste/mouthwash/listerine breath spray -Sugar free Throat Lozenges -Hair essentials -personal medications -Favorite lip balm (guys don't forget this you will need it ) -Gas Relief Strips -Makeup kit -Front snap sports bras -Heating Pad (optional) -extension cord (super handy) -Vicks (can't live without this stuff) -paperwork for doctor/payment -emesis bags -bath items (I took a bath since I wouldn't be able to for a long time) {)i(} Sent from my iPhone using VST {)i(}

My packing list -Elastic/safety pins -music/headphones -Wallet/passport -Chargers for all gadgets -Bp cuff thermometer -loose underwear -abd binder -pillow in car -incentive spirometer -baby/ body wipes -Comfy Pajamas / Nightgowns -Warm socks/slippers -Loose fitting clothes -Laptop/ iPad w/Skype -Cell Phone -Book/gossip mags -Soaps/Lotion /Deodorant/perfume or body spray - face wash/moisturizer/toner -Toothbrush /Paste/mouthwash/listerine breath spray -Sugar free Throat Lozenges -Hair essentials -personal medications - Favorite lip balm (guys don't forget this you will need it ) -Gas Relief Strips -Makeup kit -Front snap sports bras -Heating Pad (optional) -extension cord (super handy) -Vicks (can't live without this stuff) -paperwork/passport -emesis bags -bath items (I wanted to take a bath since I wouldn't be able to for a long time) {)i(} Sent from my iPhone using VST {)i(}

What are you doing to prepare before Monday? Are you prepared? I live alone and I still have so much to do. Some things on my list include getting a pedicure tomorrow, doing my hair, mopping, cleaning the house and the carpet, buying my broths (I don't have my postop diet instructions yet and don't really know what to buy, but I know that I will need at least that), and finish clearing the refrigerator out of things that are no longer welcome.

Update!!! Tomorrow will be 2 weeks since surgery. I'm still on my liquid stage and will be until Thursday (Argghh). It is not easy, let me tell you this. I was doing really good and the last couple days, I've been dragging. I had some left incisional pain on after going to the mall and the movies and walking the mall. It didn't last long, but was enough to remind me "Girl, you know you had surgery, right?!" So I took it easy for 2 days. Also I didn't mind at first if people ate around me, but now if people even talk about what they are going to eat, it annoys me. My parents called me and left a message a few days ago saying if you call back and we're not here, it's because we're going to get lunch! Ok- why didn't you just call me after? They came over along with my cousin and her baby (he's such a cute little distraction) yesterday which was nice- until everyone started talking about FOOD! Even the baby was eating peach cobbler!!! Granted it was the baby form, but boy was he into it! So cute! Anyway, it's still a little hard getting in the fluids. I'm using Enspira shakes and vitamins. I'm still not able to drink 3- the paperwork does say 1-3 though. I do mix the vitamin into the shake and because of the taste of the shake to begin with, you can't taste the vitamin. The shake is not very sweet and if you don't have a good blender you may not like it. I bought a Ninja blender (which is great by the way) and blend it to death, and it's still a little gritty, but to my own surprise I don't mind it! I'm over the soups except for French onion which is my fav. I may have to go to a restaurant and get a soup I like to strain. I do have Unjury chicken soup and may revisit it. You do have to take calcium and you can't take the vitamin too close to the calcium so man it's hard to get a schedule going. I'm not a medicine taker so that's hard for me. Other noted happening- no bowel movement! I hadn't had one for 8 days postop so I contacted the nut who said I'm not drinking enough fluids and if I needed it I could take MOM. I took one dose last Tuesday which didn't work. I took another on Wed which did ultimately work. No painful cramping either-smooth moves (TMI)!! Don't judge me moment- since I am a nurse, I do know how to start IVs on myself and did give myself some IV fluids last Sunday. To my defense I've done this for years since I work excessively and don't always have time to drink needed water at work. I've seen so many people go to the hospital on here for dehydration and I can do it myself so I save the ER co-pay! All in all, I am doing ok. I just have to focus and make sure to get my vitamins in. {)i(} Sent from my iPhone using VST {)i(}

I haven't eaten yet so I don't know. I have no appetite and at first I didn't care if people are around me, but now it's annoying! I didn't realize how much food is at the forefront of our lives! If it's not a commercial, it's one of my family talking about what they cooked, are going to cook, or what they "have a taste for". I know they don't mean to be insensitive, but that doesn't make it any less annoying. I opened some Soup yesterday and the smell of it was so overwhelming I had to get it out of the house! My nose is working overtime. {)i(} Sent from my iPhone using VST {)i(}

OMG. You have to deal with the pts sundowning and acting up- I'm assuming because I've worked with regular geri patients. You may need more time girl. Week one I felt great but the past few days my energy has been down. I think you may also have to think about your postop diet, how the progression through the diet will be, and how hard it is to get fluids in postop. It's not easy. You're tummy will still be rumbling and acting up! {)i(} Sent from my iPhone using VST {)i(}

No problem. I'm so glad to help! {)i(} Sent from my iPhone using VST {)i(}

That's so funny because that's all I remember too from the recovery bed was teeth! They were my mom's though. A chocolate blur with lots of teeth! And I remember the inflatable raft they use to move you. I was wondering "what the heck?" as I felt the air fill the "raft" underneath me and them move me, but I couldn't do anything about it. I made sure to look for the clock to see how long I was out but feel asleep again because the next thing I knew I was sleepily saying goodbye to my parents at 4pm then getting up to walk. I was lucky they were there, but I swear my mom is a handful! I wish I had taken pics of the walk back from the border crossing to the bank. It's through a parking lot that has lots of little sidewalks you have to go up and down. I would liken it to a New York City block- not too long. I was with a lady with a walker and I was sooo scared she or my dad would fall! Its not a bad walk if you have light luggage or someone to handle your bag if you overpack. I would have been miserable if I had to drag my luggage and probably would've hurt myself. {)i(} Sent from my iPhone using VST {)i(}

Have been meaning to upload pics so I hope this works Going in where you sit and wait to be picked up once you cross over into Mexico Double room I stayed in the night before surgery. It had a safe in the closet and a mini bar style refrigerator in the room. My rooms before and after surgery had a mini bar in it, but my parents did not have the things in their fridge so they were able to put things in it. The hotel offered them a second one, but they didn't need it. The letter waiting for me at check in The water in the rooms! I was nervous, but I drank it! Hotel lobby. Very nice and there were always multiple bellboys/doorman in the lobby at all times- even when I was up at 4am! Lobby of OCC. Sorry I didn't get more, but there were always people there, and I did not want to photograph other people. My room at the OCC. I think it was room 4. The Center is in between other buildings. My mom looked out the window, but I never did. I didn't take pics of the bathrooms, darn it! There are no bathrooms in the rooms. There are 2 full bathrooms at the end of the hall (not far). You've got to get up to go! Me preop. No makeup allowed! My room postop at the Marriott And again, me and Batman! Sorry if viewing it is weird. I'm not the greatest at the pic uploading/layout thing

Oh- and no management hassles-yet. But you know how that goes.

One month (surgery Oct 7th back to work Nov 7th) but if I feel like I need more time, I'm going to ask for it. I'm an LDRP, well/bad baby, all-in-one nurse on a small but busy unit. I'm not going to be moving 200-300lb women with epidurals/post C-section until I feel comfortable doing it whether my note says no restrictions or not. That's the reason I shared my surgery with my co-workers too- I plan on taking it easy when I go back as well. I've paid my dues and if I go back and don't feel well or don't feel I'm getting the support I need, I'm going right back home and won't go back until I'm 100%.

I felt the same way Lew. Right now I'm soooo over the liquid diet I had my first day yesterday where I felt like crap because I had some left incisional pain the day before after walking the mall - no biggie that Tylenol didn't fix but just enough to make me remember to take it easy so I laid in bed all day. I have 5 more days to go on it and would choke anyone who tried to eat in front of me. {)i(} Sent from my iPhone using VST {)i(}

Yes I am until the 24th. I'm so over it! I've laid in bed all day I'm glad your sis is doing so well.