RavenClaw779

I had surgery March 9,2010. My surgery was scheduled for 7:45am and I was to be at the day surgery center by 6am. Since I live 45 minutes away, my husband and I left at 5:15am. Got to the Welcome Center and sat for about 10 minutes. I was then taken to a private pre-op room where I had a needle stick glucose test and a blood sample drawn. I was then instructed to change into the gown, hairnet and slipper socks. The entire surgical team came in to introduce themselves. I signed various releases, answered the same questions over and over, got patched for nausea. I was wheeled into the OR at 7:50am. My whole crew was women and we were joking about, "So when will Christian Troy(Nip/Tuck) be coming in?". They put the leg massagers on, then the mask and the anesthesiology nurse said, "I'm going to give you something to relax..." . The next thing I remember was half sitting up in the recovery room and glancing at the clock - it was 9:30am. My surgeon manadated the use of a CPAP and indicated that if I didn't bring my CPAP to my surgery it would be cancelled. Imagine my surprise - it wasn't even taken out of it's case! I had an IV of Ringers solution and an antibiotic, but no morphine pump. The nurse asked for my pain level - about a "4". I wasn't cath'd and really needed to go, but was so drowsy that it was about an hour before I did get up. I sat in a chair for about half an hour, then got dressed and walked around. We left for home around 11:30am - I slept the entire way and for most of the rest of the day. I have scripts for Flexaril(muscle relaxer), Prilosec(GI), and Loratab liquid(Pain). Felt pretty good yesterday - got up and did a few tidy up chores, but mostly slept. Later that evening I was slightly quesy,and the gas pains in my neck and shoulder made it impossible to sleep so I was up most of the night. Around 5:30 this morning I set myself up on the couch with some pillows, heating pad for my neck, a heated throw and my CPAP - by 7am I was feeling much better. Had a cup of coffee and some Tropicana Pom/Blueberry juice. Did some household chores, laundry and am working at my desk now but I can feel myself getting tired. From what I've heard this is pretty typical for the first week. No even remotely hungry.:thumbup:

Getting up and moving around. Folded some laundry and emptied the dish washer, but I'm very light headed and the surgical area is very sore; difficult to bend over. Ellis gave me scripts for Loratab(Liquid), Prilosec and Flexirel(sp) - all of which are sleep inducing. Having a hard time even typing today - I'm signing off and going back to bed!

Getting up and moving around. Folded some laundry and emptied the dish washer, but I'm very light headed and the surgical area is very sore; difficult to bend over. Ellis gave me scripts for Loratab(Liquid), Prilosec and Flexirel(sp) - all of which are sleep inducing. Having a hard time even typing today - I'm signing off and going back to bed!

Left the house at 5am to get to Ellis by 6am. Within 15 minutes I was in my gown and slippers give yet another blood sample. The anesthesiologist, the surgeon and all the nurses attending came in and introduced themselves. I was wheeled in to the operating room at 7:50am and awoke in recovery at 9:30am. The surgeon advised my husband that everything went fine and that she'd repaired a haital(sp) hernia. Left the hospital around noon and slept all the way home. Then I slept off and on for the rest of the day. Wasn't hungry and the pain was not too severe - actually it was the CO2 that was causing the most pain. The Kicker: The CPAP that I had to have and had to bring with me - WAS NOT USED.

Left the house at 5am to get to Ellis by 6am. Within 15 minutes I was in my gown and slippers give yet another blood sample. The anesthesiologist, the surgeon and all the nurses attending came in and introduced themselves. I was wheeled in to the operating room at 7:50am and awoke in recovery at 9:30am. The surgeon advised my husband that everything went fine and that she'd repaired a haital(sp) hernia. Left the hospital around noon and slept all the way home. Then I slept off and on for the rest of the day. Wasn't hungry and the pain was not too severe - actually it was the CO2 that was causing the most pain. The Kicker: The CPAP that I had to have and had to bring with me - WAS NOT USED.

All the chores are done, suitcase packed and I'm winding down with a delicious mug of Sirloin Beef Stock - actually quite good or perhaps I really am losing my mind. btreiger reminded me to bring a pillow to pad my stomach on the ride home - great idea and one not even mentioned by the hospital staff. Here are some prep tips: * If you have to do a "cleansing" do a test run on the weekend. If I hadn't and had following the timing per the nurse, I'd still be on the toilet at the time of my surgery! *The numerous trips to the bathroom create what I like to call "Burning Butt". 'Roid cream will only make this worse. Must have - kid's flushable wipes(very gentle) and diaper rash cream(w/zinc oxide and cod liver oil). Yes, it smells but if you 'butter you buns' when you take your MOM as time goes by it's a lot less irritating. Also keep some reading material in the bathroom - you'll be in there so much you can read the whole Harry Potter series! *Don't forget to bring your insurance card and your health care proxy. Yes, it's a low risk surgery, but it is surgery so make sure your support person knows your wishes. I'd write more, but I gotta run!

Whew - I am so glad I'm not the only one out here struggling with this cpap demon. I still wonder how accurate these tests are when you're not in your own environment? The guy who did my bipap fitting was telling me that the technology exists to create a take home testing kit - wonder when they get that going?

Me too - 7:45am - Good luck everyone - :thumbup:Catch ya all on the other side of the band!

My surgery is tomorrow, so I've been on clear liquids all day. Here are some suggestions: *To take your mind off of eating, clean house, do chores - stay busy. *Chew gum. *Clear Liquids generally include: Water, coffee, Tea, Crystal Light, Beef/Chicken/Veggie Stock or Broth(Stock is better tasting), Jello(sugar free), Popsicles(sugar free). It's pretty much a case of consume as much of the above as you like because it's very low calorie. I felt a little hungry, but not terribly so. Good Luck on Wed!

All the chores are done, suitcase packed and I'm winding down with a delicious mug of Sirloin Beef Stock - actually quite good or perhaps I really am losing my mind. btreiger reminded me to bring a pillow to pad my stomach on the ride home - great idea and one not even mentioned by the hospital staff. Here are some prep tips: * If you have to do a "cleansing" do a test run on the weekend. If I hadn't and had following the timing per the nurse, I'd still be on the toilet at the time of my surgery! *The numerous trips to the bathroom create what I like to call "Burning Butt". 'Roid cream will only make this worse. Must have - kid's flushable wipes(very gentle) and diaper rash cream(w/zinc oxide and cod liver oil). Yes, it smells but if you 'butter you buns' when you take your MOM as time goes by it's a lot less irritating. Also keep some reading material in the bathroom - you'll be in there so much you can read the whole Harry Potter series! *Don't forget to bring your insurance card and your health care proxy. Yes, it's a low risk surgery, but it is surgery so make sure your support person knows your wishes. I'd write more, but I gotta run!

Began the pre-surgery prep yesterday with my last(yea!) Medifast shake and a shower using Dial(anti-bacterial - required). Boy does that soap make my skin itch. Also had to take MOM but was smart and took it in the AM so I wasn't up until the wee hours going. My husband cooked me a steak for dinner last night - probably the last I'll have for quite some time. Today it's clear liquid only. Exciting breakfast of coffee and orange sugar free jello and an ice pop - Mmm..Chewing gum helps keep me from putting anything real in my pie-hole. Almost time to take more MOM in prep for giving myself and enema tonight. Who-hoo big fun!:thumbup:

Thanks for the reminder - almost forgot the pillow! My surgery is at 7:45am but I have to be to Ellis at 6am and since it's a 45 minute drive, I'll be up at 4am...yet another pre-surgery shower plus two dogs who I've got to get toileted before we leave.

Drasan - Clue me in-there's an oral appliance for SA? I'm learning to tolerate this damn machine but just barely. In fact I have to bring it with me tomorrow so they can slap it on me post-surgery and then I have to return for a follow up appt. with the pulmonologist in two months to see how I'm doing i.e., another damn sleep study.

My surgery is tomorrow - 3/9/10

Tomorrow's the big day! Don't feel too nervous - odd?

Began the pre-surgery prep yesterday with my last(yea!) Medifast shake and a shower using Dial(anti-bacterial - required). Boy does that soap make my skin itch. Also had to take MOM but was smart and took it in the AM so I wasn't up until the wee hours going. My husband cooked me a steak for dinner last night - probably the last I'll have for quite some time. Today it's clear liquid only. Exciting breakfast of coffee and orange sugar free jello and an ice pop - Mmm..Chewing gum helps keep me from putting anything real in my pie-hole. Almost time to take more MOM in prep for giving myself and enema tonight. Who-hoo big fun!

The nurse from my program told me it's okay to eat some extra protein - in fact she told me if I got extremely fatigued or muddle headed to eat a chicken breast. Every program is different. I wasn't allowed any jello, crystal light or drinks with nutrasweet - go figure.

Hands down the worst experience of the pre-surgery prep(see my blog). My bariatric center pretty much mandates sleep lab and cpap - in fact its almost like they go looking for any minor blip to equivocate the need for the cpap machine. I now have one and am ashamed to say that as much as I thought it was a bunch of crap, the three nights I've used it, I've awaken much more refreshed and haven't needed a nap during the day or fallen asleep while watching TV at night. Still haven't managed to wear it all night. It has a humdifier and last night I set it too high. In the middle of the night it dripped water on my upper lip and freaked me out - kinda like that scene in Alien!:biggrin:

Last night was the second night I wore the BiPap. I managed to wear it for about five hours and I vaguely remember taking it off to get up to use the bathroom so I must've just left it off. NTL I am surprisingly rested and clear-head. Thinking of this machine as a "spa treatment" i.e., my "beauty" sleep has helped.

Last night was the second night I wore the BiPap. I managed to wear it for about five hours and I vaguely remember taking it off to get up to use the bathroom so I must've just left it off. NTL I am surprisingly rested and clear-head. Thinking of this machine as a "spa treatment" i.e., my "beauty" sleep has helped.

Good pointers BestyB - I've been wondering how I'm going to eat post-surgery. As it stands now, I'm never hungry when I first get up - so coffee's it for me until about 10am. Since my husband and I don't have kids we tend to eat later - so lunch my be at 2:30pm and dinner around 8pm or later. I already food log - am working on designing a new doc to track my new nutritional needs - so I'll have to create a more structured plan for myself.

After 20 years of struggling with my ever increasing weight, I told myself at the beginning of 2009 that if Ihadn't amde significant progress by the end of the year I was going to pursue lap-banding. My light bulb went off in October 2009 and here I am being banded on Tuesday(3/9)! Good Luck!

All the pre-approvals, testing and clearances are done. I've been running around getting the pantry stocked, bills paid, post-surgical dietary needs stocked, laundry done - etc. Still trying to get my mind around the no lift/push/pull over 10lbs for 4 weeks. I have two large dogs - if one of them even bumps me, I'm a goner:ohmy:! Everyone keeps asking me if I'm scared or excited. Actually - neither. I'm so busy and it's moving so fast that I don't have time to really dwell - and when I have pondered I get myself into a low level anxiety. I'm doing this for my health and it's just a tool but all the testing ramps it up the anxiety a bit even though everything's fine. Having had cancer puts an edge on any medical testing even after all these years. Add on trying to get used to a BiPap in five days which isn't going to be easy - here I am at my desk at midnight dodging going to bed like a child:tongue_smilie:! Still trying to get my husband to grasp that this isn't like getting a Snap-On tool. He seems to think I'm invincible because I've bounced back from other surgeries and maybe I will, but I'm trying to prepare him for the unpleasant potentials and that if I tell him he needs to get me to an ER, it's not a debate. I think he's thinking I'm going to be whipping up a home cooked meal on Wednesday night:w00t:! As far as the pre-surgical diet goes - I think it would've gone better if it was just limited to the two weeks prior. I've been on this for over a month. I have cheated - not too terribly. Last Friday after the surgeon cleared me, we went out for a late lunch. I had half a fish sandwich, 6 fries and a 1/4c of cole slaw and was full. It's been a struggle since. I managed two shakes today and ate a 1/4 of a chicken breast and some crackers with cheese. Now I feel gassy & guilty! (but not sleepy)

All the pre-approvals, testing and clearances are done. I've been running around getting the pantry stocked, bills paid, post-surgical dietary needs stocked, laundry done - etc. Still trying to get my mind around the no lift/push/pull over 10lbs for 4 weeks. I have two large dogs - if one of them even bumps me, I'm a goner:ohmy:! Everyone keeps asking me if I'm scared or excited. Actually - neither. I'm so busy and it's moving so fast that I don't have time to really dwell - and when I have pondered I get myself into a low level anxiety. I'm doing this for my health and it's just a tool but all the testing ramps it up the anxiety a bit even though everything's fine. Having had cancer puts an edge on any medical testing even after all these years. Add on trying to get used to a BiPap in five days which isn't going to be easy - here I am at my desk at midnight dodging going to bed like a child:tongue_smilie:! Still trying to get my husband to grasp that this isn't like getting a Snap-On tool. He seems to think I'm invincible because I've bounced back from other surgeries and maybe I will, but I'm trying to prepare him for the unpleasant potentials and that if I tell him he needs to get me to an ER, it's not a debate. I think he's thinking I'm going to be whipping up a home cooked meal on Wednesday night:w00t:! As far as the pre-surgical diet goes - I think it would've gone better if it was just limited to the two weeks prior. I've been on this for over a month. I have cheated - not too terribly. Last Friday after the surgeon cleared me, we went out for a late lunch. I had half a fish sandwich, 6 fries and a 1/4c of cole slaw and was full. It's been a struggle since. I managed two shakes today and ate a 1/4 of a chicken breast and some crackers with cheese. Now I feel gassy & guilty! (but not sleepy)

Having anxiety has led to a number of "cardiac" incidents over the years i.e., palpatations. Coupled with a family history of heart disease, I've had echocardiograms, stress tests, Holter monitering and other than some trivial valve issues and a slightly irregular heartbeat, every cardiologist I've seen has told me I have nothing to worry about. Last Friday's pre-surgical clearance with my doc had my BP at 110/74. Today - after the BiPap fitting, I drove an hour to meet with the pulmonlogist - for 15 minutes. When I got there my BP was 138/84 and he expressed concern. Nevertheless, my pulmonary function tests were fine - lung capacity and oxygenation well within a normal healthy range. The pulmonologist didn't even feel that my SA issues were that severe that if the BiPap didn't work for me, it wouldn't be a big deal...but the Resp Therapist told me my poor sleep quality and oxygen levels could lead to a heart attack or stroke. Apparently I shouldn't sleep on my back either. Okay - except that I have arthritis in my neck and any other position is uncomfortable, coupled the carpal tunnel which make my hands go numb when I lay on my side. I still have to wonder about the accuracy of the sleep study, when none of these issues are addressed. Beyond dealing with my weight, I have to say getting older sucks as it seems it's a juggling act of trying to balance life's responsibilities with managing health issues.