Just had my surgery today, here are my experiences, advise.

[Alisomniac 0]

Today I had my surgery with Dr. Kelly Francis of Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center's Center for Obesity (aka Leport's SmartDimensions). Here's the breakdown of my day.

10/4 at noon -attempted to take 2 oz Milik of Magnesia but ended up regurgitating it

10/4 at 1pm - took 5 oz Magnesium Citrate - definitley worked

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10/5 @ 4am - Wake up and shower with special pre-op soap

430 am - Leave For Hospital

5am - Check in at hospital

- in addition to paperwork one of the first things you may be asked to do is pee in a cup - literally only a couple of drops. I had peed right when I woke up, so they had to to an extra blood draw instead.

6:am - Shot of Blood Thinner (in hip - this one burns for about a minute)

6:15 - Shot of Lydocane (I requested to numb had before IV) but I had a bad reaction, regurgitated :thumbdown: Not sure if it is due to my shock reflex* or a reaction to the drug

6:30 - IV (no numbing) not too bad - my nurse was great and dind't feel it at all. Nurse took blood at the same time.

7:00 - Met Anesthesiologist who asked a billion history questions and described procedure

7:15 - Nurse gave drugs for nausea and pain

7:20 - Anestesiologist gave drugs "to relax"

7:30 - Wheeled into Surgery, some time spent putting pressure cuffs on feet, strapping me to table (I think I got another dose of a relaxant). Surgeon said a quick Hello, asked for last minute questions.

7:45 - Procedure Began

9:00 - Surgery over, Surgeon briefs my mom in waiting room. I go to recovery, my mom goes home.

10:00 - I wake up in recovery. I have a sharp pain on my left side (where the majority of the incisions are), I get one dose of pain killer via IV

10:20 - Pain remains sharp, another dose of pain killer in IV

10:45 - Nurse brings liquid pain killer (pain was beginning to numb) and Water, sit up

10:45 - 11:15 ish, slowly sip 8 oz Water, asked to sit up more, have to blow in contraption to exercise lings

11:30 - get dressed, fit with binder

12:00 - released with liquid painkiller (doesn't seem to work for me)

12:20 - 4 pm - At home, slept

4:00 pm - Ate 2 oz vanilla yogurt

7-10 pm - SLOOOOOOWLY sipped slim fast

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Experience: OK, the worst part for me was BEFORE surgery when I threw up because of the shots. Nurses were great and very helpful. I was allowed to sleep after surgery and slowly drift into consciousness so I didn't feel the time-travel feeling. You DO have to really concentrate on breathing deeply after surgery to get enough oxygen... it was harder than it sounded.

I didn't feel any pain or discomfort from the intubation in my throat. All I could feel were my incisions... especially my "Big: One. I don't think I'm feeling gas pain, as my pain is localized to my incisions, but you never know. I have gas X strips, and in recovery I burped a lot (I also got mild hiccups after first sips of water, which was NOT fun). Nurse said if you feel the urge to burp or fart, don't fight it... it's how you get rid of the gas.

(I have one incision between my boobs, but BELOW the bra bottome line, another one 6-8" below that one, but about 1.5" above the belly button, two to either side of the lower button, about 1" higher, and 4" to either side, and one LONG incision (about 2.5-3" about 1" below the upper incision, and kinda between the lateral incisions... smaller incisions are about 1", maybe slightly off. i didn't measure. (see *marks)

(Incision Diagram:

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[ * ]

[ *** ]

[ * * ]

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Advise: Don't pee in the morning before surgery, you'll be

asked to once you get in, if you aren't there is plenty of time to do so.

Don't hesitate to ASK for numbing creme/shot before IV, etc. Ladies, you will likely be asked to remove panties as well... but you can ask for the hospital mesh panties they are a bit ridiculous, but in there were times where I had to kick off the blankets because I got too hot - you dont want to broadcast yourself.

Also, tell them exactly what you are feeling, as soon as you are feeling it ... nausea, dizzy, weak, cold, hot, thirsty, etc... The nurses are there to help you feel better, not just to get you ready to discharge.

I was only able to comforably sleep on my right side... for some reason sleeping on my back wasn't as comforable.

CRAWL (literally) into bed, it's easier to reposition yourself that way than to drag your legs. To get out, roll onto your side and slide off, one leg at a time.

WEAR THE BINDER> I took mine off for 5 minutes and was miserable, could;nt even sit down as easily.

*(I have a shock reflex to pain, including, shots, blood draws, sharp injuries where I usually faint or get nautious(

Oh, and I asked to keep my gown... halloween is coming up after all.

I know I missed a lot, so please let me know if you have any questions about the process. For me, I had no nerves or anxiety going in, and was only wary of the needles... and I think If i had just "grinned and bear it", as I ultimatley had to with the IV, I wouldn;t have had the nausea/vomiting unpleasantness.

[Becca29 0]

hey GIRL! I was also banded today...and my main issue is soreness of the port site..as sitting up...laying down...and going pee are the most difficult. Thankfully I have someone helping me with every move i make. Good luck to you..glad all went well..an so happy we are on the other side of this finally!!! WE ARE BANDSTERS!!!!!!

[Ready_Set_Lose 0]

Congratulations ladies! I'm on day 5 post op and am doing well. My incisions are healing and every day the movement of getting in bed, in and out of chairs, going pee etc. gets better. The only negative for me is I'm having issues with nausea. Cant' seem to get as much liquid down as I should either. I'm trying to stay positive and focus on the fact that this will get better. My surgeon now has me on only Gatorade so I dont' get dehydrated. Hang in the ladies!

RSL

[Alisomniac 0]

Congratulations ladies! I'm on day 5 post op and am doing well. My incisions are healing and every day the movement of getting in bed, in and out of chairs, going pee etc. gets better. The only negative for me is I'm having issues with nausea. Cant' seem to get as much liquid down as I should either. I'm trying to stay positive and focus on the fact that this will get better. My surgeon now has me on only Gatorade so I dont' get dehydrated. Hang in the ladies!

RSL

Only gatorade? Yikes!

I had slim fast and about 2 oz yogurt yesterday, today I had more yogurt (2 oz), 10 oz of milk, and am having Tomato Soup now.. have had mabye 1/2 cup over almost an hour... my problem is I can't seem to tell if I'm full yet, but I don't feel hungry at all... even before eating. I think the pain is masking those "sensors"... anyone else experience that?

[Sun Rae 7]

I'm so glad to hear that everyone is doing well. My date is October 19th and I keep telling myself "I've got this, I can do it, It will all be worth it". I had a hysterectomy 10 years ago and had an incision from one hip bone to the other. The pain in the beginning was terrible, but I found that moving around as much as possible made it better. When I was healed, I was wondering why I didn't do it 5 years earlier. I also fell on Christmas Eve 2 years ago and tore my hamstring and really messed up my knee - worst pain I've ever had. Had to have surgery to repair and that took some time to get over too. I know this is a totally different type of surgery, but I am trying to stay upbeat. Keep posting to let all of us upcoming bandsters know how ya'll are doing.:thumbup:

[tabatha lynn 0]

Congratulations to both of you who had your surgery today!! Please keep us posted on everything thats going on. Hope everything continues to go well for you. Ive got 8 more days of this and my turn will be here. Thanks for sharing.:thumbup: