Super Nurses With Sleeves (Support Group)

[CrazyJaney 775]

HI I have been an RN for 27 years, mostly pediatrics anywhere from ED trauma to home care/chronic care. I am currently working in an outpatient pediatric subspecialty clinic setting. Many days lunch and breaks are just an idea. I am hoping to have surgery the end of April early May. Just now reconsidering sleeve instead of bypass as planned. I have never been good at taking pills and have concerns about the effects of malabsorption. What made you decide to have the type of surgery? I am concerned that maybe I am just second guessing my decision but don't want to make the wrong decision. I have no co-morbidities and exercise regularly at least 3 times per week but have BMI of 45. I would appreciate educated suggestions and am happy to have found this forum of nurses who understand. Thanks in advance for your feedback. Cheri

I couldn't get past the fears of the re-routing with the RNY. I have chosen the sleeve just because it makes more sense in that nothing is rerouted to the intestine. I have a BMI of 48, started at 50. Doc was ok with sleeve although I am a smidge worried I should do RNY for higher BMI. At the same time, both surgeries really have whatever result you put the effort into. Either way, it's work. I do worry about the longer suture line and leaks but I have a family hx of gastric ca so I'd rather not have a blind pouch sitting there. My brain will work OT if I let it worrying about everything. But I also just helped turn, clean and reposition a pt who weighed 550. My heart broke for her. I am having such knee and hip issues at 45 that I will take the surgical risks because I don't want to be bedridden in that shape in 15 years. Good luck to us all! We deserve to take care of ourselves too!!!!! No one else is ever gonna do it for us. Time to re-prioritize our needs!

[dsmith_rn 186]

HI

I have been an RN for 27 years, mostly pediatrics anywhere from ED trauma to home care/chronic care. I am currently working in an outpatient pediatric subspecialty clinic setting. Many days lunch and breaks are just an idea. I am hoping to have surgery the end of April early May. Just now reconsidering sleeve instead of bypass as planned. I have never been good at taking pills and have concerns about the effects of malabsorption. What made you decide to have the type of surgery? I am concerned that maybe I am just second guessing my decision but don't want to make the wrong decision. I have no co-morbidities and exercise regularly at least 3 times per week but have BMI of 45. I would appreciate educated suggestions and am happy to have found this forum of nurses who understand.

Thanks in advance for your feedback.

Cheri

Hi Cheri,

If it helps you at all, the statistical difference between the RnY and the VSG is only about 5% weight loss. Meaning that according to the studies a VGS patient will lose (on average) 60-65% of their excess weight, and the RnY patient will lose an average of 65-70% of their excess weight. So for someone who has 100 lb to lose, that is only a FIVE POUND DIFFERENCE!

That was the selling point for me. Such a tiny difference in outcome, with the advantage of not having malabsorption problems or being worried about becoming deathly ill if someone's potluck item contains sugar I wasn't aware of. That's how I know the Sleeve is right for me!

I wish you the best of luck in making your decision. If you DO decide to go with the sleeve, make sure your surgeon has done MANY of them. Since it's still a relatively new surgery, some aren't that experienced with it yet. It is gaining popularity because of its statistical similarity of success with the RnY without re-routing the intestines, but check with your own surgeon first, and ask him/her the tough questions!

{{{{hugs}}}}

[Kattmagg 2]

This is Awesome! I just signed up for the forum today and found this thread. I've been nursing for 30 years, the last 12 in the Operating Room. I started my preop diet today and will be sleeved on March 19th. I don't know if being an OR nurse is better or worse going into surgery. I have been overweight my whole life, lots of yoyo dieting. I am doing this on my own so will be counting on the kindness of strangers to get me through.

Nice ta meet ya !!

[dsmith_rn 186]

For those of you who work 12.5-hr, non-desk jobs, how much time did you take off of work after your surgery? I'm trying to plan ahead. My surgeon says 2 weeks, but doesn't seem reasonable to me, as I will barely be starting soft foods and I can't imagine having the energy for a 12.5-hour shift? Any thoughts?

[doneganregime1 43]

Exactly 4 weeks. Could've went back after 3 maybe. Didn't have an energy issue. I had scar tissue form and was having pain. After about 17-18 days it was fine. It's also better when you're off puréeds.

[beeteroo 166]

I'm new or this site and happy I found this forum! I've been a nurse for 15 years and CRNA for 2 years now. I'm at the beginning stages of getting a sleeve. Have my first appt with the surgeon this Wednesday! I've been thinking about surgery for many years and almost had a lap band put in in 2010.....now that I've seen all the complications in my own patients with a lap band I'm happy I didn't have it done! I've decided to go to a surgeon and OR where I don't know anyone. I just don't want the people I work with know that much about me! I found out my insurance doesn't require any waiting period and I just need a psych consult so I plan to get it done as soon as possible. Since I'm not doing heavy lifting anymore at work I am not worried about when I'm going back to work. I am concerned about drinking enough fluids. How have you all been able to drink enough? I figured I would drink the entire time I'm out of the operating room throughout the day.

[taylokat 180]

I'm new or this site and happy I found this forum! I've been a nurse for 15 years and CRNA for 2 years now. I'm at the beginning stages of getting a sleeve. Have my first appt with the surgeon this Wednesday! I've been thinking about surgery for many years and almost had a lap band put in in 2010.....now that I've seen all the complications in my own patients with a lap band I'm happy I didn't have it done! I've decided to go to a surgeon and OR where I don't know anyone. I just don't want the people I work with know that much about me! I found out my insurance doesn't require any waiting period and I just need a psych consult so I plan to get it done as soon as possible. Since I'm not doing heavy lifting anymore at work I am not worried about when I'm going back to work. I am concerned about drinking enough fluids. How have you all been able to drink enough? I figured I would drink the entire time I'm out of the operating room throughout the day.

Congratulations on your decision! I work in PACU and also opted to go to a different hospital where I don't know anyone. I'm 11 months post op, 80 lbs lost and 3 lbs to goal. I took one week vacation so counting the weekends I went back to work on post op day 10. You should do fine with your liquids as long as your cases are a bit shorter. A long case might be a problem in the beginning. The first week back I would eat a plain Greek yogurt but throw half of it out when nobody was looking because a full container was too much. Till this day nobody knows I had the surgery. We do quite a bit of Bariatrics at my place and I hear the remarks my coworkers make especially when hospital staff have the surgery...they aren't fat enough, they should just go to weight watchers. I wanna scream "Listen you judge mental beotch, if the insurance covers it, trust me, she's fat enough!!!!!!!"

[CrazyJaney 775]

Congratulations on your decision! I work in PACU and also opted to go to a different hospital where I don't know anyone. I'm 11 months post op, 80 lbs lost and 3 lbs to goal. I took one week vacation so counting the weekends I went back to work on post op day 10. You should do fine with your liquids as long as your cases are a bit shorter. A long case might be a problem in the beginning. The first week back I would eat a plain Greek yogurt but throw half of it out when nobody was looking because a full container was too much. Till this day nobody knows I had the surgery. We do quite a bit of Bariatrics at my place and I hear the remarks my coworkers make especially when hospital staff have the surgery...they aren't fat enough, they should just go to weight watchers. I wanna scream "Listen you judge mental beotch, if the insurance covers it, trust me, she's fat enough!!!!!!!"

Nurses are the worst. I don't get how judgy we are as a group. Ugh!

[moite1 14]

Hello all. I'm an LPN eight years primarily in pediatrics inpatient, outpatient, pediatric psych, and case management. I'm currently in school and an LPN to Rn Bridge program. Three months in and just had my surgery last week. The timing on that was probably not the best, but in either case Life must go on. As nurses I'm sure we are aware that one of our strongest traits is our ability to adapt and make the best of situations. Also as nurses we do have an in-depth knowledge as to the implications that come with being overweight or obese. After years of dieting and regaining weight, I finally decided that bariatric surgery was the right decision for me. Not the solution "the easy way out" as I'm sure a lot of people will think this process is. Those of us would've been through it know that there is nothing easy about weight-loss surgery and this journey presents a host of unique new challenges that we have to adjust to in order to be successful. I congratulate all of you RNS LPNS, CNAs, and NPs and all others who have made this decision. Please continue to post your stories! :-)

[moite1 14]

For those of you who work 12.5-hr, non-desk jobs, how much time did you take off of work after your surgery? I'm trying to plan ahead. My surgeon says 2 weeks, but doesn't seem reasonable to me, as I will barely be starting soft foods and I can't imagine having the energy for a 12.5-hour shift? Any thoughts?

I guess it depends on The type of facility. I will be back on the floor at 2 1/2 weeks. I did quite a bit of research before I scheduled my surgery asking other nurses on this board about what each thought was a safe amount of time, and I got many different answers. One lady said she went back five days post op. But I can't imagine being on the floor for 12 hours less than a week post op. That's insane to me and dangerous... I opted for two weeks because I work in pediatric psych. It's not very physically demanding, more mentally draining lol. Certain other areas of nursing will definitely require more time than that.

[moite1 14]

Congratulations on your decision! I work in PACU and also opted to go to a different hospital where I don't know anyone. I'm 11 months post op, 80 lbs lost and 3 lbs to goal. I took one week vacation so counting the weekends I went back to work on post op day 10. You should do fine with your liquids as long as your cases are a bit shorter. A long case might be a problem in the beginning. The first week back I would eat a plain Greek yogurt but throw half of it out when nobody was looking because a full container was too much. Till this day nobody knows I had the surgery. We do quite a bit of Bariatrics at my place and I hear the remarks my coworkers make especially when hospital staff have the surgery...they aren't fat enough, they should just go to weight watchers. I wanna scream "Listen you judge mental beotch, if the insurance covers it, trust me, she's fat enough!!!!!!!"

Omg! I was seriously contemplating telling my coworkers about my new sleeve because of the noticeable weight loss and of course my new eating habits...but now that I'm reading your post, you have a very good point! I really don't want to deal with anybody's judgment or opinions. I might have to rethink that one.

[dsmith_rn 186]

I'm taking a "need to know" attitude with telling people about my surgery. At work I only told my boss. I have already faced negativity from my niece and her husband (due to their misinformation of the procedure) and I definitely don't need any more of that! As I lose the weight, when people ask I will tell them I'm eating a lot less and exercising more, which will be the absolute truth.

I had my endoscopy today (I was nervous but it was a total breeze), and my required nutrition class tonight. That was the last of my requirements, so now just waiting on insurance approval so we can set a date. I'm ready for this, and very excited!

A sleeve friend of mine advised me not to fall into "last meal syndrome" and to get my fill of carbs now because it will be 6-8 months before I can eat bread, rice, and Pasta again. Sounds reasonable to me.

After talking to several people, I have decided to take 3 weeks off work since 12-hour shifts are so exhausting. I feel pretty good about that time frame.

Any pre-ops here have a surgery date yet? Let's talk!

[Macy6 356]

Thank God! I've been looking for a group of nurses to join! I am an RN in a Level III NICU. It is both stressful and rewarding. The 12.5-hour shifts can be GRUELLING, and I'm very concerned about how long I should take off of work after my surgery. As it is, I'm just plain exhausted at the end of my shift. Another worry: we are not allowed to have ANY drinks (even water) with us, they have to stay at the clerk's desk as we can't leave the room to sip on them unless there is another RN in the room, so I'm very concerned about dehydration and stamina afterwards. I'm having sleeve surgery done at the end of April with Dr. Keith Boone in Fresno. {{{hugs}}} to all my fellow nurses!

I did my Senior Practicum in a busy NICU and was off 5 weeks before I started and had no issues jumping in, even being new and having been out of clinicals for a few months. I would have been fine sooner. My doctor required 4 weeks.

[TrueNorthStrong 9]

I'm a Level III NICU RN from Canada. I'm having gastric sleeve done with Dr. Jalil Illan Fraijo mid-April. Glad to find this forum. I was wondering about the time off post-op as well as I work 12-hour shifts on the floor. I have only 2 1/2 weeks booked off. Hope that will be enough for me.

[dsmith_rn 186]

I'm a Level III NICU RN from Canada. I'm having gastric sleeve done with Dr. Jalil Illan Fraijo mid-April. Glad to find this forum. I was wondering about the time off post-op as well as I work 12-hour shifts on the floor. I have only 2 1/2 weeks booked off. Hope that will be enough for me.

I'm in a Level III NICU and my surgery will be late April so we have a lot in common! I could use a "buddy" to walk through this journey with. .. What do you say? PM me If you like.

I should have an exact surgery date this week sometime. Good luck, everyone!