My S(sleeve)-Day Story....

[DanaInNewOrleans 513]

Hi everybody,

Sorry I haven't updated until now but I had a rough couple of days with nausea, which they finally got under control once they found the right drug combinations. I'm finally home and doing well. I'm sitting here sipping warm black coffee -- I have never liked black coffee but at this point I'll take it.

So I'll recap my experiences so the newbies can get an idea of what to expect.

Thursday 12/20...

1 day before S-Day). Only Clear liquids this day and let me tell you, I was starving by the time the evening came around. I just kept eating sugar free Jello cups. I had a lot of friends calling to wish me well and ask it I was nervous. Believe it or not, I was totally at peace. I can't explain it but I was not nervous at all. Once midnight came it was nothing by mouth. I stayed up all night cleaning the house - I wanted to come home to a really clean house so that I didn't have to worry about it for a while once I got home. Also we have friends coming to stay with us for Christmas and of course I want the house clean! It worked out well because it kept me occupied. I took a shower at about 4 am with Hibiclens, then it was time to get dressed, wake up the hubby and head to the hospital ...we have to be there at 6am.

Friday 12/21.... S(sleeve)-Day!!!

615am We are at the hospital and waiting to be called back. There are a few people in the waiting who look like they are relatives of patients...

about 7am they called to "come on back"! I kiss the hubby goodbye and they bring me to a room, hand me a big plastic back and tell me to take everything off and put the gown on. The gown is HUGE --- and can't get it to stay on my shoulders. The nurse then takes me to the pre-op room and I get in bed. They called Jay (hubby) so he can come sit with me until I go to surgery. The two anesthesiologists that I'd already met came in to talk to me and both were great. They told me they knew I was concerned about nausea and they would

everything

they could to minimize it. Then they tell Dr; Lavin is running ahead of schedule and I would be next and it would only be about 10 minutes before they start! WOW. That was quick!! From that point on everything moves fast. They put my IV in (easy easy) and next thing I know they are wheeling me to the OR I kissed the hubby goodbye and yelled down the hall that "if I die take care of our cats" , to which the hubby yelled back "we have DOGS dummy" LOL... SO, now I am in the OR. They switch me to the OR bed and get me situated-- they put a mask over my face and then it was lights out immediately. It is amazing how quick it works. My last conscious thought was them putting them on the mask and me thinking, it smelled sweet. LIGHTS OUT!

The next thing I vaguely remember is being wheeled out and to my room -- I was extremely nauseous and had to pee very badly. I get to the room and all I can think about is PEEING, although I'm not fully awake. They want me to wait. I say I cannot wait -- the want me to use a bed pan, I say no way, just let me get up to pee. The nurse relents and they help me out of the bed. I was totally unstable and so hubby and 2 aggravated nurses guide me to the bathroom.

My nausea is awful and I have pain in my chest and shoulders-- which I knew to expect because of VST! It's the gas they pump you up with --- it goes everywhere. I have no pain in my stomach or my incisions ( I have 5 incisions). I battle nausea for hours-- they give different meds abut nothing helps. They finally find the right combination of drugs.... Reglan, Levsin and Zofran. Thank God!! I slept for a little-- then it was time get up and pee. That scenario went on all night....because they were giving me fluids I had to get up to pee every half hour or so. And every time I had to climb out of the bed and maneuver the IV pole, pee, maneuver back to bed, then try to climb in bed without killing myself! I think I probably did that 20 times. They have me sucking on ice chips and trying to drink a little, which goes good. I am able to sip and suck on ice with no difficulty. . In the middle of night I got up and Jay ( he stayed the whole night with me) and I walked around the entire floor. Then they bring me more liquid Lortab which helps the soreness so much!! It's is great.

Saturday 12/22....1 day post-S(sleeve)

All my nurses were awesome. A couple of my nurses had actually had the Sleeve done by Dr. Lavin, which is cool because they were able to give lots of advice and perspective. I walk around a little but the IV pole drives me crazy. They want me to eat a Popsicle and Crystal Light, which again, goes down fine. I finished the entire Popsicle and was able to sip the Crystal Light. All I want now is to go home and sleep since I haven't actually sleep since Wednesday. The nurse tells me that I should be able to go home but they've got to wait until Dr. Lavin gives the ok. I'm still connected to the IV which means I am still peeing constantly. I am soooo ready to go home.

Finally the nurse comes in and says Lavin gave the ok. Yea!!! It will take a little while though because the nurses have to get the discharge papers together. I get dressed (which feels great to be out of that gown ) About an hour later the nurse comes in and goes over instructions, medications....etc. I sign my discharge papers and it's jailbreak time!!! I hug my nurse, thank everybody and we're off for home to see our fur babies (3 little dogs) that we adore.

We get home, play with our dogs a little and I make some chicken broth, which goes down well. I am not hungry but do wish I could eat something-- head hunger. It sucks.. I am extremely sore all over. It's the kind of soreness that feels like the day after you've exercised hard and you're out shape. Or like if you have the flu and you cough so much that everything hurts. I take some liquid Lortab , lay down and sleep, sleep, sleep with my 3 fur babies next to me. I wake up late in the evening, make some chicken broth, eat a Sugar Free Popsicle and a sugar free Fudgesicle. I walk around the house a little bit and go back to sleep.

Sunday 12/22 2 Days Post-S

I wake up and feel so much better today! It's a big difference and now I know what the sleeve veterans mean when they say every day gets better. It's true.

I'm sitting here watching the Saints game ( we're season tickets holders and are crazy about our Saints) and sipping black coffee and taking my medication one pill at a time. I have had no problem with sipping warm or cold liquids, although plain Water does not go down as easy. I ate a cup of Jello and feel good. So that's it!! I'm officially on the "other side" and it feels good!

Good luck to all of you pending Sleevers!!

~Dana

[wagox1 3]

Hi Dana, your experience is almost the same as mine, except I had no nausea and was sleeved last Thursday by Dr. Lavin, so I am one day ahead of you. Congrats and continue updating your story!

[DanaInNewOrleans 513]

Hi Dana, your experience is almost the same as mine, except I had no nausea and was sleeved last Thursday by Dr. Lavin, so I am one day ahead of you. Congrats and continue updating your story!

Hey!! Are you in New Orleans? Congrats to you too! Were you in Crescent City Surgical?

[kristikay 60]

Thanks for sharing your experience. it helps to know what to look forward to, my date is Jan,22. The next step is getting my husband to read a few posts, especially the part where your husbacn is supportive. Mine is not so much, still of the opinion I could lose the weight with diet and exercise even though I have been trying that for 35 years and weigh more than ever.

[wagox1 3]

I am on the north shore, had surgery at Fairway Medical.

[BeatrizS1974<3 sleeve 94]

thanks for the play by play. Glad your feeling better!

[DanaInNewOrleans 513]

Thanks for sharing your experience. it helps to know what to look forward to, my date is Jan,22. The next step is getting my husband to read a few posts, especially the part where your husbacn is supportive. Mine is not so much, still of the opinion I could lose the weight with diet and exercise even though I have been trying that for 35 years and weigh more than ever.

Hi Kristi,

My husband and most of my friends were more or less against the surgery. They thought it was too drastic of a step. I tried to explain my reasoning and then I said, this is what is best for me. I then I told my husband, I AM DOING THIS. He has been very supportive once my mind was made up. I said the same thing as you, I've doing this for 40 years..I'm tired and I want a chance to be "normal".

Good luck!! You'll do great!

~Dana

[wagox1 3]

What liquids are you having? Fudgcicles are great!

[BeatrizS1974<3 sleeve 94]

Most of my friends are not supportive. My husband is very supportive! At first i was a bit hurt that my friends were so negative but then i realized that they were too scared to take such a big step in their lives. Ironically the ones that were not supportive are obese too. But i have learned not to give a rats ass what my friends think.... you know what they say, opinions are like A$$ holes, everyone has one!

[DanaInNewOrleans 513]

What liquids are you having? Fudgcicles are great!

Lets see, the clear liquid diet is pretty miserable.... Popsicles, Fudgesicles, chicken broth, beef broth, black coffee ( yuck but I'm desperate) and sugar free Jello. That's it. I think clear liquid phase will the worst part of the entire journey.... Day 7 cannot get here quick enough!

[orthoman 114]

I told a person who was not supportive, who I think was and is simply worried about me, that a life without risk is usually less than it could have been.

There are many times in life when we come to a fork in the road. And there are many times when we are called upon to make a choice.

A life that is always played safely is usually a life that never lived up to its potential.

Calculated risk is what makes it fun to wake up in the morning. This is something that most people instinctively know when we are young, and we seem to forget for some reason when we get older...

Live life and take a reasonable risk once in a while!

I'm getting this done this coming Friday.

[cms213 119]

Thanks for the details of what all happened before and after surgery! Espeically detail about the pain I keep reading about pain after and I wasn't sure what type of pain (sorness like a workout or like sharp shooting pains). I hope everything keeps getting better fron here on out for you. Keep us posted

[BANANA PANTS! 60]

First of all- WHAT A GAME TODAY!!!!! I hope it took your mind off of your tummy for awhile today! Glad to hear you are doing well. I'm lucky in that I am full liquids after day 1 and the Soups really help.

I suggest for anyone living with a less supportive person - have them read the research. I was a non-believer for a long time until I actually read the weight loss studies. I think this helped my family come around too. I'm lucky to have a great boyfriend (of 15 years - it works). He saw me through my diagnosis of MS, and was a trooper through this adventure as well.

Anyway - congrats on making it through. Hang in there!

Sent from my iPhone using VST

[BANANA PANTS! 60]

First of all- WHAT A GAME TODAY!!!!! I hope it took your mind off of your tummy for awhile today! Glad to hear you are doing well. I'm lucky in that I am full liquids after day 1 and the Soups really help.

I suggest for anyone living with a less supportive person - have them read the research. I was a non-believer for a long time until I actually read the weight loss studies. I think this helped my family come around too. I'm lucky to have a great boyfriend (of 15 years - it works). He saw me through my diagnosis of MS' date=' and was a trooper through this adventure as well.

Anyway - congrats on making it through. Hang in there!

Sent from my iPhone using VST[/quote']

Sent from my iPhone using VST

[ArcusX 216]

Hi Dana,

Good to hear you're doing well, and thanks for the play by play recap. Well done!

Curious: I was under the impression that caffeine isn't good for your stomach, and so I'd have to lay off for a while. Are you drinking Decaf? I'm guessing not by the "drinking it black / I'm desperate" comment.

I love coffee, but it tends to not love me sometimes. Of course, I don't take it black. Been using splenda with some Creamer lately, so better than sugar!