Sleeved on Monday

[dustin551 84]

Well, I never thought it would happen, but it finally did. I was sleeved early on Monday morning. Just some observations for those that might not have had surgery yet.

1. You probably won't remember when you went to sleep. My surgeon gave me some anti-anxiety drug through my IV, not because I was anxious, but it is standard procedure. Apparently I was saying some pretty funny stuff that I don't remember before they gave me the drug that puts me to sleep. I remember (vaugely) being wheeled back to the operating room but I don't remember when I passed out.

2. I was really worried about being sick and nauseous after surgery. I'm not sure if it was drugs that they gave me, but I wasn't nauseous even one time.

3. I didn't feel any pain while I was lying still in the bed in the hospital. There was pain when I moved, but I really didn't have to use much of the morphine pump for the 24 hours or so that I was in the hospital after the procedure.

4. The only really painful part for me was when they pulled out the drain above my stomach right before I left. It feels really freaky and hurts like hell for about 3 seconds.

5. My surgery was at 8:15am on Monday and I left the hospital at about 11am the following day. I went back to work the next morning. Note that I don't recommend this, and it was only because I have a desk job that I did this. But I really felt kind of lousy all day because I started to get sore in the belly area. Soreness will increase after you leave the hospital, but only for a couple of days (at least in my case)

6. Make sure you have an enema kit on hand for 2-3 days after you get out. The morphine will make you even more constipated than the liquid diet did. I had to use an enema when it was finally time to go. Not a great experience.

7. You're going to have to sleep on your back for the first few days. I'm a side sleeper, but I couldn't go more than a couple of minutes on my side before it got painful. If you have sleep apnea and haven't been using your cpap, you'd better break it out again because sleeping on your back makes the apnea worse.

8. On Wednesday, I realized that I couldn't take two sips of Water within 30 seconds. If I did, the second sip would stop right above my stomach and sit there for a few seconds before it finally went through. And it didn't feel good while it was sitting there.

9. It is very strange to not be physically hungry. I'm definitely still "head hungry" where if I see a cheeseburger or something I definitely would love to have a bite, but if I stay busy, I would never even think to eat. I've still got swelling so I don't know if it will always be that way, but it sure is nice at the moment.

10. I was a smoker before this, but I stopped a few days before surgery. I know I was supposed to stop before that, but I cheated regularly. I will say that I don't have a desire to smoke after the surgery, and not just because it is dangerous to do so right after. It seems like the body having to adjust without food is also helping me to adjust to not smoking.

11. On the morning when I left for the hospital, I weighed 327 lbs. When I got home, I weighed 330 lbs. This is because of all the IV fluids you get in the hospital. On Tuesday evening, after being out of the hospital for half a day, I weighed 322. I literally peed out 8 pounds of Fluid in a few hours. This morning (Friday), I weighed 318 lbs. I had a one week liquid diet before surgery. So:

11 days ago: 338lbs

After one week on liquids (surgery date): 327

Today (4 days post op): 318

That's 20 lbs in 11 days. Yay! That level of weight loss won't last but it is nice at the moment.

[Olivia2233 10]

Well, I never thought it would happen, but it finally did. I was sleeved early on Monday morning. Just some observations for those that might not have had surgery yet.

1. You probably won't remember when you went to sleep. My surgeon gave me some anti-anxiety drug through my IV, not because I was anxious, but it is standard procedure. Apparently I was saying some pretty funny stuff that I don't remember before they gave me the drug that puts me to sleep. I remember (vaugely) being wheeled back to the operating room but I don't remember when I passed out.

2. I was really worried about being sick and nauseous after surgery. I'm not sure if it was drugs that they gave me, but I wasn't nauseous even one time.

3. I didn't feel any pain while I was lying still in the bed in the hospital. There was pain when I moved, but I really didn't have to use much of the morphine pump for the 24 hours or so that I was in the hospital after the procedure.

4. The only really painful part for me was when they pulled out the drain above my stomach right before I left. It feels really freaky and hurts like hell for about 3 seconds.

5. My surgery was at 8:15am on Monday and I left the hospital at about 11am the following day. I went back to work the next morning. Note that I don't recommend this, and it was only because I have a desk job that I did this. But I really felt kind of lousy all day because I started to get sore in the belly area. Soreness will increase after you leave the hospital, but only for a couple of days (at least in my case)

6. Make sure you have an enema kit on hand for 2-3 days after you get out. The morphine will make you even more constipated than the liquid diet did. I had to use an enema when it was finally time to go. Not a great experience.

7. You're going to have to sleep on your back for the first few days. I'm a side sleeper, but I couldn't go more than a couple of minutes on my side before it got painful. If you have sleep apnea and haven't been using your cpap, you'd better break it out again because sleeping on your back makes the apnea worse.

8. On Wednesday, I realized that I couldn't take two sips of Water within 30 seconds. If I did, the second sip would stop right above my stomach and sit there for a few seconds before it finally went through. And it didn't feel good while it was sitting there.

9. It is very strange to not be physically hungry. I'm definitely still "head hungry" where if I see a cheeseburger or something I definitely would love to have a bite, but if I stay busy, I would never even think to eat. I've still got swelling so I don't know if it will always be that way, but it sure is nice at the moment.

10. I was a smoker before this, but I stopped a few days before surgery. I know I was supposed to stop before that, but I cheated regularly. I will say that I don't have a desire to smoke after the surgery, and not just because it is dangerous to do so right after. It seems like the body having to adjust without food is also helping me to adjust to not smoking.

11. On the morning when I left for the hospital, I weighed 327 lbs. When I got home, I weighed 330 lbs. This is because of all the IV fluids you get in the hospital. On Tuesday evening, after being out of the hospital for half a day, I weighed 322. I literally peed out 8 pounds of Fluid in a few hours. This morning (Friday), I weighed 318 lbs. I had a one week liquid diet before surgery. So:

11 days ago: 338lbs

After one week on liquids (surgery date): 327

Today (4 days post op): 318

That's 20 lbs in 11 days. Yay! That level of weight loss won't last but it is nice at the moment.

I can not beleive you went right back to work, wow poor thing. Sounds good and dont start smoking my sis had the bypass and she continued to smoke she has had sooooo many problems health wise. Chew the gum and mind over matter. I stopped smoking cold turkey 15 years ago and never looked back!!! Good Luck!!

[Nesa 51]

Thanks for sharing this!!!