Less than a week!

[Shiner86 60]

I am def going through some buyers remorse. They did my sleeve and fixed a hernia while I was in. I don't know if that means the insurance will cover some of the surgery now (I was self pay) so any thoughts or advice on that is appreciated!!

Once they rolled me out of surfer I pretty much don't remember anything from the first 6-7 hours post op. Hubby says I was talking but would fall asleep mid sentence. They then take your bed away and make you lay in this surprisingly comfortable recliner. I was up pretty much every hour to walk because it was the only thing that relieved the gas pain and nausea. Everytime I thought I was going to vomit, I really just needed to burp. My advice to those about to do this surgery- when in doubt, walk it out!!

Each time I would walk the pain got better, I got stronger the nausea went away. Granted, it always came back an hour or two later but then I would walk again. The morning after they take you down to radiology where you do a barium swallow- which again made me try to vomit but I only needed to really burp. They also have you do breathing games after each walk. For some reason or another these really tire you out but they do help you cough up flem so they are important. They send you home with the breathing game as well.

Before I left I chose to take a shower which was heavenly! The nurses helped me quite a bit which I thought would be awkward but it wasn't. After the shower my doc came in and went over post op meds to be filled and his expectations at home. All of my pills have to be crushed and my pain meds are all liquid so that's nice. The only meds he has me on is ondancetron (pill I am crushing for nausea), hydrocodone/Tylenol (for pain but comes liquid) and sucralfate( comes as a liquid but haven't taken it yet).

My first attempt at pain meds at home made me vomit. My sleeve really let me know it got too full by making me immediately hyper salivate and retch a wee bit. Not so fun!! So anyways here is a summary of my tips for those about to go in:

1) walk walk walk walk. If you hurt in any way try walking first and then ask for meds after. It really does help

2) bring your own pillow!

3) don't be shy- the nurses will gladly help if you ask. Literally for anything. Also- when I got there I told my anesthesiologist I was really nervous (I cried) so he was super nice and gave me some good meds before surgery to calm my nerves.

4) ice chips are your friend, they help with the dry mouth.

5) tell your doc if you need meds for nausea! Originally he wasn't going to send me home with any but when I ask he happily gave them to me.

5) drink slow, really really slow.

6) bring slip on shoes

Well that's all I can think of for now. I'm on some pretty great pain meds so sorry if some of it doesn't make sense or I repeated myself! Feel free to private message me if you have anymore questions!!!

[daw3378 93]

If I could just get these pesky gas pains to go away, I'd be feeling so much better, walk walk walk...

[Sunrise07214 57]

How are we doing ladies? I'm doing wonderful. So much more energy now that I can have puréed foods. I have ham and sweet potatoes in the oven right now and it smells heavenly. I'm able to drink really well and even take a couple actual "gulps" of Water. The puréed food is still iffy and baby food seems to be the easiest to go down.

[ChristmasJanet 74]

Sunrise07214 Thanks for the update! Glad you are doing so well. My surgery is next Wednesday (25th). Getting anxious!

[knitlil09 91]

How are we doing ladies? I'm doing wonderful. So much more energy now that I can have puréed foods. I have ham and sweet potatoes in the oven right now and it smells heavenly. I'm able to drink really well and even take a couple actual "gulps" of Water. The puréed food is still iffy and baby food seems to be the easiest to go down.

So glad you're doing better!

[daw3378 93]

I wish I was on puree, I have 2 weeks of full liquids first....but I'm down 29 lbs since 6/3. So not complaining :-)