Just got home from the hospital- w/ a wee bit of buyers remorse

[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!!!

[KrissySMD 38]

I had the same feeling when I got home last Friday night. I'm still aggravated that I'm tired and not able to eat a lot. But I assume it gets better. I thought I had lost my mind doing this just 2 days ago. The pain and the nausea and the protein! But now I know that I just have to take it slow. I'm better every day. You'll be great!

[livvsmum 2,369]

I definitely felt that way in the first couple of weeks post-op. I didn't have a ton of pain or complications or anything, but drinking Water in and of itself was a chore. It really is about surviving those first couple of weeks. Since that i have not one time regretted my decision. Hang in there and stick with the plan. I promise it gets better!

[McButterpants 2,846]

Yep, I had buyer's remorse immediately after surgery along with some, "What the hell did I just do to myself." Even 7 months post-op there are times when I think that - they are fewer and far between now, though.

You'll be fine. Just sip and walk, sip and walk. You'll feel better in no time.

[pjpanda 129]

3 weeks out and ice is still my best friend... If I can't get Water down any other way i can through ice chips.< /p>

[Sleeveless in seattle 208]

Sadly, I was self pay and the insurance didn't cover my surgery, only the additional portion that the hernia caused (extra time under sedation, extra billable surgery room, etc). Insurance paid that $6000 no problem, but I still got the $18000 gastric sleeve portion.