Surgery in 3 days... So nervous...could really use some support

[ellie123 374]

In 3 days on Nov 5th, I will have my band taken out, my gallbladder removed and a Sleeve done. So nervous especially about anaesthesia which I do not do well. I have a 3 and 5 year old. I pray to God I'm doing the right thing. Any words of advise, encouragement or compassion, would be very much appreciated at this time! My stomach is all in knots about what is about to happen... So from what to take to the hospital, to things that would help me at home...anything that helped you that you are willing to share I would be eternally for. I'm in the home stretch to get this done, and trying to be strong.

Blessings and love...

[Sharon1964 2,530]

Don't worry, you've got this!

I had my gallbladder out years ago. It took a full year to get back to normal. I developed lactose intolerance, and things that never bothered me gave me heartburn (like peanut butter). Eventually all that went away.

Having your gallbladder out at the same time as getting the sleeve seems like a major win-win to me. You'll be taking an acid-reducer, which will help prevent the heartburn, and you can use almond milk or lactaid milk to avoid dairy problems.

If you're the cook of the family, make sure you have a week or so worth of frozen meals prepared ahead of time. Package some individual Snacks for the kids, like cheerios or crackers in little containers, so when they need something it's all ready. Put sugar-free Jello cups in the fridge, and the kids can get one for mommy when she needs one.

[crustymouse23 4]

You will be great. I am a firm believer you are making the right choice, especially because you have children in your hands. Having this type of procedure, I am sure you will take this tool and give your children the proper nutrients they need with great healthy habits. With the sleeve, weight loss and proper diet, you will be able to be there for your children and much healthier in the long run. My prayers go out to you and your fam. YOU GOT THIS!

In 3 days on Nov 5th, I will have my band taken out, my gallbladder removed and a Sleeve done. So nervous especially about anaesthesia which I do not do well. I have a 3 and 5 year old. I pray to God I'm doing the right thing. Any words of advise, encouragement or compassion, would be very much appreciated at this time! My stomach is all in knots about what is about to happen... So from what to take to the hospital, to things that would help me at home...anything that helped you that you are willing to share I would be eternally for. I'm in the home stretch to get this done, and trying to be strong.
Blessings and love...

[ellie123 374]

Finally home. 3 hour surgery, 2 night and 3 day stay in hospital. Band removed, hiatal hernia repair (I did not know I needed it), Gallbladder removal and ofciurse Sleeve. Very rough first day. But I took a Licken and kept on Ticken! Will write more about experience, when better rested. Hard to write on phone. Peace and love

[ellie123 374]

To My dear Bariatric Pals!

I wanted to thank you all for your support during my jitters in the weeks leading up to the OR. Indeed, it was probably one of the most nerve wracking things I’ve ever done! As I close in on a week post opp tomorrow, I have refrained from posting too much about the experience because I think I needed a little bit of time, first of all to recover enough to be lucid enough to write coherently, but also because I needed to regain some of my emotional footing, as I let the enormity, irriversability and life changing capacity that this surgery has afforded me sink in.

I will post several things on how I prepared emotionally for the surgery and also the things I found helpful on surgery day to help those who are close to the date and need support to make it through, at a latter date. But in this post I wanted to update you all on how I’m doing in a synopsis.

First off…my surgery started at approximately 10:30am and lasted almost 3 hours, because along with the Sleeve, Band removal and Gallbladder removal, they found a hiatal hernia to repare (in short, I got the Blue plate special). Anasthesia was my biggest concern. Coming out of it took a long time…I was in pain and naucious but communicating with my caretakers gave them a chance to stabilize me such that by evening I was somewhat coherent.

At first, I was really tight…even taking down an ice-chip was hard. And ofcourse there was the bloated gas to contend with. Knowing this I was armed with my on Gas Ex strips, forget the baby Simithicone they were giving me, but most importantly, as SOON as I could semi wobble, I started walking the hallways…my 2 hour cycles ran like this…sleep, take pain meds, sip liquid, pee, and walk those hallways as much as I could, and very soon, the gas problem was mitigated. Leaving the worse problem my banged up throat (from intubation) which was so raw and bad he surgeon took a pic of it to show the anesthesiologist! It felt like a layer of skin has literally been sloughed off, and so red and raw. And when I swallow…some skin seems loose like I’m swallowing my throat…yeah…bad).

After a nasty Barium swallow on day two I was clearned for liquids and the watered down Apple juice from an ounce cup felt like heaven!

I was release at the end of day 3. Back home I continued to walk. My fitbit registereing 6k steps all week and today I did 10k steps. Now these are veeeery slow put persistent and steady steps throughout the day, and after pain meds, and the only reason I can do this is because in the months leading up, I got a fitbit and worked my way up to about 12k steps, so I highly recommend you start walking now.

I finally was cleared from Clear Liquids to cream Soups today…wooo hooo. First few days I was not as hungry, but now, be it head hunger or what…mama wants some sustainance! And broth ain’t cutting it! The cream of mushroom was devine!

I’m weaning off of Hydrocodine and moving to liquid gel Aleve.

Upon my return home, gained Water weight coming back home from the IV as expected. My stomach feels distended and droopy as expected. And I have 6 incisions to nurse.

The more I drank, the more I started to shed the IV Fluid weight. So keeping hydrated remains key. And now I’m lower than pre-op weight.

I also found a book online. Emotional First Aid Kit Bariatric Surgery Patients to help hone some couping strategies for when I’m back in a world of doenuts.

And that’s where I am folks! Just learning how to live in this Brave new world I’ve been born into. Much like a toddler, taking baby steps, learning what I can and can’t do. It’s still just a week, so I’m looking forward to more healing and the rewards which we all so freverantly seek.

I hope my account is helpful to you.

Sending you peace and love,

Ellie123

[amheather76 0]

Keep us posted and glad to hear you are doing better!! Take care of yourself.

[FrankyG 1,450]

Wow that was a whole lot of surgery! Glad you're doing well and improving steadily. Keep up the good work.