December 1: UPMC Magee (Pittsburgh)

[Sgt7546 69]

So I am a 43-year-old male from Pittsburgh. I had a starting weight of 314, which dropped to 300 during the supervised pre-op insurance waiting period. I chose Dr. Anita Courcoulas as my surgeon. I had no pre-op liquid diet to attend to, just nothing after midnight the day before surgery.

SURGERY DAY

I was to arrive at 10:45 AM with a table time of 12:45 PM. Everything went on time. Starting in pre-op with an IV, consent forms, and a face to face with both the Surgeon and the Anesthesiologist.

An interesting side note, from about 12:00 PM until at least 6:00 PM my family had no access to where I was. I knew this going into it and opted to just get to the hospital myself and my love ones came down after I was in a room. They were updated throughout the process by the nursing staff and by Dr. Courcoulas herself after surgery. I bring this up only to show there's a way to do the surgery without sticking your family in a hospital waiting room for hours.

The surgery was on time and I was in my room a few hours later. I was really doped up and didn't feel any pain but I was aware that I was given IV meds for nausea.

Around midnight I was up for a walk. The hardest part was getting into/out of bed. That first night they wake you damn near every hour for this or that.

DAY ONE POST-OP

Surgeon and other doctors were in to check up on me. IV fluids continued. By that point I had only used the Morphine pump 12 times since the start so it was discontinued. I was taken by wheel chair down for the Barium swallow to check for leaks. This test is very unpleasant but necessary. Back to the room for a nap.

I woke and felt good. Started the sipping of fluids in little medicine cups. I think i went for three walks during the day and slept on and off at night.

DAY TWO POST-OP

I was discharged today around 2:30 PM. Prior to discharge I had a couple more walks, got a shower, and dressed in sweats and a t-shirt. I was given liquid narcotic pain medication to take home. Apparently this script is hard to get filled at a lot of pharmacies, but UPMC Magee has an outpatient pharmacy on floor "zero" that filled the script prior to me leaving. As it turns out I only used one dose of the medication, and that I gave myself before the car ride home.

AT HOME

I'm two days at home now. Pain is maybe a 2 out of 10. The hardest part still is getting up from a seated position. First day I slept a lot and only got 59 ounces in. Today I was up by 9am, my wife took me to a store so I could walk a bit more. It's almost 11:30 PM now and I'm headed to bed with 76 ounces in for the day.

As far as the actual pain goes I'd say 80% is gas pain and it does hurt. Once your able to get up and start walking you will begin to burp and within a day or two begin to fart. Once this happens the gas passes really fast. Keep a bathroom handy though since you will have only liquids going in, you will end up with a whole new appreciation for the term diarrhea for the first few days at home.

I have no idea if I lost any weight. I'm only going to get on the scale monthly, so January 1 I'll have a number. I will say my recliner seems to fit me better now.

I'll report back with updates as they happen.

Tom

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Edited December 6, 2015 by Sgt7546

[amyg80 45]

Hey Tom! I was sleeved on 12/1 as well! We should keep in touch! How are you feeling? How's the liquid diet going?

[Sgt7546 69]

Hey Tom! I was sleeved on 12/1 as well! We should keep in touch! How are you feeling? How's the liquid diet going?

All is good. I'm over the 64oz a day but I do crave food. How's your progressed?

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[Mamagoat 0]

That was awesome!!!! My surgery is Thursday and you've helped me immensely!!!

[Sgt7546 69]

That was awesome!!!! My surgery is Thursday and you've helped me immensely!!!

Good luck. I'm sure you'll do great.

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[Sgt7546 69]

One week up date: Well I buckled and stepped on the scale. I have lost about 15 pounds. The first pic was taken the morning of surgery, the second pic was 7 days later.

op.

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[Sgt7546 69]

Week two post op. I'm feeling great, back to almost a normal life minus eating food of course. I lost another 9.6 pounds this week, bringing my post op total to 24.4 pounds.

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[HotmamaSC 5]

OH MY GOSH!!! I live in SC but have UPMC because my employer is based in Pitt!!!! How was your approval process with UPMC. My BMI is over 55 so I am not required to do the medically supervised diet. It is supposed to be submitted January 11th after I complete my nutrition consult. How long did it take to get approved. Gosh I am dying to hear bk NOBODY has UPMC aroudn here!! I will def be following your progress! GOOD LUCK!!!!

[Sgt7546 69]

Once I had my nutritional consult and psych, I was given scripts for X-ray, blood work, EKG, and scope. Once those results were in the approval was less than 72 hours

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[HotmamaSC 5]

I have to do 4 weeks of Optifast once I have a surgery date bk I'm so heavy. I get submitted after my nutrition consult on 1.11. This gives me hope

[Sgt7546 69]

Well good luck. The insurance side was seem less for me

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[Lorie269 392]

Hi there! I also had my surgery at Magee in 2013. My process and surgery experience was similar to yours with the exception of surgeons. I wanted to check in and see how you are doing and tell you that if you ever have any questions, to please let me know. Great job so far!

[Sgt7546 69]

Thanks Lorie. So far so good. I had my follow up appointment today and was cleared for soft foods.

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[Sgt7546 69]

So I'm three weeks post-op, food, Fluid, and Protein is going in fine. I've developed a sharp, stabbing pain near the large incision site. Dr's office thinks it is scar tissue or muscle strain and should go away within the week

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[Sgt7546 69]

Well it's been once month since surgery. All the pain has resolved itself and I'm back into jeans and t-shirts. Food/protein/water have been going in no problem. I'm down exactly 30 pounds in 30 days and it's starting to show

.

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