Synopsis of Surgery Day

flower · May 29, 2005

Calling fellow banders could you tell us what the procedure is the day of surgery there are alot of people going in june and I was wondering what it is going to be like the day of surgery like the minute you go in the hospital doors how are you prepped what is post op like just curious if someone wants to share I'm sure people will be interested to know thanks

coyotegirl · May 30, 2005

Well, When I got to the hospital at 6:00a.m. I was told to strip down to nothing and put on those no back gowns. The nurse tried to put in my IV's but had a hard time. She got one but I needed one on the other hand also. Several tried and failed. They said my veins move. So they just waited until I was under to do the other one. It was there when I woke up. My surgeon then came over and talked to me for a min. They gave me something in my IV's and I got very dizzy. They said it was normal. When I was wheeled into OR I remember my surgeon talking to me (don't remember what he said) and I remember the nurses putting on those wonderful boots on my legs. After that I remember NOTHING! The next thing I heard was the nurse calling my name. I remember being mad and thinking "why don't they just get this over with?" then the nurse called my name again and said it was over. "OH" They had me cough a little and then gave me a little Ice chips, (very little) Man was I thursty!!! I had NO pain! I stayed in recovery for about 1 hour then off to my room. My mom and brother were there waiting for me. I slept on and off for most of the morning and then was sitting on the side of my bed off and on. ( not much walking for me because I have a spinal disease) They would come and get me for test through out the day. That was the only time I had any real pain. It was very hard to lay flat on my back and for the test I had to.

I didn't sleep very well that night. and about 4 in the am I was having pain because I had not peed since before surgery! over 20 hours! I didn't think anything about it because I wasn't drinking. I forgot about all the IV's they were putting in me. So they had to cath me. YUCK!!!!!!!!! My Dr. wouldn't let me go home the next day until I had peed on my own. They took the cath out a few hours later and then 4 hours later, I PEED!!!!! So later that afternoon Home I Went!! Hard trip home because it was a 3 hr drive. Then from then on everything was and is great!!! I love my band!!!

May 30, 2005

Hi, am hopefully being banded next month and am after some information. Did they inflate your stomach with gas and what happened to it afterwards ?!!

I have read on this site that you go on a liquid diet before op - I am going from England to France and have not been told about this.

Would be grateful for your reply

Thanks

Shelley W

coyotegirl · May 30, 2005

Hi Shelley, Yes I was inflated with gas for my surgery. My stomach stuck out before surgery but you should have seen it after! WHOOOOOOOOOO!! You just walk around as much as possible after surgery and it leaves you the same way all gas leaves your body. Out your mouth with a burp or out the other end with a fart! Mine wasnt too bad! Some have a lot of pain with it. After a few days it's gone.

I was on a 10 day liquid diet before surgery that ended up being a 15 day liquid diet because my surgery was pushed back a few days. Some people have to go on a liquid diet but some don't, It all depends on you surgeon. The only thing I could drink was clear surgar free drinks and 3 cups of milk a day. SF Jello, SF pops, oh yea I could have 1 fudgesicle a day. It was hard but I did it. Just thinking about the end results helped.

Good luck with your surgery next month! If you have any more questions just ask away. This board is the best place I have found for answers.

May 30, 2005

Calling fellow banders could you tell us what the procedure is the day of surgery there are alot of people going in june and I was wondering what it is going to be like the day of surgery like the minute you go in the hospital doors how are you prepped what is post op like just curious if someone wants to share I'm sure people will be interested to know thanks

Here's what I posted to my blog spot about my surgery experience:

12/16/04 - pre-surgery visit

"Just 4 more sleeps until my surgery on Monday. I thought I had picked a good date for my work schedule, but it's gotten so busy!!! That's what you get when you try to anticipate things.

I had my pre-op appointment yesterday, Wednesday 12/15. Piece of cake. I arrived early and I was finished by the time my last appointment was supposed to start! I had to visit Respiratory, where they gave me a breating machine that I'll use after surgery. I don't know the name of it, but you put it in your mouth, breathe in and the little ball thingy in it goes up. It's supposed to help ward off pneumonia.

Then I had to visit with Anesthesiology, where a lady asked me lots of questions. I couldn't remember how well I did under anesthesia when I was 2, so we didn't have much to go on. Guess we'll find out.

Then I had an appointment with Dr. Sudan's office. I actually met with his Fellow (apparently, being a Fellow is not just a fancy name for being a Guy -- it's a doctor who is past his residency), Dr. Lambert. He went over the risks again, had me sign some papers, give an emergency contact, gave me prescriptions to get filled; just some general stuff. Then Dr. Sudan came in for all of 30 seconds. That was it! They sent me on my way.

The most painful part of yesterday was paying! I had to pay for my surgery with cashier's checks that I got from the bank -- $13,361.00 in total yesterday. Add that to the other things I've already paid for (psych consult, labs, and dr's appoints) and I think my total is around $14,000.

So...4 more sleeps then I wake up and go! What will fill my time, you ask? Well, tonight is the finale of The Apprentice. Friday night I am hanging with my brother, sister, and brother-in-law. Saturday I have church stuff most of the morning. Saturday night we're having Christmas dinner with family friends at my sister's apartment. Sunday will be spent in the bathroom (pre-op bowel prep). Monday morning, I have to be at the hospital at 5:30 AM!

Here we go!"

12/23/04 - 3 days after surgery

"We got to Creighton a little after 5:30 and went to register. Then they took me upstairs to the surgery registration area where I changed into a gown and then they started an IV. They also gave me a "calming"/"anti-nervousness" pill. I wasn't feeling nervous at the time, so I don't know if that helped or hurt any!

I had 2 Anesthesiologists. One lady was 50 or so and came in and told me "I've been doing this for 2 weeks and I am getting quite good at it." The other guy was probably 70 and told me he had just bought "Anesthesia for Dummies", so he was ready too. My mom didn't appreciate their humor as much as I did.

My surgery was scheduled for 7:30 AM and sure, enough, at 7:30, they rolled me in to the Operating Room. That's a scary place! Big white room with lights on the ceiling. Lots of nurses there in their gowns and masks. They put you on this bed with your arms spread out. It kind of reminds me of the cross position. Then they belted me onto the table, to make sure I didn't shift during surgery. The last thing I remember them doing is putting leg-warmer type things on my legs. They are compression stockings and they squeeze in and out to prevent blood clots.

By far the worst part of this all is the anesthesia...made me so groggy and tired. Monday night, I'd sleep for 1/2 hour, wake up, fall back asleep, wake up...it was a vicious cycle! I got home Tuesday around 3:00 or so. My incisions look good -- hurt a little bit, but it's certainly tolerable. All I am taking for pain at home is Children's Tylenol (because it comes in liquid form). At the hospital, I had morphine, which took care of the pain quite nicely.

Water is going down well so far -- just sips. Had juice at the hospital (a whopping 2 ounces maybe). So...so far, so good. Yesterday (Wednesday), I started on my 6-week liquid diet (YES, the surgeon put me at a 6 week liquid diet instead of 4 weeks -- ergh!) and that went well. It takes me about 20 minutes or so to get down 4 ounces of the CIB (low-carb Carnation Instant Breakfast with 1 cup Skim Milk and 1/3 cup powdered milk -- 20 grams of protein!). So far, I don't feel like eating anything, but I know that will probably change as I get further down this path.

So far, so good!"

May 30, 2005

Hi, am hopefully being banded next month and am after some information. Did they inflate your stomach with gas and what happened to it afterwards ?!!
I have read on this site that you go on a liquid diet before op - I am going from England to France and have not been told about this.

Yes, you'll have the gas inserted -- it enables them to do the surgery laprascopic instead of open. It can hurt for a few days afterwards - some people complain of shoulder pain due to the gas.

I didn't have to do a pre-op diet, so if you don't either, don't worry about it. Some docs do them, some don't.

Chicagoboy · May 31, 2005

Got checked in at 5:40 am went into the holding area and got into the hosp gown and was told to lay on the bed/cart. My wife and son were there to keep me company 4-5 people kept asking me the same questions. When did you eat last? Drink? Pee? are you on meds? any allergies? ect.. The Gas Doc came in and started the IV. My doc came in and said hello after that it was 123. Kiss wife and baby and down the hall into "the room" I got off that table onto another and was told to move up, then down then up. ok that s good. I sat there for a few seconds and it was lights out. I dont recall anything after getting on the op table. WOW! That's wild. Next thing I recall was being in recovery room and people saying hey Jim over and over. Shut the hell up I thought?

The rest is history. I was told I had a cath inserted but when I came out it was already removed-Thank God! I did feel some pressure when I tried to pee, but I could not pee for hours but after several tries it happened and I was like a race horse every 30-40 min.

I was so sleepy when I got to my room I slept most of the day.

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