Sept. Samurai Surgery Check-in

[debbieperez55 0]

I am home, and officially part of bandland!:bored: I want to thank every person that prayed for those of us having surgery today. I got to the hospital at 9:45a.m. They took me back to the pre-op area within 5 minutes. I got undressed (they wouldn't allow me to keep on my panties:frown:). They started my IV fluids, antibiotics, anti-nause medicine, and happy juice :smile2:. They told me that I could expect to stay back there for a while since I was my surgeon's third patient of the day. I was back there for almost 3 hours before they took me to the O R. I SORT of remember getting on the table, but that is all. The next REAL memory was in stage 1 recovery. I asked the nurse if I had a band, and if they did any type of hernia repair. I didn't have a hernia (or if I did, he didn't repair it). I didn't have any pain. I dozed in and out for a little while there. I was then taken to stage 2 recovery. That is where they brought my DH back. I was required to drink 2 cups of Water and 1 cup of apple juice before I could leave. I asked to get up to start my walking. I was able to get up without any help. I made 4 trips around the room. They called my surgeon to ask if I could have some Benedryl because the pain medicine was making me itch. He told her I could have it and go home at 5pm. All of the nurses talked about how well I was doing. I got dressed on my own. I am so shocked at how good I feel. I figure it must be some darn good drugs. I still have the motion sickness patch behind my ear. I figure I will leave it there since I am on Clear Liquids until next Thursday. I came home and changed into a night gown. I was happy to find out that my short term disablity benefits were approved through October 23! That works out for me because my son has a break from school coming up. That will keep me from having to pay for a babysitter.

I am so proud to be a Samurai!

I'm not sure if you got the same "happy" drugs as I did, but oh they were nice. I also only remember being wheeled into the room and then getting on the table. That was it.

Getting away from Drugs - Congradulations on being banded! :sad: It's a great thing. You will be surprised how fantastic you will feel. Walking is the best, of course maybe it is loosing a few pounds that make it easier, but walking is a breeze.

Just take it slow, stay hydrated. Here in CA we are having a heat wave, yuck.

Take care, and yes it is fantastic to be a Samurai - Debbie

[terilynn112 1]

Im so glad you all are my sisters/bro's. Take care, and I'll be back soon.

I am having some difficulty getting much in today. I did manage some lunch, and some Breakfast, but dinner hasn't happened. Not sure what's going on. But I did see K-Indy is having the same issue. I'm also quite full of air today. Lots of burping. Nothing coming with it.

Well I think I'll get the boys ready for bed.

Night.

[*slim* 2]

Im so glad you all are my sisters/bro's. Take care, and I'll be back soon.

I am having some difficulty getting much in today. I did manage some lunch, and some breakfast, but dinner hasn't happened. Not sure what's going on. But I did see K-Indy is having the same issue. I'm also quite full of air today. Lots of burping. Nothing coming with it.

Well I think I'll get the boys ready for bed.

Night.

I hope you feel better soon.

[lapbandliz 0]

So glad to see that everyone is doing great! :thumbup: I know you folks that are about to get banded can't wait! Hang in there, it is almost there... we only have a few days left in the month! Can you guys believe that it is then end of Sept already??! Everyone take care and be healthy! :frown:

[mdargen 0]

I am finally home from Colorado. I was banded on Weds!!! I still feel kind of icky. I am either sick to my stomach or hungry or both. It is such a strange feeling.

This is just a quick update. I need to go take some pain meds after that plane ride. Ugh.

[debbieperez55 0]

I have to share. I went to my Regular Dr this am. He was blown away by how great I am doing. I told him I had stopped a couple meds because they were huge and tasted icky crushed.

Well - I am officially off my Diabetis Meds!!!! This is huge. My sugar without meds was 104. This is huge. I went from 200 to 104!!!

The blood pressure meds, I am missing a chunk from my tushie from being chewed out. So I still take that one. He told me it was good for my heart to take the blood pressure pill and that I HAD to continue to take that. But my blood pressure is down.

My heart, something happened, a while ago, and there is a little damage. My Dr and the Cardiologist talked and they both felt the benefits of the surgery far outweighed any risk to my heart. Losing weight will make my heart stronger.

I am walking 30 minutes a day and my goal is 30 minutes twice a day.

I just had to share. Debbie:thumbup:

[ambraberger 0]

My surgery is Mon. I'm nervous/anxious/excited. Just want to know how its going to be. I like reading your stories. I hope mine goes as well, and I really just want to get the show on the road!!!!

[debbieperez55 0]

My surgery is Mon. I'm nervous/anxious/excited. Just want to know how its going to be. I like reading your stories. I hope mine goes as well, and I really just want to get the show on the road!!!!

You will do fine. Take it slow, and stay hydrated. Remember to sip.

Just remember you will have gas pain, everyone gets it. Walking helps. Take your pain meds before you are dying of pain. Once you start passing the gas, gross I know, you will feel soooooooo much better.

Don't do too much at home the first days, give your body a chance to heal.

You will have a few small incisions on your tummy, I was told not to compare. They use as many as they need to get the job done safely.

Other than that, I know how nervous, scared, excited you are. But, I can honestly say, it is worth it!

If you take any meds, be sure to ask which ones to take and starting when. I made up my own rules and whoops, got in trouble a little.

Good Luck, let me know how you do. I'm here if you need Debbie:thumbup:

[JamieNP 20]

I have the bowel prep on Monday. My surgeon gave me Phenergan to take during that day, because it makes you nauseated. He also gave me antibiotics to take after the bowel prep. I feel like he takes pretty good care of his patients.

[*slim* 2]

This month has flown by. I wish every one that is left to have surgery many blessings. Let go of your nerves. Everything will work out fine.

[disney99 0]

Well I have come ALONG way since my intro. I was banded 9/18/08. Boy was it a day...the 18th was the 3rd Friday of the month, big deal right....wrong. I provide breakfast for a different group of teachers at my daughters high school the 3rd Friday of each month and have for 2yrs. This shouldn't have been to much of a problem - surgery 1240, have to be there at 1040....leave school at 9am. Perfect! Once again WRONG....we are all up getting ready for the day, my DH is going with me to help with the breakfast...since I can't eat, he's going to make sure I don't slip. My phone rings at 638am and guess who it is....Linda the nurse from Rex hospital. Mrs. B are your having surgery today. Yes @ 1240 - WRONG! She is calling to tell me that there was a change in my surgery time (no call to me was made) my surgery had been changed to 730am and I should have been there by 530am!! OH NO!!! What am I going to do. Linda tells me to get there are soon as I can and I WILL have my surgery TODAY!! So a few phone calls later and the teacher breakfast is covered by someone else and my DH & I are on the road.

I check in at the hospital around 745am...boy did we make good time. I was taken back and get to meet Nurse Linda(she was awesome!). So the prep work started! Lots of information to go over/check/provide. Because of my HP I had to have a very small tube of blood drawn and let me tell you...the nurse or whoever did that bruised me worse than my lap band bruise. Yeah really....check out the pics!

So it got to be about 1120 and the man with the good meds (the one that knocks you out) came by, and the show really got on the road from there. DH said I was taken in about 1140am and Dr Enoch's came out and met with him right at 45mins later. I have one incision, which is cool. It took me a long time to wake up, they said I would have to stay if I didn't get up. So the DH was WONDERFUL and all the nurses were telling me what a GREAT husband I have. He came into the room helped get me up, dressed, to the bathroom and gave me a stuffed monkey!

I really don't remember much about the first 2 days (Sat & Sun). By Monday I was moving good and thinking am I going to make it. I am going to be honest here in saying that it is hard, during the recovery time. I am sick of the smell of broth, the liquid meds are the worse! I am in the 2nd wk stage of foods so that is a little better. And what everyone says about the gas...it is driving me crazy...which isn't to far! :thumbup:

I have went "out to eat" with my mother. But my mother is WONDERFUL...she called the chef ahead of time and had a special Soup made just for me. But I did not make the 4 hr(one way) ride to see our oldest son play football today. And I feel real bad about that, his birthday it next sat. (21). And my DH will fly to China on Friday & our 9yr Anniversary is on Wed.... man what a week. Lots of things will be different when he gets back and we will make the ride to take our son out for his birthday!

The one things that I have to keep telling myself over and over - you feel like you could eat anything - but you have to give your body time to heal. My 1st followup is Monday...so I will be back with more then.

God Bless to all who have been banded and are getting banded!

[debbieperez55 0]

Disney99

What a day you had! And I thought mine was weird. Where are your pics. I am just courous. My tummy is multi colored due to the heprin they gave me. I look like someone beat me up, :thumbup:

Glad you are feeling better, any idea when this stupid gas goes away? I walk and walk, but it stays.

Anyway, glad you did so terrific. Debbie

[Lowbmier 0]

My surgery is Mon. I'm nervous/anxious/excited. Just want to know how its going to be. I like reading your stories. I hope mine goes as well, and I really just want to get the show on the road!!!!

You will do fine on Monday. Dr. K is great and skilled. The first two days were the hardest for me but now five days out I feel totally normal. I never had the gas pains just like Dr. K said I wouldn't. I am eating pureed Soups and don't feel any restriction so everything goes down fine. I am not back to feeling the normal hunger that I did before being banded and I take in about 800 cals or so. I go back to work on your surgery morning and will be thinking of you wishing you a sucessful surgery and a speedy recovery. Check in as soon as you can so we know you are okay. Just relax, be positive and happy about the decision you have made. Happy banding!:thumbup:

[*slim* 2]

I am curious about everyone's incisions. My incisions look really jagged around the edges. Since the other times I have had abdominal surgery, my wounds were covered up, I don't know if this is normal

[debbieperez55 0]

I am curious about everyone's incisions. My incisions look really jagged around the edges. Since the other times I have had abdominal surgery, my wounds were covered up, I don't know if this is normal

I think I had a hernia repair, he said he would when he got in there. Mine are ugly and bruised. A couple are jagged looking, but I figure they shove those ports into the holes, kind of gross looking. I knew it wouldn't be pretty, I make ugly scare. He did use my Gall Bladder scar for one of my cuts, I assume when he lifted my liver. But, better than the scar down my chest if I hadn't of had it done (bypass surgery on my heart).

I'll take ugly anytime over that. Debbie