Oregondaisy's turn for sleeve surgery

[Oregondaisy 2,021]

yeah, I can receive calls and receive texts. I can't call out or send texts. It was such a pia to type it all out to my bf and then it kept saying text failed. I finally gave up and bought a phone card at the hotel.

Then today my friend who is supposed to get the sleeve next week texted me today and I tried to text her back. same thing, text failed.

She is worried that they are going to close the border down. I asked Dr. A today about her candy addiction and he said if she continues that even after getting the sleeve, it will not cure her diabetes.

Edited May 1, 2009 by Oregondaisy

[kareyquilts 1]

Sounds like you're doing great! Congratulations! Maybe you can't figure out the phone or TV because you're on drugs! LOL! Hope the shoulder pain gets better soon. You'll be home before you know it!

[Oregondaisy 2,021]

I was only on pain meds the first day. I wish that was the problem because then I could use my phone. I can get calls in but have to pay roaming fees of .99 per min. I can't callout at all. I just get a busy signal even if I put in all the country code numbers first.

I am really happy I slept so well last night. It was 100% improvement over the 2 previous nights.

I survived drinking the battery acid. that stuff was nasty but I am all done with it. Yay! No more leak tests and I am on my way to not feeling the need to eat all day long because I am so hungry!

Edited May 1, 2009 by Oregondaisy

[*susan* 1,709]

I wasn't going to tell you how bad that "battery acid" stuff tasted, but I think you hit it right on the head. That stuff was just awful. And, I could hardly swallow as it was. I came very close to bringing it back up, it was nasty.

Glad you are doing so well.

[Oregondaisy 2,021]

My friend has a really bad gag reflex. She is really worried she will not be able to keep it down. I borrowed Dr. Campos' phone cause she kept texting me saying she had a quesiton. She wanted me to ask Dr. Campos if they could put down a tube in her throat. He said that would be too dangeous and risk hurting the staple line.

She is going to have a lot of trouble swallowing that stuff, I know.

It tasted horrible but it was over fast. I spit in the garbage can and ran back to my room and brushed my teeth.

I walked over to the border today where Dr. A told me I would be able to use my phone . It still didn't work. I am glad I am going home. It's so boring here when you feel fine.

[kareyquilts 1]

Glad you're feeling that good. Have a safe trip home!

[Malaika 50]

I wasn't going to tell you how bad that "battery acid" stuff tasted, but I think you hit it right on the head. That stuff was just awful. And, I could hardly swallow as it was. I came very close to bringing it back up, it was nasty.

OKAY - FESS UP ... what "battery acid" stuff????

I am tentatively scheduled for surgery on the 12th of June with Ruthi -- we'll travel together since she's going by herself ... and I am learning more and more each day ... which is good because I don't like surprises ...so do tell please.

[Oregondaisy 2,021]

you have to drink some horrid tasting stuff when they do your leak test. It's so they can see if anything at all is leaking out of your staple line. There are really no words to describe how bad this stuff tastes. You take a big gulp and it's over with in about a minute or less. Then I went and spit in the garbage can and brushed my teeth. the taste was gone quickly.

[Elisabethsew 50]

I think I am the only one in the world who thought this was no big deal but my taste was screwed up for weeks and, to some extent, still is.

[WASaBubbleButt 41]

OKAY - FESS UP ... what "battery acid" stuff????

I am tentatively scheduled for surgery on the 12th of June with Ruthi -- we'll travel together since she's going by herself ... and I am learning more and more each day ... which is good because I don't like surprises ...so do tell please.

That's what we all refer to Conray. Conray is a hydrosoluble contrast used for the final leak test. By the time you drink that stuff you feel pretty darn confident that you know what battery acid tastes like. You can't drink barium for it since it's a leak test, you have to have a Water based product and they use Conray or Gastrograffin. Gahhhhh......

Renee has a better description for it than that. HA!

[Malaika 50]

That's what we all refer to Conray. Conray is a hydrosoluble contrast used for the final leak test. By the time you drink that stuff you feel pretty darn confident that you know what battery acid tastes like. You can't drink barium for it since it's a leak test, you have to have a Water based product and they use Conray or Gastrograffin. Gahhhhh......

Renee has a better description for it than that. HA!

Sounds like that might be the worst part of the entire procedure ... I'll make sure to have my toothbrush/toothpaste handy. Thanks for the warning.

I can only guess what Renee's description might be

[Oregondaisy 2,021]

Hey can somebody tell me how I am supposed to care for the drain opening?

I must have left that paper in my room. I have the post op diet instructions and the phrases in Spanish (I saved those for my daughter since she's a nurse and we get a lot of Hispanics that don't speak English in our hospital)

Am I supposed to leave the gauze pad on? I remember them telling me to shower and pat dry. After that, do I keep it bandaged? It's gross looking.

[Elisabethsew 50]

Hey can somebody tell me how I am supposed to care for the drain opening?

I must have left that paper in my room. I have the post op diet instructions and the phrases in Spanish (I saved those for my daughter since she's a nurse and we get a lot of Hispanics that don't speak English in our hospital)

Am I supposed to leave the gauze pad on? I remember them telling me to shower and pat dry. After that, do I keep it bandaged? It's gross looking.

Use anti-bacterial soap and shower once a day. Do not soak the site. Apply a new gauze or bandaide after the shower... no antibiotic cream on the bandaide. Change the dressing/bandaide as necessary during the day.

Welcome Home! I'm glad you're feeling well.

[Ruthi 60]

Hi Everyone,

Just so happy this site exists. I love having all of this information and support. Thank you all from the bottom of my latest suture line.

Ruthi

[Oregondaisy 2,021]

You're welcome Ruthi! We are glad to have you join as one as our sleeved sisters. I honestly thought this was going to be a much bigger deal that when I was banded. I could easily go back to work tomorrow, Monday. That would not even be a week off work. I am going to take the day off, and go back Tuesday.

It's very nice that this whole thing was so easy and pretty much painless. My first night was bad due to left shoulder pain, but after that, it's been a breeze!