My surgery/hospital story

I am going to cut and paste my surgery story from my profile. Maybe it will help those who haven't had theirs yet. So I'm finally a post-op! I arrived at the hospital Tuesday morning around 6:15am. I was called up to preop around 6:40. My mom and dad both came with me. I changed into the hospital gown and was given a shot in the tummy for clots and a few pills for something else. The nurse tried to start an IV 3 times, but she couldn't get any veins to cooperate. So then the nurse anesthetist tried and couldn't get one either. They had my arms wrapped in hot blankets trying to get my veins to come out. Finally, the actual anesthesiologist had to put the IV in. It was in an awkward place on my arm, but he said they would just move it to my hand during surgery after I had liquids pumped in me. I guess I was dehydrated. I was told not to eat or drink after midnight the night before, and I can't believe that was long enough to dehydrate me. I guess they actually want you to push liquids the day before surgery like crazy, but no one ever told me that. My surgeon came in and talked to me for a few minutes, and then it was time to go. I said goodbye to my parents and had a few tears. Then they wheeled me off. They gave me something to "relax" and I actually don't remember much after that. I have a vague recollection of entering the OR, but I'm not sure. I woke up in Recovery and drifted in and out. They brought me up to my room where my parents where waiting. I think this was around 1:30pm. I mostly slept the rest of the day. I remember waking up at one point seeing my parents sitting at the foot of my bed. One was reading a magazine and the other was on a laptop. I said to them, "You can go now. I made it." They thought that was pretty funny. My mouth was soooooo dry that night and the next morning. They let me use wet swabs on the inside of my mouth, but I had to spit out the water/foam. The next morning I was wheeled down the Radiology for my upper GI. It wasn't bad at all. They told me to take a small sip of the nasty liquid so they could watch it go down. Then I had to take another one. I was so scared that I would take too big of a sip that I took teeny tiny ones. I guess they weren't big enough because I had to do one last one that was bigger. Things looked good, so I got to have my first drink that afternoon. My meals consisted of three 1 oz. cups of Boost Breeze in different flavors. I could only finish about one. Thursday I had some soup for lunch, but I ate too much and was naseous most of the day. The nurses and staff at the hospital were so kind and helpful. I only had one rude one who asked me nosy questions. She kept saying I was so young and had I researched the surgery? Had I always been overweight? Was I overweight as a child? I told her since puberty. She wanted to know how old was I went through puberty. And the clincher was when she asked me if I had tried other diets. I snapped at her and said of course. Later my mom told the surgeons about it when they came by to check on me. They weren't happy about it and said that she should not have asked those things. Nothing too eventful happened in the hospital. I did have a hard time finding medication that didn't make me itch like crazy. First I was on Dilaudid, but it was so bad that they switched me to Morphine. I was only on that a day before it was time to go home. I went home Thursday night. The car ride was an adventure. It really hurt going over bumps. Luckily I had a blanket to press against my belly. Now I'm home and adjusting to post-op life. I'm eating about 2 oz. at every meal. I have these weird feelings going on inside, but I don't know if they are hunger or what. I'm not getting enough liquids in. Each time I drink, I get those feelings. I probably need to be getting more protein in. Maybe I'll make some jello laced with unflavored Unjury protein powder tonight. Today I had 2 oz. of Slim Fast, 2 oz. of refried beans with a little cheese, a SF popsicle, and 2 oz. of yogurt. Doesn't seem like much. I am a little worried that I am feeling hungry because so many people say they can only eat one or two bites before they are full. I stretch out what I am eating over about 30 minutes and never feel the stuffed/full feeling. Not sure if that is normal or not. Anyway, that's about it for now. I'm down to 262.4 as of this afternoon. I weigh myself every day. It was so funny- preop I was 269, and the night I came home from the hospital I weighed 284. I almost died. It came off over the past three days though. Lauren RNY 7/5/05 281/259/140

Lauren- Thanks so much for posting. I have been dying to hear some pre-op stories! Somehow it is helpful! Very brave of you to do this at such a young age, I think! I am shocked the nurse was giving you the 3rd degree! Like you were going to say- oops, your right, I should try something else- can you go back and undo this! Lol. Crazy woman! Linda

Lauren, it so helpful for me to hear other's stories, I like the little tips I've learned and what to expect. I'm so glad to hear that your doing so well. I'm expecting to run into people such as your nurse through this experience. Not quite sure how I'll respond as of yet. People who have never had to go through this just can't quite get it, you know? Keep updating and good luck sister!!! (i'm on the 19th)