Surgery Date 11/29/04

Hi all, I am pretty new to this site and I love it. I just wanted to let everyone know I am scheduled for surgery 11/29/04 and I can't wait. I start a liquid diet tomorrow until the surgery. Does anyone know if this is usual practice? Also, will I have tubes in me when I wake up? How do they check for leakage and will I be able to walk the first day. Lots of questions I know just want to hear your experiences. Thanks,:0) Deb

I had surgery on Oct. 18th. No tubes, unless you count the cathetor and IV's My doctor checks for leaks while still in surgery. That made me very happy. I was on liquids for one day, then had to take castor oil to clean out. Sandi lost 41 pounds so far

THings vary from dr. to dr. I did not have to liquids at all until after surgery, but I have read that alot of dr's ask that of thier patients, so that is normal. You may have a drain tube, that may or may not be taken out before you leave the hospital. THis varies from Dr. To Dr. My tube was out before I left the hospital. Not only will you be able to walk right after surgery, YOU ARE ENCOURAGED to do it. Heck they about poured me out of the bed. Walking will cut done on the possible blood clots. DO IT! no matter how much it may hurt or be uncomfortable. Good Luck, Dan

Hi Deb, The best advice to give you right now would be the every doctor performs this procedure differently, so alot of us may have the same tubes and devices and alot of us may not even know what they are lol. I was not required to do the liquid diet before surgery but had to be on one for 2 weeks after surgery in order to take everything in steps and give my stomach time to heal and become adjusted to all of the changes. I also had 2 drainage tubes in my stomach til the day I went home. this was so they could be able to see how everything was coming along and make sure there were no infections. I was told to get up the next morning after surgery and try to start walking around. this helps get ur muscles restarted and lower risks of clots in ur legs and system. I had nurses and doctors coming in and out most of the day especially 5 am lol so they will be checking for leaks and and healing process. please be sure to let your surgeon know if you feel any discomfort at and I really suggest do the walking it helped me alot. I am not sure if everyone had to wait like I did before I could get anything to drink right after surgery but I had to wait til they sent me for an upper GI before they would give me anything to sip on of course you know my mouth was like the sahara dessert by 10 am & I needed something so they gave me a swab to dip in ice and rub around my moth to help keep my mouth alittle moist. it was almost 12 before I did get something but It was definitly a relief. Hope this helps and congrats on ur up coming surgery. I wish you the best of luck and an uneventful crossing See you on the losing side Sophia

I had surgery on Tuesday, October 12, 2004 at 7:30am. I was up and walking at 7:30pm that evening. I walked my visitors to the elevators. I had 2 tubes in my stomach. They could administer medicines in one of the tubes and the other was for drainage. They took one out the Friday before I left the hospital and the other one out 2 weeks later. The second tube just became a part of me and it really freaked out the relatives. They fed me on the third day after surgery, it was Carnation instant breakfast and juice. My doctor had me on a morphine base drip and the pump. I didn't really need the pump and they removed the catherer on the second day. The stockings came off on the first night. I only had the usual blood test every morning and the doctor stopping by to check on me at 5:30am. The nursing staff was great. Here's to a routine/uneventful surgery, take care. Crystal

DEB CONGRATS ON YOUR SURGERY I HAD MY ON 10/25/2004. I DID NOT HAVE ANY TUBES AFTER MY SURGERY EVERYTHING WENT ACCORDING TO PLANS MADE BY MY DOCTOR. JUST DO AS YOU ARE TOLD AND EVERYTHING WILL WORK OUT. I HAVE LOST 34LBS IN MY THREE WEEKS I WALK ALMOST DAILY. I CAN'T WALK VERY FAR BUT I SET SMALL GOALS FOR MYSELF AND THIS IS HOW I MAKE IT FROM DAY TO DAY. ON YOUR DAY OF SURGERY I WILL BE RETURNING TO WORK SO I WILL BE THINKING ABOUT YOU AS I AM WORKING .