ready toroll

hi everybody, well it's countdown time to monday at 1:00P.M. I start the losing side of my life.i can't begin to say how many friends have asked me if i'm nervous.a little but, i'm more excited if anything.i can't wait 'til dr.aranow does what he does best.it may be rough at first but i'm ready to handle it. maybe after i'll meet some of you at a meeting. see ya on the losing side, joni

Hey Joni, Best of luck on your surgery! Try to rest up a bit as the first few days after surgery can be a little "restless" . Please know we will be there with you and will be doing our best to answer any questions you have as you start your "Journey". Again Godspeed and best wishes!

Hi Joni You are in an excellent hands with Dr Aranow. I am also Dr Aranow's patient. It will change your life once you had this surgery and use your tools then you will be sucessfully like me and the rest of people. You know Dr Aranow, He is tough love doctor and wants all his patients to do exercise and stick with healthly foods Good luck and is lookng forward your post to let us know you are all right! Don t foget get up and walk around nurse station. Kathy K

Joni, You know from the rest of us that you're in great hands! Dr Aranow, Elaine Tobin PA (His assistant in surgery) and all of the staff at Middlesex. Try to keep busy this weekend so that you can keep your mind off of being nervous! My surgery was in the afternoon, too, so, I had the morning to prepare and take it slow. He will come to you in the pre op area and go over all the risks, etc and let you back out one last time! You'll sign a form and then he'll see you in the OR...BUT, I never saw him in the OR cause I was already asleep! The OR staff are all SO friendly and talk to you to keep you calm. You'll awake and be in your room within a few hours. They'll get you up to take your first walk a few hours after that. If they don't bring the big black walker for you to use, ask for it. They didn't give it to me, but did to my husband. He did so much better with it. I wish they had offered it to me. If you're warm in the hospital, ask for a fan. WLS patients get a flushed feeling and feel hot. It's normal. Just ask for the fan. Be persistant. They can't always find one, but eventually they do, if you keep asking. Ask for your pain meds once you're off the PCA machine. They will not come to you and ask if you need them. You have to call them..And by the second day when the anesthesia wears off of the incisions, you may feel more pain in the incision area. Just ask and keep on them. The nurses and PCT's are all very nice. Bring ear plugs for at night. It can be noisy with the phones ringing from patients buzzing the desk. I did and it helped. Hubby didn't and he was awake at night because his room was near the end of the hall where that one phone always rang. They will give you the pink swab thingies for moisten your mouth after surgery when you can't have anything by mouth. Ask for them. They may let you have a few ice chips too. They will also give you chap stick if you ask for it. A tooth brush and paste and mouthwash too. Try to be able to really walk a lot. I wasn't able to and my recovery took a lot longer. Hubby walked over 6 miles while there post op and recovered rapidly. It does make a difference. Use the blowing thingie to keep your lungs working and your pulse ox up so you don't get a fever. That machine really WORKS! If there's any questions or anything that you think of before Mon., just email me and I"ll try to help in any way I can. Make sure Dr A orders all of your regular meds (maintenance meds if you're on any) prior to surgery in the pre op area. He either forgot to, or the nurses forgot to give me my atiavan (for my panic attacks) and I can't go without it or I start to withdraw from it. Well, it was almost 24 hours after surgery and I hadn't had any and I was in tough shape. As soon as I brought it to their attention, and they realized their boo boo, I was fine. Sometimes they get busy, too, and aren't perfect! Walk a lot this weekend if you can. It'll get your legs/veins/arteries/lungs ready for surgery and a good recovery. Eat a lot of protein, too. Good for keeping the liver fat down. Lots of protein now makes for a great healing process after. Good luck if I don't talk to you! Post after when you can. paula

Joni~ Good luck with your life-saving surgery on Monday! I have heard only good things about Dr. A. Follow the lead of Julio and Kathy and you should do well. Yes, admittedly, the first month is the hardest. Lots to get used to. But one day at a time you will adjust to your new life. It's all very doable. Towanda

Joni, Best wishes for you on Monday. You are in excellent hands with Dr. Aranow and the staff at Middlesex... they are wonderful and they are all very helpful and will do all they can to make you comfortable. I am sure you will do great and will be up and walking the well worn path around the 4th floor that many of us here did during our stays there. Enjoy your weekend as you dream about the wonderful things that are about to happen to you. Terri