Surgery Monday

I am having my surgery the 12th and I am getting pretty nervous. I think I am ready but I have 3 small kids (under 7) and am worried about them while Im in the hospital and recovering. My husband is off all week next week while Im in the hospital and I think I have all the things I need for when I come home. Just looking for some advise on recovery RIGHT AFTER surgery and encouragement. Thanks

CONGRATS ON YOUR UPCOMING SURGERY!!! i have not had surgery yet, so i come offering only encouragement... i wish you the absolute BEST of luck. I'm a nurse so i will give you the Nurse Bevi line to tow: remember, get up as soon as you can after surgery...walk alot...use your breathing tool (incentive spirometer), and/or do lots of deep breathing ...it helps discourage pneumonia. congrats on this leg of your journey! take care, Bevi

Congratulations! you'll be joining everyone on the losers bench, all my best for a quick recovery. My own experience post op was different as I had no little children to worry about but I am most likely many years older than you and I made out just great. My advice would be to follow your doctors instructions in regards to exercise and be careful about lifting, at first you will be limited to the amount of weight you can lift. Do you have any toddlers? You may want to enlist some help with them of you do. Also follow instructions as to your diet, every doctor differs on what they instuct their patients so follow his instructions. At first it will be difficult getting in your fluids, you need to have them with you all the time so you can sip, sip, sip. You don't want to become dehydated. Also you said you had all the things you need at home which is good, have you frozen any meals for your family? Having a few meals planned for them would help you out because you also will need to get enough rest to help with your recovery. Best of luck to you on your WLS journey. Sher

Congratulations and best of luck on Monday! Bring chap stick to the hospital with you and some breath spray - when your mouth is really dry and you can't drink anything that breath spray is like a dream! Make sure after you go home you have a bowel movement, the anesthesia (sp?) can make you really constipated. You can get some liquid colace to have it on hand - some people have milk of magnesia but you have to becareful with that stuff because too much can cause you to go the other way............don't want to have either issue when you're trying to recover. No matter how emotionally ready you think you are, you might have some regretful thinking - that's totally normal and it passes. It's great that your husband will be home when you're in the hospital but if you can have someone with you or someone to take the kids a couple of hours each day for the first week you are home - it would be a good idea - 3 children under 7 can be extremely demanding - you're going to need your rest. Best of luck on your journey! Tammy

hi michelle, what kind of surgery are you having,i had laproscopic gastric bypass on april 6th,i lost 128 lbs,and now i feel great,i have had some no related issues,but would do it all over if i had too.you will be just fine..what surgeon are you with??i had dr.choi in danbury..good luck to you in your journey,,keep us all posted...cyndee

Thanks everyone - I appreciate any tidbits of advice I can get. I am having an open gastric bypass with Dr Aranow. I thought about getting meals for while im in the hospital but I really should think about when I get home too. I almost feel like I did right before having my 3 kids - I am "nesting" trying to get things in line to make it easier when I get home and easier for the fam while Im in the hospital - all the laundry, cleaning etc. I'll be ready for the anesthesia!!

hey Michelle good luck Monday- you of all people (as a PT) know what will be most important post-op- getting your buttocks outta bed and walking!!!!! Congratulations on your new life- you will do great- and the kids will be fine. They won't be wearing matching socks and meals may mostly consist of things mostly in nugget form, but hey- they'll survive and yo uare doing this for them as well- to live longer and be healthier. Good luck. You are in great hands with Dr Aranow....you'll be fine.