Question about WLS surgery

Hi everyone! I am new to this site! I have already learned so much! Thanks for all that knowledge out there! As I am approaching my surgery date in June (Lord Willing), I had a couple of questions which recently occured to me. On the operating table, do you have to be be completely unclothed?! If so, how long before you can put on a gown (or your own PJs) in recovery? Also, are you allowed to wear nail polish!!?---glasses or contacts in recovery? How long after going to recovery do you wake up? I know everyone is different, but hearing your experiences helps me to learn!--- I appreciate your help! Sincerely, Lm W

Hi Lm W! I can only speak for my own experience....but here goes: I wore a hospital gown into the pre-surgery holding area. I had it on in the surgery room as long as I was awake. I'm sure they took it off--but I was once again wearing it when I woke up. I don't know about nail poli****hink they ask you to remove it so the oxygen thing they put on your finger will give an accurate reading. I didn't wear any just to be safe. And they made me give my glasses to my hubby (they told me NOT to wear contacts to the hospital that day) as I was going into presurgery. Normally, it would drive me nuts to be without....but pretty much as soon as I got into the presurgery area, they came by and gave me a drug to relax me--and I didn't care about the glasses anymore! I have faint memories in recovery of a nurse calling my name and asking me questions....but I was not really 'awake' in recovery at all. The first defined memories I have were of waking up in my room with my family there. I think my hubby said I was in recovery about an hour or so--but I really don't remember it at all! Best of luck to you! Hugs... Michelle

Thank you so much for your response! It really helps to answer my questions. So in otherwards, a gown only with no undergarments allowed during this time--right? I also hate being without contacts or glasses, so I am glad to hear that it really did not bother you during this time. I like to be able to see my surroundings! Thanks again. Take care!

YOU GO IN AND COME OUT WITH A GOWN AND NO POLISH BECAUSE THE 02 COUNT MACHINE THEY PLACE ON YOUR FINGERS WILL NOT READ IT

Wow! Now these are some really great questions! For me, I had nothing on under my gown, I think that I actually remember taking it off, and them putting a sheet over me. By the time I woke up in recovery, I had a gown on, but honestly, at that point, I don't think that I would have had the ability to really give a darn if I was naked or not! I am pretty much blind as a bat without my glasses/contacts, so this was a problem for me, but they were really good about it. I wore my glasses(contacts are a No, No) up until the last second that I could and then one of the nurses gave them to my Hubby. He put them on me, as soon as I woke up. For me, nail polish was also a No, No, they have to have clean nails for the Oxygen thingy that they put on your fingers. I did get a pedicure before my surgery, It was nice to look down (when I could!) and see pretty toes! Good Luck! Cathy Martin

I had just a gown on and wore my glasses up until they made my hubby go out to the waiting area and they sent them with him. No nail polish on my fingers, but my doctor was okay with me having a pedicure before surgery, I was glad since I didnt know when I would feel like doing that again. I dont remember a thing about the recovery room, my first groggy memory is being brought to my room. Hope this helps, we are here if you have other questions. Kelly S

My biggest worry was the catheter... it was in when I woke up and I was sooooo embarrassed! I wore a gown in and then had it on when I woke up, but they had to take it off to do the surgery... What a horrible thought... me laying naked with a tube running my tee-tee out of me.... I shudder when I think about it, so I try not to. It will be okay. I am sure everyone looks about the same up there on that operating table.... I was about the 5th surgery of that kind that day.... Sure I was no worse looking than any of the others... It is just a part of it sweetie. Wish I could make you not think about it, but even if I tried, you would still think about it. It is just a part of it and one day it will be distant memory. Good luck to you and it will be alright!

I never "knew" when I was naked, though some things were missing when I woke up (hospital undergarmets). I have fake nails (silk and polish), and there was not a problem for me. The nurse explained that they have other ways of telling if something is wrong...may depend on the hospital. Hugs, Becky

Thanks for all your responses! I think I am a bit clearer now on what to expect! Sincerely, LM