Pre-op Done....Next Stop, Operating Room!

Well, my pre-op appointment yesterday went very good.  I was there for a long time..........didn't realize it would take so long.  My appointment was at 10:30 and I didn't finish at the hospital until 2:35.  I was going to stop and see two people there but was so tired when I got finished with all the appointments I just headed home.  I was also hungry because I hadn't eaten since breakfast and my oatmeal was long gone!  

I was given a lot of information at my appointment and the "bariatric Bible" as Amy calls it and Jenn told us about.  I also found out about the two showers a day the week before surgery which was new to me.  DIdn't realize that's a requirement and it's not a big deal, but it wasn't anything I heard anyone mention before.  I have more "stuff" now than I had before but at least I am very well prepared for the surgery and afterwards.  I think UIHC does a fantastic job of educating their patients on the process.  Not saying other hospitals don't, but I can't speak about them.

I was glad to hear that the drain is coming out on the first appointment after discharge..............which for me means surgery on Wednesday, home on Friday, back on Monday and the drain is out!  I can handle the drain for five days I believe.  My husband is planning to be off work to take me back to that appointment so I won't have to drive.  I'm planning to use NO pain medication after the surgery if at all possible.  Someone mentioned using a heating pad and/or an ice pack to alleviate the pain/soreness so that's what I'm going to try before anything else.

I will start my liquid diet on the 3rd and I'm all prepared for that.  Just need to shop for my vitamins and get my stuff ready for the hospital visit and I'm good to go.

Thanks for checking in on me and listening about my appointment.  If anyone wants to know anything more, please ask.  I'm glad to share because that's how we all learn.

Carol

Hi Carol!

Wow your surgery date is coming up fast!  WooHooooooo  Glad to hear your visit went well.

Sounds like you got a lot of good info!  You will be doing the liquids before you know it! And then surgery time!  : )

Kristi

Good luck Carol, I am excited for you.. Who all is going to be at the support group Tuesday night? I am thinking about going!!

Hi Sunny,

I am hoping to make it to the meeting Tuesday night.  Still not sure yet though.  My Hubby goes back to work Tuesday so he wont be home to take me, so I have to figure out if I can drive myself and if I will have a sitter for the kiddo's! :D  But im hoping anyways!!

~Jenn

Thanks Kristi and Sunny!  I am gearing up for the "big day" and have my shopping list ready to go.  Hope to get the shopping done this week so I can just focus on the liquid diet on Tuesday.  That's when it starts and I know I'll be fine with it.  It's short term before the surgery and after surgery, I will handle the post-op diet just fine too.  I want the end result so badly that I am willing to do what I need to do to get there.

I can't be at the support group this time because I have to work.  I am going to try to come in March, though.  I would love to meet everyone on here who posts.  I feel like you're friends because you're so supportive.

Keep posting and remember what we're working towards!  It's a journey and we're in it together.

Carol

You must be getting so excited! I remember the pre-op appt, I thought that day was never going to end, I swear we visited every floor of the hospital! 

The drain really isn't that bad, when I took showers, I would make a tape tag to pin it to so I wouldn't have to try and hold it, otherwise, I kept it pinned to the tops of my pajama pants. 

I will recommend getting some paper tape (it's in the first aid part by the normal tape) for your incisions.  The irritation from the regular tape would rip my skin off when I changed my gauze and that hurt more than the incisions!  

Let me know if there is any other information you would like, I'll try my best to answer!

Michelle,
I do the same thing with the tape tag to take showers!  I keep it pinned up in my shirt the rest of the time to try to hide it....my family is a bunch of wusses and it grosses them out!! LOL!! The tape they gave me at the hospital hasnt been too bad to use, so thats what Ive done.  I agree that the drain isnt too bad, but its really startin to bug me!! Im just really sore/tender where its at.  Other than that, my other incisions are really itchy...which is good...that means they are healing!! Im sure I will feel much better when this drain comes out today...cant wait!! Do you think I should take some diluadid before I go to have it out? I remember you saying it felt like an alien coming out of you?! LOL Lynn tells me it will only last 5 sec and that it doesnt "hurt" but its a wierd feeling....i just thought if I took just one pain killer it might distract me from them taking it out?? Maybe just some tylenol, which I have been taking to dull the pain anywas from there. 

Hey are you going to support group tomorrow?? I need to go to their website and see what its about this time!

talk at ya later!!

~Jenn

I am getting more than excited, Michelle!  I start the liquid diet tomorrow and I'm all ready for that.  The biggest challenge is going to be what to take for my lunches.  The rest is a cinch!

I'll keep your suggestiong about the tape in mind so I can shower easier.  All the suggestions help so much with this so anytime anyone has a suggestion, please post!

Thanks again for your suggestion, Michelle.

Carol

Carol,

They will have your drain hung with a tape tag like Michelle mentioned while your in the hospital....or at least they did for me!! :) Thats how I got the idea!  So glad that thing is out and a thing of the past now!!!  Im starting to feel more human!!

~Jenn

I would take something for it, I forgot to. Lynn is right though, it's not that it hurts, it's just a weird sensation and you can feel everything on the inside moving when it gets pulled.  And then it takes a little while for everything to settle back into place.  But once it is out, you'll feel so much better, I think alot of it is from not having to watch out for the tube!  

I'll be at the meeting tomorrow, don't know what it's about yet!

Glad you're doing so well!