Alright - need YOUR help!

Hey all! Went to schedule my gastrointestinal scope today - yeah, it's tomorrow. How fast is that? Anyway, Becca at Sartori is submitting my insurance info today PLEASE keep your fingers crossed for me!!!! I should know in about a week if I'm approved. What I need everyone's help on is how they felt right after surgery. I just REALLY want to know what to expect. Do you get diarhea? Do you throw up even water? How tired are you? Does it hurt on the inside or just where the incisions are? And what's this Jackson Pratt tube all about? Where does it drain to? Does it really just stick out of your stomach? Can you take a shower? Bath? When can I go tanning again? You see?!?!?! Many questions Just answer what you can as I'm getting closer and much more nervous!!! Many hugs and tons of thanks, jen

Ok, I'm going to be honest. When I first came out of surgery I thought I had died and gone to ****. I had mine done lap so I couldn't imagine what it feels like to have it open. They had sliced into my liver when I had mine done so the doctor said that is why I was probably more sore. They wanted me to get up and walk that night and all I wanted to do was sleep but I got up and walked down the hall and back and went back to bed. I showered the next day and that was a little better. I had a tube that stuck out of one of my incisions about 6 inches or so. They kept it covered and it just drained onto the gauze. That came out (painlessly) before I went home. I had my surgery on a Tuesday and Thursday night he came in and told me I could go home the next day and I thought there's no way in hell I'll be ready. But you know, the next day I was so much better. It's rough at first but the improvement is fast. You will do fine. The hardest part for me was the head hunger and everything mentally. Physically I did great. No diarrhea, the only time I through up is when they did the barium test for leaks. That sucks!! Good luck to you and if you have more questions, email me. I'm only 8 weeks out so I don't have all the knowledge yet but I can let you know about the early weeks and my experiences.

Wow....crazy. I have heard that it does suck at first but then the next day your so much better. I'm just getting kind of nervous. And I'll be away from my family and that just sucks even more! I live in Cedar Rapids and of course Cedar Falls is an hour away. My husband can't take any time off work and my best friend is going to be able to stay with me one day. I have had a barium enema before. I wonder if it's the same stuff I have to drink... It tasted like flat orange pop. But I suppose if I can get through kidney stones and child birth than I should be able to do this!! Thanks so much for your insight. I really appreciate it! I'll probably just want to sleep too as I'm a natural sleeper! I used to take naps on the weekends when my daughter laid down because I didn't get a good night's sleep. Now that I have my CPAP, I sleep much better. I wonder if I should take that to the hospital....oh well - I'll find out soon enough I guess! Thanks again! hugs, jen

Since you have already been told about the pain, I won't elaborate on that part. Diarrhea? While you are still on liquids you will probably have diarrhea. It's not bad but I was told that if you think you are going to pass gas, be sure you are on the stool. It won't be just gas. It's a really weird consistency. I think it comes from the fat coming out. It's really greasy & floats on top of the water! Once you start introducing solids it will go away. Yes, it's not unusual to vomit jus****er. Drink too fast or too much & it will happen. The drain is an inconvience but really necessay. It drains the fluids off that normally would needto be absorbed.You will be instructed on how to care for it & empty it. It is about the size of a large egg. You can see what it looks like at this page- http://www.ghorayeb.com/JPdrain.html You'll be able to shower right away. They even offered a shower in the hospital but I waited until I got home. Baths have to wait until you are healed. I don't know about tanning. Ask Angela that question. Good luck & I hope you get this done really soon. Dixie

The pain....I thought it was really bad.....but I was told it wasn't that bad, so I didn't prepare myself......Go into expecting the worst, then you might be surprised when it isn't that bad......Also I had it lap and I was just so darn sore from being filled with gas and all the tools being shoved around. I had horrible diarehha....I mean terrible.....BUT they thought I had a leak so I had to have a CT scan and the contrast they make you drink gives you the nasty diarehha....as I understand most people do not have diarehha, I was just NOT so lucky in that area I had a JP drain and it is no biggie......there will be a rectangle thing left in your stomach with lots of little holes in it......that thing is connected to the tubing that comes out of your tummy........You will have a little ball it the end of the tubing that you empty.....after you empty out the fluids (or nurses) the squeeze all the air out of it......that causes a suction and it drains stuff out of your ab area......it alone can save your life if you have a leak!! My doctor leaves them in for awhile.....I hear a lot folks get them out before they leave the hospital.....I had mine for the whole 6 dyas in the hospital and for another week after that! It is really not a big deal, when you shower just stikc it under your boob.....and when you have clothes on, tuck it in your undies!! Make sure your nurse gives you a safety pin...while wearing the gowns I just pinned mine to the inside of my gown! I could take a bath when all of my incisions where almost closed...I showered the very next day! I never threw up in the hospital...I almost did......I had a wheelchair ride from hell that made me nauseas but never from drinking or anything like that.....lol And if room temp water doesn't go down good, try it cold, or hot.....you will just have to experiment with everything.......I will be crossing my fingers for a super speedy approval for ya Also we are kinda in the same boat...when I had my surgery my hubby came up for a couple hours a day but then had to go home.....we were two hours each way from where I had surgery.....So I too was alone a lot at the hospital!!! I missed my kids a lot.....but you will be fine....read, and do lots of walking the hallways!!! Take Care Jesi

I had my lap done by Dr. G 1 month ago, and just prior to going into the OR, I had an intrathecal done. It is a lot like having an epidural, and it really helped control the pain in the twenty four hours post op. They told me that they have been doing that for about 4 months. Unlike an epidural or spinal, you don't lose your ability to use your legs, so you can walk. In fact, I really had no pain that first twenty four hours. After that, It was really just incisional pain, I never rated my pain over a "2". I had some problems with vomiting the second day, in fact, I had to stay an extra day because of it. I was told that was unusual. After that day, I had no further problems with it. Except for one day when I over did it at work, I really have had no pain. I took some Tylenol for the pain a couple of times when I got home, but that was it. Good Luck. Now that I'm a month out, I can say that it was easier than I expected, but then I did expect the worst - like my insides were going to be ripped out. The hardest part now is getting in the water. Most days the protein is easy enough, but tha****er!!

Morning Jen, I was lucky I had no pain & was tearing up the halls the night of surgery, but I had lap so that probably was the difference. Keep in mind everyone of us are different. Years ago I had gallbladder surgery (open not lap) & there again I wasn't going to be kept down & was walking the halls day of surgery. Depends on your pain tolerance. As far as the "trots" yeppers had them & still do on occassion. Agree I think our body is getting rid of the fat. Jackson-Pratt is also known as JP had one after a surgery (not WLS) mine was in lower belly tube with a little bag to catch fluids. Didn't hurt just was in the way I don't do the tanning so can't help you there. Good luck to you & will keep you in my thoughts & prayers. Carolyn

I had a lot of pain after my lap RNY. But it was not pain from the incisions, but pain from the gastric tube. If you don't have to have that, you will be fine. The JP did not bother me a bit. The other thing to be on the lookout for, is that you might start your period a day or so after surgery. I have read this is very common, and it happened to me, and it was AWFUL. My side hurt so bad from the gastric tube, and I had all this other mess to deal with and it was horrible. So, be prepared for that, in case it happens to you. jean

Hi Jen I had my lap RNY with dr G in January. I too had the intrathecal (Astromorph) that J Renee mentioned. Surgery was Monday am and my pain came around noon on Tuesday. It was like bam! there it was. I had also had a drug 'Nubane' for itching, and the pain ( I rated it at a 12 and I have a very high pain tolerance) hit shortly after that. Come to find out that abdominal pain is a side effect of Nubane. So we don't know if it was that or a combination of the nubane and the intrathecal wearing off. I don't plan to take the nubane ever again. They doped me up with Roxicet. After that initial experience, the pain wasn't to bad. Dr G said he did a lot of 'stirring' around. Said I was a 'difficult' surgery. I did have dry heaves early Tues am, but they said it was from the anesthetic, and I didn't make it through the leak test without vomiting. But after that, liquids went down fine. (i recommend the cranberry juice) And stayed down. My bowels didn't start rumbling until Wed, and Dixie was right, don't pass gas unless you are on the toilet. . You'll come to love the JP drain. I named mine 'Fred'. Yes, I have a sick sense of humor...... It was removed the following Monday on my first visit. It didn't hurt, but was a very strange sensation when they pull it out. You will do fine. You will be in good hands. And you have all of us cheering you on. I started my process in Aug 2003, and didn't have surgery til Jan 2005. 1 1/2 years of waiting and jumping through hoops. hugs Sheila

Y'all are SO WONDERFUL!!!! Thank you so much. I think that if I just expect the absolute worse, I'll be good. I had my gastroscopy done yesterday. That stuff you have to gargle is way gross but I came through it all okay. I have a 3cm Hiatal Hernia and some Esophogitis. I panicked because I didn't think they'd do surgery but Dr. Misra said that I should be fine once I'm on Prevacid for a couple of weeks. Still awaiting insurance approval and answer! Keep your fingers crossed for me!!! thanks to all that responded with your stories!!! You have NO idea how much I appreciate it. hugs, jen