Getting ansy

My surgery has been scheduled for the 16th of June and my PAT's are this Thursday (21st).
It's taken me 3 years to get to this point (life got in the way...), and now I'm getting nervous. I mean, I'm excited, but nervous.

I have questions for you post-op people....
I'm a wimp when it comes to pain. What kind of pain can I expect?
Did you take house slippers or walking shoes to the hospital to walk in...or did you walk barefoot?
Did you have to stay in a hospital gown, or did they let you bring in comfy clothes from home?
Did your hospital let you bring a laptop? (I'm having surgery at Columbus Regional, and my husband will not be able to be with me every day. I'd like to be able to talk to him online)
I'll be taking classes this summer, and will need to get back to school asap. How soon were you able to drive etc after surgery?
Did your tastes change after surgery? I have found some protein drinks that I like should I stock up now, or will I run the risk of hating them when I come home?

I'm a wimp when it comes to pain. What kind of pain can I expect?
the pain is quite tolerable, maybe a 6 on the pain scale the first couple of days. 
Did you take house slippers or walking shoes to the hospital to walk in...or did you walk barefoot?
I took crocks.
Did you have to stay in a hospital gown, or did they let you bring in comfy clothes from home?
May as well stay in a hospital gown, you will have IV's so kind of bothersome to try and wear "regular" clothes.
Did your hospital let you bring a laptop? (I'm having surgery at Columbus Regional, and my husband will not be able to be with me every day. I'd like to be able to talk to him online)
I took my laptop, but didn't use it but maybe 10 minutes.
I'll be taking classes this summer, and will need to get back to school asap. How soon were you able to drive etc after surgery?
My surgeon asks that you wait two weeks to drive, however when I explained to him that my hubby had bought me a new car while I was in the hospital and I hadn't gotten to drive it yet he lowered that to a week to ten days.  As soon as I could physically press hard on the brake pedel without pain so I could drive safely.
Did your tastes change after surgery? I have found some protein drinks that I like should I stock up now, or will I run the risk of hating them when I come home?
You run the very real risk of hating them.  I was convienced my tastes would not change like everyone warned me of and now have six huge containers of protein that have sat in the cabinet for almost a year.  Probably close to $100 soon to be dumped down the drain.  So if you have money to dump down the drain ..buy it now lol.

Jeannie

Jeannie,

What kind of powders do you have? I take chocolate powder and doctor it up to fit my taste buds. I could probably do that with vanilla or 'tasteless' too.

Sherri

I didn't think about the IV's. (EEWWW) That might cause issues.

Luckily, my kids love the powders I have already purchased, so if it turns out I can't stand them later, they won't go entirely to waste. But, yeah, don't think I'll be buying any more until after I come home. May be like being home with a new baby again.....sending the hubby out to the store. LOL

Charlotte,

Congrats! I'll do my best to respond to your questions, as I'm sure others will too.

'now I'm getting nervous. I mean, I'm excited, but nervous.'
Perfectly normal and we'd be worried about you if you weren't!

'I'm a wimp when it comes to pain. What kind of pain can I expect?'
Some people do fine, others don't. No two of us are alike. For me, my lap RNY was no big deal. I went home the next day.

'Did you take house slippers or walking shoes to the hospital to walk in...or did you walk barefoot?'
I brought slippers but I think I used the hospital's skid-proof socks most of the time.

'Did you have to stay in a hospital gown, or did they let you bring in comfy clothes from home? '
I was in a hospital gown until I had my IV removed. Then, I could wear whatever I wanted to.

'Did your hospital let you bring a laptop? (I'm having surgery at Columbus Regional, and my husband will not be able to be with me every day. I'd like to be able to talk to him online)'
Check with Columbus Regional and be sure they have internet connection/WIFI available for their patients. If they do, I don't think your surgeon would have an issue with you chatting with your hubby (or updating us here!).

'I'll be taking classes this summer, and will need to get back to school asap. How soon were you able to drive etc after surgery?'
Most surgeons rule of thumb is no driving until you are off of your pain meds. For most, that is within less than a week. Once you resume classes, be sure to take it slow and build yourself back up. Also, be sure to get in enough fluids. It's very easy to become dehydrated post-op and if I remember my classroom days well enough....very easy to not get in enough fluids with classes.

'Did your tastes change after surgery? I have found some protein drinks that I like should I stock up now, or will I run the risk of hating them when I come home?'
OMG, yes! And your taste buds can fluctuate back and forth several times, not just once! So...if you want to support other people's protein tastes, sure, buy a bunch! You'll probably end up giving away most of it. What I advise people is to buy the smallest quantities you can...of several varieties. Go to health stores (health stores, not GNC) and see if they have free samples. Then wait til you are post-op and try them out. Make a list of what you like & don't. And honestly, it does very little good to ask what others would suggest because I can guarantee you that as soon as someone says they like product A, you will have 6 people to say that product A sucks! LOL! As much as your taste buds can vary, each of ours can too so what is good for one...is probably only good for a handful.

Good luck..and welcome to the board.

Sherri

Several times? Really? Wow. Thanks for the advice. I will check out GNC in Greensburg and see what kind of selection they have. I've gotten a couple smallish powder containers from Krogers, and have some Unjury and Chike samples. Hopefully, that will hold me over until my tongue decides what it likes after surgery.

I didn't even think of slipper socks. I have a VERY cozy pair of shea slipper socks from Bath and Body works. I'll pack those.

I'm hoping my previous abdominal surgeries will make this one not seem as bad. I had my gall bladder removed when I was 7 months pregnant with my daughter. As I was pregnant, they couldn't do it lap, and I only had a small amount of pain meds after. (a demerol push that was supposed to last me 2 days...I stretched it for 3)  And then had my son C-section. I'm supposed to be having my RNY lap.

Thanks for the welcome. It's nice to find a board of semi-locals. Wish some of my surgeon's patients were here, though. I may bring it up at support group, when I can next make it.

I am loving this post....it is so informative....

I am not post op, but I do want to say good luck on your surgery...

Stacy W

Thanks!

Hello Charlotte, you have already got great advise from Jeannie and Sherri so I thought I would just answer your questions on the hospital stay,etc.

I'm a wimp when it comes to pain. What kind of pain can I expect?

I had an open incisions vbg w/ r&y, I had some medium pain when I moved around and walked but it got better each day and now I go w/o pain meds all day long.  I currently take a single dose at night before bed time and that's it.

Did you take house slippers or walking shoes to the hospital to walk in...or did you walk barefoot?

I wore the same clothes home that I wore in, take some chap stick, tooth brush & paste, comb/brush, and I wore the gripper slippers that the hospital gives you to wear until discharge.

Did you have to stay in a hospital gown, or did they let you bring in comfy clothes from home?

I was in the gown until my iv was removed and I put on those clothes I wore in to go home a couple hours after ivs were removed (they put an iv in each arm, you get a backup, which I needed on the last day), you might want a t-shirt to wear under the binder they put on you (it wraps all the way around you and holds everything in, since you've had surgery you prolly know what I'm talking about, it's definitely a friend).  I wore a pair of shorts under my gown, lol, I had a couple probs w/ the tape holding my gown shut in the back, lets just say there was a full moon out a few times when I was making my laps, lol, the nurses would laugh and tape me up, my wife sent me out that way (paybacks are well you know), shorts were handy !!!!!!

Did your hospital let you bring a laptop? (I'm having surgery at Columbus Regional, and my husband will not be able to be with me every day. I'd like to be able to talk to him online)

I didn't bring one and doubt I would have used it if I did.  They have free movies you can select and watch along w/ regular tv package.  I remember trying to watch Transformers about three times and I kept drifting off to sleep at about the same spot each time (I finally gave up), lol.  I know a few who took theirs, so as long as your surgeon doesn't care you should be ok, but I would just make sure.

I'll be taking classes this summer, and will need to get back to school asap. How soon were you able to drive etc after surgery?

I would think your surgeon will work w/ you but I would expect to be on foot so to speak at least 2 weeks, remember, you will just have had major surgery so you need recoop time.  I could be wrong just ask your surgeon and see what he thinks.  Its going to be about 6 weeks before I get to drive, due to the open incision vs/ the lap and having to use pain meds past two weeks (I won't be needing my night dose of pain meds much longer).  He also said to not lift more than 10 lbs and gentle walking only until he sees me for my six weeks out appt.

Did your tastes change after surgery? I have found some protein drinks that I like should I stock up now, or will I run the risk of hating them when I come home?

My tastes didn't change much at all so far anyway, the only thing I noticed and this is very suttle, but I like jus****er and always have but I don't want crystal light or flavored water.  I can drink it but I would rather just have plain ol water.

I really hope our answers help you and give you the info you were looking for.  You can contact me anytime if you have a question and I'll give you the best advise I can.  I wish you a successful and painless surgery !!!!

I wore a pair of shorts under my gown, lol, I had a couple probs w/ the tape holding my gown shut in the back, lets just say there was a full moon out a few times when I was making my laps, lol, the nurses would laugh and tape me up, my wife sent me out that way (paybacks are well you know), shorts were handy !!!!!!


Oh My!    I'll be sure to add shorts or pj bottoms to my packing list. Hospital gowns are no fun. 
They didn't give me a binding for either of my surgeries. Is that something standard? I would have loved having one for the gallbladder surgery, as that was a 7 in*****ision with a baby kicking on the back of it.