St. Agnes & Dr. Von Rueden - Your experience

I saw Dr. Von Rueden today for the last time before surgery, although my surgery won't be until late April or May.  He told me I will only be in the hospital for 24 hrs. or less.  My surgery is VSG.  I had requested the first surgery of the day  (before I heard the 24 hr. rule) and was told I would have to be in the hospital at 5:30 AM.  I guess that means I will have to leave by 5:30 the next morning.  I am concerned.  Can that really be enough time for me to become stable?  Why the big rush?  God knows I've been over a year getting to this point.   How was it for you?  Thanks.

I didn't have my surgery through St. Agnes but I'm wondering when they would do your swallow study (if they do one before release there)  I was told approx 24 hrs also but my swallow study wasn't until 11 am the next morning.  I ended up staying another night because I dumped after the study and was not getting enough hydration. 

Don't count on 24 hours by the letter...it could be a little more...could even be an extra night. 

He was pretty emphatic about 24 hrs. and out.  It makes me nervous.  I can't imagine being completely stable that fast.   I'm not looking to be coddled I just want to survive it all., without dehydration (which I seem to have a tendency towards now before surgery).

I had my surgery at St. Agnes and everyone was wonderful! I was in for 2 nights. I had trouble getting up for my testing the day after, so they sent me back to my room. They didnt force me to stand...I tried, but they insised I go back to bed. I thought that said alot.
 
Good luck!

I can't comment on your surgery, surgeon, or St. Agnes... but as a general rule, if you aren't medically stable to leave the hospital in those 24 hours they stated in the letter, i would THINK that they would not discharge you and let you leave.  Common medical sense is that if you aren't stable, you aren't leaving.  I'm sure there is an exception to this 24-hr rule that was noted in the letter. 

I'm sure you'll do fine!  Just take a deep breath and good luck on your surgery!! :)

Very happy with my surgeon of choice and his care; however, the nursing staff at St. Agnes in the bariatric unit left much to be desired.  Obviously, they are understaffed and don't make much of an effort to do anything about it.  IV alarm would go off for long periods of time, no one ever came, even though they were called.  Many times I had to get my own self up and out of the bed to the bathroom because they would never come to your aid even though I rang for them.  Not a good experience for me but then again it depends on the day and who is on duty as to the care you will receive.

I had mine done at St. Agnes.  Surgery was at 1030am, and by 12noon the next day I was discharged.  I had my swallow test at about 930am that morning.  I agree that the nurses were not so wonderful, mainly the overnight nurses.  They never put my compression things back on my legs when I got back from walking or bathroom.  They left my IV unplugged until it almost died and they blew my vein out.  Three months later it's still raised and hard.

 i had my surgery at St agnes.  i was in the hospital for 2 days. went in at 5am on wednesday and got out friday evening. you might want to check with your insurance carrier. they have different about this type of surgery and hospital stays. i had rny, so that might have a longer recovery than a sleeve.

Hi Alice,

I am glad to hear you have been approved.  If I recall correctly you are a Kaiser patient.  I had my surgery the first case of the day (7:30am) and was discharged around 6pm the next day.  After the surgery you will have to go and have a leak test done and after that you after to drink and tolerate your liquid diet.  I know there is a 24 hour rule, but when admitted to the hospital it is by the day and not the actual 24 hours.  Good luck

Linda