I've been sleeved!
I've been sleeved! June 23rd, 2011 was my surgery date and I continued on this journey to a healthier me!
I've been on a waiting list for WLS since 1999 in Halifax, my hometown. I was told last year that I would never reach the primary list for operation because they sort by co-morbitities and I don't have diabetes or a heart condition. I would remain forever on the secondary list.
I felt abandoned and neglected by my own health care system. I waited long enough. I had to be pro-active with my health, and take care of me. I chose to relocate to another province, where my specialist had also sent a referral a few years prior.
I relocated to NB in the summer of 2010 to receive Medicare coverage to be treated there. I've been commuting between NB and Halifax since last summer. I met Dr. Savoie in late August 2010. He was informative, knowledgable, professional and caring. He was also good looking and a really sweet guy. His staff is A1 -- the absolute best. You get immediate response for concerns or questions. Dr. Savoie explained the different procedures, and which he thought was best for me. He asked me to come back in two months, after deciding on which surgery I wanted.
October 2010 - I went for my 2nd consult with Dr. Savoie. I got the green light for surgery, and I chose the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy because of Dr. Savoie's recommendation. I signed all the consent forms for surgery, and now waiting for my date.
April 2011 - I went for pre-op testing. Pulmonary, Arterial Blood Gas, Chest Xray, ECG, Blood labs & swabs. Everything checked out fine.
June 9th 2011 - I went on the two week pre-op liquid diet: 4 diabetic boos****er and crystal light only.
June 14th 2011 - I went for pre-op testing that was manditory to be done two weeks prior to surgery. Some was a repeat of what was done in April.
June 23rd, 2011 -- I arrived for surgery. Went to the pre-surgical clinic -- got weighed in, blood pressure, blood work. I got gowned and ready for surgery. They put on those air-inflated leg things to increase circulation and decrease chances of blood clots. I met with the anaestetiologist who explained I had a very small opening of my throat. He had decided to use conscious intubation. It sounds horrifying, and the thought of it is horrifying. Here's a video showing it: http://youtube-anaesthesia.blogspot.com/2007/06/conscious-intubation.html Thankfully, they also give you drug-induced amnesia!
I met with the surgeon pre-op and he would be using a 34F bougie for the size of my new stomach. I had difficulty in recovery, and an expected 1 hour recovery time turned into 5 1/2 hours recovery time. I had a hard time staying awake and was incoherent. They knew this about me long before surgery, and just had to wait a little while longer for me to come around.
There was a complication during surgery, the lining of my discarded stomach was ruptured as they were removing it through the small laproscopic opening. This caused some fluid to leak back into my abdominal cavity, which is toxic. They removed it, and cleaned the area really well. I was on IV antibiotics as a preventive measure for 4 days post op.
I was in a continued care, step down room for the duration of my stay in hospital. I was released on June 27th, 2011 at noon.
I don't regret one single minute. I'm so happy to be on the mend, and beginning to have my life back again. It's been a long journey to this point, but I know things are going to work out wonderfully from this point on!
I've been on a waiting list for WLS since 1999 in Halifax, my hometown. I was told last year that I would never reach the primary list for operation because they sort by co-morbitities and I don't have diabetes or a heart condition. I would remain forever on the secondary list.
I felt abandoned and neglected by my own health care system. I waited long enough. I had to be pro-active with my health, and take care of me. I chose to relocate to another province, where my specialist had also sent a referral a few years prior.
I relocated to NB in the summer of 2010 to receive Medicare coverage to be treated there. I've been commuting between NB and Halifax since last summer. I met Dr. Savoie in late August 2010. He was informative, knowledgable, professional and caring. He was also good looking and a really sweet guy. His staff is A1 -- the absolute best. You get immediate response for concerns or questions. Dr. Savoie explained the different procedures, and which he thought was best for me. He asked me to come back in two months, after deciding on which surgery I wanted.
October 2010 - I went for my 2nd consult with Dr. Savoie. I got the green light for surgery, and I chose the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy because of Dr. Savoie's recommendation. I signed all the consent forms for surgery, and now waiting for my date.
April 2011 - I went for pre-op testing. Pulmonary, Arterial Blood Gas, Chest Xray, ECG, Blood labs & swabs. Everything checked out fine.
June 9th 2011 - I went on the two week pre-op liquid diet: 4 diabetic boos****er and crystal light only.
June 14th 2011 - I went for pre-op testing that was manditory to be done two weeks prior to surgery. Some was a repeat of what was done in April.
June 23rd, 2011 -- I arrived for surgery. Went to the pre-surgical clinic -- got weighed in, blood pressure, blood work. I got gowned and ready for surgery. They put on those air-inflated leg things to increase circulation and decrease chances of blood clots. I met with the anaestetiologist who explained I had a very small opening of my throat. He had decided to use conscious intubation. It sounds horrifying, and the thought of it is horrifying. Here's a video showing it: http://youtube-anaesthesia.blogspot.com/2007/06/conscious-intubation.html Thankfully, they also give you drug-induced amnesia!
I met with the surgeon pre-op and he would be using a 34F bougie for the size of my new stomach. I had difficulty in recovery, and an expected 1 hour recovery time turned into 5 1/2 hours recovery time. I had a hard time staying awake and was incoherent. They knew this about me long before surgery, and just had to wait a little while longer for me to come around.
There was a complication during surgery, the lining of my discarded stomach was ruptured as they were removing it through the small laproscopic opening. This caused some fluid to leak back into my abdominal cavity, which is toxic. They removed it, and cleaned the area really well. I was on IV antibiotics as a preventive measure for 4 days post op.
I was in a continued care, step down room for the duration of my stay in hospital. I was released on June 27th, 2011 at noon.
I don't regret one single minute. I'm so happy to be on the mend, and beginning to have my life back again. It's been a long journey to this point, but I know things are going to work out wonderfully from this point on!
Thanks so much for updating us on your experience. It seems you had to wait a long time for surgery. When I was there for my first consult they told me that I could have surgery in the Fall of this year. I am hoping for November. If you waited so long it may be next year now which really sucks.
How sore were you and did you find it hard to get around afterwards? Please continue to post updates on your recovery.
How sore were you and did you find it hard to get around afterwards? Please continue to post updates on your recovery.
It wasn't really that long of a wait, from the 2nd consult and signing the paperwork for surgery in October -- to having surgery in June : )
Consider the holiday break for Christmas and the New Year. They were about 2 to 3 months behind then.
Maybe they've had less people signed and waiting since.
Go by what they said as a rough estimate -- sometimes delays happen that are beyond their control. : )
I'm a week out today, and can get around okay. I'm a bit sore from sneezing the last two days. Every time I sneeze it feels like my insides are ripping and tearing and twisted up. Other than that, I'm managing to get around quite nicely. I haven't started walking yet, just around the house, and doing the loops around the floor while in hospital : )
Consider the holiday break for Christmas and the New Year. They were about 2 to 3 months behind then.
Maybe they've had less people signed and waiting since.
Go by what they said as a rough estimate -- sometimes delays happen that are beyond their control. : )
I'm a week out today, and can get around okay. I'm a bit sore from sneezing the last two days. Every time I sneeze it feels like my insides are ripping and tearing and twisted up. Other than that, I'm managing to get around quite nicely. I haven't started walking yet, just around the house, and doing the loops around the floor while in hospital : )
. Your post was very informative. So how do you feel physically?
Thanks JW -- I'm glad that I'm on my way too!
i'm a week out today.. the swelling has almost left my legs. I had a lot of IV fluids in me and gas from the surgery. I'd say I have almost lost the weight I gained in hospital from all of that.
I feel really good physically. I'm managing to get around, get showered, get dressed, do regular day to day things.
Bending or reaching sometimes twists and pinches a bit, but all in all I feel great.
Sneezes and coughs are bad.. very bad :P
i'm a week out today.. the swelling has almost left my legs. I had a lot of IV fluids in me and gas from the surgery. I'd say I have almost lost the weight I gained in hospital from all of that.
I feel really good physically. I'm managing to get around, get showered, get dressed, do regular day to day things.
Bending or reaching sometimes twists and pinches a bit, but all in all I feel great.
Sneezes and coughs are bad.. very bad :P
Sunnie - Dr. Savoie, his staff, and the staff at the hospital are heaven-sent. In hospital, your pain is very well managed. When you hurt, you're usually due for some meds. They make sure you are the most comfortable you can be. The nurses and the LPNs give you constant care if needed.
You'll do just fine, don't worry about the pain at all : )
Beeker - Thanks so much for your encouragement and support : )
You'll do just fine, don't worry about the pain at all : )
Beeker - Thanks so much for your encouragement and support : )
Most Active
Recent Topics
