Looking for some last minute encouragement

Hi everyone. I am brand spanking new to this site (I just learned about it yesterday, I live Murphy's Law I swear). I am have the Laproscopic by-pass this coming Monday at St. Vincent by Dr. Ben Meir. Very excited about the other side but a little nervous about what to "really" expect in the immediate days post op. Does anyone have any last minute advise that you don't get in the PAT stuff? Also, did anyone have to have a blood transfusion with this surgery?

Hi there! I didnt have that surgery.. so I dont have any advice for you. But I did want to send you good thoughts and best wishes! Good Luck! Amanda

Awe, that's really sweet. Thank you so much. I really appreciate the well wishes. Where are you at in your journey?

Kym, congrats on your upcoming surgery, I was at St. V. as well. What can you really expect? Well, as you know, the patient education is very good there, but what I found challenging early on is just keep sipping to get in all my liquids. Its only going to be 1 or 2 swallows, max. so go back for more every 10 or 15 minutes. Yes, some pain, (I had open) but nothing that can't be overcome with pain meds. and walking. No blood transfusion here, but be ready for the emotional changes that come along if you have been using food as a source of comfort. Otherwise, good luck future loser! Doug

Thank you very much. IM really excited. Yeah they really prepare you and make sure that you have all the information that you need. But there are just some things that they can't prepare you for unless you have gone thru it. Just like what you said about the sipping. I really wonder how that will feel. I will take you advise and try every 10 to 15 minutes. I love nothing more than taking a huge glass of milk or water and drinking it right down and that feelling that you get when you can feel it all the way down. So no more of that but the benefits will definately out weight that feeling. I had my Gall bladder out about 10 years ago and I don't remember much pain with that b/c it was laproscopic as well. So Yahoo for the med's!!! Honestly I am concerned about the emotional aspect. I have been over wieght all of my adult life and never really able to do "normal people" things so Im wondering how that will have an impact on my emotions. All in all though I know this is the right decision. Im very excited and finally counting down the hours vs days!!! Thank you for your kind words of wisdom. Here's to being a LOSER!

HI again Kym, I wish you TONS of luck this Monday, I will be thinking of you... I had the LAP RNY with Dr. Ben-Meir last Sept. and really there was not too much pain involved for me. The nurses have you up and walking really early on, and even though it is the last thing you will want to do, beleive me, it helps. The gas from the Lap is a bit uncomfortalbe and the only way to get rid of it is to WALK, WALK and WALK some more! The nurses are top notch @ St. V's, you are in good hands. It is really a big adjustment, but will be so worth it. One of the nurses told me, that 1 food tray they bring to you after surgery, could feed the entire bariatric floor! That is definetly the truth too! I did not have a blood transfusion, so cant answer any questions about that. I was in the hospital for almost 5 weeks, so I can answer pretty much any other question you have related to St. Vincents and the doctors and nurses! Again I wish you huge supportive hugs for Monday! Michelle

Thank you very much Michelle. I so appreciate everyones support. Your right. This is going to be a huge adjustment in my life (one that I am ready for. I have been debating this surgery for 5 years so I KNOW in the core of my being that this is absouletly the right decision for me. No regrets or second thoughts.) My mom had her stomach stapled and a ring put around her esophogas (sp) 10 years ago so I was able to see her life change drastically and the adjustments she had to make. Gas meaning like...... You....can...pass...it? Like farting? I imagine that burping would be very painful? :-$ How much are you down now? 5 WEEKS. Wow, was that realated to the surgery and complications? I have researched Dr. Ben Meir and based on that research I have 100% confidence in him and his ablities. On a personal note, I found him extremely nice and very engaging. I have also researched St. Vincent. I have heard nothing but outstanding reveiews on the nursing staff there. So I know that I am in good hands. I know that some people go to Cleveland Clinic but I was much more comfortable being at St. Vincent. Im very excited. I wish Monday was here already! Soon enough though!

HI Kym, I know what you mean by researching this surgery for years. I did the same thing and I felt totally prepared when my "date" came. By gas, I mean the discomfort in your body. They fill you with air/gas to do the surgery and it can be uncomfortable afterwards, But it will soon pass... I am down 94 pounds since my surgery which will be 5 months this coming Monday. I can not tell you how much BETTER my body feels. It has and is changing my life so much...I am so grateful to have been able to have this surgery and grateful that Dr. Ben-Meir was my surgeon. 5 weeks in the hospital was due to lots and lots of problems. I am a "oddity" and seemed like it was one thing after the other...but I am great now, all the problems are behind me, and I would do it again even knowing what I went through. I know you will be fine, I took everybodys complications so no one else could have them! LOL Do you live in the Cleveland area? I know of some good support groups if you dont go to one now. I find them a big help to me. Life is good, and continuing to get even better! Michelle

See that is what I mean by what to "really" expect post op. I don't remember seeing that in the handbook. Thank you for your candid response. Yeah, I live in the Cleveland area and will want a support group. A bunch of us girls at work are talking about starting a support group of our own. So we shall See. I am so happy that all the yucky stuff is behind you. Good for you. 94 pounds. Excellent. I have 199 to lose to get to my "ideal weight". Of course the Ben-Meir's office is saying that 150 is considered goal for me. I know it is going to be a long journey with much work but I am looking forward when I am 5 months out and can say "how much BETTER my body feels". What a sweetheart. Taking on all the problems of the RNY patience. What an angel. :angel: I also just found out that my surgery is @ 11. I was hoping for the early one but as I think about it the middle one is better. That way I can see my kids before I leave for the hospital and I don't have to get up at the crack of dawn. I can have a good nights sleep the night before. :bed: Well OK, as good as you can get with surgery the next day. LOL

Hi Kym, Good luck to you! There was very little pain and no blood transfusion involved with my surgery. My advice is sip, sip, sip, and walk, walk, walk. Follow your surgeon's diet. Take your vitamins including B-12 and calcium citrate. Enjoy each day and every compliment! One thing that most of the NUT stuff never hits on is there is an actual period of grieving over the loss of food as your friend (the extent of this varies with the person and depends on how close you feel to your food). Mine lasted a couple of days during the seemed-like-forever mushy stage of my post-op. I have a friend who went into several weeks depression over it so it is something to look for. -172 lbs. since 12/05/05. Goal -28 more by 6/2007.