Question for WeightWise patients

Salutations : ) I have surgery on 12/19 and am just trying to mentally prepare myself for the date... could any WeightWise patients out there please tell me what I'm in for the moment I walk through the door? I know it's silly but i figure that if I know exactly what's going to happen to me step by step then I shouldn't be as worried or scared and I've been playing head-games on myself lately and I hope this'll stop some of that... thanks to anyone *****plies. ^^)/ cheers

Picture yourself checking into a swanky hotel - seriously!!  They'll have you sign your paperwork - then you will be escorted to meet Ms Amy the pre-op nurse.  She will give you a beautiful gown and some precious socks for your feet and place you in a nice sofft bed - after that - no worries - Amy will walk you through everything!!

Come tonight you can meet everyone!!

R

I had my surgery on 3/12/08.  I had been in the hospital a few times and this time was by far the best experience of all.  From the time you enter the front door until you leave they treated me like I was so important and almost as if I were the only one there.  Their patient load is very small so the care you get is above any anywhere.  When I first got there I filled out a little paper work, they took me to the lab for the final lab work and then called me back  to get into the beautiful hospital gown.  After that they put in the iv and get you all ready.  I was in the surgery are and my husband and kids were there with me until the very last.  The nurses were all so very kind and friendly.  I then had the anesthesiologist (sp) come in to introduce himself and ask me a few questions and explained what he was going to do.  I remember them rolling me to where I needed to be and then I briefly saw Dr. Walton and then came the "mask" and the "lights" so to speak went out and I didn't remember anything until they were waking me up in the recovery area.  Soon after that they rolled me into my room and then began the regimine of water, taking temps, etc and walking very soon.  I don't think I was in surgery but about 1 1/2 hours or so.  I had very little if any pain.  I took hom a prescription of liquid loritab but only took it once because it nauseated me and I'd rather have a little pain than be sick to my stomach.  I was never scared about anything.  I was at peace with it all when I got there.  I just wanted it over with.  I don't think you need to worry about anything.  You'll get the best care there EVER.  This is the only thing they do there and they do it very well.  I'd go back and do it all over again in a New York minute!!!  Good luck to you and what an awesome Christmas gift for you!!!

The morning of surgery - when I got there, they took me back to my patient room so we would know where I would be after surgery.  (very, very nice big rooms!)  At some point, you have to put on the gown we all love so much that bears your butt to the world!  (just kidding - they are way big at WW)  You go to the pre-op area and meet the pre-op nurse, Amy!  She is just fabulous and gorgeous!  (she was the very first sleeve done there about 14 months ago - she  now looks like a supermodel)  They will have you go collect a urine sample because they will test for pregnancy that morning.  (if preggers, no surgery)  Then Amy will start you IV.  It only takes her one stick because she's that good!  They will weigh you to  make sure you haven't gained.  I was in the bed that actually weighs you while you lie in it.  Luck me, huh?  She whispered my weight to me.  Your surgeon and the anesthesiologist (sp?) will come back and talk to you before surgery.  They wheel you in to surgery where it is colder than a meat locker!!!  No kidding!  You will move yourself from the rolling bed to the operating table and then they will inject the fun stuff!  That's it!  You won't remember anything else until you are on the Loser's Bench with all of us!  (where we will hug you and greet you like a sister!) 

That afternoon,  you will be required to drink as much as possible and walk every couple of hours.  You may have visitors from this board!  They will wrap your calves in puffy things that inflate and deflate to prevent blood clots.  The respiratory nurse will bug you every 2 hours to breathe into the breaking doo-hickey they bring you.  The more active you are, the faster you will recover.  You will also be hooked up to the oxygen monitor and a heart monitor and the IV.  You will take that pole with you wherever you go!

Nursing staff is fab and will be there any time you need them.  (buzzer for that!)  The doctor will see you that evening too.  They will let you sleep overnight - rare for a hospital but true!  They didn't wake me til 5AM when they drew blood to check and see how I was doing.  Blood pressure is checked frequently too.  If you are a sleever, you will be released the next day.  I was released around 1:00 after Dr. W. came by to see me.  After he authorized your release, you get Mr. Puffy Legs and the IV junk all removed and you go home.

This has been the best thing I have ever done.  I'm thrilled with the results and you will be too!  I hope I have helped.  If you have questions, please do not hesitate to ask!  We are family now!

Kim

Heya Kikuri...

First and foremost...no kidding around...  imagine hanging out with people *****ally care about you, but they've known you for a long time....  so they're really cool to you, but if you don't folow te rules, they'll let you know just like you were a cousin who broke a houserule...

So with that being said....worrying won't help you a bit....but knowing the there's some REALLY interesting and fun people there will make certain that you feel good about what's gonna happen to you post surgery.

I will tell you that if you've got questions about anything...write them down now, because Doc. B will ask you for any additional questions you might have just before going into the surgery room....once you're in there, you won't know because you will already be asleep and stuff...

However...the one thing that I will tell you that I have found that s common with most WLS people is that you will have a tiny moment of regret when you're in your room recovering....  buyer's remorse hits nearly all of us...HOWEVER... think about where you have been, and where you're going tobe once the healing is over!  It's not easy, I'll grant that to you, but it's noting that won't work itself out.  All of us had a rough time going to the bathroom...ahem, ahem...   and ummm we miss food that we're not going to eat on a daily basis.... and yes...you will at a french fry again..but not anytime soon.... and thre wll be things that only affect you that some of us didn't deal with....but listen to the nurses....listen to the Rita... she knows you don't want to do the things that she's asking, but her methods got me outta the hospital a few days earlier than if I hadn't listened to her.

And most importantly.....you asked for his surgery....this is what you need to rediscover and make that step to being the person that you've been daydreaming about....  and you've got us there to listen to you gripe and fuss....and some of us are even helpful... (I'm not, but others here are awesome..., but yes, even I'll help if you only ask me!)....   I'm good with fiber, lowcarb, innovative products you can eat, recipes that are gourmet and approved for wls, and some extreme ideas about resolving head hunger and hard stalls that we all reach!  So now tat you know...we're here for ya.

So I'm putting you on a my prayer chain and I'm gonna send out some long distance thoughts so you approach this in a calm and thrilling manner....

Remember....  no chili-dogs, tacos, icecream, potato chips, BBQ, or sugar of any kind allowed in the hospital please! 

Let us know how you're doing!

T.

WOW!!! You all are amazing bunch of people...  Just copy and paste these same comments to my thread in a week or so..LOL..

I love reading them, keep them coming..

Sheila

Thanks so much for these responses--I already feel so much better about it. I am now trying to think of things I need to purchase before the surgery. The last time I saw the nutritionist (chris) I forgot to ask if I should be ordering vitamins or what (she knows I'm taking a centrum chewable pre-op). Should I be getting vitamins and protein samples now? Anything else I need besides non-red/purple sf popsicles?

Hi, there. I am the List Queen. Here was my packing list. Way too much stuff, but I couldn't call home and say, "Would you bring..." and, I must say, I used everything at least once. :)

Bible (won't leave w/o it)
pillow (because it's familiar, and I'll need it for the ride home, to sleep/cushion in case of bumpy roads)
brush, hair clips (to put my hair up, if I want to)
ipod with relaxing music + relaxation exercises + Psalms for Surgery, w/ ear phones
glasses (can't read w/o them)
Crest Brush-ups (for when I just need to rub my teeth, to feel fresh)
T-brush & t'paste
Face wash, deodorant, basic make-up (I'll feel yucky, otherwise)
Alcohol swabs, in case I feel nauseous
Pampers wipes, to freshen up
chap stick
robe, gown, slippers (in case I decide to feel prettier than the hospital gown will make me feel)
comfy outfit to go home in (plan to wear it there, as well)--leavin' bra at home!
phone card (I don't have a cell phone)
pen & paper (I'm a List Queen)
wallet, in case I want/need to shop at the Wt. Wise Store upstairs
CPAP machine (no machine, no surgery)
Most important of all, a positive attitude and a smile

You asked about vitamins. I started taking Celebrate Vitamins chewables before surgery, because I figured it would help my body get stronger, for the surgery, and then I'd have them on hand. At first, I took Centrum Adult Chewables, but I saw that they didn't quite have enough of what we need, so that's when I ordered from www.celebratevitamins.com. I bought their: Calcium Plus Chewables (Hot Cocoa flavor; they also have cherry), their Multivitamin chewables (mandarin orange flavor), their Iron+C (tastes like a sweet tart), and a sublingual B12 from WalMart (tastes good, too). The cost of the chewables is about $10 for a 30-day supply. The dietician asked me to stop taking all but the Multivitamin (twice a day) a few weeks prior to surgery. After surgery, you'll keep taking the Multivitamin until your 2-week post-op diet class, at which time the dietician will, most likely, have you begin to take the Calcium and B12, as well as your Multivitamin. Whether or not you take Iron is based on your lab work, I believe. Keep in mind that this whole thing is based on my experience. If you want the "horse's mouth" version, just email Chris or Jess (dieticians). :)
Hope some of this helps. If you have any questions that I can answer, just let me know.
Blessings,
Mary

I didnt have my surgery at WW so i dont know what its like, i just wanted to let you know congrats on your surgery date, and take chapstick,  its a lifesaver.

Absolutely get the necessary supplements before the surgery.  I failed to do this and thought that I could do it when I got around to it.  I felt horrible until I got the supplements.