home from my lapband surgery

I'm home and feeling pretty good.  Here's the scoop: surgery with Dr Patterson, 9/28/07, AP lapband 7:30am: check-in, admitted, ekg, blood test****o doc, IV 8:30: wheeled in to OR, moved in to OR bed and put to sleep 10: surgery completed 11: woke up in recovery room, feeling pretty good, a little groggy but I talked a lot because I wanted to get up to my room and see my husband.  Had to stay a bit longer because my blood pressure was low.  They gave me some amphetimine? to bring it up. 12: wheeled to room.  Rooms are big and cozy with private bathroom. 1:  sipping water, 1 oz every 15 minutes.  Feeling pretty alert and chatted with hubby. 2: was able to get up and walk around hall, go to bathroom, was given tomato soup and protein drink- drank 1 oz of protein, half ounce of water, and two teaspoons of soup about every 15 minutes. 3-7: more of the same- got up every hour and walked and went to bathroom. 7-9: discharged, went to walgreens and filled my liquid vicodin prescription, came home and sipped protein at same rate (1 ounce per 15 min), watched some TV 11pm: went to bed  Now it's 2am, couldn't sleep so thought I'd come offer an update. So the general stuff:  the pain after surgery felt as if I was sore from doing crunches, just some general muscle pain across the top of my stomach.  Not bad at all, esp. with some vicodin.  Didn't hurt to walk or go to the bathroom. My nursing care wasn't great, which is disappointing because when my husband had his band put in last month he had great nurses.  Mine had to be reminded of anything I needed, didn't come check in on me unless I hit the call button, and took about 20 minutes to respond when I hit the button.  My nurse had 4 patients and was at the desk every time I walked by, so it didn't look like she was swamped or anything.   Dr. Patterson had really encouraged me that I would probably feel like going home same day and that was fine, and the nurse said she would come by to discharge me.  I felt ready for discharge by 3pm, and kept waiting- at 6 I asked the nurse to page her, and at just after 7 the PA called and said the nurse could discharge me.  I was dissapointed that Dr. Patterson didn't come by and make rounds to check in on me or send me home. Dr. P didn't have me do a swallow study after surgery (which my husband had to do for Dr. Jan)- she said she was confident that the band was placed correctly (this was before the surgery, lol!) and that I would have the swallow during my first fill.  She also didn't order me a morphine pump like my husband had, said that I would be more prepared to go home without one.  I was fine without it, a lot less groggy than Todd had been post-surgery.  I did start taking liquid vicodin about every two hours after 2pm. So my time at the hospital I watched some TV, listened to my Ipod a bit but less than I expected I would, mostly drifted in and out of sleep but light enough sleep that I was having my water pretty much every 15 minutes.  No referrent shoulder pain or bad gas, although I did burp every time I stood up at the hospital for my walk.  (Just one burp each time, not painful.)  I have a bit of a heartburn feeling in my chest every once in a while.  Sitting up for a while after drinking helps.  Siting and laying on my side or back is comfortable.   I have 5 incisions, 4 are about 1/2 inch and one is about 2 inches (port.)  Same as my husband, and his are healing beautifully. Of course came home and weighed myself- had gained 4 pounds in liquids (IV) during the day, which is average I think. There's the scoop, thought the details might be helpful/comforting to someone who's headed toward surgery.  :)  Thanks for your support and well-wishes! Melanie

Glad to read that you made it thru surgery like a charm.....way to go!  And yes I was thrilled to read the blow by blow surgery details.  I too, will be having my surgery with Dr. Patterson in the future,so it was nice to read what actually happens. Thanks so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow!  Amazing to have two different perspectives with different surgeons.  Sorry you didn't think you got what you deserved.  I found the nursing side of the equation quite lacking when I was in the hospital (no one came to help me walk at all... so I didn't walk except to the potty where I found my neighbor's potty tray in the toilet -- full -- ick!). I pretty much had the same as your husband's experience with Dr. Jan.  I did have the barium swallow.  I did stay overnight, though. I hope you have a continued smooth recovery, though. Lori

Hi Melanie, Thanks for the details.  That makes me feel more at ease as my surgery is scheduled for 11/14 in Mexico.  I guess there (Tijuana, Hospital Angeles) I stay for 2 nights in the hospital and then 1 more night in a hotel near the hospital and then they take me back to the airport in San Diego on the 4th day to come back to Springfield.  Yea....I can't wait.   Brenda

 

It's coming soon, I've heard people have had great experiences in Mexico.  Best wishes to you!  I have posted a daily update to my blog: http://bandsurgery.blogspot.com/  Are you getting the band too? Sincerely, Melanie

Welcome home and grats on the successful surgery. Michele :)