Excitement Vs Nervousness Surgery Date 06/28/2017

Dear Fellow VSG forum,

This is my 1st post (forum cherry popped) I have been in limbo w/ myself for a little over a year regarding this procedure. I am finally happy to say my surgery date has been secured 06/28/2017 and I promised myself I would not reschedule this date, ignore my patient coordinator's calls and etc. I am a ball of emotions currently, a part of me is excited to embrace this "new me" and the other part of me (never been under the knife) is very nervous. I have been to (2) seminars even though (1) was required. I have participated in the online webinar and still have a list of questions...It feels like my mind is on overload. I would like to address people who have experienced this procedure...So please if anyone can help w/ any advice it would be greatly appreciated...

I don't want to over purchase items nor miss anything that may have helped other's...

So again any advice is welcomed (Mainly concerned for my discharge and first week pointers)

Thank you in advance....

Good for you! You won't regret your decision. Just ask any questions here on this forum and you will gert plenty of response. Ask away!

Thank you for your response Kyzze

What items did you purchase for comfort? ie: body pillows, heating pads or similar items

I didn't purchase anything like that for my VSG. I did have a recliner in storage that I brought to the house and that was nice to have. I slept in it for the first 3-4 days. If a recliner isn't an option for you, consider lots of pillows so you can sleep sort of propped up.

Welcome!

The actual surgery is the easy part :) You just go to the hospital, meet everyone on the team and promptly forget who they are, and then you sleep for a few hours. It's the recovery that's challenging :P

What questions do you have? I'm happy to take a shot at them. This surgery, and all that it has led to, was one of the best and kindest things I have ever don't for myself. I'm forever grateful that I chose to pursue WLS.

For discharge and 1st week - take your pain medication. It's harder to deal with pain once it reaches an 8+ than it is to stay on top of it when you're in the 2-4 range. Walk as much as possible. You'll have gas pain but it's not digestive system gas, it's internal gas. Gas-X won't help, walking will. It'll be hard, but you need to do what you can. Sip as much as possible too. Hydration is YOUR JOB immediately following surgery. If you can't get your protein - that's fine, but you MUST get your liquids. Try different temps, different (calorie free) liquids. Experiment to find what you can tolerate and then sip it all day.

And, remember, you can do this :)

Gwen,

Thank you for your response, Did you use any measuring cups for your liquid intake? I have read that you literally sip all day and can't consume too much. Did you experience any immediate nausea upon waking up from anesthesia? And as far as your scars do you have any recommendations.

Look forward to hearing from you..

Heya. I used blender bottles for my protein shakes and liquid in general. (I prefer hydroflasks for liquids now though!) I just worked at finishing my bottles - no need for measuring cups.

I only recall some nausea post-op. I had the patch behind my ear and that helped a lot. Then, for home, I had the zofran that dissolve on your tongue. So between those things nausea wasn't an issue.

Oh! As for scars... what scars? :) Laparoscopy is done through multiple (five in my case) little teeny holes and I couldn't even locate them now if I tried. Pretty awesome.

And also super funny question considering I've just finished round #1 of plastic surgery so I have ALL the scars. So it's funny to think of my VSG scars which are non-existent when I currently look like a stage magician sawed me in half :D

You're my sleeve twin. I am having surgery the 28th as well. It was supposed to be on the 26th but my surgeon will be out of town that day. I am not really nervous at all. I have been put under a couple of times and only issue I have had is nausea but they load me up on the anti-nausea meds and I do fine. We've got this girl!!

Amy

Call me the triplet, I have mine on the 28th as well. I agree with your searching, I too am not wanting to purchase a shake or a supplement that either won't taste good or doesn't have enough of all the right stuff in it. That is my main confusion right now. Oh and all of the vitamins I have to take everyday. So confused. I hope you stick around and post as you got through the process. Look forward to hearing from you!