Made it Through - Make Room on the Bench!

You sound like you are doing great! I had the opposite issue: lots of pain, difficulty walking, but great, attentive nurses. I was most terrified when it was time to do the X-rays and drink the barium. Having not had anything by mouth in almost 2 days and not knowing if and how my sleeve would work with swallowing, I was terrified. I was in so much pain just standing up and must've looked really scared because the radiology tech looked really worried. I thought I was pretty tough before all this....

Geez, I'm sorry you had it so rough! How are you today? When did you get your surgery? Did your difficult recovery make you regret having it done?

My doctor does the leak test while he's still in there. I never had to swallow barium.

My pre-surgery meeting the other day and my surgeon said he does the leak test while still in there also. He also told me I'll be getting like 6 belly shots before surgery to prevent pain afterwards which I have not found mentioned anywhere yet? I think the shots might hurt more LOL

I was told that I got shots (while under anesthesia) that would numb the belly for up to 3 days? Something like that...I can't remember a whole lot about surgery day right now. I did get a heparin (blood thinner) shot just before surgery, and again right after. They weren't nearly as bad as I thought they'd be.

It was on Tuesday. No, the difficult recovery isn't making me regret having it done. I am still in that, "oh boy, what have I done?!" stage, which I hear is very normal. Right now, I'm more mobile and getting better. I think a lot of my stress is to do with very near term upcoming obligations and return to work. Also, learning to sip water..I was such a water swigger that this is totally weird and I'm in total anxiety about becoming dehydrated (I live in a very hot area, too). I know it's just a lot of adjustments.

I'm glad you didn't need to do the barium. It was repulsive. And later (TMI), it made my pee smell like sulfur and uh, came out the other end, too.

Awesome!

Tessie, it all sounds good. Congrats.