WHAT CAN I EXPECT ON SURGERY DAY?

HELLO GUYS, i was just wondering what  to expect when you go in to the hospital for this surgery. Tell me the bad and the good, i just wanna be ready.  I'm freakin terrified of surgery, i've never had any kind of surgery at all.  I guess that my main fear is the limitation on water and the dramatically small portion sizes after this thing.  Did anyone have a hard time with this after the surgery.  Is it true that you dont even want to eat after surgery?  Any information would be nice, Thanks guys... Joshua

I got to the hospital about 3hrs before my surgery.  They took me into a private room with a recliner and had me put on the gown.  Then the nurse came in and asked me lots of questions about everything and nothing.  Then the IV was put in.  It was not as bad as you think.  Only hurts for a second.   Then the bed comes wheeling to the room and you get on and go for a ride.  The hardest part for me was laying on the bed right outside the operating room.  I was nervous and cold as hell. Finally after about 20 minutes they wheeled me into the room.  I slid over onto the operating table(about a foot wide).  Its freezing in there.  They ask if you want to change your mind.  Then gave me demerol.  GREAT STUFF.  Thats all I remember.  Woke up in recovery. 

Joshua I was terrified too each of my 3 surgeries before they put me under.  Before RNY I'd never had any surgeries and that morning I experienced debilitating fear like I've never known.   Once they give you the Versaid you don't really care anymore though.   They hit you with that then they knock you out and you wake up in recovery in what feels like seconds.   You will be in a lot of pain for around 3 to 4 hours but after that it's smooth sailing.  Enjoy the Morphine pump while you can because they take it away from you after you leave the ICU.  They'll give you liquid Demerol though which is almost as good.  MAKE SURE you ask the doc for a scrip of the liquid Demerol before you leave the hospital too.   You'll thank me later.  :)

I won't lie to you though, the liquid diet was the hardest part for me.   It really sucked ballz.  The water issue was also a big deal as well because at first it seemed I could never get enough water.   Just hang in there with that because I promise it doesn't last forever.  At first you can only sip but after a few months you'll be able to down 6 - 8oz at a time.   I'm just under 2 years and I can drink about 14 - 16oz in one swig.  Sometimes I have to burp a couple times to get it all to go down but it eventually does. :)

It's all good though man.  You're gonna come out of it like a champ.  

Best of luck!

Chad.

I came into the hospital about 2 hours before surgery.  The lady asked me all kinds of questions.  I met with the person who puts you to sleep and then met with the doctor.  They gave me drugs and that's all I remember.  I was never in ICU b/c my hospital has a floor designed for gastric bypass patients and they took me right up in my private room.   I woke up there; they took the morphine pump away the day I left the hospital.

When it's over you will say, "damn that was it'?  Mine was kind of like everyone elses. Got there 2 or 3 hours ahead of time. They asked me all the usual questions. Have you eaten, bla, bla bla...... Start the IV, shave ya put me in bed and covered me up. Watched TV with my wife till they took me back. Don't remember being cold, do remember them telling me that I was going to start feeling good and the next thing I was waking up. I knew what to expect, wasn't my first surgery. For me it is just like taking a nap. There is no sense of a big time gap.  Woke up and they were asking me if I was in pain, to which I said yes. My pain was from where they had stapled the large incision site. where I had my surgery they have bariatric section so I was taken to a private room and hooked up to a pain pump. Punched the button every 15 minutes. I was told that they would have me up and walking 4 hours after surgery, so about 21/2 or 3 hours I told my wife to help me get up and take a leak and while I was up we were going to take a walk. Took a short walk the lenght of the hall. Did that every hour or two and each time walked a little farther.  To back track, when I woke up they had already removed the catheter. You probably will wake up with one. I have had one in the past and althought I would not want to have one if I have a choice it is not as bad as you might think.  Take chap stick. I was not allowed to drink till the next day till after the leak test. That first little sip of ice cold water was pure heaven. After that I drank 1 oz every 15 mintues. I stayed 2 nights and left the third day. Was told by the staff that I was going to walk a path in the carpet, but I think it really helped.   pan head

Ditto here for me. The only thing I was worried about was that freaking cathyder (sp??)

Sean

My experience was very similar.  I was told to be at the hospital by noon and they didn't call me into the prep room until 4 pm.  Both my kids came in from out of town, so the company was the only thing that made it tolerable.  I changed into the gown and met with the surgeon and asesth. and got my vitals taken.  When it was time, they walked me to one of the operating rooms (thought I was going to pass out from fear) and I layed on the table.  I had about 1 minute of small talk and the anesth. put in a line and within seonds I was out!  I woke up 4 hours later in recovery and was in the hospital the next two days and went home on the third day.  I was very worried about having the cath. taken out, but that was a lot easier than trying to stand on my own. It will all be fine.  My wife and kids took good care of me in the hospital and kept me on track to get home as soon as possible.  Just do what they tell you and don't fight it.  Generally, they know what they are doing. Regards,