My Surgery Experience (including some helpful tips!)

I'm now 7 days post-surgery.

My three weeks on Opti were pretty rough... I was nauseous for about 2 hours after each shake, couldn't trust my toots, and made many mad dashes for the wash room. I couldn't wait for my surgery date to arrive.

On the morning of my surgery I was weighed in and had lost 21 lbs on Opti, which was a great morale boost! I got registered, gowned and put on my little surgery booties. The staff labelled my things and put them in a locker. I waited in the Registration waiting room as other day surgery people filed in. I was the only bariatric patient there. About 30 minutes prior to surgery I was given a blood thinner and moments later all the pre-surgery people and there loved ones were herded down to the waiting room outside the surgery theatres. It was a tight squeeze because many people brought 2 people with them. I was solo.

My surgeon came to say hello prior to the surgery and I met again with the anaesthesiologist to review my file. The surgery room was much warmer than I had experienced in the past (usually they are like ice boxes), and the surgery table was more like a bed. An IV was started and an O2 mask put on. Before I knew it I was off to sleep and waking up in the recovery room.

I must have pinched a nerve in my neck while I was being intubated because it hurt like a bugger. I felt like I had been punched repeatedly in the stomach and my throat was sore (from the intubation), but a request for pain meds quickly solved that problem. Before long two porters came and wheeled me and my bed up to my room.

I had six incisions instead of five, which I'm told sometimes happens. One recommendation I'd make is to ask your RN for a pack a Steri-Strips to take home with you (they are skin closures that are put over your incisions), because I had to replace a few of mine when I got home.

I had coverage for a semi-private but they must have been full because I was put in a room with three other patients instead of just one. All my "room mates" were of very loud talking, large family origins. They were all really nice but it was a bit of a circus. I was really glad I had brought ear plugs. An eye mask also helped because the florescent lights in the room were pretty bright, especially when trying to catch a nap.

The two and a half days in the hospital flew by, and I learned the importance of bringing comfortable slip on shoes. Getting up and walking, even for short distances, felt great and helped relieve the gas. I set the alarms on my phone to chime every 15 minutes to remind me it was time to sip, sip, sip. I would recommend bringing a clock as it's not always possible to see the one in the room due to curtains being moved around -- and you definitely need to keep your eye on it to make sure you're getting the right amount of liquids in.

I was brought clear broth, tea, and jello for every meal, but was only able to get the broth down. I kept the jello in case I needed something to mix my meds with, but on day two was given apple sauce for the task. If you have additional meds you need to take don't be shy to ask the RN for apple sauce... it really helps.

A tip for the ladies... whether you're expecting your period or not, bring provisions! Mother nature arrive two weeks early. Maybe it was the stress, maybe it was the blood thinners, but the nurse told me it was quite common.

A suggestion for all... there are antiseptic wipes all over the place. As often as you can put on a pair of gloves (also all over the place) and wipe down your bed rails, the machines, your table, the bathroom door handle, anything you, another patient or a nurse touches. The last thing you want to walk out with is a cold, or worse.

On the first night a Respiratory Tech (RT) stopped by to get me hooked up to my CPAP. I was still on oxygen so he brought an adapter so I could run O2 through my machine.

On the morning of my release I had some more blood work done and was visited by the RT again, the Dr filling in for my surgeon (it was the weekend), and an Occupational Therapist who assessed my walking ability. Once the blood work was back I was given the green-light for release and ended up leaving around noon.

I was given a prescription for the Prevacid and blood thinners. They had to be filled at a local pharmacy because most pharmacies don't carry them. I would also recommend picking up liquid Tylenol at the same time.

I was also given paperwork from the Internist that listed what medications and vitamins I was to be taking (including the type and dosage of the liquid Tylenol). I also got the appointment dates and times for my one month and three month follow-ups. I was told to make an appointment with my GP for Day 6 post-surgery for blood work (they gave me a list of what needed to be tested). I was also told to call the surgeon's office to make an appointment for a post-op check-up one to two weeks out.

Getting home from the hospital was a bit bumpy (it's pothole season after all), but it was much more comfortable than I expected and the bumps actually helped move around the remaining gas! I was glad to be home in my own bed... sore but manageable.

The whole experience was a lot less scary and a lot less painful than I ever expected. Three cheers for pain meds and nice nurses!!!

That about covers my first 3 days with my new stomach. Stay tuned for Days 4 - 7! I hope it helps any pre-ops out there!!!

Glad you're home safe and sound!  I am less than 2 weeks away from surgery so I like to hear good stories now.

Do you need a prescription for the liquid Tylenol? I know you can buy childrens liquid but I haven't seen the adult liquid formula.

Children's meds are for CHILDREN.. don't buy that! They don't have the right ADULT dosage in children's meds. 

Crush the pills/ tablets or get a pill cutter; any pharmacy will have those items. As long as they are the size of an M&M or smaller, they are fine to take when cut.

 

When I was early out the only liquid vitamins (meds) I took was liquid CALCIUM (Wellesse brand, comes in a white bottle with a pink label). I got it at Costco, $10 for the big bottle, lasted about a month. I took 1tbsp at lunch and 1tbsp at dinner. 

 

 

 

You can buy "Tylenol Elixir" without a prescription but it's behind the counter so you have to go through the pharmacist.

Hi there,

 

I am goingFeb 13 too! Mine is in Ottawa , where are you going?

Guelph

  I was hoping we wre going to be roomies but I guess we won't be then . Hows the opti going?

Thank you for sharing your experience with us.  I have added the suggested items to my packing list for surgery.  Glad to hear you are doing well and back home.  Wish you a speedy recovery......

Thanks so much....I have my surgery in about a week and it is comforting to know a little more what I can expect.

Cheers to a speedy recovery.

Tara

Thank you so much for sharing your experiences. I go in next Tuesday for my surgery. 

I have a few questions for you :-)

The medications that we have to get (needles and Prevacid) I thought had to be purchased our first day as the needles have to be given daily starting in the hospital. This is what Caron told me the day I met with her. How many needles did you take home with you? There is 8 in total isn't there? 

Do you think they would be upset if I asked to be released earlier then noon? I am asking as my husband works 3-11 that day, he has already asked for the Tuesday off. I don't want him to pu**** with work as he just received a job promotion yesterday and he starts the position tomorrow night. We don't live that far from the hospital(approx 1 hr) but now I'm concerned that I may not get released until late day. 

Not looking forward to the wonderful bumpy 401 ride home...it's bad this year. 

Thank you again for sharing and I hope you have a great recovery!! 

Kim