Approved and Scheduled for MONDAY!

I am so excited that I can barely focus on my work. Yikes! Just got the news that I was approved and will be having my surgery on Monday morning with Dr Patterson at Good Sam in Portland. Wish me luck. Thanks so much for sharing your stories with me. Patti

wow, that was fast. Good luck and best wishes for a successful surgery and speedy recovery.

Congratulation Patricia, I too will have my surgery on Monday the 10th. I hope I have enough time to get things ready, especially my MIND!!! I just found this out on Monday of this week. Good luck and will pray for your fast recovery. Julia

Hi Julia, Congratulations to you too! We have come so far to get to this point. I am sending positive thoughts your way and will be looking forward to hearing how it went for you. Try to get some good rest this weekend. You will be so happy. You deserve this!! Warmly, Patti

Congrats Patti! You will love Dr. Patterson, I actually had Dr. Hong but while I was in the hospital Dr. P came and saw me a few times, she is very sweet. The hospital and rooms are nice too along with the nurses, you should have a great stay. The food is nasty to begin with just to warn you but when they let you drink at first you will think you are in heaven. Time will fly and soon in will be Monday!

Hi Dayna, Do you have any tips for the hospital stay? Were you on the new bariatric unit of the hospital? Did you have a support person stay with you in your room and was it a private room? Thanks so much for the words of courage. Patti

When I was there in October the rooms weren't private. I had to share with another woman who had her gallbladder removed (had nothing to do with wls). I had heard about the new bariatric wing but it either hadn't been completed or I just wasn't lucky enough to be in it. My room had a nice view (I got the window since I got into the room first), though. My roommate wanted the room warm. When I left (early on the following day) I found out the temp was set at 92!!!!! No wonder I couldn't stay asleep! I usually sleep in the low to mid 60's. I didn't completely have an unpleasant stay but it seemed like I was ignored for the care of my roommate (they realized I figured out how to get out of bed on my own to use the potty so they didn't need to come see me). My husband didn't want to spend the night (or much time, either) so I was alone except for my roommate (at least we got along -- apparently our drugs started wearing off about 2 in the morning because we both really started talking -- someone even got up and closed our door!!!). I don't know if conditions have changed (at one point a nurse commented that I had one of the "old" beds...) or if I was just a bit unfortunate. I didn't have a "bad" experience, I was just expecting something a bit different. Good luck! Lori

Hi Patti, My name is Kim. I am just getting started in the process at good Sam to have my surgery done. Any pointers to help speedy it up? Kim

Hi Patti! I just glanced at this msg. board and couldn't help but read through everything you have written and your replies. I'm Rose N. and I live here in Eugene, too, and had Dr. Patterson do my surgery last July. It is an amazing journey and the best thing I have ever done (not counting marrying and having the kids, of course!). Feel free to write to me anytime as you will surely have as many questions as I did after my surgery. Let me let you in on something: right now you are swallowing pills crushed up in a little liquid and the taste is disqusting, right? IT GETS SOOOOOOO MUCH BETTER. Once you start eating food, some will inevitably "get stuck". It's an awful feeling that will subside; so try not to worry too much about it (I thought I was going to have that happen for the rest of my life -but it doesn't!). Dr. says that if it does get stuck, drink a little bubbly club soda and that should help to "pu**** down". I once got a piece of halibut "stuck"; it lasted about 5 hours and it scared me. Finally it moved. It was after that episode that I found out about the soda. I realize now that food getting "stuck" and the "spit vomiting" that sometimes goes with it is only temporary! I eat and drink (almost) anything now. I have lost 85 lbs. and don't really care if I lose another ounce. I feel human again and the happiest I have been in years. Best of luck to you now. Make sure you take it easy and rest as much as possible. You will feel wonderful (maybe you do already) soon and we, as women, have a tendency to do too much when we feel great. Remember that your body is healing and "baby" yourself! Write if you so desire. Rose