HAS ANYONE HAD WLS W/ DR. HOUSTON RECENTLY?

I AM JUST WONDERING ABOUT THE IV'S USED...THE ONE IN THE NECK ESPECIALLY....ARE YOU AWAKE WHEN THEY DO THAT? HAVE YOU BEEN GIVEN ANYTHING TO RELAX? DOES IT HURT? HOW LONG DOES IT STAY IN? I HAVE WLS MONDAY AM.....THE IV THING IS FREAKING ME OUT.....I WILL DO BETTER KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT....MY NERVES HAVE ME WANTING TO JANELLA

Hi sweetie, all you need to worry about is relaxing. Don't think about Monday, make the best of the weekend. But relax. Haven't you ever had an IV put in? It's the same thing. Are they going to be putting one in your neck? That would be a straight line. Most likely it will be in the front/side area of the neck. Just a little ***** like having it done in the hand or arm. That way they can put in pain medication or other medication to help you stay asleep or to control your pain better. Nothing to worry about. I had it done in my neck when I had thyroid surgery. It was the only way as the veins in my arms and hands are so tiny. After they were able to get me asleep by putting the IV in my neck, they started another in my arm. I'm a real hard stick. When I was taken to recovery, the straight line had been removed from my neck. Some say they had theirs while they were still in the hospital. That way they were given their pain medicine that way. You'll be fine. Trust me, Love Kathy

I had Dr. Houston in January of 2004 and have no regrets choosing him as my surgeon. He is an extremely competent and caring surgeon I am also from Cookeville! Don't worry about the IV in the neck. I had never had one done and I don't even remember them putting it in. They take it out the day you go home but it does not hurt. Besides you are on a morphine drip so that dulls any pain. If you want to email me privately my email will be hooked up at home again after 3pm on Saturday so wait until then to email me and it is [email protected]. I will be glad to answer any and all questions. Valerie

Hi Janella! Sorry I cannot offer u any advice because I have not had my surgery yet either. I have also never had an IV! I have been fortunate throughout my 35 (soon to be 36 ) years to never have been hospitalized for surgery or anything else. I also have chosen Centennial and I am leaning towards choosing Dr. Houston as well. I wouldn't worry. I am sure everything will be okay and Centennial seems to be top notch and from what I have read, Dr. Houston is a very skilled and competent doctor (and very, very cute too! hehe ). Anyways, you will be in my thoughts and prayers. Don't worry, soon you will be on the "loosing side" Yay!!! and will be so glad you had the surgery and then will be able to offer advice and calm the nerves of all of us pre-ops before our big day! I am in Sparta so if you need anything, please don't hesitate to ask. Take Care. Tammy

Hi Janella! I'm a bit late in this reply as I see your surgery is today. Congratulations!!! Dr. Houston performed my lap rny a year ago and I, too, was stressing over the central line in my neck. They zonked me out before doing it. I never knew it took place. It does not hurt, nor did it hurt when they took it out the day I was discharged. I had a tiny scar on the right side of my neck for a few months but its gone now. I do have a picture of my neck if you'd like to see it. May God carry you through a picture perfect surgery and speedy recovery! Melanie 247/124