Question:
Big Date: Nov 4 2008 Gastric Bypass
Finally have my date for surgery, and i'm nervous. Please help me hang in there, I will be on liquids starting Nov 21 for two weeks, the knew life does not scare me , its the recovery process thats scary. Can someone explain to me what they do when they test your pouch after surgery and does this hurt. Thanks for all your support. God Bless — claire G. (posted on October 8, 2008)
October 8, 2008
What do you mean, "test" your pouch? I've never heard of that ...
Is it something your surgeon told you they were going to do? And if so, did
you ask them what that entails? They are going to be your best source of
information. As far as recovery goes, my own was pretty easy. The only pain
I ever had was from sleeping on my side ... I cannot sleep on my back, so
when I'd wake up, it would feel like my innards had been scrunched up all
night. I'm five months out now and I think I have thrown up maybe four
times - never from overeating, though - just from food getting
"stuck." Everyone's stories are different, but I don't personally
know anyone who has had major complications after surgery ... As long as
you follow your surgeon's instructions, you should be just fine! I wish you
all the best and I hope you will keep us posted along the way - pre- and
post-op! :-)
— lauren_marie
October 8, 2008
I had an upper GI series. I just drank some barium and they took a bunch
of x-rays. No pain at all. Best wishes and good luck!
— nursenut
October 8, 2008
The most important advice I can give you is this: do not eat anything with
sugar alcohols (look that up on the internet) as it causes nearly everyone
to have severe gas and diarrhea. Follow your instructions to the letter and
you will do well. The only problem I had was eating sugar free things that
had sugar alcohols in them (sugar free popsicles etc.) Also, if you have a
medicine order, take it exactly as prescribed and keep track of every bite.
I had alot of pain after surgery but just ask for your pain medicine and if
it does not help enough, stick up for yourself and ask for more. As my
doctor said "Why didn't you just ask for more medicine?" I felt
stupid for holding it in and trying to "suffer it out". If you
have any problems at all, insist that the doctors are informed of it and
get a direct answer otherwise sometimes the nurses are too busy and forget
to ask. You have to stick up for yourself. Also, I had family with me
pretty much for eight hours straight every day the first few days to help
me with everything because like I said, the nurses often seem too busy and
sometimes they don't use real nurses much - they use "aides" that
sometimes really don't know how to take care of people very well. Insist on
getting your back rubbed with lotion every day - my skin was so fragile
from the plastic beds that it got welts and was all scratched up - again, I
should have asked someone to take care of my skin (they are supposed to,
but sometimes they just feel overwhelmed and don't do it.) You have to
stick up for your own care - be nice, be polite but be determined. Best
wishes.
Maggie
— nofrogs29
October 8, 2008
I'm 5 years post op and never had my pouch "tested"...I wouldn't
do that unless tehre was trouble, I suppose...No trouble, no reason to get
it tested, I guess! It works! YAY!
Good luck to you and may you too have no reason for a pouch test...whatever
it is!
— .Anita R.
October 8, 2008
The day after surgery most surgeons send you down to radiology to make sure
there are no leaks at the suture lines. You have to drink this yucky
stuff. It's not painful, it just tastes bad. You'll be fine. They don't
want to start you on fluids until they know everything is holding well.
It's a smart idea and speaks to your doctor's concern for your well-being.
— Shirley D.
October 8, 2008
What Shirley D. went thru is exactly what I had done, NO PAIN.
— [Deactivated Member]
October 8, 2008
I think what you're are talking about is done during surgery and
potentially the day after to test your pouch for leaks and to ensure that
liquids can pass through your stoma freely. It is not painfull of course
during surgery as you are anesthetized. The day after, you have to drink
liquid dye, yucky, not painfull. Don't be scared, not so bad.
Good luck and please follow your instructions to the tee both pre-op and
post op and you'll do great.
Dawn Vickers, RN, BLC, CLC
— DawnVic
October 8, 2008
in my case on the day after my procedure while very comfortable on morphine
I was wheeled down to Xray, took a sip of something (ok I was pretty stoned
still) I stood up infront of a floroscope and they watched the stuff go
thought me. If it stays on the right track all is good if it wanders
something is not right.
Really dont remember much of it becasue still on the morphine drip
Greg
— brokenelbow
October 8, 2008
The upper GI is painless. The barium taste horrible. If you can get past
the taste (which is only a few sips) you got it made.
— mary_rn
October 8, 2008
CLAIRE I HAD THAT DONE TOO WHERE YOU DRINK THAT YUCKY STUFF BUT I COULDNT
HOLD THAT DOWN.IT CAME UP ON ME AS FAST AS IT WENT DOWN.
AS FAR AS TESTING YOUR POUCH,I KNOW THAT THERE IS A TEST WHERE THEY GIVE
YOU A BLUE POPCYCLE TO EAT TO CHECK FOR LEAKS.MAYBE THATS WHAT THE DR MEANS
BUT I WOULD QUESTION THE DR AND SEE.GOOD LUCK.
— deb44m
October 8, 2008
testing you pouch is done while you are still asleep in surgery, at lest
mine was, it's done by the surgeron to make sure there are no leaks that
all the staples or sewing or what ever they do in there , LOL, is close
enough to work properly. GOD BLESS
ps I passed with flying colors
— LBowker
October 8, 2008
When they tested my pouch (for leaks) it wasn't painful at all. All you
have to do is drink this stuff... granted it doesn't taste delightful...
but it was over with relatively fast and it's all for the good.
As far as recovery... everyone does it differently. I followed every
direction and am doing fine... now. My first 8 weeks were a little dicey. I
didn't have any trouble with my pouch, it was my "new"
intestines. They had the problems... cramps to down right pain. I either
ate too fast or ate something that I can no lnger eat. It was a time when I
was aware of everything and now I know what I can eat and stay away from.
Then, one day I woke up and everything was different... for the better, and
I'm doing great! (My surgery was 7-22-08).
Also, don't get crazy about the plateaus that everyone goes through... when
you don't loose weight. Think of the overall weight that you've lost in the
short time frame (I even broke mine down to days: I'm 11 weeks out and have
lost 50 lbs = 4.5 lbs per week = .6 lbs per day. I've hit 2 plateaus and
still have those results! So, don't get frustrated with that part.
Now if you push it and do things that your surgeon or nut said not to do
then you will have problems... like a friend of mine. She pushed eating
foods early, then she started eating heavy foods... and she is paying for
it now. Yet truth be told, I don't think she was ready for the new life
style that she would have to live... that was her downfall... wanting it to
be the way it was (she had a terrible diet) and then just making the
portions smaller after surgery. It doesn't work that way.
EAT HEALTHY and TAKE VITAMINS and you will DO GREAT!
— pattschiele
October 8, 2008
I can not tell you anything extra that these others have told you, as I am
still Pre-op. But I can tell you that I am having my RYN on Nov 4th also.
So if you would like to go through it with someone, I am willing to be an
extra connection to you.
— jen_kill
October 9, 2008
They called mine a "leak test" It's like an upper GI. You drink
the "chaulk like" liquid and have x-rays done. It's a piece of
cake (oopppsss no more cake).
— imaswtgrl
October 9, 2008
They are probably referring to the "leak test", the day after
surgery. I am now on the 5 days of liquid, It gets easier. My surgery is
Monday. I will not have any liquids until after the leak test. You will me
in my prayers.
— jenks621
October 11, 2008
Clarie - congratulations on taking a giant to step to make your life better
- I had my bypass almost two weeks ago and I guess I am luckey - I
experienced no pain what so ever - the "leak test" was done the
next day as the others have stated (and I had no problems with drinking the
liquid) and I had the best hospital stay ever (Fort Gordon, GA) - just
listen to your doctors, nutritionists, and follow their guidelines and
everything should go fine - I pray you have much success - Rose
— rsharris123
October 20, 2008
Hurrah for a surgery date! I just had my bypass on 09/19/08. The doctor
had said they may have to do a post-op test (drinking yucky stuff followed
by X-rays), but didn't have to since they were able to check everything
when they finished operating.
Recovery is not bad-some pain (and I am a wimp), stay focused on your
eating/drinking/vitamin time schedule, and walk as much as you can. I went
back to work full time on 10/06/08 and have been doing well. Expect to be
tired in waves, and don't be surprised if you experience ARS (anesthesia
related stupidity). I know, it isn't a technical term, but it explains a
lot of dumb things you may say....
Best of luck-
Sandra
— sandra17
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