Question:
I have CAZY fears with this surgery...Can someone put my mind to ease??

I dont fear of dying!!!Bizzare isnt it!!! I do fear because of my size (388) the following: ...Will I have a drain tube? ...How will I deal with the tube going down my throat & how long will they keep it in?(not sure what the tube is called however, I am under the impession they put this tube down your throat after you are knocked out...and leave it in for a few days??? ...How will I react to being knocked out for such a long period of time (will I be sick)? ...Since I use to smoke(smoke free for two weeks) for the past 10years...will my smokers caugh effect any of this? Am I crazy or what??? Does anyone have any experiences with my fears to share??? Thanks! and Thank Goodness for this website!!! Love and Happiness to all!! Trace    — TRACEY W. (posted on January 15, 2003)

January 14, 2003
Trace: Don't worry, your fears are understandable though, I had lap rny on 8/8/02, down 80 pounds, I did not have a tube down my throat after I woke up, it was gone, the only tube I had was a drain tube in my side, no big deal, just an inconvenience. was out in one week, strange sensation when they took it out, but again.....no big deal. If you get sick with the anethesia, tell them, I used to get violently ill from it, told them about it and they now have "stuff" they put in it so you DON'T get sick, it works too. If you have a smokers cough, it will probably hurt your incision when you cough, just hold your tummy tight with a pillow. You will be fine, and I agree this is a great site. Any questions e-mail me, I'll be glad to tell you what I can.....Bright Blessings
   — penciepaws

January 14, 2003
I too was as scared about the surgery, (I even wrote a will and had it notarized) but I came out of it ok, I was 380 pounds and had Lap RNY on 11/01/02 and am now down 82 pounds, the fears you have are honest fears, as for the drain tube, it depends on your surgeon, (I did not have one)tube going down throat? I honestly do not even remember it going in or out,the tube was out when I woke up, the only thing I DO remember was the damn catheter (LOL right Posties?)and for smokers cough, I am sorry I can't help there. but I do (did) have a Cpap machine I needed to help me breathe, and if you use one make sure your spouse takes it with you when you check in to the hospital, (my wife left it in the car and when I was in recovery I was having difficulting breathing on my own, and she had to run to the car to get it.) good luck. Chris Wagner
   — Christopher W.

January 15, 2003
I have not had my surgery yet but in Aug 2002 I had my Gall bladder removed via LAP. They warned me ahead of time, after I was already drugged to relax me, that I would be intubebated (spelling?), meaning a tube would be down my throat and when that when they woke me up I may have a cough. I think that was the scariest part of my surgery. The very first thing I was aware of after surgery was that I couldn't stop coughing and it hurt my stomach. Immediatly I knew it was over because of the sore muscles but I was coughing and that wasn't comfortable. My nurse was right there talking to me telling me that it would pass in a moment. Apparently they had just removed it and woken me up. I still couldn't even open my eyes yet. I have smoked 1 1/2 packs a day for 11 years (2 weeks clean so far) so I'm sure that had something to do with it. Dont fear it but be prepared. I didn't remember them telling me that so it was kind of a surprise. They put this tube in you (for gall bladder removal) to keep you from throwing up during surgery. This may be because I was MO to begin with I'm not sure. Hope this helps and good luck
   — jovialkiki

January 15, 2003
I'm not sure if it's different for Lap or Open, but my NG tube was in until Sunday and surgery was Friday morning. It's in your stomache to keep your stomache dry. When he pulled it out it was nothing special, he untaped it and told me to swollow and it burned like a son of a gun. They put it in your nose and it goes to your stomach. The tube in the throat to the lungs is out before you wake up. I didn't notice if that was uncomfortable after or not, I just had problems with the tube jammed up my nose. Have fun! Don't worry about it, you'll be fine! Open RNY 8/9/02, 295/205/199. BL
   — [Deactivated Member]

January 15, 2003

   — Raelynn W.