Question:
I weigh 300# and am wondering if anyone that has already had their surgery remembers

how they were moved from the operating table to the bed to take them to recovery ? I can't imagine me moving under my own power after major surgery. I don't know why but this is bothering me. Thanks Claire    — gramof3 (posted on July 1, 2003)

July 1, 2003
My surgeon uses a air suspension moving system. Its put under us and we glide on a cushion of air. This is largely to prevent back injuries for the staff.
   — bob-haller

July 1, 2003
Don't even worry about it, becuase you'll still be asleep!
   — Monica H.

July 1, 2003
Claire, you may not even remember going from the operating room to recovery, I don't. I never really gave much thought to how I got from one bed to the next. I think by the time I went to my hosp. room I was able to walk to the bed. I'm with the last poster, don't worry about it cause you will probably still be asleep! Best of luck to you!
   — Kim J.

July 1, 2003
Claire..I had the same concerns. I was over 400#'s at the time of surgery. (Down 90 lbs now, almost 4 months later. WOOHOO!!!) You will do fine. You are still out of it for the most part and they will move you over. They used a moving board to move me over. It helped. I did great. And believe me, you will not be worried about it when it is actually happening! Ha! Good luck!!
   — rpoepke

July 1, 2003
I figured this was their problem - they knew in advance how much I weighed (425 lbs) and I knew I'd be snoozing and they'd have to get the job done. I was and they did :>)
   — [Deactivated Member]

July 1, 2003
Someone else mentioned this already, but many hospitals use an 'air bed' situation.. they place it under you before surgery, uninflated.. then inflate it when they are ready to move you and 'hover' you over onto the bed before deflating it. Once you are settled in your room and are up and about the nurse can take it off your bed. I like most, do not remember anything about being in recovery, I woke up in my room to the smiling faces of family :) ~Peace
   — Joscelin

July 1, 2003
I was still out when they moved me from OR to recovery, so I don't know how they moved me. However, the bed that they did put me in for recovery, was the same bed they used for my room. They just wheeled the bed into the room, and I was set. :-) Good Luck to you.
   — KellyJeanB

July 1, 2003
You will be out when you go to recovery. The medical staff has ways of moving patients, no matter how large they are. I weighed 346 pounds and they managed to move me. I only vaguely remember moving from the recovery room bed to the one in my room. The drugs are good.
   — Patty_Butler

July 1, 2003
I don't even remember it being done....how easy is that:-)All I remember is waking up in the recovery room then being wheeled in the bed I was in to the room.
   — Oldsoul

July 1, 2003
I was told that I moved myself on to the operating table but dont remember a thing. I was awake when I was moved to my room and I did move myself (there were 2 nurses there but I moved on my own) from the gurney to the bed. I had no pain but was a little sore so I did move very slow. ~Sidney~ Open RNY 10-23-02 down 100+
   — Siddy I.

July 2, 2003
I was already on the bed when I woke up. Alot easier in my opinion.
   — horserider0146

July 2, 2003
Hi, Claire: I weigh 273. When I had my appendix out, I got on the operating table on my own, but I was moved by the nurses and/or aides. I was on a sheet; I vaguely remember waking up just long enough to hear one of them say, "1, 2, 3," and then they each took a corner of the sheet and transferred me to the gurney. I think that's how they do most transfers after surgery when one is under general anesthesia. Then I was out again until I woke up in recovery. Don't worry about it; I'm sure they will move you.
   — Moysa B.

July 2, 2003
I agree with prev. posters--I was also asleep, so I have no idea. But remember, your surgeon has (I'm presuming) done many, many wls, probably at least some of them were at the very hospital you will be at. So, they've got experience with this issue, and know how to handle it with ease. Try not to worry & good luck to you!
   — Laurie A.

July 2, 2003
I weighed 460 when I had this surgery. I was able to scoot onto the table. They tucked me in and the next thing I remember was waking up in the room. They do take corners and slide you over. Now the first surgery I had to help them scoot onto the bed after surgery. It wasn't that hard to do but it was a little painful. Of course in that one I weighed 502 lbs. Yes I had two WLS surgeries.
   — snicklefritz

July 2, 2003
I wasn't awake for it, but I know how it was done. When I went to the OR originally, they placed an "air-suspension" sled underneath me. I saw them use something similar when they re-did my kitchen floor. It's an air-device that uses compressed air to assist in moving large objects. Kinda neat!
   — Cathy S.

July 2, 2003
I walked into the operating room on my own, kinda feeling like It was the last time I was going to do anything (I guess my last minute jitters). I got on the table myself with someone just standing near me. I don't remember how I got back into the bed for recovery, but when I woke up there, I remember being told it was time to go to my room. I asked if I had to get up to get onto a gurney to do this and they told me I was already in a bed and would just be wheeled up in it. Wow!!! that was a relief!!
   — Fixnmyself

July 2, 2003
Wow, it is nice to know that I am not the only one thinking about this. I freaked out because with my back surgery I had to scoot over onto my room bed from the recovery bed. It was not pretty. I got to BTC and asked them if I had to scoot onto the bed afterward and they told me not to worry about it. Sure enough, I woke up in my room on the regular bed I was supposed to be in. Topping out at 373 that day I had no desire to really find out how they got me onto another bed and never asked. Good Luck. Open RNY 5/14/03 -32lbs
   — Mimi S.

July 2, 2003
I vaguely remember having to scoot from a gurney to my regular bed after the recovery room. I think I whimpered in pain, but then it's all sooo foggy to me that maybe I didn't. The area I live in just started wls -- I was around #10 for my doc, so the hospital didn't have tons of experience with wls patients. I'm sure your hospital will do better! Good luck!
   — [Deactivated Member]

July 2, 2003
i was 355# and they use an air suspension moving thingy. it is under you while you are in intake. while i was awake, they blew it up and i glided on air to the operating table. it is kinda like a parachute... i am sure they did the same when thing after it was all over... you don't have to budge even an inch! and while on the "good feeling" meds... it was kinda fun gliding on air! you'll be fine- don't worry!
   — heather S.

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