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I am home so here is my recount of stay at the hospital.  I tried to include everything that I could remember, so its a bit lengthy....

(please excuse any grammatical or spelling errors! :)  )

I had my surgery on August 27 (monday) at 10am.  Here are all the details (that I can remember).  I was scheduled to arrive at Richmond at 8:30am.  Because of possibility of bad traffic at that hour we left the house (in Novato) at 6:45, and drove to the hospital.  We arrived early (no traffic to speak of) and I went to the lab and had my pregnancy test done.  And then I suggested that my husband and 4 year old have a bit of breakfast while we waited and so they had a muffin (of course I didn't have anything.)  Then about 8am we went up to the surgery reception area and checked in, where I signed the consent form and paid my co-pay (mine was $200 a night).  I waited until about 8:30 when they called me back into the surgical center.  First, they had me change into cap/gowns etc, and put all belongings into the marked plastic bag.  Then they weighed me.  My goal weight was 276, and on the morning of surgery I was 265.5.  This pleased me very much since I thought I was closer to 268 and I had really, really wanted to make it to 265, which gave me a 40 pound loss since my official starting weight.  I made it so I was very happy.  Then they took me to a recliner and started the IV (left arm) and gave a shot of heparin (blood thinner)in the back of my arm (which didn't hurt).  Then they started the IV fluids which are cold, so they wrap you up in blankets from their warmer and you stay nice and toasty while you are waiting.  They also ask you a bunch of questions and confirm and reconfirm information that you have previously provided or info they need.  I think I waited about an hour before Dr. Baggs came and talked to me and then about 10 minutes later the anesthesiologist came, asked me a few more questions, and then walked me into the operating room.  I believe it was about 10am when they brought me in.  I hopped up on the table and they got me comfy, and I just remember being excited that it was finally happening, and that it was a very friendly place, everyone was very nice.  When I woke up in Recovery Room I was in intense pain from the gas that was trapped in my chest (I felt like a truck rolled over my chest).  It ached like everything and the nurses were rushing around trying to set up my pain pump.  Then the one they had found didn't work (battery died or something), so they had to find  another one.  I just remember thinking "oh, please, please hurry".  I tried my hardest to open my eyes and try to wake up.  I also remember pressing the pain pump a zillion times.  The only pain that I had was from the gas trapped in my chest and the pain meds don't really cut that pain.  As soon as they took me to my room, I remember being relieved that my husband came in the room a few minutes later, it was a comfort to have him there just holding my hand made me feel better.  I drifted in and out of sleep, and a while later I asked to go on my first walk and at that time they removed the catheter.  I also found that while I was asleep they had added another IV in my other hand.  The gas was very painful and the nurses all said the only way to get rid of it is to walk, so walk I did.  I walked and walked and walked...I did so many laps that people started to recognize me.  LOL...  I think I walked about every hour.  It felt better to be moving and that made the times in bed easier too.  I also had an intensely dry mouth (especially if I talked-it was worse) they finally brought some ice chips which helped, but also didn't go very well with my tummy so I tried not to overdue the ice chips.  Another thing was that my voice was very gravely, almost like I had partially lost it.   My husband went home to pick up my 4 year old from my aunts around 6:30pm.  When Dr. Baggs came to visit, my only complaint was of gas pain, so he said he was pleased with my walking (he had seen me walking, although I never saw him) and he said I could be advanced to stage 1 so I could try some decaf tea or something soothing.  I tried some cranberry apple decaf tea (about 7pm), but one sip and my tummy said NO!! and it made me nauseous.  I never did throw up but they brought me nausea medicine which helped.  I was able to sleep intermittently that night, and I seemed to wake up every hour with either someone coming to check vitals, blood sugar, etc or having to pee, because with the IV going I seemed to have to go every hour.  It was strange using the restroom because it seemed as if my bladder was also asleep, and it required a few minutes of waiting in the restroom each time (and it also burned the first few times).  Every time I got up to pee, I would also walk laps so I would walk a few laps go to my room sit down a few minutes either on the toilet or in the chair in my room, and then go for more laps, and then repeat.  That's how I passed the night with walking, sleep, and more walking.  Dr. Baggs came to visit again in the morning around 7am and told him that I was having trouble with nausea when I tried to drink anything, and he told me that if I was doing well, and to try some breakfast and see how that sits and if I could drink without getting nauseated I could go home, otherwise I would stay in the hospital another day.  They brought me some breakfast of vegetable broth, jello, and water.  I sipped on each one, and yeah! they all went down ok.  I think it took me about 2 hours to eat breakfast, because its just sipping 1 ounce every 15 minutes, but I told my nurse that everything was sitting well, and she came in with the release forms, disconnected the IV's, I took a dose of liquid Vicodin (for the ride home) and then I got dressed & gathered up my belongings and waited for my husband to call to let me know he had arrived. I had great nurses and a nice roommate, so I am well pleased with my stay.He brought the car around to the circle out front and a nurse comes and wheels you out of the hospital in a wheelchair (hospital policy). Then I got in the car I was off to home.  The ride home was fine and not too uncomfortable.  I was sore but not hurting.  Again most of the uncomfortableness was from the gas and not the incisions.   I had gas until I was able to start "passing wind" that night and then I felt a LOT better.  It is funny but I have not hunger feeling at all in my pounch.  Its as if i don't have a stomach there.  I don't have any hunger sensation at all.  I find that right now the liquids are very soothing and its nice not to worry about getting a meal together.  (Thank goodness for church family that are bring meals for my husband and son).

This morning I just finished my first "stage 2" meal and that looks like it went down ok.  I am feeling good and its nice to have something yummy to eat.  (I had some SF vanilla yogurt).  I feel good and except for really sore leg muscles from all the walking, I feel really good today (aug 30).   It really does get better and better each day.  I am glad that I have had it done.  Well, that's all for now...  If anyone has any questions I would be glad to answer. :)

Hanni :)

P.S.  I really couldn't resist stepping on the scale in the hallway (the case manager will tell you not too! LOL) the evening of my surgery.  I knew I would be full of liquids and air, but I was curious how much and so I had to step on that scale.  :D   It was 276, so 11 pounds of excess fluid/air.  LOL...  Its been fun to step on the scale at home each day and see it go  down.  I have a few more pounds to go to be back at 265.  :)

Finally I have a surgery date!!  Woo-hoo!!!  Its August 27th (which from the day I am writing this is 6 weeks away).  I wish they had had an earlier date, but I am happy that I finally have a date!  Yeah!!!  I have a marathon of pre-surgery appointments scheduled for August 9.  :)

Well, I did it.  I finally hit goal weight!!  I went to support group at Richmond last night (which happened to be the day after I hit goal weight)  I was 2.5 pounds under goal!  Yeah!!!!  So this morning I called the bariatric dept. and I have a appointment with Liz (Case Manager) for tuesday.  That's only 5 days away!  It's so nice to be moving forward!!!

I had my surgeon consult this morning with Dr. Baggs (Richmond). I really liked him. He was a nice guy. We went through the typical things that could go wrong during surgery, discussed medical history, and he gave me the typical 10% to lose. My starting weight was 305.5. I was 288.9 (yeah!) on their scale (although I am still 290.2 at home). And my goal weight is 276. So about 13 pounds to go! Hopefully it will come off without a fuss! ;)

The Bariatric Dept called this morning and set up my surgeon consult.  I have Dr. Baggs on May 31.  Yeah!!!  Time to get moving and losing some more weight!

I am back from Orientation.  It went really well.  I felt it was a nice boost back in the right direction for diet, motivation, etc.  To me it was encouraging.  We had Dr. Im for our surgeon "guest" speaker.  He sounded really nice.  So this is how it went.  First we did a weight check by Bev in a seperate room.  We filled out a Orientation "checklist" sheet that was in our binders. It basically was a list of what was to be covered that day.  Then Liz (Case Manager) talked a few minutes in opening stuff, and then Dr. Im came in and gave a power point talk on the surgery, risks, etc.  (They really prefer RNY and seem to be almost against the lap band). We watched a few very short clips of an actual surgery performed (the view is the laparoscopic camera inside) I thought it was really interesting. After that Liz talked some more, and then Beth (the Dietician) talked about the 1200 calorie diet and things we should be teaching ourselves now, such as no straw, caffiene, carbonation...etc!  and why we lose weight post surgery.  Then we were done!  We got out a bit early at noon.  One thing they did tell us was what was the timeline of what to expect next.  They said from here to expect 4-6 months till surgery (wow, seems a long time!!).  Next appointment will be surgeon consult and it will be about 6 weeks away.  They said they would call us with the first available surgeon consult date, and then if we wanted a different surgeon to let them know then and they would find the first available date for that specific surgeon.  After the surgeon consult then they said should you be at goal weight then they are scheduling surgery about 4-6 weeks out.  Obviously if not at goal weight then you have to lose that and see case manager first before surgery is scheduled.  I really hope to be close to goal weight by the time I see the surgeon.  I hope I get a surgeon appt. set up soon!

Yesterday I went to my psych appointment.  I was able to get a cancellation and get an appointment two weeks earlier then my scheduled one.  Yeah!!  The appointment was a breeze.  I had a really nice psychiatrist.  I went in and right away she said that she wasn't going to "boot" anyone off the program, that this appointment was to get to know us, so they can better help us along the way, especially if we have emotional reasons for eating.  We chatted about my childhood, and why and when I started gaining weight.  She then told me about the rest of the process and what to expect (which I already knew pretty much from the message boards that I am a part of!).   At the end of the appointment I was weighed and also given an appointment for Orientation on May 8!  :)

Last night, I (and a friend) went to the Richmond Support Group meeting for Pre & Post Op's.  I had heard that it was a very full meeting, so to get there early.  Well, we tried to leave early, but not early enough I guess.  We got there right at 6pm when it started and it was FULL!  There must have been at least 50 people there.    It was a good meeting, mostly questions from pre ops directed at the post-ops.  There was some before pictures from the post op's and the difference in how they look is AMAZING!!!

Also we had an official weigh in, and I am down 7 pounds.  It was a bit more, but I think I have some water weight from eating out!  :(   That will be the last time I see those pounds hopefully!!  :)

Doing the happy dance!!!!  I got my psychatrist appointment!  Which means I am approved!!!!  I just checked my online appointments and there it was!!  Its for April 27th.  I will probably call over there on Monday and see if they have any cancellations to see if I can get in sooner.  Today is my 4 week anniversary from the day I was at the new referral information class.  I just had this feeling that it would happen today.  

Can ya tell I am a WEE bit EXCITED!!!!!!

Wooohoooooo!

LOL.

Continuing to follow the 1200 calorie plan and have been losing weight.  I seem to be averaging about 2 pounds a week.  So thats good!!

I finally got up the guts to the bariatric department to see what is going on with my referral.  The nurse Christine that I talked to said that I was still in process.  That it usually takes about 4 weeks from the New Referral Class to hear anything (its been 3 weeks and 3 days - not that I am counting!  LOL)  She said I would hear something in about 2 weeks.  I have been DYING to know.  Yeah!   Finally I have some idea!!