Sherry H.

Send Message

Block

Add Friend

Sherry D. 23 years ago

I had my surgery at the Bariatric Treatment Center in Ypsilanti Michigan. I came in two hours before surgery and had blood tests (they will give you a pregnancy test if you are young enough....I am 56). Then they discussed the meds I had been taking and what I took that morning. Then they put an IV in me and told me I would be talking with the anesthisiologist. I do not remember anything after saying hello to him, They were extremely thorough. They ran an extra blood test on me cuz I had had a bladder infection and the Dr. wanted to check for that before inserting a cathater. They definately appeared to be on a schedule but would not take any chances. There were three other women having surgery at the same time. We sort of became buddies. It was nice once you got to your room to see somone who you had seen before surgery. Anyway, then I woke up and the first thought that came to my mind was that this was not painful at all. I was very, very surprised. Cant say it didn't hurt but I NEVER experienced anything that I would call pain. I would not have wanted to try to feel it without the pain meds but that only shows that they are very able to keep you comfortable. I remained in this room (which I don't remember getting to) for a day (it was a single and wonderful) and then moved into a room with a roommate. It was nice to have a roommate and not so nice too. I think it depends on the individual. My roommate was awesome and so was her family but I had lots of visitors cuz we came from out of town and I do not think that "I" was the best roommmate. Now that we were settled, the routines began. My diet consisted of chicken broth, grape juiced diluted 1/2 with water and jello. You get to choose some of the things. Most people also got popsicles but my daughter ate mine. We had a respiratory therapist come and make us breathe into our spirometers. We had to get up and walk on our own every hour. This was scary to me at first as I have a bad knee and was not sure I could get up. Once I am up I am fine. Soon it began to be a little enjoyable as you would get up and meet another walker in the hall and have a chance to visit. The other patierts were unbelievable supportive to each other. As in any hospital, that staff had some great people and some not so great people. I found the midnight shift less helpfull than the earlier two but the few nurses I had that were great were beyond great. They helped me take a bath and taught me how to give one to myself. They even helped me wash places I could not reach. Though I found this extremely embarrassing, it was wonderful to see their reaction and their devoted care. Nothing seem to bother THEM. From the very beginning it is their goal to make you self sufficient the day you walk out the door and most people I believe could be that way. I have some other issues so my husband stayed home with me. Today was his first day back at work. I also developed a touch of pneumonia which does not surprise because I am asthmatic and there has been a great outbreak of pneumonia in my area lately. It is not a problem....just slows me down and keeps me more tired than I would like to be. So now I am home and could easily have been off pain med within the first couple days. I am now experiencing itching and "twitching" or little spasms in my insision which does not hurt but drives me crazy. As far as food, I am in the full liquid stage and not doing as well as I would like. Most foods in the full liquid stage revolve around milk or soy milk products and even since childhood I have had trouble with these foods. So I continue to talk to the nutritionist to find the right combination for me. My symptoms have either been dumping or bloating. I was surprised at how much I had to learn about swallowing. I believe that that is a lot of my bloating problem as I swallow air. Even when I sip I think my old habits of gulping are being hard to break because I am always feeling like I am gulping air. On the whole, I am very, very happy with my choice because it sems to me that once I get my food squared around this will be very easy for me to maintain and everyone alreay says I look smaller. I will worry about the weight loss once I get my proteins and liquids under control and have my energy back. One thing at a time. I hope I have not overwhelmed you and I hope you will continue to write and ask me as many questions as you can think of. It would be my pleasure to be of support to you. Love Sherry.