Cynaduq
Two months into my journey (7/21/09 - 9/25/09)
Sep 25, 2009
I am now two months out from my surgery (laproscopic RNY gastric bypass). I am very glad I made this choice - the only change I would make (if I could) would be to have done this years earlier - but, better late than never! So here are a few notes from my experience in case anyone is researching options and experiences.
My insurance required a 6 month medically supervised diet prior to surgery (no specific amount was identified to lose prior, but my Dr's goal was to see 10% gone before surgery). I managed to lose 6 lbs I think (this was, of course, over Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc etc) and at least I didn't gain between any of my visits. During that time, I had to get a cardio approval for surgery (my cardiologist had me do a treadmill stress test - if nothing else told me I NEEDED this surgery, THAT did), pysch eval, upper GI/endoscopy, and a bunch of blood tests. By happenstance, I also managed to get a colonoscopy a week before surgery - since I had to do all the prep and fasting for that, I just started my liquid diet a few days earlier than I really needed to.
3 days prior to surgery, I went on a full liquid diet - the purpose was to shrink the liver as much as possible prior to surgery (and the planned weight loss prior to surgery was also meant to shrink the liver). Since the surgeon has to lift the liver to get to the stomach to do the bypass, shrinking the liver as much as possible simplifies that process. Then, I was not allowed any food or drink after midnight (my food restriction may have been 9pm now that I think about it) the night before my surgery. Different doctors demand different preps - some require 2 weeks of liquid diet prior - some also require a bowel prep (similar to colonoscopy prep). Again, each doc is different. I was very happy to not have to do another bowel prep.
My surgery was 7:30 am Tuesday 7/21 - I had to be at the hospital by 6. I had a very short wait for check-in, then once they took me back everything seemed to go pretty quickly. Changed, got the IV in (first time thank goodness) - got a shot of blood thinner in my tummy (that was a surprise, but I was also surprised that I hardly felt it). They wheeled me into the OR but as soon as I was on the table I was out so I don't remember anything of the anesthesia. I woke up in the recovery room - in pain, but I was still doped up pretty good and slept alot. As I was being prepped for surgery I had told my anesthesiologist that (a) I don't want to have hallucinations when I woke up (had that w/my C-section) and (b) I that I tend to get nauseus from the anesthesia, so to please prevent that. He was very good - no hallucinations and no nausea (thank goodness).
I don't remember being wheeled into my room. I had a pump for pain that I remember pushing often (so I slept alot that first day) and I also had the internal On Que pain pump with the little ball you carry around in a pouch. I didn't need any drains, so I just had 4 one-inch incisions and a teeny hole for the pain pump. The staff was wonderful - I got up to walk often - and I was released about dinner time the next day, Wednesday. The worst pain I had those first few days was no where near my incisions - it was in the lower right near the groin - never did figure out why even with a trip to the ER and a CAT scan. But even though the first week was pretty miserable (let's face it, surgery is surgery and is no walk in the park) it was "ok" and I got better each day. By the end of the first week I had definitely turned the corner.
Each person and each experience is different. So what you go thru could be very different from what I went thru. Just remember no one wants you to be in pain or nauseous, so speak up and they will take care of you.
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My insurance required a 6 month medically supervised diet prior to surgery (no specific amount was identified to lose prior, but my Dr's goal was to see 10% gone before surgery). I managed to lose 6 lbs I think (this was, of course, over Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc etc) and at least I didn't gain between any of my visits. During that time, I had to get a cardio approval for surgery (my cardiologist had me do a treadmill stress test - if nothing else told me I NEEDED this surgery, THAT did), pysch eval, upper GI/endoscopy, and a bunch of blood tests. By happenstance, I also managed to get a colonoscopy a week before surgery - since I had to do all the prep and fasting for that, I just started my liquid diet a few days earlier than I really needed to.
3 days prior to surgery, I went on a full liquid diet - the purpose was to shrink the liver as much as possible prior to surgery (and the planned weight loss prior to surgery was also meant to shrink the liver). Since the surgeon has to lift the liver to get to the stomach to do the bypass, shrinking the liver as much as possible simplifies that process. Then, I was not allowed any food or drink after midnight (my food restriction may have been 9pm now that I think about it) the night before my surgery. Different doctors demand different preps - some require 2 weeks of liquid diet prior - some also require a bowel prep (similar to colonoscopy prep). Again, each doc is different. I was very happy to not have to do another bowel prep.
My surgery was 7:30 am Tuesday 7/21 - I had to be at the hospital by 6. I had a very short wait for check-in, then once they took me back everything seemed to go pretty quickly. Changed, got the IV in (first time thank goodness) - got a shot of blood thinner in my tummy (that was a surprise, but I was also surprised that I hardly felt it). They wheeled me into the OR but as soon as I was on the table I was out so I don't remember anything of the anesthesia. I woke up in the recovery room - in pain, but I was still doped up pretty good and slept alot. As I was being prepped for surgery I had told my anesthesiologist that (a) I don't want to have hallucinations when I woke up (had that w/my C-section) and (b) I that I tend to get nauseus from the anesthesia, so to please prevent that. He was very good - no hallucinations and no nausea (thank goodness).
I don't remember being wheeled into my room. I had a pump for pain that I remember pushing often (so I slept alot that first day) and I also had the internal On Que pain pump with the little ball you carry around in a pouch. I didn't need any drains, so I just had 4 one-inch incisions and a teeny hole for the pain pump. The staff was wonderful - I got up to walk often - and I was released about dinner time the next day, Wednesday. The worst pain I had those first few days was no where near my incisions - it was in the lower right near the groin - never did figure out why even with a trip to the ER and a CAT scan. But even though the first week was pretty miserable (let's face it, surgery is surgery and is no walk in the park) it was "ok" and I got better each day. By the end of the first week I had definitely turned the corner.
Each person and each experience is different. So what you go thru could be very different from what I went thru. Just remember no one wants you to be in pain or nauseous, so speak up and they will take care of you.
