joatsaint

I only told my parents and my best friend. Not that it bothers me that people know, it's just that I am a private person and I feel people generally don't want to hear my problems. There is also the fact that I can tell them anytime I want, but once you've told, it can't be taken back.

I've had to pay all my co pays (hospital and surgeon) up front. $1500 for the surgeon, $2000 for the hospital, and $1000 for the pre-surgery tests. All of it went on my Discover card.

My doc does not. But other surgeons do, it just depends on the surgeon - according to the RN's that were taking care of me at the hospital. I think a lot of it also depends on how much you get up and walk after surgery, they are really concerned about blood clots forming in your legs. Every 2 hours, they'd come and ask me to walk and I'd get up walk two laps around the hall. In my case, I was given blood thinner injections on the day of surgery and the day after, but nothing to take home except some liquid pain meds.

Congrats on your first vid. I had thought about doing the same, since I got so much good info from other sleevers on Youtube. But so far, I am still recovering from the surgery/catching a cold and really don't feel up to it.

It's been 2 days since surgery and the popsicles are really helping me get through this part. The combination of cold, sweet and the sense that I'm chewing is really helping. Still can't eat more than a couple of nibbles each time, but it is getting better. Anyone else have a favorite post-op food that helped them the most?

I was freaking out too. Just keep focusing on why you are having the surgery. AND make sure you pee right before surgery - so they don't need to use a catheter. I'm glad they gave me the option to pee or have the catheter.

Congrats on making it through. I am 2 days post op myself. Man did all that trapped gas hurt. Luckily, my doc gave me liquid pain meds to take home once I was out of the hospital. I don't think I could swallow enough water to wash down a pill. I am barely able to nibble on a sugar free popsicle as it is.

I was on the downside of a cold pre-op. I have had some mild coughing, but it actually worked to my benefit. The coughing helps move the gas out of your system. The holes they poked in me don't actually hurt. The pain comes from the gas trapped in my stomach and the gas trapped between my organs and chest. I wouldn't have rescheduled knowing what I know now.

My advice, having just been sleeved on the 27th, is - don't do this alone. Although I have had no complications, I could not have driven myself home the day after surgery. If you are planning on a longer hospital stay (say 3 to 5 days), then it's a different situation. I had a 2 hour drive home from the hospital and describing the ride home by saying, "OUCH!" doesn't even begin to cover the pain. You will probably have to get prescriptions filled and need some basic things like sugar free popsicles and you aren't going to be in any shape to drive. This is major surgery and you have to plan for things to go wrong.

I'll be going in for sleeve surgery on the 28th as well. Scheduled for 9am, and was told to expect to be back in my room by 10:30am. I'm not feeling any jitters about it yet, but I bet I will as soon as I get up in the morning. Good luck to you.

The scariest part for me was when they put the IV in. Once I got past the needle part, the rest was a breeze. I was told I'd be getting the same stuff they gave Micheal Jackson so he could sleep. All I remember after they gave me the juice, was closing my eyes (like blinking) and reopening them. And it was done!. I was back in my room and dressed and back in the car within 30 minutes. If they hadn't asked me if I my throat felt scratchy, I wouldn't even have noticed it after the procedure. The funny part to me is having to continually tell them my date of birth (every person I came in contact with asked me my BD). They do that to make sure they have the right patient. I remember all 4 people in the OR asking each other and agreeing that the right patient was in front of them and they all had to agree that the correct procedure was going to be preformed.

I was thinking the same way. :-P I'd have hated to get the surgery or start the pre-surgery diet, only to have the world blow up a few days later. Now I am looking forward to the avalanche of books and TV shows telling us how the dooms-day gurus and prophecy experts were wrong and then tell us to buy their new book that states when the "real" end date is. Buy it with the next 24 hours and get 2 bonuses. 1 - A special Forward in the book, written by Bigfoot. 2 - They will throw in a limited edition signed photo of the Lock Ness Monster.

Thanks kimbernada for the info. I too hope my surgery is boring and "by the numbers". I haven't worn jeans for years now. I like the "George" brand of slacks they sell at Wal-Mart. I have to dress professional at work, except for casual Fridays, but I still wear the slacks. Fortunately, I still have lots of my old shirts and jeans from when I was in my 250 - 270 range. It's only been in the past 3 years that I've gained the extra hundred pounds. I plan on taking my laptop and a boat load of "The Big Bang Theory" episodes as part of my hospital kit, along with a few of the other things on the "hospital list" I found on the forum. I am looking forward to having the "problem" of having to buy smaller clothes every few months.

Thanks, but it seems like time is crawling for me. I am both anxious and excited about the surgery. I have a desk job and it seems like I am getting up every 15 minutes to move around and work off some nervous energy.

Thanks for sharing the book and your hard won lesson.

Thanks for the reply. I am both nervous and exicited about my upcoming surgery. And I had a small panic attack today when I thought about "not being fat" in the future. Have you had these feelilngs?

Thank you for the update. Glad you are doing well.

Thanks for posting your experience. I am pre surgery at the moment and trying to learn as much as I can about the good and bad of being post op.

Hello everyone, just wanted to introduce myself. I got serious about gastric sleeve surgery back in July after talking with someone that was very satisfied with the results. I've been lurking around the board for about the past month, trying to learn as much as possible on what to expect pre and post surgery. I am on a "fast track" for surgery and in the past 2 weeks had my initial doctor visit, psych eval, 1st nut counciling, EEG, chest x-ray, ultrasounds and blood work. I got notice today that my insurance has approved my surgery. I am scheduled for Dec 27th. I go into the doc's office this Sat. for my pre-op diet counciling. Next stop surgery. Since I have to have my surgery in Houston, TX (the only insurance approved hospitals near me) it is a 2 hour drive 1 way and I am looking for support groups in the Beaumont area. I found a thread that is about 4 months old talking about a Beaumont support group. Does anyone have more current info about any groups in the Beaumont area? Thanks for everything you guys have shared, it has really helped me prepare.