SisterSandy

Just got the call on surgery time. Reporting to Geisinger, in Danville PA at 5:45 AM. Thank god we decided to go down a day early and got reservations at a motel. Will be able to shower in comfort and not have to leave home at an ungodly hour of the morning to get there, as it is a 2 1/2 hour drive. My preop diet is finally getting easier, not really hungry anymore. Hope this bodes well for after surgery. Been watching my sugar as I have been off my meds for over a month, they seem to be stable for now. My husband and my grandaughter (18 yrs old) will be with me for moral support. The day after my surgery my son is getting a biopsy of his thyroid. I wish we could be there with him, but he told me not to worry. Hah, imagine a mom not worrying. His girlfriend is going to go with him to drive home. He had hoped to be in Danville with us but this needs looked at. Spent today trying to get the house straightened out, gave my dog his third flea bath in 3 months. I hate those things. Next step is to flea bathe the cat in case she is giving them back to him. that should be interesting. That can wait till I recover. My husband is busy getting the car ready for the trip, checking Fluid, brakes etc. We usually take our truck, which is our newest vehicle, but the seats in the back arent meant for real humans, or at least thats what my grandaughter Nikki says. I am nervous, excited and hopeful all at the same time. This old gramma has some rock and roll left in her and She aint gonna give up easy!

doing pretty well now, keeping to the post op diet and trying to stomach those protein drinks. Sons biopsy was a bust, they couldnt find the spot they had seen on the test to biopsy it! frustrating. Took a walk around walmart yesterday, to pick up more jello and some cottage cheese, was exhausted by the time we went home, took a 4 hour nap.

Had my RNY on Monday August 18th in Danville PA at Geisinger. Had some unexpected complications and some annoyances which may someday actually seem funny to me and my family. First off, The Bypass surgery itself went well, the Doctors were very good and the nursing staff...heck even the cleaning staff, made the experience bearable. Now for the bad parts. surgery started at 11 AM on the nose, I was looking at the clock as I took a nice long deep breath. Approx 8 hours later I was finally groggily awake, still in the recovery room looking into the teary eyes of my grandaughter and my husband.Seems i didnt want to breath on my own, every time they turned down the respirator I forgot to breath ! I'm here now and still breathing, so I guess it could have been a lot worse. The surgeon informed me later that he found an old hernia repair which had basically disintegrated, leaving me with mesh for them to clean out and he did a quick temporary fix for the hernia. Says the surgery for that will be a walk in the Park! So onward and upward. The next and worst thing of all was the monster bed they put me in. according to my Surgeon it is the latest best bariatraic hospital bed. cost $7000. I told him, during rounds, that is was worthless. i couldnt turn over or even sit up in the bed, I was basically a turtle on my back. This was also making it hard for me to cough or breath properly.The nurses said the beds are only useful for tall people or those who need mechanical aids to move them. they found me an old short-procedure wooden recliner to sleep in and I finally was able to breathe. Was having some Fluid build up in my ankles on wed, they didnt seem too concerned and sent me home. by Friday my foot was twice normal size and red and shiny. Bumex to the rescue. Started it on my own. didnt bother call anyone for advice. Seems to have worked as my swelling is slowly subsiding. Saw my PCP today and he spent the visit asking me why they took me off various meds? How the hell do I know? He wanted me to have the procedure and now seems upset that he cant micromanage it. His problem not mine. he is normally not like that but I guess we learn something new about people every day. So I came home, took a well deserved nap and am sipping on my wylers light raspberry iced Water and dreaming of pain free days. 2 1/2 hour drive to Danville tomorrow for checkup. Fun.

When I was discharged we discussed the swelling . Was told I might need to start back on my diuretic and they left it up to me to decide. It was the right decision. At my first checkup in Danville (November 26) they added Lasix for a few days to speed things up. Fluid is almost gone now and feeling much better. Was so glad to get home and fall in my own bed. Can now sleep on my side, roll over without pain and can actually see my bellybutton. Swelling from hernia surgery was so bad I thought it was gone. Done with pain meds, just using tylenol now. swallowing pills very carefully though. Just don't quite trust it all yet.

I am having my surgery in Danville on August 19th. Docs name is Jon Gabrielse. Are you having a full incision surgery?I have been going to danville since November 2013. The horrible winter caused some delay in attending all the sessions i had to go to, but am now fully ready...I think I learned a great deal from each member of their team, and they are easy to talk to. we drive over 2 hours to get to Geisinger, but its been worth it. Are you going to the main hospital or one of the clinics? that doctor isnt one on my list from the bariatric center.

I am also on Medicare and Medicaid (Pennsylvania) Was informed by Docs office that there was no deductible or copay for my surgery. There was a $350.00 charge for the nutrion classes, books etc.

August 18 here. Lost 65 lbs since June, including the 26 lbs since I joined the Geisinger Nutrional Clinic which is where I will be having my bypass. I have an appt on the %th for preop and to meet the anest.....Oh heck the guy that puts you to sleep. Getting excited, bought Protein powder and a shaker bottle to mix it in. Been told a Sippy cup keeps you from drinking too fast, might have to use my great grandson Matty's cup. Been fat ever since I can remember. My health became very bad last spring, doc thought I had a silent heart attack. I am so tired of being out of breath when I walk, ore exert myself even a little. Cared for my husand after prostrate cancer treatment two years ago and realized that I have to be healthier to care care of him when he needs me to. Also want to stick around for a while and see my great grand kids grow up.......One due to be born any day now. Oh yeah 63 years old here Even though I mentally feel about 16 most times

your doctor can prescribe Diflucan for the thrush. I have it frequently, from inhaled steroids. There is also an antifungal rinse called Nystatin that you rinse your mouth out with and then swallow . Used routinely it combats Thrush well. I sympathize, food never tastes good when your mouth tastes bad

Also have reflux here, have had for years. Surgeon says the bypass will hopefully kill it for good. My asthma probably is related to acid eroding my lungs. I also use inhaled steroids and this makes it harder to keep my throat and esophagus healthy, Have been on glocuphage for diabets over 15 years and just the weight I have lost so far has allowed me to stop taking it. Last A1c was 5.5 . Yay for me. oh yeah, I am 63 years old

Just came back from Danville Pa. Surgery set for August 18th. Bypass and hiatal hernia repair if needed. Been attending classes since November, finally got everything done I needed to do. Has anyone else had theirs done at Geisinger Medical Center? They seem very thorough and careful. The alternative was Pittsburgh, and that drive causes me anxiety attacks. Been fat since I was a kid, lost weight in the 60's on doctor prescribed amphetimines and gained it all back and then some. Have lost 60 pounds since June 2013 when i gave up soda, chips and most other tasty fun foods. hope that this extra tool will take off the rest. good luck and many prayers to all who are going into surgery.

Glad to hear that I actually may not look any older after the surgery than I do now. Probably will be sometime in early June. I have lost 60 lbs. since last summer and feel better already, Have been able to stop glucophage for now and will hopefully never need it again. I don't care about wrinkles nor sagging skin, looking forward to being able to walk uphill without passing out! By the way I am new here, Havent even picked a photo yet. hope to get to know everyone well. Oh, yeah. I am 63 years old. Took a long time for me to get the courage to try this.