John Does

My story
I was banded on 4/30 in New Haven Ct. at the Hospital of St. Raphael.
I arrived at 10 am for surgery scheduled for 12 noon.
They got me into a Johnny coat and into bed and started an IV. After 100 questions from a nurse then anesthesiologist, they gave me the blood thinner shot in my stomach-it burned a little-not too bad.
The wait was a little long as I wasn't wheeled into the OR till @ 1pm.
In the OR they moved me to the operating table-a little scary seeing all the equipment and fuzzy people/nurses (I am blind without my glasses). They extended my arms to put in the monitoring equipment-blood pressure was done thru an arterial line, and hooked me up to a heart monitor.
After the face mask was put on and the nurse said it was just oxygen-ha! Next thing I know I'm in the recovery room.
this is where you aren't sure whether to wake up or sleep some more but they encourage you to wake up. Then it's up to my room in the hospital.
I was lucky to get a double room all to myself!
I immediately had to pee big time and jumped out of bed to the bathroom-this stunned the nurse who said no one ever does this! lol I didn't want to pee the bed again as I had in the OR! oops!
[They monitor your urine output-400cc/day is considered baseline.]
The pain was very bearable at the incisions-it was uncomfortable under my left breast (port?) for days afterward. I rated it a 6-7 on 1-10 scale. It was a sort of throbbing pain that came and went.
I did refuse my morphine for fear it would dry me out-to be honest this was the biggest inconvenience-being parched and only allowed swabs-I sucked that swab like it was a popsicle!
After only 15 mins or so they took me down to the x-ray lab to check on the band placement and then I was allowed the 1 ounce of Water per hour-just sips!
The worst part of that time after surgery was nausea-I got serious dry heaves 3-4 times so bad I wet the bed [again] each time...
I was trying to vomit but nothing but spit [sorry] and belches came up...very uncomfortable.
It got better if I kept the bed up-do not lie down after drinking that water!!!
The next day was better-I never tasted better tasting orange Jello ever!! lol
And that hospital chicken broth could have been made by Emeril himself!! I had them reheat it 3 times because of the slow rate at which you eat it, it gets cold quick!
I was discharged that day and allowed to progress to step 3-full liquids.
Now I'm home and the worst part is the gassing up and heartburn type discomfort.
It helps to sleep propped up with lots of pillows.
I found that low sugar/sugar free items work best-sugar increases the digestive juices which you don't want to do!
The homemade/strained pea Soup I just made is sitting very well-I thought it would gas me up but it seems to quiet my gut down a bit-especially the 'heartburn'.
Good luck everyone!!:thumbup: