RnYBeyhive

Prayers for everyone joining the bench today!

My hospital experience was fantastic. Rather than repost everything I posted a really detailed log of my experience here: http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/385831-three-days-post-surgery-the-journey-so-far/

I'll try to be as detailed as I can to help others about to go through this.
My surgery was scheduled for this past Wednesday 12/21, I was told to go to the hospital at 7:30 AM. My wife had to take the kids to school so my mother brought me. No waiting, immediately they took me into the back to start getting ready, and my mom was able to come. They filled out some forms, put the IV in, gave me a shot of Heparin (blood-thinner) in my stomach (didn't hurt) and told me I'd get an additional shot every 8 hours until I got discharged.
They gave me a few pills and some horrifically nasty stuff to drink (everything I had to drink in the hospital was terrible). Some of the nurses came by to introduce themselves, the anesthesiologist came by to chat. I had been concerned because I had been coming down with a cold but all I had left was a slight cough so it was fine. My doctor came by to let me know I would be going in soon. He had a busy day, at least 6 surgeries! I think I was number 3.
So about 9:45 or so they wheeled me in. My mom was given a tracking number, and there was a monitor in the waiting room where you could find a patient's tracking number, and it would light up green when they were in surgery, and blue when they were in recovery. They said they'd call when I was out of surgery (they didn't).
I went into the room and laid down on a very narrow table and got strapped in. My doctor wasn't in there yet, but they needed to prep me anyway. They put a mask on face and told me to breath deeply, and bam I was out. My next recollection was waking up in recovery with an oxygen mask (they give everyone oxygen via mask for two hours post-surgery) feeling very woozy and nauseous . I told them I was feeling sick and they gave me something that helped. Soon after, they brought my mom and wife back to spend some time with me, but I was really in and out.
Shortly after, they had me stand up and walk around a bit, and then they sat me in a lazy-boy type chair for a while, then I walked around a little more. Walking felt OK, felt some tightness in my stomach around the incisions but it wasn't unbearable. Then they put me in a wheelchair and brought me to my room which I was sharing with another guy who got the same surgery from the same doctor that day (he arrived later).
They put me in the bed and asked me a bunch of questions to get me admitted. After that it was mostly just sleeping as much as I could. Every two hours I had to get up and walk for several minutes. They got all the bariatric patients up together so every two hours it was like the world's worst conga line and we shambled down the hospital hallway. I made sure to go to the bathroom after every single walk so I wouldn't have to get up unnecessarily. They let me have ice chips and thank god for that. I didn't have a sore throat from the surgery although I'd heard some do.
It was a long night, people kept coming in to check blood pressure, give me heparin shots, take blood once I think, maybe twice. The next morning some folks from the hospital came in to give me and my roommate a holiday gift of a poinsettia which was nice but I would have rather kept sleeping.
In the morning they brought me down for a GI check. I had to drink some absolutely foul liquid four times while they took x-rays of my stomach (standing) to check for leaks. No leaks! So I was cleared for Breakfast. Breakfast was some Water, some orange Jello, and some Protein things to drink, they tasted completely disgusting and I couldn't finish them. When they saw I tolerated it well, they brought lunch, which was scrambled eggs, Powerade zero, and more horrible Protein drinks including one marked Prostat that I think I was supposed to drink but it was so awful I couldn't take more than a sip.
I had noticed over the night that was having pains in my back and shoulder, I was told it was gas pains and they would go away, I just needed to keep walking. The surgeon stopped in at some point to check in, told me my surgery lasted just 26 minutes, amazing. He said I did a good job with the liver shrinking diet.
About 2:30 or so I was discharged. I was able to dress myself which was nice. I had an appendectomy and umbilical hernia repair last December, and felt much worse after that, and couldn't dress myself when I left the hospital.
The drive home was uneventful, when I got back I took a little nap, but I got up to walk every hour or so. For the first day or two I noticed some ankle and calf pain when I got up but that went away and today it's almost all gone.
For dinner my wife made me some pureed tuna with low-fat mayo. I ate two ounces and could barely finish it. I drank about 2/3 of a bottle of Protein shake (the Premier Protein, same thing I drank on my two week liver shrinking diet), took me a looong time to drink it. Then drank some water, not that much, I was being very cautious. When I swallowed it felt very weird, like I could feel it settling into my stomach. Didn't hurt, but just weird. I didn't have any real unbearable pain. When I stood up it hurt where my incisions were. If I coughed it hurt a lot but that went away.
Spent that day (thursday) just relaxing and walking and trying to get down some fluids.
Sleeping was uneventful, I took some of the percoset they prescribed and that helped. I slept on my back the entire night which is rare for me. Friday I felt a little better. Ankles still hurt, and my neck was killing me, I assumed it was the gas pain. Breakfast was two scrambled eggs which took over an hour to eat but I finished almost all of them. I finished the Protein Drink and tried some powerade zero which was delicious. Lunch was the rest of the tuna (3.4 oz, ate the whole thing), and dinner was egg salad with low fat mayo, and a little bit or paprika and mustard for taste. I ate 3 oz and it went down pretty quick. At some point during the day I took a shower which was great. No problem at all standing for several minutes.
Sleeping was again uneventful. Today I woke up late, so no breakfast. I had more egg salad for lunch and it went down fairly quickly with no adverse effect. Drank a Protein Shake (11 oz) and 16 oz of powerade zero, no problem at all going down. Before the surgery, the doctor said it should easier and less painful day after day, week after week, and that's been true so far.
I had read about "sleever's remorse" and yes I've felt it too, starting with when I first woke up in the hospital, and it comes back several times a day. I think once I reach the point where there's no pain, and I can eat solid foods again, and get back into my regular routine and see the effects of the surgery it will go away. I know that this was the right thing for me to do, and even though maybe right this second I feel like I wouldn't do it again if given another chance, I'm pretty confident that I'll be happy with my decision in the coming weeks, months, years, etc.
So that's the journey so far. I'l be happy to answer any questions anyone has, and good luck to anyone who is still pending surgery!

I'm with you on this feeling of the NEW beginning going to start!

Hi I’m having a revision from the lapband to RNY on September 18. Started preop
Diet September 3. I’m really nervous!

13 days away from surgery and I’m definitely feeling nervous. I’ve read and re-read all of the information booklets from the hospital almost daily. I’ve watched a ton of YouTube videos and I’m looking through my weight loss surgery for dummies book. I’m ready for 9/17, the wait is making me anxious.

So I had 5 hours of pre admission testing today and I had most of my questions answered. I received a dine out / medical alert card, my incentive spirometer, my Hibiclens and Cleansing cloths,and my pre-surgery ensure drinks. The program emphasizes using whey Protein isolate (which I learned today that I don’t have-oops lol). I bought an Unjury protein starter kit, and 2 flavors of powder to make Protein Powder. Everything is pictured (two of each powder flavor,thermometer,shaker bottle, one vanilla shake, and one chocolate shake). I was not given a pre op diet. Basically from now on I NEED to hit my Water intake goal, walk daily, and eat protein, veggies,watch my sugar,and watch my carbs. I’ll use my protein powder (not isolate) as a Meal Replacement option pre op as well. I’m almost done! Next appointment is with the surgeon 6 days before my surgery. RnY scheduled for 9/17/18

@Frustr8
I’m supposed to be practicing starting now, I did a couple of times. I drink two bottles of Ensure 12hrs before surgery, then one more 3hrs before. I love that we get stuff!

I’ll be getting prescriptions for a blood thinner,ulcer prevention , pain reliever, anti anxiety, and gallstone prevention when I see the surgeon on the 11th. I don’t know what to pack! I’m excited for you ! 🙂

So I had 5 hours of pre admission testing today and I had most of my questions answered. I received a dine out / medical alert card, my incentive spirometer, my Hibiclens and Cleansing cloths,and my pre-surgery ensure drinks. The program emphasizes using whey Protein isolate (which I learned today that I don’t have-oops lol). I bought an Unjury protein starter kit, and 2 flavors of powder to make Protein Powder. Everything is pictured (two of each powder flavor,thermometer,shaker bottle, one vanilla shake, and one chocolate shake). I was not given a pre op diet. Basically from now on I NEED to hit my Water intake goal, walk daily, and eat protein, veggies,watch my sugar,and watch my carbs. I’ll use my protein powder (not isolate) as a Meal Replacement option pre op as well. I’m almost done! Next appointment is with the surgeon 6 days before my surgery. RnY scheduled for 9/17/18

👋🏾
My RNY is on September 17 here in Columbus Ohio !

Hi everyone!
I’m 24 in Columbus,Ohio. I have PCOS and hypertension,my highest weight is 325-330 and my current weight is 310.

I’ve been on a weight loss journey off and on for years but I met my surgeon in April 2017. I changed my mind around this time last year and restarted the process for surgery December 2017. I did my 6 months of monitored diet, psych,nutritionist visits (2 so far),and EGD by June 29th. Earlier this year I changed my mind from getting the sleeve to getting bypass (reflux issues).

My RNY will be on 9/17/18 ! My day of preop testing is August 28th and I have my last appointment with my surgeon on 9/11. I don’t have a preop diet but I hope that the nutritionist will give me one when I have my preop testing. If they do not give me a preop diet to follow I will just follow the plan that I’ve come up with after researching A LOT of preop diets. Fingers crossed they’ll give me guidance at my appointment because I need structure or I’ll eat everything in sight.

I’ve bought things for my preop plan with very little for post op so far. I don’t want to go crazy with the cases of premier and waste them so I’m limiting my Protein purchases until after surgery. I’ll have some protein but not a stockpile.

I’m excited and nervous but I’m ready for the next chapter in my life. I’ve been obese since middle school so I’m anxious to see how I look NOT obese lol.