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Surgery was yesterday



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I haven't been posting here often, but I wanted to share my experience in case it can help someone else. Really long post though.

This post is pre-op in the surgery center:

April 16: Arrived at the hospital at 6 a.m. to check in. They didn't tell me I'd have to take a pregnancy test before I went to the bathroom (at the surgery center no less). Thankfully 30 min later I could pee enough for them to check, and nope I was not a victim of immaculate conception lol.

Had to change into the gown and the first nurse had a bitch of time starting an IV, thankfully she only tried 1 time before getting another nurse, but that one time has my arm bruised pretty bad. She joked that it was a token to remember her by. Apparently I don't have really easy to access veins but the 2nd nurse nailed it on the first try and I don't have a bruise at all.

I was a bit teary from the nerves. When my doc dropped by I was teary so he asked what was up, I told him nerves and he said good, as long as it's nerves and not doubt, so it was cool that he was concerned as to why I was crying a bit.

Next the anesthesiologist came by to knock me out - wow that is really such a simple process (this was my first surgery ever), I remember the ceiling spinning and nothing else till I woke up.

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Post-Op

Surgery took about an hour total, I had a small hernia which he repaired while he was in there. Dr Umbach then went to talk to my mom, and then a 2nd time after I was awake to let her know all was ok that she could go back to recovery with me. That really impressed her that he took the time. My mom is an RN so she's in the know, yanno

Waking up was certainly interesting, I could barely stay awake. The nurses got me dressed, they gave me a few sips of Water making sure I could swallow, had me walk a little to prove I could. That was the first time I have ever dozed off walking, Good thing they were holding me up! The worst pain for me was having a headache from the anesthesia.

Mom got the car, they got me in, but I don't remember much as I was crashed out for most of it. My friends had told me I would need a pillow because you feel every bump. Not me baby, I slept and the only time I woke up on the 30 min drive was when I snored so loud that I scared myself awake hehe

Mom kept waking me up to sip and walk. So with the exception of the farting (which I still haven't done yet) I'm following a friends instructions to a T, which was walk, sip, nap, fart, repeat

I have been very fortunate, Not in much pain (thanks to my On-Q pump which I'll show on my youtube video later today), no gas pains at all, just minor discomfort and I'm sore like a good ab workout. I have sprung a few little leaks but nothing bad at all. Still wearing the sexy compression stockings probably until tonight.

Yesterday I was able to drink about 16 oz Water, 8 oz of chicken broth. And overnight I've sipped almost 8 ozs of water.

Right now it's about 3:30 a.m., and I took a percocet about 2:00 to try to go back to sleep...no luck so far - thus the novel I just posted lol

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Wow, congrats Spydersong, guess that puts you on the losers bench? :-)

Glad to hear it went well, I am having my sleeve surgery in a month or so, so

its good to read about how it went.

Hope you feel better and better, and keep us posted!

Lisa

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Congrats on getting your sleeve, and I never farted post op, but I did burp quite a bit which relieved the gas pressure for the most part.

Keep us posted on your progress, and welcome to the loser's bench! ! !

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Wow thanks spydersong.

This is the type of stuff thats really helpful to those of us about to go under.

I'm glad to hear your doing well.

Keep us posted

Stacey

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I fart here my second day a lot but I am afraid I might mess my shorts if I fart lol I burp a lot the 2 1/2 car ride home killed me today

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Spydersong, thanks for posting this, and for your video. It's so comforting to "see" somebody else going through this first.

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Thanks so much for posting this. My surgery is May 13th and I really really appreciate knowing what it might be like. Reality might be better than what's in my head!

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FARTS!!!!

Come on ladies do NOT fart!! HA, HA, HA,

We TOOT!!!!!! Or send out silencers, which are deadly!!

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Spydersong ... I am so happy for you. Dr. Umbach is great and very personable. Can't wait to see your YouTube posting.

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I've posted a few more videos. I have one up there for each day post-op so far.

Not looking too cute right now, but it's all good :biggrin0:

YouTube - spydersong's Channel

This has really been such an easy recovery for me, I wish it was that way for everyone.

Mini-Me, Dr Umbach was great. My follow-up with him is on the 27th

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

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        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

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