I am one of those people who will read everything there is to read about something that I am going to be doing to myself. I want to know every detail of what I will be going through. Thats just the way I am. So when I found this site I was like yayyy and read until I went into overload. I will say it prepared me for a lot of what I should expect and then some, but not what I actually went through.

I am not writing this to scare anyone but just to be informative. My husband told me that if I had read what I went through I wouldnt have been so scared.

April 27th at 7:00 am scheduled for surgery. Got to the hospital and checked in by 5:00 am. Everything is going according to schedule and am excited to be there because I know that this is the first step to making my life better for me and my family. The last thing I remember is giving my hubby and son a kiss and telling them I love them and I'll see them in a couple of hours. Fast forward to recovery, pain, pain, pain, they move me over to another bed and that is more pain. I was expecting this because I have had other surgeries in the past. Everyone is calling my name to make sure I am coherent and I keep thinking I'm going to hurl on these people if they are not careful, and hurl I did. But what I hurled was blood. Apparently there was some internal bleeding in my stomach and what built up had to come up along with a giant clot that they saved for the surgeon to see. Scared the bejeezus out of me because I hadn't read where anyone had gone through that! So they monitored me through out the day and I kept spitting up blood and unfortunately both my husband and son saw it at one point too. Wish they didn't have to see that but what are you going to do. That eveneing they let me have some ice chips and OMG what a god send, ice never felt or tasted so good. Through out the second day, I was still spitting up blood just not as much as day one, which the doc said was a very good sign. He said he has seen this happen before and everything will be fine. Then as they are monitoring me, they realize my oxegen levels are really low and put me on oxegen. Ok, tube up the nose and breathe in breathe out. On Clear liquids and had broth, Jello and ice pops to eat. They decide they want a chest xray done to make sure all is good there, and low and behold I have the begining of pnemonia. So they treat me for that as well. Day three, I am much, much better, keeping the liquids down nicely, and they put me on a full diet, broth, Breakfast Protein drinik and a clear flavored drink as well. No more blood, yayy, I want to go home now thank you very much. Day four, the doc tells me everythinhg is progressing nicely and says he could send me home but he is not going to because he wants to monitor my blood work for another day. Fine, I'll stay another day. Day five and I can come home. I feel really good except for the achy breaky feeling of being kicked good and hard but that will pass. I am doing the liquids pretty good so far but I know I'm not getting in the protein that I need and have to work on that. They already dicontinued me taking 3 meds twice a day and that is the reason I wanted to do this. In the end, I feel good, and I know I'll be fine because my body is telling me so. It is also telling me when I put too much liquid in as well, weird feeling too but I am getting used to that too. I don't regret the decision at all, even with the complications. I know in the end this is what needed to be done. So thank you all for your support and advise here. I will keep everyone updated and unundated with questions and observations as they happen.

Raine

Wow, thank you for sharing your story. Every now and then a complication creeps up that I hadn't really considered, and I thank you and everyone here for sharing. I want to go into this with my eyes wide open. I hope you get better soon!

Wow! So sorry to hear about your rough journey. I have not read anyone else having that exact same experience. Rest assured that your story will help someone else someday.

It sounds like you are recovering well and the coughing blood has stopped. I agree, that would be terrifying.

Hope your recovery from here on out is uneventful! Do your best to keep up with the fluids.

Take care,

Lara

Thanks, I am feeling a lot better and am amazed at the difference a couple of days could make. One thing I forgot to mention was that because of the blood I lost they had to give me two bags over a couple of days because I was becoming anemic. Everything works out in the end Having my hubby and son there with me constantly helped me feel a lot better too.

Raine-- I'm so glad you're on the road to recovery! I was sleeved the day before you and had dry heaves with dried up blood that was a bit scary. Keep up the good work on the road to recovery!!

Thanks! You too! I am feeling so much better now too. Keeping all the liquids down and going to try some soup today to see how that goes. Haven't had dry heaves, been sick to my stomach or even a little gas pain. I guess since I went through all that the first two days someone said enough is enough. Seven more days and I can start on mushies. Yayyyy!!!

Wow- I would've freaked if i coughed up blood! Definitely have never read about that before. I'm glad everything worked out for you and you made it through those hurdles and are doing fine. Good luck to you as you continue on- let the weight loss journey begin!

Thank you for the info! My date is Friday and I luv as much info as I can get.

I hope youre feeling better now.

But, I'm glad you posted this

Wow... I'm sorry you had such a horrible surgery experience but it's all downhill from here... I'm glad you are feeling much better and hopefully you will continue to heal without any more problems.... Welcome to the losers bench! :cheer2:

Thank you for sharing! I hope you continue to feel better. Good Luck

Great story and so glad you are recovering well. Keep us updated.

Thanks all! I am doing great so far. Still not enough protein but I am staying hydrated so that is good. I haven't been sick at all except when trying to take my pills. But hubby got that figured out for me, jello shots! hahaha The losers bench is a comfy place to be, let me tell ya!

I know that had to be scary, so glad you're recovering nicely now. I loved the jello shots idea, i hope i remember to do that if i have probs with meds. Congrats on being sleeved!!

Kelly

Thanks everyone, I am on day 9 and doing great! Haven't had any real issues since the hospital other than some pain in my left side. Called the docs office the said it was gas but took some gasx and a heating pad and that didnt work. Took some of the liquid pain killer and worked like a charm so I think its muscular like aother post I read on here. Pain killers do not work on gas LOL

Thank you so much for posting this! I am just like you I read and read and read and research until I am blue in the face to get all of the facts. I like to know what I am getting myself into, the good, the bad and the ugly. I am so glad to hear that you are doing well!

Is it possible for someone (I don't know how or who to ask) to start a thread and pin it where everyone posts their surgery experiences? There is something very similar on the lapband forum and it is very informational! I have searched through all of the boards for these type of stories and they do pop up but they are very hard to find unless you have the time to go through all of the past posts. Just an idea for other people like me who like to get in all of their facts.