I'm home from Mexicali.......

[Mim 0]

I arrived in Mexicali on Sunday afternoon, 10/2. I rode in with 2 other patients and we all visited and shared our stories. After our labs at the hospital, we were taken to the hotel and checked in about 4:30 pm. Since we were all really hungry, we met up in the hotel restaurant a few minutes later and had a really wonderful dinner. For a large plate of chile rellenos , Beans, rice, tortillas, chips and a margarita......my bill was $13.00! With a full tummy and a sleeping pill from Dr. Aceves, I had a very relaxing night at the hotel.

Ernesto picked us up at 7:00 am, Monday morning and drove us back to the hospital. Since my surgery was the 2nd of the day, I was given a sedative to relax. The rest of the day is a blur. I remember people coming in to get me....blur........I remember looking up at the ceiling as I was being wheeled to surgery......blur.........I remember someone telling me to turn on my side and bend my knees for the spinal block....blur.....and OUT.

I don't remember recovery at all. The next thing I remember is being back in my room, thinking it must be over and then falling back asleep again. I was in and out of sleep for the rest of the night, knowing that nurses came in and out, taking my temp and blood pressure, but not really ever becoming fully alert.

Sometime early Tuesday morning, I told one of the nurses I needed to use the bathroom. Although I stumbled a bit, I made the trip successfully and immediately fell back asleep. Later that morning, they brought me those infamous 4 little cups of blue "apple juice." They weren't good, but they were tolerable. I sipped and slept, sipped and slept, sipped and slept for hours. Several times that day, Dr. Aceves, Dr. Campos and the nurses came in and told me to try to get up and walk. I'd answer "Sure, ok." with every good intention of doing it, but I'd always fall back asleep. I really had a tough time coming out of all that med-induced sleepiness.

By late afternoon Tuesday, I finally got up and walked the halls. I was completely pain-free (yes, really.....it must have been the spinal block), but I felt unsteady on my feet and climbed back into bed about 5 minutes later. Tuesday night was pretty much the same as Monday night, but I woke up Wednesday morning feeling alert and energetic. I took a shower and even put on a little make-up!

Wednesday, I walked several times, visited my neighbors, sipped tea and finally got a bowl of that wonderful chicken broth everybody raves about. Yes, it IS that good.

By the time I left on Thursday morning, I felt pretty good - minimal pain and absolutely no nausea. It may have been this sense of well-being that caused me to completely overdo it on Friday. BIG Mistake!

I met up with a friend Friday afternoon to do a "little" shopping that turned into a 5-hour shopping spree. I thought I was listening to my body.......I sipped Isopure all day........I took sitting breaks pretty often, but by the time I got home, I felt awful. My abdomen was completely swollen with Fluid and gas. I looked 9 months pregnant and felt equally uncomfortable. That was the first time all week I broke down emotionally. I remembered reading somewhere that Day 4 after surgery is the worst..........and that was definitely true for me!

So, I sobbed myself to sleep Friday night and woke up Saturday with renewed energy and renewed resolve. I really took it easy that day. I stayed in all morning, sipping Protein and napping. By 3:00 pm, I felt good enough to take my son to a birthday party. It was a huge event, and EVERY single person there must have told me to eat......twice! But I politely told them I had eaten before I came and continued to sip on my bottled Water. The party lasted about two hours and I was definitely ready to come home by then. I went to bed about 7:30 pm, slept pretty soundly, and here I am at 5:00 am on Sunday, finally getting on the Internet for the first time since surgery.

To sum up, I've really had a fairly easy recovery. Considering the mess my Band had made of my stomach and liver (Dr. Aceves told me it was NOT and easy revision) I've had very little pain except for the incision sights. I've experienced none of the shoulder "gas" pain I had with the Band surgery. I've had no nausea or stomach pain......just a lot of gas and gurgling. No doubt about it, those first four days kicked my butt, however, I think I'm over the "hump" now. I have one more week of recovery before I have to go back to work and I'm sooooo glad I didn't try to rush it and go back any sooner.

[MsLadyKanKan 6]

Just what I needed to read today. SOOOO happy that you had a successful surgery and a safe journey home. sounds like everything went well. Yes on Friday over did it for sure. But, thankfully u learned that lesson and will take it easy from there. Much success on your journey! I am so looking forward to my trip to Dr Aceves in November. You have truly helped to put my mind at ease. Keep us posted

[KellyL 173]

Congrats on being sleeved! I hope you continue to heal quickly and feel better every day!

[putasleeveonit 16]

Your story is almost exactly like mine! Congratulations on the revision surgery and I hope you're doing well!

[tacman 0]

Is a spinal block what all the Dr.'s use? This is the first I have read about one.

[KellyL 173]

No, not all Drs do this, as a matter of fact Dr Aceves is the only one that I've heard of doing this.

Is a spinal block what all the Dr.'s use? This is the first I have read about one.

[tacman 0]

No, not all Drs do this, as a matter of fact Dr Aceves is the only one that I've heard of doing this.

Thank god! I have had spinal taps and my wife has had spinal blocks and neither of us wanted to endure that again. We are going to Dr. Kelly next month. I take it he did not use one on you?

[KellyL 173]

Tacman:

No Dr Kelly didn't do a spinal block on me, and he never does this on anyone to my knowledge and in my research. I felt very little pain, it was more discomfort than pain, and they manage it very well. I didn't have to use pain meds at all after leaving the hospital. I had a wonderful experience and recovery. Good luck to both you and your wife for your surgeries next month!

[A New Day 5]

I just had my VSG with Aceves on October 10th, last Monday. I requested no spinal block because I have had back surgery and did not want to chance it. They were happy to manage my pain in other ways. Sergio even brought me a pillow for under my knees during surgery so my back would be supported. They were very nice and helpful.

I remember more than you do I think. I was actually up walking within 30 minutes of getting out of recovery. I remember feeling the gas and wanting to walk it out so hubby helped me walk.

[SouthernSleever 228]

Dr A doesn't do a spinal block for everyone. One girl with us requested one and he told her with her medical history she couldn't safely have one. He didn't give one to me either because I had a history of blood clots. I woke in IMMENSE pain but it was all in my back which i think i was in a weird position on the operating table or something. I'm not sure why but my back didn't even hurt that bad in labor.

[Ricky 6]

Congrats on your sleeve!!! Remember the first month is the toughest, but it gets better from there!! I too have a history of blood clots and didn't get a spinal. Thankfully, I had no pain when I woke up and was up walking pretty quickly. My bands hurt SO much more...glad you are doing well

[theshwa 0]

I just had my VSG with Aceves on October 10th, last Monday. I requested no spinal block because I have had back surgery and did not want to chance it. They were happy to manage my pain in other ways. Sergio even brought me a pillow for under my knees during surgery so my back would be supported. They were very nice and helpful.

I remember more than you do I think. I was actually up walking within 30 minutes of getting out of recovery. I remember feeling the gas and wanting to walk it out so hubby helped me walk.

Hey a new day, i was there when you were! I'm pretty sure you are the girl anne c and I saw walking in the hall that first day! How are you feeling now?