How are you doing? What was your hospital experience? Do you have any tijps to pass along? My surgery is Dec. 26th in Buffalo NY. I can't wait to join the losers bench this month but I have to admit I am getting a little more nervous as the date gets closer. Tell me all about it.

Thanks

Lisa

Congrats lisa, Your gonna be fine.. i just got my sleeve 12-12-11 so im pretty new to this loser game too.. lol.. but i find that having a community of people that know exactly what you are going thru is the best help anyone could get.

My experience i live in sac and my surgery was in richmond its about 1hr 45min drive.. that was the hardest part about leaving the hospital.. your in pain and driving that long really really sucks.. lol..

In the hospital wasn't too bad i think everyone has there moments but for the most part the only thing that really bothered me was the gas. It was terrible cause i couldn't burp but as long as you make sure to get up and walk every few hrs you will be ok.

i couldn't take any pain meds while i was there because they just made me nauseous, but to be honest i wasn't in that much pain, it could be because im just used to having surgeries, but it really wasn't that bad. I was able to leave the next day as planned but be careful cuz if you can't pee on your own or handle drinking fluids they wont let you go home. I couldn't pee on my own at first, but that was because they pumped me full of pain meds.. lol. kinda a catch 22 but whatever.

the first couple of days back the gas was really the only thing that i have to complain about no pain other than that. I tried the gas x which kinda helped but not really i just had to keep moving and try to disperse the gas that way.. now i can have it come out the other end.. lol i know kinda grosse but you do what you gotta do. and now 8 days in the pain is gone most of the gas is gone and the only real problem i have now is drinking the required liquids that i need to.

and because i heal a lot faster than most my body already wants to move to the puree phase.

Anyways sorry that was so long.. but really good luck to you im sure you will do fine and if you have any questions there will always be some one here that wont mind answering.

Thanks for taking the time to reply, Blackanese. Your info. is really helpful in giving me an idea of what to expect.

Make up the list of meds you want your doctor to send you home with even if you don't need them. Mine wrote me a script for nausea Patches to wear behind my ear, prevacid solutabs (for heartburn), Lortab elixer (pain) and told me to get Milk of Magnesia for constipation.

In the hospital speak up about what you need. The pain meds can make you nauseaous so ask for something for that. Walk, move (get that gas out!) They had me on so many IV fluids I couldn't help but pee. The pain was not bad at all (but I'm kind of a surgical veteran).

I had my surgery on the 19th and was discharged on the 21st. Good luck to you!

hi Last Chance Sue

When I walked in the hall, i had this machine hooked up w/IV 's and all that good stuff. it kindof made it harder to walk. Did you have that too.

thanx

kathy

Did you have your surgery at Buffalo General?? I had mine there and December 8th with Dr, Hoffman, loveee him by the way, and all the staff at the WLCenter.

Hey mchez1986

Yes, Dr. Hoffman did my sleeve on 12/26 at Buffalo General Hosp. Everything went really well and I havent had any pain to speak of, except my left shoulder (which I guess is common due to the nitro gas they use during the procedure. I was up walking the hall a couple hours after surgery, slept pretty well that night and felt 100% the next day when I was discharged. I swear swallowing the barium, Yuck! for the leak test was the worst part of the whole thing. Dr. Hoffman is so great. Everytime I saw him, he would say " I just know you are going to do so well with your sleeve." and "You are going to have a great year" I am looking forward to going back for my follow-up this coming Tuesday to get rid of this pesky drain and see how much I have lost. Happy New Year to everyone.

Hey!! I was sleeved 10 days ago by Dr. Gerald Cahill in Evergreen Park, IL... E'thing went great... after the first night and initial "move from hell".. from the bed to a chair!!!

No complications since being home short of gas pain and acid reflux... Lost 19 pounds so far per my 1st pre-op appointment today!!

Happy New Year!!!! Yeah, we did it!