Where Are My April 2012 Sleevers?

[BamaBoynMo 11]

Surgery was for me this morning at 9am with Dr Aceves' date=' and it has been a first class experience!

I live in AZ, so my husband and I made the 4 hour drive to Calexico yesterday, where we were picked up by the weekend driver Ramon at about 1:15p for the short drive over the border to Mexicali. Hubby was a little tripped out when the border guard opened our suitcase and laptop case to have a look, but nothing happened.

After arriving at Hospital Almater, Yolanda met us at the front door - what a woman! God bless her, she truely has a heart for what she does and the people she helps. I was whisked through preop labs, xray, ekg and paperwork with professionalisim and effeciency - wow! As a US RN, I was pleasantly boggled.

After tests, we were delivered to the very clean (very swank!) Crowne Plaza Mexicali, where we vegetated and later had supper in the Colorado Room (steak was ...divine!).

Hotel driver delivered us back to Hospital Almater at 7am, where we were again treated like celebrities! Met the Internist, Anesthesiologist (Garcia?), Dr Campos and Dr Aceves. Everyone kept appologizing for not meeting me the day before, as we arrived on a Sunday...no problem! In the Surgeon's offices I have worked in, I was lucky to see the doc more than once a day....and I was his nurse!

After a shot of Lovenox and a primer on how to use the spirometer, I was off the surgery. Dr Garcia got my hand IV on the first stick - major props to him, never had anyone be able to get a patent hand IV on me before, wooo! Sergio is one of the OR RNs, and he was such a comforting presence. Dr Garcia was having a tough time finding a good place to insert my spinal block while lying on my side, so he gave me some IV Versed and had me sit up with Sergio holding (wow, that man smells good!) They had me lay down and....next thing I knew, I was waking up in recovery with an oxygen mask (oh how I hate those!) And some amazing nurse, who I didn't get her name, stroking my hair.....purrrrrr.

After another hour in recovery, they wheeled me back to my room and to my waiting husband....I have never been so happy to see that man my entire life! I havn't had pain per se, but mostly some discomfort and soreness at the drain site on my left upper abdomen. I have 4 lap incisions in total, but it's as if the other 3 don't exist, lol.

No nausea, but up until about 15 min ago I still couldn't feel my feet, so I haven't walked yet. Gonna finish this post now so I can "dangle" for a bit, lol.

Good luck to everyone! If anyone has questions, PM me and I will answer as I am awake[/quote']

I just got home Sunday and the first full day is a bit tough, but definitely walk (as soon as you get your legs back) lol...

The staff is amazing and I can attest to all of your comments thus far. Including the steak in the Colorado Room! The staff is awesome and they cleaned my room like 4 times a day. I was in Room 24 end of the hall and very quiet. That place is soooo peaceful at night so walk all around.

Glad you are recovering nicely. Not sure how they do all they do, but I was mowing the yard tonight! Yep surgery was the 12th and mowing the 16th!

Please keep us updated!

[ThisTimeIsIt 71]

Whenever I have someone who can stick me the first time' date=' I want to put them in my pocket and just take them with me. IV's are so difficult - ugh!![/quote']

OMG this had me laughing - for my blood work I always go to the same person now cause she always gets me the first try. I make sure she's working when I request my appts just so I don't get poked a lot!

Can't say the same for the people doing iv surgery day - I am full of needle holes LOL

[~Stephanie~ 3]

Ugh! Day before surgery, on a liquid diet and they are having a potluck at work. It smells so good..I will not give in to temptation, i will not give in to temptation :-)

[BamaBoynMo 11]

Ugh! Day before surgery' date=' on a liquid diet and they are having a potluck at work. It smells so good..I will not give in to temptation, i will not give in to temptation :-)[/quote']

I'm 5 days out and last night my wife made spaghetti and the house smelled amazing. I came in from walking and drank my broth. Honestly it smelled great but my sleeve was saying "no thanks", I hope you get that same sensation AND I hope I can keep that sensation for a long time!

Good Luck and congrats on your new beginning!

[atkinsoncl 62]

Darn it - I should have measured my ankles before surgery!! Who knew that was the first place everyone would get skinny?!

Day 5 here and feeling better. But my tongue is a little fuzzy? Gross. My nut's goal is 100 grams of Protein and 48 ounces of Water a day. I have a full time job - drinking!

Love your quote about your ankles! Wow, 100 grams of protein . . . I need to eat between 60-75 grams. I drink about 64 ozs. Always have to take water up to bed with me, which leads to frequent bathroom trips.

[Bsleeve 7]

Im scheduled for April 6th with Dr. Garcia in TJ' date=' Mexico. I am nervous/excited/ ready!! I am a 26 yr old female, 6'2 & 290. Are there any other tall girls out there who have been sleeved or is going to be sleeved?[/quote']

Hey yes I'm pretty tall and had my surgery April 3. Hope everything went well for you

[Helo-Tech 7]

Hey All, just got back from my last Pre-op visit with the Dr., all is going as planned and have a firm date of April 30, at 8:00 am. today is the second day of my 2 week pre-op diet, this week is all low carb and next week will be liquids only. NOW it's getting real !!!!!!!

[mgood 3]

Five days post op. feeling weak and dizzy, but down 10 pounds.

[ThisTimeIsIt 71]

Ugh! Day before surgery' date=' on a liquid diet and they are having a potluck at work. It smells so good..I will not give in to temptation, i will not give in to temptation :-)[/quote']

Good job skipping the pot luck! I'll keep an eye out for your recovery post tomorrow wishing

you a speedy recovery too!

[waistnaway 32]

6 days post op. back to work today. making it okay. little tired and weak. had 1 week follow up appt with surgeon yesterday. Everything is on track and I am down 8lbs since surgery on the 11th!!

[THYCK747 36]

6 days post op. back to work today. making it okay. little tired and weak. had 1 week follow up appt with surgeon yesterday. Everything is on track and I am down 8lbs since surgery on the 11th!!

Look @ you Congrats!. I was sleeved 4/12 and am back today. Im not tired yet still a little sore in the biggest incension area though. I have not touched a scale yet. Im actually afraid to get on a scale.

[CrazyCatLady 130]

I got my methelyne blue solution at 830am for my leak test...and I'm still working on it....argh! Never would have though relearning how to sip would be so intense. I took too big of a sip early on and ended up with a horrifically painful gas bubble, had to get meds and walk walk walk before I could return to drinking my blue contrast.

Let me just say - heat pad has been indispensable!

[linkybo 27]

Can't say the same for the people doing iv surgery day - I am full of needle holes LOL

And wouldn't you think the people who do the iv for surgeries would be rockstars at hitting a vein?! My anesthes. guy was all cocky "I've been doing this for 22 years, I'm very good at it..." He tried 5 times and gave up! Said he'd give me laughing gas in the OR and then give me my iv. Apparently it wasn't much easier when I was out, because I'm covered in bruises, but at least he didn't have to hear me crying as he missed my veins.

I've had some people who listen to my whole "I'm a difficult stick" speech, then they poke me once and I"m outta there. Those people are my heros. I just wanna send them flowers or something.

[Tamig078 25]

Did my pre op at the hospital all is a go for next Tuesday I even have my hospital Bracelet on all ready!!!! I am scheduled for 730 Am as of now they did say that could change bu probably not. 1 week and counting and I have lost 13 lbs on my pre op diet 8 days down so far so good

[destined_dva 20]

Hi guys! Checking in. I had my two week follow up today. I've lost 29 since being sleeved on 4/2. Grand total of 60lbs including pre-op. Loving my sleeve!!! Good luck to all my fellow April sleevers.