Any Last Minute Advice?

[coffeelover77 1]

My surgery is tomorrow and I'm feeling really anxious and nervous. Does anyone have any last minute advice for me?

[GivingItMyAll 168]

I'm three days out, so fairly new. My advice would be to walk as soon as you are able to be up and about, even when you don't feel like it. That is what I believe has helped me with recovery the most. The meds don't get rid of the gas, they mask the pain and you will still have to walk the gas out. Don't get me wrong, ask for pain meds if you need them, but still walk to relive the gas if you don't feel the gas pains/pressure. Also, if you are nauseous, ask for meds. Don't suffer unnecessarily with nausea.

Good luck to you. I'm saving your spot on the losers bench.

[coffeelover77 1]

Thanks a bunch!

[CajugirlBecky 63]

Walk walk walk. It sounds weird, but it helps. The nursing staff will keep you awake anyway, so get familiar with the hospital walls. I had my surgery Wednesday and only had pain meds Wednesday nigh through iv.

[andi0120 41]

If you can sleep in a recliner it helped a, lot for me. Also know that the process takes time. You see alot of people complaining on this page. Be prepared for stalls and some discomfort. On a good note the sleeve is the perfect tool to get your health together if you work the program. Good luck and keep us updated on your progress.

[aldmb2 24]

I agree with the walking. I also had my surgery on Wed. The gas pain in my chest & back was terrible.... Gotta keep walking. And, remember it gets easier each day!

[MinaT 669]

Use the incentive spirometer. It is helpful so you don't catch pneumonia. I washed and brought my favorite soft & fluffy throw blanket for sitting in the hospital chair, it was a comfort from home.

I brought charmaine butt Wipes, it is helpful to make you feel fresher.

I do not like artificial sweeteners but I like Truvia, in the hospital they brought me generic artificial sweetener and a regular decaff tea. The hot Water on the tray was in a coffee cup... to put it mildly it was disgusting smelling and tasting. Luckily I brought my own Bigelow Decaff Peppermint Tea, which tasted good hot or cold. I was having trouble getting colder Water down and the Peppermint tea calmed my tummy. I always asked the nurse for a big styrofoam cup of hot water and made my own tea.

Keep the mouth sticks near by at night or carry one when you walk. If you have an anti-nausea patch and you are getting anti-nausea medications your mouth dries out really quick. Just one trip around the nurses station and my lips were attached to my gums and I could not talk because my mouth was so dry.

If you are nauseated, tell the nurse there are tons of different anti-nausea medications (before the upper gi leak test) it's always good to ask for something for nausea.

I brought a small table fan with me to the hospital, it was comforting.

After the catheter comes out if you think you have to potty in the middle of the night, buzz the nurses station right away because if you are hooked up to the wall and you have the leg pumps on it takes a while to unhook everything.

Every time you wake up in the middle of the night sip sip sip, then walk and use the spirometer. If you have a drain, the drain sometimes rests up near your diaphragm so it seems like it's hard to use it at times.

Bring tooth brush and mouth wash (I used biotene for dry mouth).

These are the things that made my stay bearable. I was in the hospital for 5 days.

[coffeelover77 1]

Thank you everyone for the advice. Please keep in touch.... Here I go!

[aviiva 140]

Good luck I hope for you a speedy and painless recovery. This is the beginning of a new life enjoy the journey and most of all stay positive get rid of negative thoughts

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