My surgery was scheduled on the 23rd. I made it through the horrible diet and past the anxiety and fears and into the operating room. After I was under, the surgeon made the incisions, filled my abdominal cavity with CO2 and my heart stopped. It took a minute of chest compressions to get me back, and he closed without completing the surgery. A cardiologist determined it was not my heart, and the best answer they and come up with is a vasovagal response--however it is very very rare for that to cause someone's heart to STOP. I was mentally foggy until yesterday, and agreed to reschedule the surgery for the 30th.

I am supposed to do the liquid diet until the surgery, and I just can't. I have made it through most of the day and had a reasonable meal at the end of the day. I feel weak and sore from the incisions and very sore from the chest compressions. What was before mild anxiety about the surgery had given way to near terror/panic, and I feel so weak I just want to sleep. I am so emotional that I feel like a total failure for not being able to follow the diet and for what happened on the operating table even though I know I couldn't control it. I really want the surgery, but no one has been able to answer the question of "what are we going to do different the 2nd time around to avoid the complications I had the first time around?" I wish my body would stop aching long enough for me to sleep so maybe I could think straight. I want to lose weight, but I don't want to die doing it. I am afraid the surgeon will be angry about my not being able to complete the pre-op diet. I am afraid I will die on the table and they won't be able to bring me back.

The fact that so many people knew about it is NOT surprising to me. I AM surprised that they acted so unprofessionally by letting you know that they knew about it. When something like that happens, it has to be documented, it goes to risk management, and everything gets rehashed numerous times to analyze any wrong doing and address whether anything could have been done differently. In other words, it is a BIG deal. On your next day of surgery, your team will be talking about it again, and they'll probably be freakishly cautious with everything, treat you with kid gloves, and meet your every need. When you get to the floor, the nurses there will know about it too, because it has been documented , they'll get the news in report, and they will have access to your records. This type of behavior by healthcare givers is normal, it's kind of our way of saying that we're going to take extra great care of you because of what happened. If you get annoyed, just tell them to leave you alone, we can be sickenly sweet sometimes. Once again, good luck and you'll wake up with your itty, bitty stomach. I know you'll do fine.

The fact that so many people knew about it is NOT surprising to me. I AM surprised that they acted so unprofessionally by letting you know that they knew about it. When something like that happens, it has to be documented, it goes to risk management, and everything gets rehashed numerous times to analyze any wrong doing and address whether anything could have been done differently. In other words, it is a BIG deal. On your next day of surgery, your team will be talking about it again, and they'll probably be freakishly cautious with everything, treat you with kid gloves, and meet your every need. When you get to the floor, the nurses there will know about it too, because it has been documented , they'll get the news in report, and they will have access to your records. This type of behavior by healthcare givers is normal, it's kind of our way of saying that we're going to take extra great care of you because of what happened. If you get annoyed, just tell them to leave you alone, we can be sickenly sweet sometimes. Once again, good luck and you'll wake up with your itty, bitty stomach. I know you'll do fine.

I realize they need to know and use it as a learning experience. I wish they wouldn't share that they know with me and begin each statement with "Oh my gooooooddddddd..." like they are rehashing what they did on Saturday night. I know it was odd for me to be back in the surgical unit as a support person for my friend so soon, but it was unnerving to have my medical mishap discussed over and over like a bunch of teenage girls with some juicy gossip.

The surgeon said that he was going to meet me at the door and walk me through the whole thing. He also said, "you have our undivided attention now!" I guess I should look on it as a good thing that everyone is putting their A game up for the next surgery. Perhaps I will be in for a smoother ride.

I just wanted to say that I'm sorry for your experience. That must have been very frightening and confusing, especially with everyone flocking to you after the surgery. I agree that it is unprofessional conduct, and I would let the clinic know that I felt uncomfortable about people coming up to me like that, despite their good intentions. I think it sounds like a good plan that you will refuse to go for further surgery until you have a plan in place and it is discussed. You deserve to be able to talk to your surgeon about what happened, and I don't think I would feel comfortable going back into surgery until I'd heard directly from him. I hope things go better this time and we're all here for you. You're in my thoughts and prayers.

Wondering how you are doing after your second surgery date?

Second surgery date was successful in that I am sleeved. It was pretty rough because they had to give me so much medication to keep my heart rate up during the surgery and didn't give me pain meds for a while after. I have never experienced pain and nausea (from the meds) anything like the few hours after surgery.

I came home on Wednesday, but was readmitted Sunday night for dehydration and shoulder pain. They were afraid that I could have a leak because I have so much pain in my left shoulder still. Tests were all negative. If I am still having pain on Wednesday he is going to send me to an orthopedic guy. They are wondering if they didn't damage my shoulder during chest compressions in the first surgery. This has been a horribly rough road, and I am a little glad I didn't know how bad it was going to be going in. Thus far today I have managed to get down a popsicle--that's it. The surgeon said it may take time but he has never seen it not get better. I am trying to have a positive attitude, but I am pretty miserable right now.

So glad to hear that they were able to get you sleeved. I was thinking about you all week. I was sleeved on the 31st. No complications, but I too was surprised at how much pain I was in when I woke up too. I thought maybe they had forgotten to give me pain meds before they woke me up. I was also very nauseated which is very rare for me. It is all getting better each day though... Walking does really help the shoulder pain and I feel I can get more fluids in when I stand up. I keep trying to go without the pain meds, but then I don't feel like walking so just taking smaller doses so I feel like getting up and walking around. Hope you continue to improve too!

Im sorry that you went through all of that but i am glad that you were able to finally get your sleeve. Best wishes on the rest of your journey!!