Ok hopefuly some of the fellow nurses on here can relate - I have a feeling I'm going to be quite the difficult patient post-op. My doc says a 2-3 day hospital stay so I'll be coherent for most of it (I'm thinking the anesthesia will clear by the day after surgery). I'm not going to want anyone checking on me and taking care of me lol. I'm of the mindset "just give me the stuff and I'll do it myself." Plus I have no desire whatsoever to wear a hospital gown - I plan on taking sweat pants and a tshirt with me. If they try to make me wear the gown I'll probably just be butt nekkid in the bed next time they come in out of spite lol. Anyone else think they'll be a difficult patient? I know the pants could rub the incision site or whatever but I dont want to wear the gown lol. Now keep in mind this is coming from someone who's only almost halfway through the supervised diet - 3 1/2 more months until I can even try to get the surgery anyway.

Oh, actingnurse, I have a soft spot for NICU nurses. My son was in NICU for 8 days and it was the absolute scariest few days of my life! He's a strapping 6'3" 22 year old now, but I remember how sweet and helpful the nurses were back then. You have an amazing, terrible, oh so important job!!!

We all carry so much shame about our bodies. And fear. We all get this - and I want to encourage you to take care of yourself and wear what you need to wear... as long as the nurses/doctors can get to you and care for you quickly. They will be checking your drain, your catheter, your blood pressure, blood glucose, temp, etc. regularly - and will need you in super loose clothes. The team who assisted me was so helpful, so caring, so used to "us" and our issues. I pray you have a team like that too.

We also all carry a lot of control issues. Our fear and shame has created in us (in me) a need to control things so I feel ok and can cope with the stress around me. Some of what I read in your note is your desire to control things - and this is what I think to myself - and I'm being honest - control (for me and maybe for you) is what got me to the 350+ pounds. I "controlled" myself to a staggering weight - to a place where I was so unhealthy I almost didn't want to live anymore. Sigh. So for me, surgery and this process is partly about surrender. Letting some people who may just know something I don't know lead me through this whole thing. I had to trust all the docs, nurses, dietitians, etc. I met with for months prior to the surgery. I sure had to trust the hospital staff and surgeon during the surgery. And I had to trust the post-op support teams who cared for me and are still checking my stats and keeping an eye on my progress.

What I've learned is that I sure the heck could use some care and leading from others. Not in everything, but in learning how to care for my body and my spirit so I can continue in my progress and live a longer, healthier life.

I think I wrote all that for me, not for you. I guess I needed to face some facts about myself - and your post helped me do it. Be encouraged that you are no more difficult than many of us - and that I, for one, cheer you on in your progress!!!! You can do it - bare butt in an oh-so-unattractive hospital gown and all !!!!!

I totally understand! I am not a nurse but my biggest concern was laying there with random flab hanging out. I wore my own pjs (loose, lightweight cotton) the morning after surgery, right after my catheter was removed. My nurse unhooked the IV for me so i could change. My doctor was impressed that I was in regular clothes and moving around!

Tracey - It's one of the sister hospitals - I'd be too self-conscious to have it at the same hospital I work at. Not too crazy about the idea of everyone knowing my business lol.

I'm actually a NICU nurse so my patients don't really apply.

I just have a feeling I'll be saying " nah I got it" a lot when they come to do stuff lol. Too self-conscious. Also - I'm going to request no catheter if at all possible. I know when I did a brief stint in OR the guys never got catheters for whatever procedure they were having - unless they couldnt go AFTER surgery THEN they got one. Then again it wasnt bariatric patients.. so who knows.

Yeah, I guess if your patients were self conscious about being patients, it would be either a concern or a miracle...

Honestly, I did not find out about the catheter part until a few days before surgery and it was very close to being a DEAL BREAKER for me. In the end it turned out to be no big deal. I wasn't thrilled about it, but at least I got to sleep throught the first night without having to get up to pee every hour with all the IV fluids being pumped in me. But if you can talk them out of it, then go for it. At least you will know how to turn the stupid alarm off on your IV when it runs low. That was so loud and annoying and my floor was BUSY so it would take forever for someone to turn it off.