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Was anyone sleeved outpatient?



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My surgeon performs his VSG's on an outpatient basis. I've read multiple medical articles supporting this, BUT have rarely found other sleevers who didn't spend at least one night in the hospital. Now I'm getting nervous with my upcoming surgery. Any pros or cons for those that were oupatient?

What would worry you about going home the same day??????

Much LUV to you all! This forum has literally been a lifesaver!!!

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I was outpatient. Had surgery around 8 am and was sent to my hotel around 1 pm or so. I think I was able to rest more comfortably with anyone bothering me (except for my wife :) for whatever the doctor asked her to do) Hard to recommend since I don't have any experience the other way but it did not bother me.

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My husband and I were outpatient. We live about 2.5 hours away from the hospital where the surgery was done, so a friend drove us in that morning and home that evening. My surgery was around 8 and he was right after me. We both had hernia repair and sleeve done. After we each woke up in the recovery room, they had us get up and walk to our rooms. We walked a lot, sipped juice, had a popsicle, and just talked and watched tv until around 5:30, then they let us go. In no way am I knocking the experiences of others because I know every person is different, but based on our experience, I can't even imagine why anyone would need to stay one night, much less three or four like some have had to do. We had to sleep sitting up the first night because of the gas, but were able to do anything else we wanted, really. The only thing which could had been a problem we took care of ahead of time. We have 2 large Rottweilers, and they like to jump up on us to get their snuggles sometimes. We taught them before surgery to go to the chair in the living room and jump up on it instead so that we could love on them without having 120 enthusiastic pounds land on our tummies.

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I was sleeved at 7am and took a while to come out of the anesthesia. I was not really super lucid until after 7pm, but once I was, I was doing laps around the nurses station and probably COULD have done okay at home, but they did keep me overnight which was still release a day early from what my doc usually does.

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I was inpatient and ended up staying an extra day (2 days total). There was no way I could have gone home due to my blood sugars dropping so low the day after surgery. I was near coma (I'm not a diabetic). Had they sent me home, no telling what would have happened.

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@@Thenewnic

Good luck to you! Even if your surgery is outpatient, your doctor is only a phone call away!

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I had a 2 night stay, with no complications, but my surgeon keeps us the first night because he requires a swallow study (to check for leaks) the next morning before we are allowed to drink or eat anything. I think the 2nd night, honestly, is to keep us comfortable on IV pain meds just a bit longer. I could have done outpatient easily, and would probably prefer it...although I sure loved those IV pain meds, the nurses won't leave you alone. I couldn't rest even though I was drugged outta my skull, because they came I'm every 3 hours on the dot, and sometimes in between. I agree with one of those posts above..your surgeon is only a phone call away if something DOES go wrong (and he won't send you home outpatient or not if you aren't ready to his standards). I think outpatient is a great idea.

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I had surgery at 3pm, was back in my room by 5ish, but then went back to sleep until around 9pm when I got up, peed, Facetimed with my sister, emailed some friends and dosed, walked and watched TV all night. Was back to my hotel at 9am. Then proceeded to go shopping and sightseeing with my sister. So move that up to a 7 am surgery and it would have been like going home really late that night. I'm sure if you are having problems they will, of course, keep you overnight.

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My surgery was done as an outpatient. Everything went smoothly. We stayed at a hotel that was very accommodating for my needs. Then next morning, I went in and received I.V. fluids before we could drive back home. On the way home, my hubby made sure that we stopped every 30-45 mins for me to walk, walk, walk. Everything was perfect!

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I was outpatient. I arrived at hospital at 7 am. I was back home by 1:30 pm. I had no problems whatsoever and was grateful that I got to rest comfortably at home.

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I was supposed to spend one night so they could do the leak test the next morning. I had the leak test and everything was fine. The doctor came in that afternoon doing his rounds and informed me that I would be there another night because my white cell count went too high and my potassium level too low. I was not happy but understood because I live about 35 minutes from the hospital. I would have hated to have gotten home, had complications and had to be rushed back.

This is MAJOR surgery and should not be taken lightly. When I had my first consultation with the doctor, I asked about having it outpatient. My doctor said if that was the route I wanted to go, I could find another doctor. There are complications that can happen and the best place for you is in the hospital, not home.

My sleeve was done 10/10/14 and I went home with drains that remained for two weeks. I was put on a clear liquid diet for one week PRIOR to my surgery and I took a statin to reduce the size of my liver before surgery (I don't have high cholesterol). I'm grateful my doctor was over-the-top cautious with every aspect of my care.

I've had friends that have also been sleeved and haven't had to go through the pre-op liquid diet, taking statins and were sent home without drains, but I'm still grateful that I'm doing extremely well after 5+ weeks, down 36 pounds, and I give the credit to my doctor and his care and concern for my overall health.

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If I could have done it outpatient I would have - or so I thought. My surgery center keeps you over night to do a leak test and to make sure there is no nausea. I was kept 2 nights. My blood work was not stable. They waited until they were stable and I stopped "throwing up" (a whole other story) to send me home.

I was glad to have been there both nights and to have been offered another night if I felt like it. I really wanted to come home. When I got home my bed was not anymore comfortable than the hospital bed. I end up sleeping on the sofa.

I felt good after surgery and totally felt like I could have gone home. I would say just to have a game plan in case there are any complications.

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I was sleeved 11/04/14 I. Houston, TX and it was an outpatient procedure. I didn't have any complications, was walking around the hospital after a couple of hours in recovery. Slept in. Y recliner the first couple of nights because it was easier to get up then being in the bed. I also had a hernia repair.

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
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