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My surgery is less than 3 weeks away.... I am really nervous, I have never had surgery before. Did any of you have any complications, or weird outcomes that you weren't expecting? Also, what are some of the things you wish you had taken with you to the hospital but didn't?

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I was very scared going into this. Seems everyone you talk to knows omeone that has died or had a horrible time with bariatric surgery. However, statistics show that your risk of dieing is about the same as having oral surgery. As I have learned in my travels, we only hear about the bad stuff. People that are sucessful dont hang out on this site for long. Per the head nurse where I had surgery ," 99% of the patients have no complications". Of coause I did my research when selecting a Doc. The entire team has never had a death and have been offering bariatric surgery for over 15 years. As for sleeve surgery the team of three surgions have had a total of one leak in 5 years. They perfom over 500 a year. Thats damn good odds. They have on the other side fixed many a botched mexican bariatric jobs. Many on the site took the Mexico path with great results. All comes down to doing your research and make price secondary.

Edited by par1959

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a few people have had complications...but your life is probably more "complicated" with the weight... Mine was very textbook...

The one thing I wish I had was some carmex...my lips were sooo dry all the time...but most everything you need is provided...

Good luck...let us know your progress!

PS Oh Yeah...my phone charger! ABSOLUTELY!!!

Edited by BigGirlPanties

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I used NOTHING I took to the hospital but my tablet and phone charger. I did use my toothbrush but NOTHING else made it out of the bag.

A "complication" I had which was really an inconvenience was anesthesia totally messed with my bladder and sphincter so going to the bathroom became an exercise in patience to get the urine OUT. I couldn't open or contract my bladder! It all resolved with time and I am still feeling pleased when I void that I can do it now! LOL - but I am celebrating all victories here!

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less than 3 weeks away.... nervous, never had surgery

@@sleevedmanda

i see you are a newbie :)

welcome to the group

no surgery ever??? :o

i can only imagine how scary the thought of surgery must be for you :blink:

its good not to have your head in the sand

your eyes are wide opened

i "think" the success with WLS is 99.9%

you don't remember those

the bad stories stick out in your mind and memory

any/all surgeries do have their "possible" problems

its ok to be a little scared

the next 3 weeks you might feel happy, excited, nervous, anxious, overwhelmed etc etc

normal feelings

you are going to be changing a big part of your life (food)

you made the wise decision to have the sleeve

its ok to 2nd guess yourself a "little"

but not enough that you change your mind about having WLS

read these boards thoroughly

you'll see many questions and answers you might be thinking of

post your questions too

also use the search button in the top right hand corner

you will be seeing your doc again pre-op

write down list of questions to ask him and NUT

good luck for the rest of your healthier, happier, longer life :)

who deserves it more?!!!

speedy recovery

kathy

Edited by proudgrammy

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@@par1959 Thanks for the encouraging words. I have a wonderful dr. and feel everything will go as planned... I guess its just the jitters! But you made me feel a lot better!

@@BigGirlPanties I will definitely be sure to bring my carmex and phone charger, Thank you!!

@@EverLearning Good to know and I'm glad everything is back to "normal" for you. Congrats!!!

@@proudgrammy Thanks for the warm welcome... and yes I feel all those things!!!! (mind reader!) Every time I do start to 2nd guess wls.... I tell myself "What the heck are you doing???" Self doubt can be a powerful thing.

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I took a magazine with me. The only complication I ran into was dehydration three days later and had to go to the ER for fluids. Very very typical...... Sip sip sip as much as you can.

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Make sure that they put your IV in you non-dominate hand/arm. If you are right-handed everything will be more difficult if the IV is in that same hand/arm. When you do get to the OR, the anesthesiologist will probably ask you to count backwards from 100. 100...99...98....wake up wake up - hey, you did fine. Next thing you know, you are in your hospital room to begin your new life.

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I had complications and Im in a lot of pain and a bit scared....everybody says its going to get better but after 3 months of pain, I can only hope....

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I had complications and Im in a lot of pain and a bit scared....everybody says its going to get better but after 3 months of pain, I can only hope....

oh @@ArthurTower I'm soo sorry you're having such a terrible time. Does it hurt when you swallow, or a constant pain in your abdomen??? Have you talked to your surgeon? I hope you get better soon and sending healing thoughts your way!

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They found a stricture, It has been treated twice with endoscopic dilation and the third time with dilation plus the put a stent inside the sleeve to see if they can fix the stricture....

It has been very painful and the nausea is horrendous.....

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How exciting for you! The only things you really need for the hospital are: robe, slippers, toothbrush & paste, hairbrush, carmex, phone & charger and maybe a tablet and magazine. You need to spend time walking and sipping, walking and sipping, repeat again! ;) I don't even know if this is allowed (never asked) but my son brought me sugar free mints because my mouth was like the Sahara desert. They helped more than anything else. Good luck, you are on your way!

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    • Doughgurl

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    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

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        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • 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.

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