I've read all kinds of great information on this board and just want to share my experience, although it sure is a lot like all the other experiences.

My doctor was Dr Heider in Lake Norman Regional Medical Center. He took his time to answer all my questions and explained everything. The staff was also very nice going over diets, process, etc. Check out their website and see the fairly low self-pay option in the US.

The hospital, while smaller, is very new and I felt like I received excellent care from the moment we arrive. Did the pre-op testing, upper GI, EKG, blood draw, etc. on Wednesday afternoon. The barium goo was pretty nasty and I think I would have thrown up if they made me take one more swallow. Process was about 2 hours to complete all the testing.

Surgery was schedule Thursday 9:30. I arrived at 6:30, they got me prepped, and I laid there for about an hour. Dr Heider was able to move my surgery up a little bit. I hate needles and was dreading the IV. They collapsed the vein on the first try. CRAP. Second try was good.

I talked to Heider, the anesthesiologist, etc. When it was time to go, he gave me I think a versed, and I don't remember a thing until recovery room. I was only in the recovery room for 30 minutes or so when they moved me to my room.

The rest of Thursday, into the night, I was in considerable pain. I didn't have the gas pain, mine seemed to just be stomach pain. I've heard it described as someone kicked you really hard in the stomach, and that's pretty accurate. It would hover around a 4 or 5, and then shoot up to a 7 or 8. They gave me morphine every couple hours and that really helped keep the pain level down. Thursday night was a terrible night's sleep. I was also nothing by mouth and only survived by brushing my teeth every couple hours and gargling.

Friday morning, I was feeling better and the pain was more like a 3 shooting up a 5. I didn't take any pain medication after 12:30 AM on Friday and felt pretty decent. I did have some nausea kick in during Friday, especailly when they gave me that drink for the leak test. I passed the leak test and started sipping Water a couple hours later. I'm easily hitting the ounce of Fluid per 15 minutes and the pain levels are down. Zero pain from incision sights and man are tiny.

Overall, its been an interesting experience so far. I hate pain, needles, and hospitals and had doubt, was thinking about cancelling, etc. I was literally thinking "I should just cancel and head to Bob Evans for biscuits and gravy". Wednesday night, I looked in the mirror and asked myself if this is how I wanted to look for the rest of my life. Hell no. I clung to that all the way through the AM wait, the pain after the surgery, etc. There is certainly a price to pay to go through with it - $$$, risk of complication, pain, etc., but I hope that will be a long distant memory in 6 months.

Edited January 30, 201511 yr by lslblues

Heider did my surgery also last Thursday 1/22.. Him and his staff are wonderful. Not to mention he's easy on the eyes :-P .. My experience sounds similar to yours. My pain never got bad enough to take the pain meds though. I hope you're hanging in there with the post op diet.. I know I'm SO sick of protein shakes. Can't wait to start the puree stage next Friday.. Good luck with the rest of your journey

How are you ladies doing? My surgery is set for July 27th with heider. I wish it was sooner. But I wanted to see how y'all progressed so far. How much have you lost and how has the process been since surgery.

@@Cubancountrygirl

I too had the sleeve down by Dr. Heifer in Aug of 2014. I was 289 lbs before surgery and now, not quite a year later am down to 155 lbs. it's a great feeling but it was a tough journey. Feel free to ask anything you'd like!!