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I was wondering what it's like waking up from he surgery. Will I have a catheter? Will I have a pain pump? Will I have an NG tube? When will I get to drink Water or ice cubes?

Thanks.

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@@tssiemer - Everyone doesn't get a catheter. I had one, pain meds at my fingertips and no Water or ice cubes until after the leak test (the next day)...

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You need to ask your surgeon his/her protocol. I had no catheter but I did have a drain. No pain pump, my doc gives liquid pain meds after surgery. I've never heard of having an NG tube after this surgery but I guess it is possible? I was allowed liquids within a couple hours after surgery, but of course other surgeons are different. I knew all of this in advance because I asked my surgeon . . . don't be afraid to speak up with your doc and get all your questions answered.

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Here are the questions I asked my surgeon at my preop: http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/347429-things-i-asked-my-surgeon-at-my-pre-op-appointment-today/

Within a couple of hours of my surgery, I was drinking warm broth. A pain pump was hooked up to my iv. I had a catheter because I requested one in advance.

I'm curious what would happen if a patient asked their surgeon to leak test while they were still under instead of waiting a day (if that's his protocol). If you're leaking, they're going to have to go back in and do another surgery, so why not test while you're still under?

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I had no catheter and no pain pump, and no drains. Yes I also had the leak test done when he finished the surgery, I never had another one while in hospital. They gave me toradol every 6 hours and dilaudud as needed, but i never took the dilaudid. Pain was never an issue after leaving the recovery room, thank goodness. Waking up the nausea was horrible, ask for some nausea medication prior to waking up. As you can see docs do ti differently. I could not drink or even have an ice cube until the next day. Then the 3rd day prior to leaving hospital, they gave me a Protein shake and wanted to make sure I tolerated it, and I did so I left hospital around 10am. Good luck and ask your surgeon. Surgery was 8/3

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These are all great questions to ask your surgeon as each has different preferences.

My surgeon doesn't use a catheter or drains because he feels the risk of infection is greater than any benefit they support.

Here are some other questions I recently asked:

What Vitamins will I have to take?

Can I continue taking my antidepressant?

Do you prescribe Actigall as a preventative for gallbladder issues?

What size do you make the stomach?

Do you oversew the staple line?

How many sleeves have you done in total?

What is your leak/death rate?

What percentage of excess weight do your patients typically lose?

How many nights in the hospital?

Is this a Center of Excellence?

How often do your laproscopic surgeries turn to open surgeries?

How far from the pylorus do you start the sleeve?

Do you leave a fundul pouch?

Do you prescribe an antacid for me to take after surgery?

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