I have heard from some that not everyone needs to spend the night in the hospital. How many of you had to spend the night?

Thank you Pamla!

I was just told by my surgeon that he keeps everyone overnight - I have no extra health conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure.

How difficult will it be to drive myself home? (I will be spending one night in the hospital).

It's only an hour drive, and I've never been married so I'm used to doing stuff like this for myself.

My hospital wouldn't let me drive myself home. I wanted to...

I was in and out the same day. They gave me IV meds for potential nauseau, so I had none....that was great. I was glad to go home and really had a very easy recovery.

I am glad to see some others with an easy recovery. I feel bad for everyone who was in pain and uncomfortable for days. I don't want to tell anyone that it was "a piece of cake" like it was for me, when I read so much about people having problems with recovery.

My dr. gave me a patch to put behind my ear the night before, to make sure I had no nausea. I honestly wouldn't have known I had surgery, if it weren't for the little cuts on my tummy. I could have easily driven myself home, but they wouldn't let me.

I have to stay one night also and have to have swallow study beforr discharge. The good thing is I work at this hospital and the same floor that I will be assigned to, so I know all the staff! I would rather go home though, but docs orders....

Diabetic well hello tehre and do I ahve a question for you. Being a diabetic myself and taking only pills how did the lap band affect you and the diabetes and did you have to take your meds the day of surgery? I was told I would not this has been a slight concern and the other is if we are not really eating food how will this affect the meidcationonce I start taking it after surgery? I have asked but not got the answer I was looking for. How will I keep from running low blood sugar for I have that problem off and on with my new medication

Mine was outpatient and went very smoothly. I really think it is a personal preference.

Good Luck!

Spending the night...I was told that I would be spending the night however if the Dr. felt that I was handling everythng OK that I could possible go home later that day, now here is the kicker. If I would have gone in as out patient I would have not had to have my insurance company approve the surgery for it is an in house provider and my co pay would have been 200.00 but since I was staying the night I had to get approved by my insurance company which is alright too and my co pay would have been 150.00 I am going to spend the night I think I would feel better in the long run.

Diabetic well hello tehre and do I ahve a question for you. Being a diabetic myself and taking only pills how did the lap band affect you and the diabetes and did you have to take your meds the day of surgery? I was told I would not this has been a slight concern and the other is if we are not really eating food how will this affect the meidcationonce I start taking it after surgery? I have asked but not got the answer I was looking for. How will I keep from running low blood sugar for I have that problem off and on with my new medication

I was on Lactated Ringers IV fluids (contains some glucose) so no worries with going hypo. Then they monitored my blood sugar and gave me a small dose if insulin when it was too high. Post-op you may find that you have to decrease your dosages of diabetes meds. Check with you doctor and see what s/he says. I stopped taking one of my meds about a week pre-op with the intent of going back on it after surgery, but not only did I not ever get back on it, I was completely off ALL DM meds about three weeks post-op.

did you have the REY or the lapband

This is lap band talk. If someone has the RNY I don't think they would be posting here.

Actually, I just saw a first post from someone who came here to say that they cannot reccommend the band and are getting a RNY. Fascinating, huh? I mean, a first post? Oh yes, and KarenB is still here after her bypass.

MsDad is correct, they will monitor your blood sugar closely if you are a diabetic and will take appropriate action. Just an FYI, Ringer's or Lactated Ringer's or Ringer's Lactate (depends on where you are) does not contain any dextrose, only sodium, chloride, lactate, Calcium, and potassium.

Wow, I am in New Zealand and I had to stay two nights in the hospital. From the looks of it Doctors here are totally hard core about this all. I was on Optifast only for 2 weeks before surgery, fluids only for 1 month after, and mushies for another month after the liquids. My doctor has performed 3 LapBands a week since 1997 and has had to remove only one. I assume that since NZ is so small the doctors work really hard to ensure that you heal properly, which included 2 nights in hospital. I was glad it was two nights though as driving myself home (7 hours in a car!) was quite painful even after a week.

I have to spend the night because I have spleep apnea