Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

what happens the day of surgery



Recommended Posts

Well, I can give you a run-down of what I experienced the day of surgery. Of course, everyone will be a little different.

I arrived 2 hours before my surgery time and checked into the hospital. This involved about 20 minutes of answering questions about my medical history. A nice elderly gentleman then showed up to take me to holding area of the operating room. Here, I was required to pee in a cup to ensure that I was not pregnant. In a curtained room, I put on the hospital gown, removed my contacts, and tagged the personal items I brought for my hospital stay. Right after that, my surgeon came in to say hello and told me that he was running ahead of schedule, so I could have surgery ASAP!

Everything moved very quickly after this point. Numerous nurses confirmed my medical history, took my blood pressure, and inserted my IV, etc. A few moments later the OR people arrived and I got wheeled into the OR on a bed. In the OR, I was placed on the operating table and they placed my mask. Just like that I was out and next thing I knew, I was waking up in recovery. I felt quite a bit of pain and nausea, but that was quickly remedied with medications. After that I drifted in and out of sleep and was taken to my hospital room.

In my room, I rested, but didn't really feel like watching TV or chatting with my family. I got up to walk a few times. I used my pain pump when I felt pain, but didn't really feel any more nausea. Overall, not too bad. Nurses came in regularly to check on me and my surgeon even stopped by to see how I was doing. The hardest part was the fact that I'm a stomach sleeper, so never feel really comfortable in the hospital bed.

Hope that helps! Good luck to you! You can do this!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I also got to the hospital 2 hours early. Several patients who were scheduled for surgery were seated in the waiting area and then escorted to the surgery area and taken into our individual rooms. I changed my clothes, and my possessions were put in plastic bags and labeled. The admitting nurse took my information down and started explaining how the day would go, which really put me at ease as she spoke about things post surgery. My blood was drawn for labs, an IV was placed, then they brought in a machine to do an EKG. It was all very fast and efficient. The anesthesiologist arrived about 20 minutes prior to my surgery time and joked a bit, then my surgeon arrived. I kissed hubby and sent him on his way, and they started rolling me to surgery and I was out before I ever got there. I woke up in my hospital room about 6-1/2 hours later (my surgery went long due to a hernia repair). The nurses started their pampering me right away and got me a cup of ice chips which was a godsend, as my throat was very dry. I was not in much pain at that point, and was comfortable. They explained how the PCA worked (every 8 minutes I could click it to administer pain relief from the IV). The nurses would come in frequently to check my blood pressure and temp and to bring new ice chips. They were amazing. I stayed 2 nights. The 2nd night was rougher than the first, as I had a headache, nausea and could feel the pain in my stomach, but by the next day I was much better and I was discharged. at around 1:30 pm.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Yes, my experience was very similar to @anniebanana. I also stayed in the hospital for 2 nights and was discharged around 1 pm on day 3. I was not allowed any ice chips on the day of my surgery, but I got a swab dipped in Water to wet my mouth. The second day, it was sip, sip, walk, walk, sip, sip. I also agree that the day after surgery was worse, but my main issue was the lack of sleep. I just sleep soooo poorly on my back, even with medications. After I got home, I was only able to sleep on my back in our recliner for the first week home.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Arrived at the hospital. Went into an office to check in for about 5 minutes and got my wristband. Went to a room to change into the hospital robe. Was given some mouthwash. Another nurse came in and shaved my stomach. They then wheeled me to a preop room. Had an IV inserted. Had some massaging things put on my calves. Spoke with the anesthesiologist. Then wheeled to the operating room. Got on the table. Strapped my arms down. Then I woke up in recovery.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Aunty Mamo

      Iʻm roughly 6 weeks post-op this morning and have begun to feel like a normal human, with a normal human body again. I started introducing solid foods and pill forms of medications/supplements a couple of weeks ago and it's really amazing to eat meals with my family again, despite the fact that my portions are so much smaller than theirs. 
      I live on the island of Oʻahu and spend a lot of time in the water- for exercise, for play,  and for spiritual & mental health. The day I had my month out appointment with my surgeon, I packed all my gear in my truck, anticipating his permission to get back in the ocean. The minute I walked out of that hospital I drove straight to the shore and got in that water. Hallelujah! My appointment was at 10 am. I didn't get home until after 5 pm. 
      I'm down 31 pounds since the day of surgery and 47 since my pre-op diet began, with that typical week long stall occurring at three weeks. I'm really starting to see some changes lately- some of my clothing is too big, some fits again. The most drastic changes I notice however are in my face. I've also noticed my endurance and flexibility increasing. I was really starting to be held up physically, and I'm so grateful that I'm seeing that turn around in such short order. 
      My general disposition lately is hopeful and motivated. The only thing that bugs me on a daily basis still is the way those supplements make my house smell. So stink! But I just bought a smell proof bag online that other people use to put their pot in. My house doesn't stink anymore. 
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Oh yeah, something I wanted to rant about, a billing dispute that cropped up 3 months ago.
      Surgery was in August of 2023. A bill shows up for over $7,000 in January. WTF? I asks myself. I know that I jumped through all of the insurance hoops and verified this and triple checked that, as did the surgeon's office. All was set, and I paid all of the known costs before surgery.
      A looong story short, is that an assistant surgeon that was in the process of accepting money from my insurance company touched me while I was under anesthesia. That is what the bill was for. But hey, guess what? Some federal legislation was enacted last year to help patients out when they cannot consent to being touched by someone out of their insurance network. These types of bills fall under something called, "surprise billing," and you don't have to put up with it.
      https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
      I had to make a lot of phone calls to both the surgeon's office and the insurance company and explain my rights and what the maximum out of pocket costs were that I could be liable for. Also had to remind them that it isn't my place to be taking care of all of this and that I was going to escalate things if they could not play nice with one another.
      Quick ending is that I don't have to pay that $7,000+. Advocate, advocate, advocate for yourself no matter how long it takes and learn more about this law if you are ever hit with a surprise bill.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Some days I feel like an infiltrator... I'm participating in society as a "thin" person. They have no idea that I haven't always been one of them! 🤣
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • ChunkCat

      Thank you everyone for your well wishes! I totally forgot I wrote an update here... I'm one week post op today. I gained 15 lbs in water weight overnight because they had to give me tons of fluids to bring my BP up after surgery! I stayed one night in the hospital. Everything has been fine except I seem to have picked up a bug while I was there and I've been running a low grade fever, coughing, and a sore throat. So I've been hydrating well and sleeping a ton. So far the Covid tests are negative.
      I haven't been able to advance my diet past purees. Everything I eat other than tofu makes me choke and feels like trying to swallow rocks. They warned me it would get worse before it gets better, so lets hope this is all normal. I have my follow up on Monday so we'll see. Living on shakes and soup again is not fun. I had enough of them the first time!! LOL 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Still purging all of the larger clothing. This morning, a shirt that I ADORED wearing ended up on top. Hard to let it go, but it was also hard to let go of those habits that also no longer serve my highest good. Onward and upward!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×