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Alone After Hospital



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Hello, First post...

I will be getting the gastric sleeve soon. I received approval finally from my insurance and now have an appt for all the preop details on Monday at my surgeon’s office.

I live alone and I don’t want to stay with anyone after the hospital. I wouldn’t even know who to ask. I think I have one night in the hospital and then come home. Did any of you stay home alone afterward? My only fear is that there will be an emergency or complication and I would not be lucid to help myself?

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I know people who have been alone and have done fine. For the most part you will be very tired and just want to rest up, keep a phone nearby and ask a friend or neighbor to check in on you.

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You’ll be fine, just shop and do laundry before you go in to the hospital

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my husband took a week off of work but ended up going back after about two days. I was fine on my own - and probably would have been even right after coming home from the hospital.

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My husband took a day or 2 off work to be with me, but I wouldn't have NEEDED him. I was fine taking care of myself.

If you are going to be alone, I recommend making some items ahead of time, like SF Jello. Jello was one of those soothing things for me and I didn't like having to mix it and wait for it to set up. If I had to do it all over again, I'd make 2 or 3 different flavors and have them in little 4 oz cups, ready for me.

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I did it solo - Kids were away at college - Had not problems, I like above shop first get your liquids and all supplies, Although i was at a store 3 days post op - Forgot to buy broth. The head games will start so I cleaned the hell out of my house, DId the whole nesting thing. Was good to go 3 days and began the adventure -

You have your cell phone and 911 just in case, But one thing for sure being alone has its advantages, You can sleep and not here others rambling on.

Good luck and congrads - Plus you can post here if you get bored.

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How exciting! I personally only needed assistance to get up from the couch the day I got home and the day after. Even the day after being home I would only have my mother be next to me to help me if I asked her or showed that I needed help but that’s because my couch is quite sunk in and even before surgery Kinda hard to get out of the corner spot which was where I also slept for a few days until I was able to go upstairs to my bed.

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I still cannot believe they only give you one night... I was in major pain for 3 days after surgery hard to sleep had good drugs to sleep..

Rny

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Thanks everyone!

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I was discharged on a Friday afternoon so my husband was home with me Saturday and Sunday then had an Army obligation on Monday, I was totally fine. I just took it easy, walked around the block a few times and watched TV. It was way easier than I thought it was going to be. Then again, I recovered from this surgery VERY quickly so I might be the exception.

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I'm planning on going it alone at hone. 2 of my neighbors know, one works at the hospital where I'm having my surgery. The first night at home my cousin will be there and I pray to be well, so I can send her home the next day. I like my space and alone time. I'm hoping sleep will be my companion. Everything will be prepared in advance, food prep., clean home, prescriptions filled, supplies stocked. I call in to get my January date tomorrow morning.

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    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • 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. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        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.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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