August 2023 Surgery Buddies!

[Steve C. 4]

1 hour ago, Hewnew said:

Hi Steve. I will be having Bypass on 08/31 and i have this fear that wont go away about me not being able to get my fluids in. Tips please.
Thanks so much

Hello Hewnew,

Taking in Water the day of my surgery was the most difficult for me. I couldn't swallow more than a sip every couple minutes, and it was causing gas to build up in my stomach when I did. With VSG surgeries, I read that mixing the water with something helps get it down. I mixed my 24oz bottle of water with about 2 ozs of apple juice and the water went down a lot easier. I would recommend bringing in something you can mix with the water, like crystal light or another 0 calorie mix-in. What also helped me was the motivation to get out of the PACU (there were no beds available in the inpatient unit), and see my wife and daughter at home. The sooner you meet all of your goals at the hospital, the sooner they'll release you.

[Andrea13$ 2]

My date is tomorrow too! I’m just waiting for time to go by. Good luck tomorrow!

[Steve C. 4]

8 minutes ago, Andrea13$ said:

My date is tomorrow too! I’m just waiting for time to go by. Good luck tomorrow!

Good luck!

[tamra. 6]

1 hour ago, Andrea13$ said:

My date is tomorrow too! I’m just waiting for time to go by. Good luck tomorrow!

Hello!! Where in CA are you from?

[PennyinAL 28]

2 weeks post op today. I am seeing that I am VERY fortunate to not have to have dealt with a bunch of crazy crap from my insurer. I had a LapBand in 2009. Went to surgeon to have removed/replaced discussion, he ordered and did an endoscope, said all clear. His office sent request and a couple hours later literally my insurer called me, 2 days later, I had an approval letter to remove band and do a gastric bypass. Since I paid cash for my initial LapBand surgery, I didn't have to go through it all with the 6 mos trials and psychologists, etc. and there weren't any requirements. Had scope in July and Aug 1 did bypass.

I had a 10 day low carb pre-op diet only and 24 hours liquid preop diet.

I've been on liquids for two weeks now and he wants me to do a third week! urgghhh....

I cannot imagine doing a 10-14 day preop liquid followed by a 2-4 week post op liquid. This 2 weeks diet has been brutal.

Let me say this as well, and it isn't meant to scare you but rather to prepare you:

IT HURTS! IT IS VERY PAINFUL. Never had kids but I'd put the pain up against a Cesarean. Don't let anyone try to convince you it doesn't hurt or that it is "mild" because it isn't.

The hospital was less than stellar. I was ordered morphene which doesn't work for me. Then switched to Dilautin, which only works about an hour then wears off. Since I have major back injuries (part of why I'm overweight to begin with) I take pain meds for chronic pain. Hospital finally said they would give me my pain pill every 6 hours along with the Dilautin shot every 3 hours. IF you take pain meds, bring them to the hospital. Yeah, I know they say don't but give them to a friend/family member because I PROMISE YOU that you don't want to be begging/waiting for someone to bring you something and honestly, I'd strongly advise you to buy some liquid Acetamenaphen to have in your bag as well. I actually had one old crotchety nurse who thought she would hold my pain meds over me as an inducement to get me up and moving. I told her pretty much that I'd move when I had my shot and was out of pain (otherwise a few obscenities were about to fly but hubby said she could give me my shot now and I'm so very grateful he was there) and other craziness. I rotated my own pain pills in with their meds, some may not agree with this but I don't think I could have stood it otherwise. Given the prescription my dr gave me to come home with, it was exactly it, a pain pill every 3-4 hours.

I'm not a lightweight I assure you and I've had several surgeries (tubal, gall bladder, appendix,stents, etc) but this one DOES HURT so I'm saying BE PREPARED FOR IT!

IF at all humanly possible, HAVE SOMEONE STAY WITH YOU FOR AT LEAST THE FIRST NIGHT OR AS LATE INTO THE NIGHT AS YOU CAN GET THEM TO STAY WITH YOU! Again, most hospitals are understaffed and I nearly pissed myself one night trying to get out of bed after my sister had left and when I couldn't get a nurse to come help me get up (they remove the catheter after 24 hours or so). Even little stuff is very hard to do when you're in pain. Bring and charge a phone and zip tie it to your hand if need be because I nearly called my husband to come get me. And when I got no answers about when I was expected to get my barium xray, I called to radiology over & over. No phone in the room (ICU) to call out.

Yes, I'd do it again in spite of the awful pain but I think I'd have gone to a bigger city.

I also was never told that I would come out of surgery and have to wait until the next DAY to get a barium xray before I'd be allowed anything to drink. I thought I would die of thirst so avoid a first thing am appointment if you can bc if you're in a room at 4 pm you have a lot less time to go thirsty.

I'm down 23 lbs since my July dr visit. I'm pleased with that. But it hasn't been easy. I do enjoy the support here in this forum.

Good luck.

[BeanitoDiego 132]

5 hours ago, Hewnew said:

Hi Steve. I will be having Bypass on 08/31 and i have this fear that wont go away about me not being able to get my fluids in. Tips please.
Thanks so much

I'm not Steve, but thought my experience might help allay your fears. Sips. Constant sips. If I get up to go to the bathroom at night, I pause to get a couple sips in. I am 5 days RYGB post-op, and it has been constant sipping. I could down 12 ounces of Water in one gulp before surgery. I'm also eating broths for all meals, and having one sugar-free Gatorade a day.

[BeanitoDiego 132]

5 hours ago, Hewnew said:

Hi Steve. I will be having Bypass on 08/31 and i have this fear that wont go away about me not being able to get my fluids in. Tips please.
Thanks so much

I'm not Steve, but thought my experience might help allay your fears. Sips. Constant sips. If I get up to go to the bathroom at night, I pause to get a couple sips in. I am 5 days RYGB post-op, and it has been constant sipping. I could down 12 ounces of Water in one gulp before surgery. I'm also eating broths for all meals, and having one sugar-free Gatorade a day.

[ShooterInTheSix 73]

Surgery is two weeks from today. Had my pre-op admission appointment this morning and also started my two week Optifast liquid diet today. As I type this, over the course of the day I've now had three shakes, two cups of vegetable broth and a couple of sugar free popcicles and haven't felt any genuine hunger to speak of.

[Angela Read 11]

8/16 here, we are next!

[Andrea13$ 2]

Today is the day!! Good luck to you August 15th buddies!! Let’s get it..

[kayhay0714 13]

37 minutes ago, Andrea13$ said:

Today is the day!! Good luck to you August 15th buddies!! Let’s get it..

Cannot wait 🤗🤗 the day is finally here!

[DD 7939 11]

43 minutes ago, kayhay0714 said:

Cannot wait 🤗🤗 the day is finally here!

Good luck to all today!

[SoutheastP 15]

16 hours ago, PennyinAL said:

2 weeks post op today. I am seeing that I am VERY fortunate to not have to have dealt with a bunch of crazy crap from my insurer. I had a LapBand in 2009. Went to surgeon to have removed/replaced discussion, he ordered and did an endoscope, said all clear. His office sent request and a couple hours later literally my insurer called me, 2 days later, I had an approval letter to remove band and do a gastric bypass. Since I paid cash for my initial LapBand surgery, I didn't have to go through it all with the 6 mos trials and psychologists, etc. and there weren't any requirements. Had scope in July and Aug 1 did bypass.

I had a 10 day low carb pre-op diet only and 24 hours liquid preop diet.

I've been on liquids for two weeks now and he wants me to do a third week! urgghhh....

I cannot imagine doing a 10-14 day preop liquid followed by a 2-4 week post op liquid. This 2 weeks diet has been brutal.

Let me say this as well, and it isn't meant to scare you but rather to prepare you:

IT HURTS! IT IS VERY PAINFUL. Never had kids but I'd put the pain up against a Cesarean. Don't let anyone try to convince you it doesn't hurt or that it is "mild" because it isn't.

The hospital was less than stellar. I was ordered morphene which doesn't work for me. Then switched to Dilautin, which only works about an hour then wears off. Since I have major back injuries (part of why I'm overweight to begin with) I take pain meds for chronic pain. Hospital finally said they would give me my pain pill every 6 hours along with the Dilautin shot every 3 hours. IF you take pain meds, bring them to the hospital. Yeah, I know they say don't but give them to a friend/family member because I PROMISE YOU that you don't want to be begging/waiting for someone to bring you something and honestly, I'd strongly advise you to buy some liquid Acetamenaphen to have in your bag as well. I actually had one old crotchety nurse who thought she would hold my pain meds over me as an inducement to get me up and moving. I told her pretty much that I'd move when I had my shot and was out of pain (otherwise a few obscenities were about to fly but hubby said she could give me my shot now and I'm so very grateful he was there) and other craziness. I rotated my own pain pills in with their meds, some may not agree with this but I don't think I could have stood it otherwise. Given the prescription my dr gave me to come home with, it was exactly it, a pain pill every 3-4 hours.

I'm not a lightweight I assure you and I've had several surgeries (tubal, gall bladder, appendix,stents, etc) but this one DOES HURT so I'm saying BE PREPARED FOR IT!

IF at all humanly possible, HAVE SOMEONE STAY WITH YOU FOR AT LEAST THE FIRST NIGHT OR AS LATE INTO THE NIGHT AS YOU CAN GET THEM TO STAY WITH YOU! Again, most hospitals are understaffed and I nearly pissed myself one night trying to get out of bed after my sister had left and when I couldn't get a nurse to come help me get up (they remove the catheter after 24 hours or so). Even little stuff is very hard to do when you're in pain. Bring and charge a phone and zip tie it to your hand if need be because I nearly called my husband to come get me. And when I got no answers about when I was expected to get my barium xray, I called to radiology over & over. No phone in the room (ICU) to call out.

Yes, I'd do it again in spite of the awful pain but I think I'd have gone to a bigger city.

I also was never told that I would come out of surgery and have to wait until the next DAY to get a barium xray before I'd be allowed anything to drink. I thought I would die of thirst so avoid a first thing am appointment if you can bc if you're in a room at 4 pm you have a lot less time to go thirsty.

I'm down 23 lbs since my July dr visit. I'm pleased with that. But it hasn't been easy. I do enjoy the support here in this forum.

Good luck.

I just officially got nervous!

[SoutheastP 15]

Good Luck today everyone going today

[Angela Read 11]

15 hours ago, ShooterInTheSix said:

Surgery is two weeks from today. Had my pre-op admission appointment this morning and also started my two week Optifast liquid diet today. As I type this, over the course of the day I've now had three shakes, two cups of vegetable broth and a couple of sugar free popcicles and haven't felt any genuine hunger to speakyou got this!