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Orea, I noticed your surgery date is in 4 days. Will be anxious to hear from you, mine will be 5 days later. You must be so excited !! I can't wait.

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I am excited, and nervous more about forgetting something I need than about the surgery itself. But my wonderful husband has put together a spreadsheet with the master list of what to take to the hospital, what to have ready for afterward, etc. so I guess I'll do okay. They said to label my CPAP machine and stuff, so I had a bright idea and used some of my extra address labels where I could, and a Sharpie for the rest. I'm almost all packed... :-)

I may be more thrilled to be on my last few days of Optifast, than the actual surgery! LOL

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I am excited, and nervous more about forgetting something I need than about the surgery itself. But my wonderful husband has put together a spreadsheet with the master list of what to take to the hospital, what to have ready for afterward, etc. so I guess I'll do okay. They said to label my CPAP machine and stuff, so I had a bright idea and used some of my extra address labels where I could, and a Sharpie for the rest. I'm almost all packed... :-)

I may be more thrilled to be on my last few days of Optifast, than the actual surgery! LOL

I got lucky and not having to do the liquid diet before. i'm on a strict diet, but i can eat 3 meals a day. since monday i have lost 8 lbs.

what is a cpap machine? what is needed for the hospital? i was told, lose clothing, ( i bought a cute moo moo type long dress) slip on shoes. drs office called yesterday and told my hubby my meds will be ready to pick up at a compound pharmacy.

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Just a quick question -

I assume that this surgery is basically a "short stay" procedure.

In - prepped - surgery -post - instructions -and then out.

Are there situations when an overnight is necessary?

And I've read where occasionally they have to resort to an "open" surgery (as opposed to the laparoscope)

Anyone experience this? :tt2:

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Just banded Wednesday how long do you have to drink 64 oz of liquid per day ? All info on liquids for 2 weeks were different from my DR , NUTR , and Hospital ? I have been living on Bullion, diet ice tea decaff , Jello, and Carnation instant Breakfast (2 per day).Very scared about pb I have always eatened like they wer throwing the switch at midnight

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I got lucky and not having to do the liquid diet before. i'm on a strict diet, but i can eat 3 meals a day. since monday i have lost 8 lbs.

what is a cpap machine? what is needed for the hospital? i was told, lose clothing, ( i bought a cute moo moo type long dress) slip on shoes. drs office called yesterday and told my hubby my meds will be ready to pick up at a compound pharmacy.

The CPAP machine is for those of us with sleep apnea. We need to bring it along so we can use it in the hospital.

I've heard that lip balm is good to bring along. Someone suggested Wet wipes. Whatever you need for a little personal hygiene. The interview nurse at the hospital (who had a bypass 6 or 7 years ago and looks great!) suggested I might want to bring a pair of shorts or the like to wear with my hospital gown while walking. A bra that is soft, with no underwires in case you have an incision that might be irritated by it. If you have an incentive spirometer, bring that along. The hospital gave me one to practice on at home -- If you don't have one, they'll provide it there. If you don't know what one is, don't worry!

Bring something to occupy yourself, a few books or a DVD player and some movies or an Ipod...labeled!! Reading glasses or contacts if needed.

That's all I have on the top of my head at the moment. I was thinking of bringing some funny videos, but then I wondered if it would hurt to laugh.:tt2:

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Some people are released the same day. I don't know how this decision is made, but my surgeon seems to prefer to keep us overnight.

The laparoscopic procedure will change if the surgeon has a problem doing it that way, for example if your liver is too big and fatty, or you have lots of adhesions from previous surgeries. This is why it is so important to adhere to preop diet instructions! There is a lot at stake. If an emergency occurs, they may switch to an open procedure, too.

Hope this helps. I'm off to have more Optifast. ;-)

Orea

Just a quick question -

I assume that this surgery is basically a "short stay" procedure.

In - prepped - surgery -post - instructions -and then out.

Are there situations when an overnight is necessary?

And I've read where occasionally they have to resort to an "open" surgery (as opposed to the laparoscope)

Anyone experience this? :tt2:

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The CPAP machine is for those of us with sleep apnea. We need to bring it along so we can use it in the hospital.

I've heard that lip balm is good to bring along. Someone suggested Wet wipes. Whatever you need for a little personal hygiene. The interview nurse at the hospital (who had a bypass 6 or 7 years ago and looks great!) suggested I might want to bring a pair of shorts or the like to wear with my hospital gown while walking. A bra that is soft, with no underwires in case you have an incision that might be irritated by it. If you have an incentive spirometer, bring that along. The hospital gave me one to practice on at home -- If you don't have one, they'll provide it there. If you don't know what one is, don't worry!

Bring something to occupy yourself, a few books or a DVD player and some movies or an Ipod...labeled!! Reading glasses or contacts if needed.

That's all I have on the top of my head at the moment. I was thinking of bringing some funny videos, but then I wondered if it would hurt to laugh.:tt2:

i feel so dumb....lol i dont know what a spirometer is. i won't be staying overnight.

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i feel so dumb....lol i dont know what a spirometer is. i won't be staying overnight.

Well that simplifies things! The spirometer is a doohickey you breathe into to measure your lung capacity... to keep your lungs healthy after the surgery. :-) I didn't know what they were until they gave me one and showed me how to use it, at a class I had to take.

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Wow! I never had time for any of this stuff. My surgery was scheduled for 9 am. I got to the hospital at 7 am. I remember looking at the clock in the OR and it was 9:20. I woke up in recovery what seemed like a couple of minutes later and was out the door and on my way home by 1:40. That was 7-11-08. I was back to work on the 21st. I do wish I had taken another week off. I guess us older folks take longer to get our energy back.

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Well that simplifies things! The spirometer is a doohickey you breathe into to measure your lung capacity... to keep your lungs healthy after the surgery. :-) I didn't know what they were until they gave me one and showed me how to use it, at a class I had to take.

oh that doohickey....they used that on me when i had my hysterectomy. duh:huh2:

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The CPAP machine is for those of us with sleep apnea. We need to bring it along so we can use it in the hospital.

I've heard that lip balm is good to bring along. Someone suggested Wet wipes. Whatever you need for a little personal hygiene. The interview nurse at the hospital (who had a bypass 6 or 7 years ago and looks great!) suggested I might want to bring a pair of shorts or the like to wear with my hospital gown while walking. A bra that is soft, with no underwires in case you have an incision that might be irritated by it. If you have an incentive spirometer, bring that along. The hospital gave me one to practice on at home -- If you don't have one, they'll provide it there. If you don't know what one is, don't worry!

Bring something to occupy yourself, a few books or a DVD player and some movies or an Ipod...labeled!! Reading glasses or contacts if needed.

That's all I have on the top of my head at the moment. I was thinking of bringing some funny videos, but then I wondered if it would hurt to laugh.:tt2:

Wow you are prepared. All I went with were the clothes on my back. LOL Oh and they told me I needed my photo ID (I'm sure there's lots of imposters wanting to have surgery LOL). so I brought that and they never asked for it. I didn't stay overnight though.

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Doohickey... Ladies, I'm pretty sure you have to be a medical professional to use that term.

Not to be confused with a Thing-a-ma-jig

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      · 1 reply
      1. Phil Penn

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    • 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

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    • 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.

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