Hi folks, my experience at the hospital.

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I went in to the hospital at 07.15 and was last on the list so went down to theatre at 11.30, so plenty of time to get wound up. (I was back to my room by 1.30pm). By the time I went to theatre I was having major second thoughts. I was surprised to find that I had to walk through the corridors to theatre and for some reason imagined I would go on a trolley. I laid down on the bed in the anaesthetist’s room and started to panic.

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3 minute thought process whilst lying there being prepared.

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I don’t need this I can do it without it

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This is wrong.

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This isn’t me, I am making a huge mistake.

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What would it look like if I told them to stop right now?

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I shouldn’t care what it would look like if I have doubts I shouldn’t do it.

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If I don’t do it I know I will never get the weight off.

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I am a wuss, stay quiet and it will soon be all over.

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I all but jumped up off the trolley and shouted stop!

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Next thing I am coming round in the recovery room. As soon as I woke up I almost smiled and was soooo grateful and relieved that I had gone through with it. I hadn’t realised before what a huge emotional thing this is. It is a release from the prison that I have felt that I have been in all these years.

I struggled with breathing for 10 minutes or so, they took the tube out after I had come round because it is apparently better in bigger people to do it that way. I had an excellent nurse who never left my side and kept telling me that my sats were at 98% (oxygen in the blood) and there was nothing to worry about and to try and be calm. She was superb and got me through what was for me the toughest bit.

I was wheeled back to my room and was sleepy and had a sore throat from the tube but no other pain at all which I thought odd. The pain started at about 11pm when I assume some sort of local anaesthetic wore off. On a scale of one to ten It is only a 2. So nothing too bad. I have shoulder pain when I stand up right on the top of myshoulders, again only a 2 on the scale. I had sips of Water at first and a couple of cups of tea through the day, and was well looked after.

I was released back into the community at mid-day the day following the surgery, (today) and feel fine other than a little sore at the incision where the port is. I have no pain at all from the 4 other incisions.

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I am happy and excited at what the future now holds. I lost 15lbs in the 10 days prior to surgery on the milk/yoghurt diet. I intend to get down to my target weight very quickly, (I need to lose another 120lbs) no cheating, just a wonderful new life.

I have no doubts whatsoever that I should have done this.

Best regards to all, and thanks for the advice and support gleaned from this excellent forum.

Graham (UK)

I hope this helps prospective banders.

Wow I Felt The Same Way Yesterday.. How Are You Feeling Now?are You Sorry You Went Threw It? Just Had Mine Done Yesterday And Still Confused.

I am totally happy with what I have done. I am having quite a lot of pain from the op itself, (not wind). It feels like I have done 2000 too many sit-ups, or been kicked by a mule. It's deffinitely muscular pain. I have not heard anyone else on here have this problem. It has eased today. Once I am through this I will be well on my way to a happier life. There is more healing to be done than I expected.

Good luck with yours, From what I have read we are not alone in having last minute panics.

Ohh Graham,

I have that stomach pain... or had it feels alot better now and I am 7 days out.. my incisions are healing really well .. but where the port is that still hurts some... Take it day by day and dont over do it!!

HuGs!!

Stacy

<TABLE id=HB_Mail_Container height="100%" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0 UNSELECTABLE="on"><TBODY><TR height="100%" UNSELECTABLE="on" width="100%"><TD id=HB_Focus_Element vAlign=top width="100%" background="" height=250 UNSELECTABLE="off">I had the same thoughts as well! When I was hooked up to the IV and the surgeon was coming in to say "Hi".......

I said to him "I can't believe that I have to do this to lose weight. That I have no control over myself".

I was pretty disgusted with myself at that point.....he was taken aback a little bit and said "You'll be happy you did this once it's over.....see you in the Operating Room".

By that point, I was in la la land and the last thing I remember was them asking me to get on the table.

I'm down 10 lbs in 9 days and am looking forward to the next 10 lbs gone!

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Thanks for sharing, Graham!

I had many of those same thoughts whilst laying there waiting. I do believe I even teared up at one point. If my knees weren't so weak, I would have gotten up and ran away lol. So glad I didn't though.