Less Than 24 hours Post Op (My Lap Band Surgery)

[NicoleW8ing 0]

Hey all--

I cannot tell you how much these stories of people's operations helped me PRE-OP (like a few days before the surgery), so I am positing mine. I cannot type terribly well because of the pain killers, so please excuse typos.

I was banded May 8th, 2008 at 1:05PM. I was scheduled for 12PM but my Doctor was running late.

I arrived at the hospital (Rex Hospital in Raleigh, NC) at 10AM with my parents, fiance, and brother. I was taken to pre-op around 10:15 where I changed into a gown and those circulation stockings and grippy socks. I had to remove my underwear, which I didn't want to do. But, they make you go BUCK-NAKED. My mom took my clothes for me. I had taken off/out all my jewelry prior to surgery, which they asked me like 20 times.

They weighed me and I had lost 8 pounds since my initial weigh-in at the hospital, which I was elated about, considering I only dieted for 4 days or so, the rest of the time was the embarassing month-long last supper. They stuck me for my IV right away and got me on fluids while I waited.

Lot of weighting ensued until noon. My fiance and dad goofed around with me until then. My dad going so far as to say that I have big legs than looking embarassed and saying, "Well, you're about to lose 40-60% of your excess weight in the next year, let me get a few jabs in." Lol.

I met my anesthesiologist's (sp?) nurse at 12:15. God, she was a sweetheart. I asked, "Do you promise you'll take care of me?" She replied with, "Hunny, you have never known such a good lil rest as your about to get. I swear that I will do everything in my power to take the best care of you." She was sooooo nice. Then, I met my RN at about12:55. She asked me if I had to go pee and I did, carrying the IV bag along with me. At this point and never during had I received that blood-thinner shot, only one IV, no other pokes.

My anesthesiologist's nurse had told me she'd give me a calm-down cocktail right after the RN talked to me, but I went STRAIGHT to the OR at that point. The sweet anesthesiologist's nurse put a mask over my mouth and rubbed my hair and said "Rest, pumpkin." and I was out like a light in 15-30 seconds.

I woke up with my Doctor holding my hand. Everything was REALLY cloudy. No pain. I recognized him and asked, "Was my liver too big?" as this was my BIGGEST concern. He laughed and said it was perfect, said he spent about an hour inside me and I was just fine. I smiled and closed my eyes again.

Fast forward about 5 minutes and I am in Recovery 1 with a nice male nurse at my constant attention. He asks if I am in pain and I am, slightly. I tell him 2 on a scale of 1 to 10. He gives me another dose of Dellatid (sp?) and the world gets fuzzy and happy again. He is monitoring me and I have two IVs in now (they placed one while I was asleep) and sensors all over me and an oxygen thing in my nose. I tell him I hate the oxygen thing, as it itches. He says, "Well, let's get it out of there! But, you gotta keep your oxygen above 92" He removes the tube and the machine starts to beep as my oxygen falls. I have to take deep breaths. They don't hurt, they're just a hassle.

He gives me some ice cubes. They were almost orgasmic. They were so delicious on my dry and soar throat. No pain in my belly, but a stiffness. Time goes by, slowly and very foggy. I wave to the lady in the recovery bed across from mine. She waves back. That was nice. Fast forward about 20 minutes in the haze and my male nurse asks how my pain is. It's starting to come back. More Dellatid (sp?). I am allergic to morphine, that's why I get the Dellatid and he tells me it's the good stuff. He feeds me more ice chips and ask if I want to go to Recovery 2, since my oxygen is stabilizing. I had to concentrate on it for a while. I said yes. Dr. Enochs comes by first and holds my hand.

He tells me again I was fine and he said he talked to my parents, brother, and fiance and I am fine. Nothing to worry about. He made me promise to stick to the post-op diet. I did. He asked about pain. None then, just the haze. He fed me an ice chip and asked if I wanted anything. I said I wanted to go home and he laughed. He said you'll be fine and cleared me to go home.

I wanted to go home.

I went to Recovery 2 and saw my mom, dad, fiance, and brother all at once. They saw me and I saw the concern in their faces. I was beat up looking, they said. I hadn't looked at the incisions yet and I showed them, not bad. The Recovery 2 nurse asked me if I could get dressed. I knew instinctually I could not bend so I said yes if my mom can help me. I stood up, hazey, but no pain, and my mom helped me get dressed. Five minutes later my dad and fiance were on the way to the pharmacy and my mom was walking beside my wheelchair out the door. I got in the van.

This is where hell starts. I still swear to you the car ride was the worse. I offer everyone the advice if you have more than a 20 minute car ride, consider a hotel. I was NAUSEOS beyond my wildest dreams. No pain. Just soooooooooo dizzy and disoriented and flippy-stomach'ed.

Fifteen minutes of hell with my eyes closed and I was home. My mom helped in and I felt the slightest twinges of pain. I got some liquid Loratab which is just Hydrocodone and I felt wasted. Some stiffness, some pain, maybe 3 on a scale of 1-10. I walked around... A LOT, because the Loratab made me hyper. I wasn't tired anymore. Stiff, some light, VERY tolerable pain. This was around 4:30PM

Here's the WEIRD thing about the pain... it is ONLY at my port incision sight. The other four incisions I do not feel at ALL. The port incision itself doesn't hurt, it's a deeper pain, like someone punched me in the gut. All in all, it's very manageable.

My doctor said I could have sugar (please follow your Doctor's office) so I had some Apple juice at first. Too sweet. Watered it down with 3 parts Water, one part apple juice and all better.

I sipped, walked, sat, then played Wii Mario Kart with everyone for a while. The made me dizzy after a few minutes. I rested, watched Office, drank more apple juice (a few cups in all). I wasn't hungry. Just hazy, hyper, and thirsty. Very full, like I had just eated at a buffet.

Pain is still very manageable around a 3 on a scale of 1-10. Take the Loratab though. I had some turkey broth around 10PM. It was delicious, and I've never liked broth before. Just a few sips and I was full.

I had gas pain around 11PM. Sucked on a Gas tab right away and it went away. Not bad at all. Maybe 10 minutes of discomfort.

The process of sitting and standing is painful but walking and laying down is not. I am sitting up on my laptop to write this and while a little incomfortable, it is not intolerable.

I have pictures of incisions about 2 hours post-op my mom took and I will post them later.

It's 6am and I just woke up about 45 minutes ago. Not in pain. Just... awake.

All in all, a lot less traumatic than I expected. Pain is VERY manageable. Not scared at all anymore. I am excited about this band.

My mom is calling the doctor today to see if I can have pudding. That will be exciting if I can. If not, Protein Shakes. I'm not hungry really, not now. But the prospect of a lil pudding when I am sounds delightful.

Anywho bandsters, hope this has helped you as much as your stories helped me pre-op.

BTW, stick to your Doctor's orders, mine didn't say anything about it so I slept on my left side (port is on right), very comfortable, no pain. Loved it. Can't sleep on my back.

Will post those pictures later. I'm going to rest now.

Here is the picture. My mom isn't up yet so I just took one with my phone. Just 4 lil incisions and one big one. Click on the picture to zoom in.

Edited May 9, 2008 by NicoleW8ing

[eazes 0]

Thank you so much for posting this. This helps me a lot. I think I'm seriously going to do it. I have to get more information from my doctor but I know now that if I can I'm going to do it. Wish me luck!

[*susan* 1,709]

Nicole, I hope you have a speedy recovery. Welcome to bandland!

[tammygirl 0]

Welcome to Bandlandia!

So glad to hear of your positive experience. I was banded in Augusta, GA 4/28 and also had a good experience. Wishing you the very best recovery as you move forward to better health!

Tammygirl:thumbup:

[Aquameliza 0]

Thank you for taking the time to write that - I needed to read that now. I am being banded this coming Tuesday and I am so afraid that I am shaking and cannot think of anything else. I also want to run out and eat a bacon double cheeseburger, and a steak and cheese and all the things that I won't eat again.

[NicoleW8ing 0]

Thank you for taking the time to write that - I needed to read that now. I am being banded this coming Tuesday and I am so afraid that I am shaking and cannot think of anything else. I also want to run out and eat a bacon double cheeseburger, and a steak and cheese and all the things that I won't eat again.

Stay strong and stick to a light diet pre-op. Don't think of them as "last foods." Hell, later on, if you want a bacon double cheeseburger, you can eat it, just 1/5 of it. :thumbup:

Your band is coming up so soon. Good luck!

[kathystrick 3]

Congratulations!! Glad everything went well. Thanks for sharing your story. Here's to a speedy recovery!!

[2babutterfly 483]

Thanks for the play by play....It really helps those of us that are getting close to our dates!!

Aqua....I'm on the 13th too.....I'm also very excited, but, getting nervous at the same time...I feel like I need to be getting so many things "ready" but I'm not sure what!!

Cant wait!!!:thumbup:

[NicoleW8ing 0]

Thanks for the play by play....It really helps those of us that are getting close to our dates!!

Aqua....I'm on the 13th too.....I'm also very excited, but, getting nervous at the same time...I feel like I need to be getting so many things "ready" but I'm not sure what!!

Cant wait!!!:thumbup:

Get all your food ready to go and line up your clothes for after the surgery as well as your entertainment. Makes life really pleasant during recovery.

[three sixty six 1]

yayyyy Nicole you did it!! so happy for you! i was thinking about you on your surg date. i'm glad your hospital experience went so well. dilaudid is so the good stuff. i'm looking forward to the drugs (!)

it sounds like you're all set up at home. that's great! keep us posted on the next few days.

your incisions look really tiny!

congrats on getting through the yucky part in 1 piece :tt1:

[mpope 1]

Nicole, it is SOOOO good to hear from you. The details were AWESOME. Now I have a good idea what to expect. Hopefully mine will be soon. I met Dr. Enochs at the Seminar and he seemed very nice and genuine. Keep in touch. : )

[miss meliss 0]

Nicole,

Thanks for sharing your day with us. I getting banded day after tomorrow, on Monday!! I am very excited and can't believe it is finally my turn. I guess Mother's Day lunch will be my last large meal. Knowing what to expect will make it less scary and more tolerable! Thanks and congratulations!

[NicoleW8ing 0]

Thanks for all your kind words everyone! Good luck to those of you coming up, you'll be absolutely fine. Melissa, I'm so happy you'll be going with Dr. Enochs. He's wonderful.

[KELVINSMOM 0]

Way to go All. I was banded on 04/28/08 . I could not ask for a better doctor. My whole process from start to finish was exactly 6 weeks. first consult - 03/13/08 . I went into surgery at 9:30 am and they were escorting me out the door at 3:30pm... back to work in one week ! It has been one of the best choices I have made and I am looking forward to dropping pounds and inches. my first fill is scheduled for 06/19/08 - but i am a little nervous about that because I do not want to go back to gas and bloated feeling. I am so happy for this supportive site. Nicole - I wish you a speedy recovery!