I'm Sleeved!!!

I'm Sleeved! It took a while to get everything in order. Longer than I expected for self-pay, but I got it done. The pre-op tests I had done were EKG, ECHO, lab work, chest xray, hp pylori, psych eval, and pulmonary function test. Everything was fine and I was sleeved on Wednesday 7-29-09. I woke up from surgery in quite a bit of pain. Mainly from gas that had settled under my sternum and rib cage. As soon as I was out of recovery and in my room I was up and walking trying desperately to get some relief. Relief did finally come, however it took several hours. By the next morning I was feeling like a new woman. I did have a qball to help with pain but it was determined once it was removed that it was not working. I was glad to know that because I had felt like quite a wimp. I took any and all pain meds they would give me that first day and night, but by the next day I was off the Morphine and on liquid Lortab only. As long as I took it every 4 hours I felt fairly good. I stayed 2 nights in the hospital and went home on Friday. I'm very sore still. I feel like I've done a million sit ups and the spot where my drain was is also very tender. It hurts if I move to quickly or try to sleep in any position other than on my back. I have to say I was not prepared for how painful the surgery would be. That first day and night I was really regretting what I had done. I felt way more pain that I had with my c section or previous ectopic pregnancies. Don't let this scare you.. it didn't last too long and I slept through most of the pain. In less than 12 hours I was felling so much better. I have had no trouble drinking. If I drink too many sips too fast it does feel like it gets kind of stuck and sometimes I get foam in my throat and I feel like I need to spit. I vomited once after surgery and it was right after I got to my room. It was a mix of blood and phlem. No other vomiting. I did lots of burping and I still am. I am amazed at the fact I can eat 1/2 a Popsicle and feel full. I have no desire to eat and sticking to a liquid diet is no problem at this point. I've been mostly drinking Syntrax Nectar protein drinks and Crystal Light. I've had a lot less trouble drinking than I expected. It's a nice surprise. I'm feeling fairly good and looking forward to losing this weight! Dr.Weiss was wonderful and so was his staff. Dr. Weiss visited me twice and his PA visited once. Dr. Dink, another doctor in his practice visited me on Friday to let me go home. I was impressed by the number of visits I got from the Dr. Weiss and his staff. Also, Angie, from CBH was in on my surgery and came to visit me twice as well. The best visitor I had by far was Ashley.. She was sleeved 10 months ago and we have been talking back and forth on OH. She is the one who told me about Dr. Weiss and CBH. She looks fabulous and seeing her amazing progress gave me the strength to get through the pain. Thanks Ashley!! You are the best!

Pre-op Qestions for Surgeon

Here is a list of questions I asked at my final pre-op visit with the Surgeon Dr. Weiss.....

1 How close to the pylorus and esophagus do you staple? (at least 5mm)
2 What leak test do you do?
3 Bougie Size? (this is the mold used to make your new stomach)
4 How do you secure the staple line?
- how many rows?
- bio glue?
- sew over? (this means a row of staples then a row of stitches)
- nothing
5 Can I take NASID again? (Alive & Ibuprofen)
6 What kind of follow up will I have?
7 Will I have access to a nutritionist?
8 How long will I be in the hospital.
9 Will I have a drain?
10 Will have a pain pump?