My VSG experience (long)

First want to say my hospital and surgeon are AWESOME.  Everyone was very professional and caring and the facilities (St. Agnes in Baltimore) are top notch!

So I checked into St. A's at 5:30 a.m. (ugh) - the person checking me in was sweet and reassuring.  They called a group of us back about 20 minutes later and got us in our preop rooms.  Changed into gowns, got iv going, compression hose on hi's to all the surgical team (nice to meet them before!) They brought mom and daughter back and we joked a little.
Dr. A came back and anestheologist and reviewed files with me.  Kisses good by and the long roll to the surgical suite.  Blow up the mat under me and shift me to the table... lights out.

I woke up in recovery (I guess - was foggy!)  Everyone was very calm and comforting.  Don't think I did anything crazy - but may did.  Eventually rolled up to my room where fam. was waiting. Rooms there are now all private - very nice and new (just opened).  Didn't feel too bad till I tried to shift in bed - ouchy. Had both cath. and drain tube.  Neither one bad.  Nice not to have to jump up after surg on first day and use the bathroom.  Slept most of the day, didn't walk but did stand and sit up some.

In the morning I did walk a little then had the cath pulled - actually missed it since then had to get up to pee (lol).  Next went for the swallow/leak test.  Not terrible - the stuff is yucky but I've drank worse!  Passed that test and back to the room - more walking, not much sipping day two.   Then that evening, more walking and sipping.  In the morning even more sipping, walking.  Even though I was soar and tired, felt much better and ready to go home.  Been home a few days and getting in protein and fluids - proud of myself. 

OH is great - taught me sip, walk, rest, repeat.  It is now my mantra.  No stress - just follow my simple instructions and hit my numbers!

Thanks all for your help in getting me ready!  For all the pre-ops - you can do this!  My best advice in life and the sleeve is keep a positive attitude! 

hi lucy!
glad everything went well. same here. we pretty much had the EXACT experience. no real problems. a little expected pain. walking. trouble get liquid in at first but now doing great.

are yu doing broth, jell-o &/or popsicles? i tried a sf popsicle yesterday but couldn't even fini****

i was sipping like a mad man this morning lol.

take care.

I've been drinking powerade zero like a champ.  The flavors are not too bold, so they don't over power me.  For protein, I added it to the Powerade... crazy, but it works.  Today had a SF jello w/SF cool whip - oooooo it was a treat (how crazy to say that!)

I find i do my best sipping and walking early in the day, so do as much as possible then!

So happy all went so well for you,  you're gonna do great i just know it,   take care and keep on doing what you know you need to do and watch the transformation begin.   :o) jeani

Thanks Jeani - your posts always feel like a nice hug!

Lucy

I am so glad that you had a great experience.  I was lucky that I didnt have either tubs and was up walking that night.  I got out the next day and now I am not even on any kind of pain meds.

I am so glad that we are have this to do together.

Jennifer

Wow - that is great!  I'm enjoying my pain meds - my tummy is so big and the skin pulls on the incisions, so nice to have relief from the discomfort.  I don't have any severe pain and push taking the pill out to like 6 hours when I can take them every 4. 

Glad things are going well - speedy recovery!

I never would have thought SF coolwhip....that does sound like a treat.  I was just happy with watered down cream of wheat and milk.

I really recommend the SF cool whip.  It really does add a special level to the jello. 

Yay! Glad to hear it went well Lucy, keep up the good work i had surg june 1st. im also sipping walking resting and repeating! lol