One week out! (long)
Wow, what a whirlwind this last month has been! I know I posted after surgery, so forgive me if I repeat anything...
I started with three weeks of optifast, which went surprisingly well. I only doctored up the first few shakes because I found that I liked them fine as they were. Got in the four shakes a day without a problem. I lost a total of 11 pounds on OF.
My surgery was scheduled for 8am on Sept. 27th. I arrived at 6, checked in, changed into a gown and waited. I (and my family) were incredibly impressed by Dr. Sullivan. While I was there waiting (along with about 20 other people there waiting for surgery of some sort), he was the only surgeon that came out and talked to me personally before surgery. He took me into a little room and asked if I had any last minute questions or concerns. He said he will consider it a successful surgery if I go in with nothing but an IV and come out with nothing but an IV. Then he looked me right in the eye and said, "so, are you sure? Or, have you changed your mind?" I said I was sure. He asked if I had family with me and if he could meet them. I took him out to meet my mom and my daughter. He shook their hands and told them he would come out and see them after surgery.
Then the nurse came to get me for the pre-surgery checklist. She tried once to get my IV started and gave up (I have horrible veins). Then another nurse came to get me and walk me to the OR. The anesthesiologist also had a hard time getting my IV started (took three tries). Then everyone on the surgical team introduced themselves and told me their role. The anesthesiologist then gave me a shot in my IV and said I would start to feel dizzy. About ten seconds later the room started spinning. I told him I was getting dizzy. He reached over and patted my cheek and said, "here is stage two, have a good sleep, see you in a couple of hours!" and I don't remember anything after that.
I woke up in recovery, but really the whole first day is a blur. I was so tired I could barely keep my eyes open. My mom was the first to tell me about the asthma reaction during surgery. They said as soon as they put the tube in my lungs they collapsed and my heart rate went up to over 130, but they stablized me pretty quickly. After that everything went perfectly. Dr. Sullivan said it was the fastest he ever completed the surgery. He said my liver was perfect, no fat at all. He also said that everything was in perfect order in my abdomen, he was able to access my stomach and intestines without having to move anything around or rearrange anything. He was done in 1 1/2 hours. Dr. Sullivan went out to find my mom and daughter. Again, he took them into a little room to talk. He explained about the asthma thing. He said the surgery went extremely well. He even showed them pictures so they would know what he had done to me. He asked if they had any questions. He explained some of the challenges I would potentially face in the coming days (possible infection, bleeding and the more serious things right down to difficulty eating and gas pain). My mom loved him.
On the first day I had two moments of nausea. I felt like I was going to be sick and my mouth watered like crazy. They gave me gravol by IV (no wonder I slept most of the day!) and it helped. I never did get sick, just felt like I would. I sipped water from little medicine cups when I did wake up, but it wasn't often. I got up to pee for the first time around 10pm. As soon as I stood up one of my incisions started to bleed...everywhere!!! The nurse spent the next ten minutes re-taping and bandaging and then cleaning up the mess (both on me and all over the room...had to change my gown, my bedding, give me an impromptu sponge bath, mop the floor...quite the production!). I finally made it to the bathroom after all that.
I also had a terrible gas pain in my shoulder that started as soon as I woke up. I had known to expect it from reading others experiences on this board (thanks fellow OHers!!), but that didn't make it hurt less!! They gave me oxycodone every couple of hours that first day. It was still there in the morning and I took another pain killer, but when I woke up from that it was gone and never came back. I did have some discomfort (from gas) in my belly, but nothing that required pain killers from that point on.
I was released as scheduled on Thursday morning, spent the next two days in a hotel near by with my aunt and then went to her house in Peterborough on Saturday. My mom and my daughter picked me up and brought me home Sunday.
Eating the first few days was terrible. I could barely get anything in. More than a teaspoon or two and I would get a terrible cramp. It is getting better every day.
Today (and last night a bit) were my first experiences with head hunger. Certain smells are driving me crazy!
Drinking results in the oddest sensation for me. You know when you do the dishes and let the water out and the last little bit kind of bubbles up and sputters as it is going down the drain? That is what it feels like inside when I drink liquids like water or tea. I can actually feel it bubbling out of the pouch (or I think that is what I am feeling!).
My tummy does not like the liquid colace. I feel like I have to keep swallowing over and over to keep it from coming back up. I had my first BM last night and it was fine, so I may stop taking it and see how it goes.
I also have the biggest bruise I have ever seen in my life. It starts to the left of my belly button and goes all the way around to my back. It is about three inches high. It is a deep dark purple (except the stretch marks, which are skin coloured, so it looks like zebra stripes!!). It is finally starting to turn yellow on the edges, so I am sure it will start to recede now, but boy does it look nasty!
Sorry for such a long post but I always loved hearing everyones total experience so I thought I would share for those interested!
Thanks for all of your support and encouragement. While this new way of eating is an adjustment I know from the success of so many of you before me that I can do it too!!!
Tracy
I started with three weeks of optifast, which went surprisingly well. I only doctored up the first few shakes because I found that I liked them fine as they were. Got in the four shakes a day without a problem. I lost a total of 11 pounds on OF.
My surgery was scheduled for 8am on Sept. 27th. I arrived at 6, checked in, changed into a gown and waited. I (and my family) were incredibly impressed by Dr. Sullivan. While I was there waiting (along with about 20 other people there waiting for surgery of some sort), he was the only surgeon that came out and talked to me personally before surgery. He took me into a little room and asked if I had any last minute questions or concerns. He said he will consider it a successful surgery if I go in with nothing but an IV and come out with nothing but an IV. Then he looked me right in the eye and said, "so, are you sure? Or, have you changed your mind?" I said I was sure. He asked if I had family with me and if he could meet them. I took him out to meet my mom and my daughter. He shook their hands and told them he would come out and see them after surgery.
Then the nurse came to get me for the pre-surgery checklist. She tried once to get my IV started and gave up (I have horrible veins). Then another nurse came to get me and walk me to the OR. The anesthesiologist also had a hard time getting my IV started (took three tries). Then everyone on the surgical team introduced themselves and told me their role. The anesthesiologist then gave me a shot in my IV and said I would start to feel dizzy. About ten seconds later the room started spinning. I told him I was getting dizzy. He reached over and patted my cheek and said, "here is stage two, have a good sleep, see you in a couple of hours!" and I don't remember anything after that.
I woke up in recovery, but really the whole first day is a blur. I was so tired I could barely keep my eyes open. My mom was the first to tell me about the asthma reaction during surgery. They said as soon as they put the tube in my lungs they collapsed and my heart rate went up to over 130, but they stablized me pretty quickly. After that everything went perfectly. Dr. Sullivan said it was the fastest he ever completed the surgery. He said my liver was perfect, no fat at all. He also said that everything was in perfect order in my abdomen, he was able to access my stomach and intestines without having to move anything around or rearrange anything. He was done in 1 1/2 hours. Dr. Sullivan went out to find my mom and daughter. Again, he took them into a little room to talk. He explained about the asthma thing. He said the surgery went extremely well. He even showed them pictures so they would know what he had done to me. He asked if they had any questions. He explained some of the challenges I would potentially face in the coming days (possible infection, bleeding and the more serious things right down to difficulty eating and gas pain). My mom loved him.
On the first day I had two moments of nausea. I felt like I was going to be sick and my mouth watered like crazy. They gave me gravol by IV (no wonder I slept most of the day!) and it helped. I never did get sick, just felt like I would. I sipped water from little medicine cups when I did wake up, but it wasn't often. I got up to pee for the first time around 10pm. As soon as I stood up one of my incisions started to bleed...everywhere!!! The nurse spent the next ten minutes re-taping and bandaging and then cleaning up the mess (both on me and all over the room...had to change my gown, my bedding, give me an impromptu sponge bath, mop the floor...quite the production!). I finally made it to the bathroom after all that.
I also had a terrible gas pain in my shoulder that started as soon as I woke up. I had known to expect it from reading others experiences on this board (thanks fellow OHers!!), but that didn't make it hurt less!! They gave me oxycodone every couple of hours that first day. It was still there in the morning and I took another pain killer, but when I woke up from that it was gone and never came back. I did have some discomfort (from gas) in my belly, but nothing that required pain killers from that point on.
I was released as scheduled on Thursday morning, spent the next two days in a hotel near by with my aunt and then went to her house in Peterborough on Saturday. My mom and my daughter picked me up and brought me home Sunday.
Eating the first few days was terrible. I could barely get anything in. More than a teaspoon or two and I would get a terrible cramp. It is getting better every day.
Today (and last night a bit) were my first experiences with head hunger. Certain smells are driving me crazy!
Drinking results in the oddest sensation for me. You know when you do the dishes and let the water out and the last little bit kind of bubbles up and sputters as it is going down the drain? That is what it feels like inside when I drink liquids like water or tea. I can actually feel it bubbling out of the pouch (or I think that is what I am feeling!).
My tummy does not like the liquid colace. I feel like I have to keep swallowing over and over to keep it from coming back up. I had my first BM last night and it was fine, so I may stop taking it and see how it goes.
I also have the biggest bruise I have ever seen in my life. It starts to the left of my belly button and goes all the way around to my back. It is about three inches high. It is a deep dark purple (except the stretch marks, which are skin coloured, so it looks like zebra stripes!!). It is finally starting to turn yellow on the edges, so I am sure it will start to recede now, but boy does it look nasty!
Sorry for such a long post but I always loved hearing everyones total experience so I thought I would share for those interested!
Thanks for all of your support and encouragement. While this new way of eating is an adjustment I know from the success of so many of you before me that I can do it too!!!
Tracy
Highest weight ~ 360, Surgery weight ~ 280, Current weight ~ 171
Referral to bariatric registry ~ April 29, 2011 SURGERY ~ September 27, 2011
My 
is Gailupnorth.
Thanks for the facts on your surgery; as I approach my surgery date next Friday, it's good to know exactly what to expect.
It sounds like you had an amazing surgeon who kept everyone in the loop
Glad you are home and healing well. What is "liquid colace", is that to help with having a BM?
Keep up the great work and remember to take it one day @ a time.....
It sounds like you had an amazing surgeon who kept everyone in the loop
Glad you are home and healing well. What is "liquid colace", is that to help with having a BM?
Keep up the great work and remember to take it one day @ a time.....
I have reached my goal weight ..... and LOVE my RNY !!!!!!!!!
JJ_
on 10/4/11 5:02 am
on 10/4/11 5:02 am
Hi Tracy,
Thanks for posting about your experience. As a pre-op it is great to hear how things went (positive or not), or how something was handled.
Congratulations on getting back home. I am looking forward to hearing more about your journey. Don't worry about a long post, I love to read!
Judy
Thanks for posting about your experience. As a pre-op it is great to hear how things went (positive or not), or how something was handled.
Congratulations on getting back home. I am looking forward to hearing more about your journey. Don't worry about a long post, I love to read!
Judy
Tracy, glad you are starting to heal. Just take it slow and easy. My operation was on Sept 14 and I too have hard to find veins. They tried 4 times and finally got one to put me to sleep with and said they would put a new one in when I was sleeping. Well they tried and my bruises all over my arm show they couldn't get a new one. My tummy also have the bruises and I couldn't take the colace either.
Each day will get better just remember to take it slow!! Good luck!
Each day will get better just remember to take it slow!! Good luck!
My 
is stewartjackie
is stewartjackie 
Oh Tracy thank you for your post. As scary as it sounds it is great for me to hear with being pre op. I want to go in with my eyes open. (well not during the surgery lol)
Please keep us upto date because I want to hear how things progress for you as the days go by.
Take care and thanks again.
Please keep us upto date because I want to hear how things progress for you as the days go by.
Take care and thanks again.
Brenda Visit my profile for timelines My is Monica M.
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