Back Home from my Band to Sleeve Revision (Details!)

Hi Everybody: Well, I got home this afternoon from the hospital.  I have to tell you that I'm in less pain with my sleeve than I ever was with my Lap-Band... a very nice surprise. :) I had a great experience.  Great doctors and nurses.  Here's all of the details for those pre-ops who may be wondering... I had to arrive at Lenox Hill two hours before surgery, so we got there around 8:00 a.m.  My surgery was originally scheduled for 10:30 a.m., but we ended up going in at 11:30 a.m.  I did a bit of paperwork and then gave a urine sample and some blood.  I had been on clear liquids the day before, and was NPO since midnight.  I actually didn't feel too dehydrated because I had drunk a ton the previous day. Being July, I got to see a lot of new residents and fellows.  I took the opportunity to educate them on the sleeve, ghrelin, and the like... as most were not familiar with it.  I met with the anesthesiologist and Dr. Roslin's PA prior to surgery... then they walked me back.  They told me they would put in a foley cathetar once I was asleep... and the breathing tube would be put in and taken out all while I was asleep.  I was given a shot of heparin in my arm.  The shot itself didn't hurt, because I have nice big fat arms and it's just sub-cutaneous (like insulin).   The actual heparin itself burned a tiny bit... but not much.  (I had heparin shots twice per day while I was there.) The operating room was so cold!  I had forgotten that.  Anyway, the anesthesiologist started my IV and was talking to me... and the next thing I knew, I was waking up in recovery.  It was a monitored area with about 10 beds (at least my area).  It was actually a very nice sunny room, and I had a great NYC view.  The nurses kept checking on me to make sure I was OK, etc.  I couldn't believe how little pain I was in.  I actually wondered if Dr. Roslin had gone through with the surgery.  I got stuck in recovery for about 8 hours because they were waiting on a room for me.  Still, everybody was very nice and I was just sleeping on and off, so I didn't care.  They let my husband come visit me briefly.  The pain doctor came by to visit me to make sure I wasn't in any pain.. . or had any nausea.  We talked about how I would be managed. (PCA pump... morophine... with some torodol as well.) I was then moved to my room in the evening.  It was a private monitored room in what used to be surgical ICU.  Very nice.  The private room was a nice surprice, especially in NYC.   I was on bed rest until Tuesday a.m.  I had compression booties on... that filled with air and were quite nice and massage like.  The cathetar didn't bother me at all.  I was told I could have clear fluids after my leak test the next day.  They did provide me with these pink mint flavored swabs that I could dip in warm water.  They were heaven.  Made my mouth feel totally refreshed. I woke up in the a.m. and one of the nurse's aids helped me give myself a sponge bath.  Then I got a clean gown... clean sheets for the bed... and waited for patient transport.  A hillarious guy who loved the Mets took me down to X-Ray.  Have to say they had some funky super-duper wheelchairs.  Much sturdier than any I've been in.  Went down to X-Ray and was taken right in.   Had to only swallow maybe three mouthfulls of gastrograffin...so it wasn't that bad.  Yes, it's nasty.... but doable.  No leaks!   Unfortunately, I had to wait for the official report to make it up to my surgeon and nurses before they'd bring me a tray. Dr. Roslin visited me with a gaggle of surgical residents...and they all looked at my incisions.  He said everything looked good on the swallow test and I was given the green light for clear liquids.  He also said my surgery only took 1 hour and 15 minutes...which is amazing.  Very little damage from my Band. So, about three hours later, I was finally given a clear diet tray.  Chicken broth, green jell-o, and decaf tea with Sweet -n- Low.  The tea tasted delicious.  The chicken broth tasted like a bouillion cube in ho****er.  The jell-o was good.  I slept on and off... had some visitors... received some beautiful roses... and walked around the halls.  Dinner was the same clear liquid stuff, only this time I got orange jell-o.  Had incredible nurses and student nurses the whole time I was there.  Felt so lucky to have such great nurses.  Had another visit from the pain specialist to make sure I wasn't in any pain.  She said I'd probably be put on oral meds (crushed) since I had passed my swallow test... either percosat or vicodin.  Oh, they took my blood sugar and it was only 66.  No diabetes meds in two days either.  So I was given a glass of apple juice.  Yum.  And I don't even like apple juice. This morning, they took out my drain and IV...and then I waited to go home.  I was given the OK for full fluids... but told to keep it runny... no mashed potatoes.  I was surprised I had a drain, but glad I did when I saw the yucky stuff that drained into it.  Not a lot...but still.  It didn't hurt coming out.  So, now I"m home... and drinking lots.  No real problem with water or fluids... although I'm sticking to warm beverages right now.  Have had some blended soup, Propel, and warm sugar-free Carnation Instant Breakfast. Supposed to take two Flintstone's per day... one B12 3x/week (sublingual)... Nexium 1x/day... and my usual thyroid meds.  Will start calcium in a week. Will write more tomorrow. :)

I am so glad you are home and doing well!  Enjoy the ride!

Welcome back! so glad to hear you are doing well! keep us posted

Welcome home Sami!  I am so glad that it went smoothly and that you are back and on our bench.  Keep sipping fluids and let us know how you are doing!

Sami,

Appreciate the rundown on your hospital experience, reminded me of my Lap GB removal, except you were there longer.

Thanks for posting,

Fred

Yeah your home!  I'm so glad you had a great experience!

Karla - So glad all went well!  It sounds like you are quite the trooper!  Thanks for all the details...it helps us ladies in waiting!   Take care, Julie

thanks a whole bunch for your post! it gave me a lot of insight of what to expect with dr. roslin and the staff at lenox. i was supposed to make my first appointment on tuesday but i chickened out and i hope to do it tomorrow. thanks again i'll bookmark this post since it was so helpful

Glad you are back! sounds like you had a very good experience - hope mine goes as well.

Yeah Sami/Karla!  So glad to hear you're doing well.  It sound like everything went about as good as you could have hoped for, and the experience sounds very positive overall.  I'm sure you'll do a great job with your sleeve and have that weight off in no time.  I've been thinking about you and am so happy you're home and healing.