My surgery is in 2 days....have so many questions...

My sugery is scheduled for this Tuesday ...and I have soooo many questions...
1. What wa it like for you the day of surgery? When did you wake up and what do you remember? How did it feel when you woke up?
2. What did you bring with you to the hospital? I am scheduled for outpatient VSG but will stay for 23 hours in the hospital...and have no idea what to bring with me!
3.After the surgery...when did you feel "normal" again..able to drive, do things as before...

Thank you soooo much for your help!!

first of all, congrats on making one of the biggest decisions of your life.

answers:
1. it went well, 5:30 am in hospital, surgery 8:00 am , out of surgery by 9;00.  i don't remember the recovery room at all.  first thing i remember wa****ting my private room and sending hubby home so i could sleep.  i had no pain for hours.  i woke up around noon and sat in the chair.  they want you to walk as soon as possible.  i walked the hallway once in the afternoon and once in the evening.  i was on and off the rest of the day watching tv.  i had some ice chips, but they felt weird in the belly.  i stayed 48+ hours because i felt sick and had a lot of gas pains.
2. i brought underwear because some woman end up getting their period, which i did.  i brought some gas x, which did not help.  i brought some reading material which i did not read.  i had my cell phone and my cpap.  slippers are a great idea for walking the hallways and my robe.
3. it took me longer than most because of some setbacks,  i felt normal again 8 weeks out.  i drove again 3 weeks out with no problems. i did nothing, and i mean nothing for 8 weeks.  everyone heals both physically and mentally at a different pace. don't rush and dont feel like you are a failure if you take longer.  it's difficult coming to terms with the fact that life will be completely different.  it's "great",

i wish you all the luck in the world, my world had done a 360 and i love it

THANK YOU soooo much!!! You have made me feel more at ease about this already!!! Btw, congrats on your success!!!!!!

my visit was pretty routine.

got registered and then got hooked up to the IV.  all you need are the clothes on your back and extra underclothing.  make sure your clothes are loose. 

i was groggy and VERY, VERY gassy.  it is UNCOMFORTABLE. 

you wont be able to drive for at least 2 weeks and it was a challenge to get anything down.  i really wasnt that hungry.

i still don't feel normal, so im trying to take it one day, minute at a time.  i recommend you take one moment at a time.

good luck!!!

1.The day of surgery was surreal for me...asking myself "You really doing this huh?" I arrived @ 7:30 nd surgery was  @ 9:30. I woke up  in recovery asking for pain meds because I read somewhere it was better not to hurt. Later I woke in the room and felt ok. I had to walk within 3 hrs as per my Dr. instructions. I walked 3 thimes that day with the other times sleeping. i did take the pain meds the first 24 hrs and slept alot.
2. I brought a knee lengt duster that zipped up the front to cover my lovely Hospital gown and slippers. Toiletries and a knit capri set for the trip home.
3.I felt good by the 3rd day and drove by the 5th day to gro shop. The 5th day I drove myself to dr a  2 hrs drive and did fine.I guess the 3 rd day was a turning point and the day I could sleep on my stomach again was  great  and that was 10days or so out.
Good luck!!!

You might also think about taking chapstick and some type of mouth spray such as Biotene. When you wake up your mouth will be very dry and they may or may not let you have ice chips right away.

I went in at 8:00 and don't remember the recovery room.  I have a dim recollection of moving from the gurney into my hospital bed.  I woke up in the evening and had no pain or nausea but my mouth and throat were very dry.

I brought slippers to walk in and stretchy-waistband pants that I wore to the hospital.  I brought a book but slept or walked so never read it.

I felt weak but okay 5 days after surgery and that's when I started to drive again (no pain meds.)  I took a nap in the afternoon about the first 10 days but otherwise carried on as normal.  I felt mostly 100% after a month when I could eat real food.

Congratulations on your surgery!

Congratulations on your decision for this surgery!  Am sure you will do fine.  About your questions:   #1. my surgery was last on the Dr's list, so I showered and went shopping before going to the hospital...my surgery was scheduled at 3:30 but got pushed bac****il closer to 5:30.  I remember meeting the anestheliologist & his assistants, and they put me out...I woke up about 4 hours later and my 1st thought was that I was real uncomfortable and what the hell had I done to myself...2nd thought was it's too late to undo it now, so just sit back & enjoy the ride!  I did have to walk a short distance in my room (from the bed to the door and back) before they would let me go to sleep.   # 2. I brought very little to the hospital...my glasses, cell phone & chapstick were the most important items...I spent 2 nights in the hospital, and used an extra hospital gown as a cape to cover my rear-end when walking the halls with my faithful I.V. companion, "Spot". I did have sweatpants, t-shirt & slippers for the trip home.   #3 After surgery I felt pretty normal after the 2nd night home.  I drove myself on the afternoon of the 2nd day I was home (only took pain meds in the hospital, & 1st night at home, because then I was able to take my regular pain meds that I have used for years, and was fine with those).  Have to say that every day after I got home I felt better than on the previous day.  THAT was wonderful!  I think I had a really easy recovery with no complications at all, and wish the same for you (and everyone else who is having this surgery!).
Best wishes for a great experience,  Viv 

I woke up at 5 a.m., my girlfriend drove me seventy miles to the hospital.  I was taken in to the pre op room, they had me put on a hospital gown.  The nurse put in the IV after I was weight.  Then within 60 mins to the ER.  When I woke up in the recovery room, i was in pain in my stomach; and felt the cat. 

I brought robe, slippers, toothbrush/paste, chap stick, ipod, cellphone, large top to cover the stomach area due to the air inserted during surgery.

i felt normal in about four weeks. 

You are welcome and good luck.

I had surgery in mexico. You don't need much. Sounds like you won't be there long. Chapstick and you can wear your same clothes home. This surgery is different for everyone. Just keep your focus on why you did this to begin with. There are good days and bad days. When your clothes and health change. It is all worth it. Good luck!!!!!