Kristina R.
My surgical experience
Jul 28, 2008
Since I'm feeling a little bit better, I thought I'd write about my experiences with surgery if anyone was interested...
6/26/08
Had my last pre-op visit with Dr Roslin where he tells me liquids only untill the surgery. He was still concerned about my BMI being almost at 60 which he said is the number where people start having real complications with lap DS. He also indicated that although my BMI was high it should be no problem since I carried most of my weight in the back... It was pretty damn funny honestly, basically he was happy I have a big ass lol.
I freaked out slightly about the no eating part. Its funny I had not had any freak outs about the surgery, but when he told me liquids only, I got very upset... I did end up having one more meal that night, I think I just needed the psychological closure. Weird hunh?
6/30/08
Surgery Day!!!
My mom and I got to Lenox Hill at around 10 or so, can't really remember. They took me back to get ready and stuff and I waited for awhile, Dr Roslin stopped by to talk to me as well as the anesthesiologist (forgot his name, but very nice) I lost 10lbs over the weekend, Roslin was very happy with that. The surgical nurse finally came and got me and brought me into the operating room. This is finally when I start to freak out a little bit. Fortunately my freak out only lasted a few minutes because I was out like a light soon enough. Surgery lasted 6 hours, my mom said the anesthesiologist was concerned because I broke into a rash with the phentanyl, which is a fairly uncommon reaction. I have never been able to tolerate narcotics so I guess I wasn't surprised at that. When I woke up in the recovery room, they had not given me any more medication because they were waiting for a pain management dr to come and tell them what to give me because of my allergies. I'm laying in the recovery room in pain and the nurses are standing around talking about their weekend. The pain mgmt dr finally comes in and instead of coming to see me, she goes over and joins the nurses conversation. At this point I'm kind of whimpering "help me" but no one is listening to me at all. Finally a nurse comes over and asks me if I'm okay, my response "I hurt!" The pain mgmt dr, who is there to relieve my pain looks at me and says (in an extremely snotty voice) "i hurt too" and laughs it up with the nurses. They would not let my mom come in and see me and for a period of time I was completely surrounded by medical professionals yet totally in pain and completely ignored. It was the scariest moment of my life. Finally Dr Bitch gives me dilaudid and benadryl (umm like an intern could have figured that out) and they send me to my room.
Most of the hospital stay was kinda blurry thanks to a large amount of drugs. I seem to really only remember the unpleasant stuff...
- I was majorly itchy all the time even with the benadryl
- Lenox hill is a teaching hospital, Do not EVER let an intern attempt a central line, I still have a bruise on my collarbone.
- the swallow test was abrupt and horribly disgusting, but over quickly
- hottest intern took out my drains... what a completely weird experience.
- the nurses on the floor were great, supportive and helpful
- only one phlebotomist was able to find a vein on the first try, by the time I was discharged both arms and hands were one big bruise (hence the central line)
7/3/08
Discharged from the hospital, stayed at my aunt's house in LI untill Dr Roslin gave me the okay (reluctantly) to go home on 7/9/08
Currently I am 28 days out from surgery. on the day of the surgery I weighed in at 337, at my last weigh in (2 days ago) my weight was 311. 26 pounds is pretty damned impressive :)
I started back to work today, I am phoenomenally tired. People tell you you get tired after surgery, but I had no idea it would be like this! I'm working hard on getting in my water, still having trouble eating although I am on solids now. I have good days and bad days, but things are starting to come around. Great news is that my mom has decided she wants the DS too! She's 61 and her knees are completely shot. I think she'll be a good candidate, her only other comorbidity is sleep apnea.
6/26/08
Had my last pre-op visit with Dr Roslin where he tells me liquids only untill the surgery. He was still concerned about my BMI being almost at 60 which he said is the number where people start having real complications with lap DS. He also indicated that although my BMI was high it should be no problem since I carried most of my weight in the back... It was pretty damn funny honestly, basically he was happy I have a big ass lol.
I freaked out slightly about the no eating part. Its funny I had not had any freak outs about the surgery, but when he told me liquids only, I got very upset... I did end up having one more meal that night, I think I just needed the psychological closure. Weird hunh?
6/30/08
Surgery Day!!!
My mom and I got to Lenox Hill at around 10 or so, can't really remember. They took me back to get ready and stuff and I waited for awhile, Dr Roslin stopped by to talk to me as well as the anesthesiologist (forgot his name, but very nice) I lost 10lbs over the weekend, Roslin was very happy with that. The surgical nurse finally came and got me and brought me into the operating room. This is finally when I start to freak out a little bit. Fortunately my freak out only lasted a few minutes because I was out like a light soon enough. Surgery lasted 6 hours, my mom said the anesthesiologist was concerned because I broke into a rash with the phentanyl, which is a fairly uncommon reaction. I have never been able to tolerate narcotics so I guess I wasn't surprised at that. When I woke up in the recovery room, they had not given me any more medication because they were waiting for a pain management dr to come and tell them what to give me because of my allergies. I'm laying in the recovery room in pain and the nurses are standing around talking about their weekend. The pain mgmt dr finally comes in and instead of coming to see me, she goes over and joins the nurses conversation. At this point I'm kind of whimpering "help me" but no one is listening to me at all. Finally a nurse comes over and asks me if I'm okay, my response "I hurt!" The pain mgmt dr, who is there to relieve my pain looks at me and says (in an extremely snotty voice) "i hurt too" and laughs it up with the nurses. They would not let my mom come in and see me and for a period of time I was completely surrounded by medical professionals yet totally in pain and completely ignored. It was the scariest moment of my life. Finally Dr Bitch gives me dilaudid and benadryl (umm like an intern could have figured that out) and they send me to my room.
Most of the hospital stay was kinda blurry thanks to a large amount of drugs. I seem to really only remember the unpleasant stuff...
- I was majorly itchy all the time even with the benadryl
- Lenox hill is a teaching hospital, Do not EVER let an intern attempt a central line, I still have a bruise on my collarbone.
- the swallow test was abrupt and horribly disgusting, but over quickly
- hottest intern took out my drains... what a completely weird experience.
- the nurses on the floor were great, supportive and helpful
- only one phlebotomist was able to find a vein on the first try, by the time I was discharged both arms and hands were one big bruise (hence the central line)
7/3/08
Discharged from the hospital, stayed at my aunt's house in LI untill Dr Roslin gave me the okay (reluctantly) to go home on 7/9/08
Currently I am 28 days out from surgery. on the day of the surgery I weighed in at 337, at my last weigh in (2 days ago) my weight was 311. 26 pounds is pretty damned impressive :)
I started back to work today, I am phoenomenally tired. People tell you you get tired after surgery, but I had no idea it would be like this! I'm working hard on getting in my water, still having trouble eating although I am on solids now. I have good days and bad days, but things are starting to come around. Great news is that my mom has decided she wants the DS too! She's 61 and her knees are completely shot. I think she'll be a good candidate, her only other comorbidity is sleep apnea.
Approved and Date is set!
May 29, 2008
Its official!!! I will be switched on June 30th! Approval was a lot easier than I thought it would be, my dr's office did all the work! Now I just have to get ready, do my 2-week freak and all that and then... make room for me on the loser's bench!!! I'm SOOOOOO excited!!!!
Cigna Sucks
Oct 23, 2007
Okay, so I am scheduled for an initial consult with Dr Roslin in NY at the end of november. I have Cigna POS through the state of Vermont and it looks like they are going to give me a hard time for approval for a DS. They still classify the DS as "experimental" and have it on their list of things they won't pay for. So I'll probably have to appeal. Ok I can do that. Secondly, I will have to do a 6 month doctor supervised diet. I wish I had known that a few months ago :( Now, even if I get approval for the DS I'll have to wait untill May to have surgery. I was SO hoping to do this in February. I am probably the most impatient person in the world, and once I make up my mind about something, I want to do it.... NOW. Its very frustrating because I am having to wait for a few things in my life. I have to wait untill I've been at my job for a year before I can buy a house I just found out... That sucks, I mean I love my parents and all, but it is not fun living with them. now I'm gonna have to wait for the surgery too, and I just feel stuck in limbo at the moment. It is infuriating. I'm not exactly sure what to do next, because I have already done all that I CAN do!!!
