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Hey there!

tallgirlani said:
Gastric bypass. I'm just wondering what to expect on "the day" of my surgery coming up. My mental state is great!
Click to expand...

Hi Ani - I'll share bullet points of that day for me. I had Roux-En-Y:

  • Woke at 4am, but never really slept, way too nervous/excited.
  • Showered with a surgical sponge/medical soap that they had provided at the pre-op appointment.
  • Checked into the hospital at 6am.
  • Nothing to drink since midnight so really thirsty.
  • Taken back to pre-op area, changed into gown, vitals taken and hooked up to my IV (hand).
  • My sister and niece were brought back to hang out with me in the pre-op area.
  • Anesthesiologist came in to introduce himself, tell me what would happen and have me sign paperwork. I asked him if I could have something for my anxiety. No problem. It was put into my IV by a nurse moments later. I was now calm.
  • Surgeon came in to check in & answer any last minute questions. She met my sister & took her cell number to call her once I was in recovery.
  • Someone came in to roll me to the O.R. My sister & niece said goodbye and took my overnight bag with them.
  • Felt strange being wheeled around the hospital on a bed.
  • Got to the O.R. and I saw a few people in there getting things ready. A nurse put a mask on me and told me that I would do great.
  • Once under, a catheter was put in.
  • Flash forward – woke up in a recovery area. Lots of belly pain & it radiated through to my back/shoulders. Nurse was next to me watching vitals and administering pain meds. He stayed right next to me for a while.
  • Once pain was tolerable, I would drift in and out of sleep. Couldn't tell if I was out for a minute or an hour each time.
  • Surgeon came to tell me everything went well.
  • Catheter was removed.
  • Still really thirsty.
  • Someone came to bring me to my room. On our way, my sister met up with us and came along.
  • Nurses helped me get from one bed to another. Was hooked up to a machine to dispense pain meds & shown what to push.
  • Asked about a drink but unfortunately, not until morning. Was given mint-flavored sponge swabs that I could dip into water and wet my mouth/tongue.
  • Sister left, nurses checked in every few minutes.
  • Felt like I had to pee so was assisted to bathroom and told I had to go into this potty-thingy while there so they could measure my urine.
  • Midnight and can’t sleep. Decided to try a couple laps around the ward. Nurse helped me up and showed me how to take my IV with me.
  • Pushed button for pain meds about every 20-30 minutes.
  • 3am – another few laps around the ward. Nurses joking with me since I’m the only one up. More laps at 6am, 10am, 1pm & 4pm.
  • Between 8-9am – tray with water was brought in. Ecstatic about water, ignored the rest. Took a small sip but still felt it. Continued taking tiny sips every few minutes all day. Requested ice-chips too. Went through a few cups of those.
  • Noon-ish – Nurse from my surgeon’s office & nutritionist came to check on me. I was on track and asked if I could be released today. They’d let my surgeon know & she’d be there to see me after her appointments.
  • Around then, was switched over to oral pain meds. Nurse cut in half so easier to swallow.
  • 5:20pm – Surgeon came & OK’d my discharge.
  • Nurse came in to review instructions and meds to be picked up.
  • 6pm – Sister arrived to take me home. IV was removed.
  • Stopped at pharmacy and got home about 38 hours after I left the previous morning.
I hope this helps!
 
Brenda2010 said:
Hi Ani - I'll share bullet points of that day for me. I had Roux-En-Y:

  • Woke at 4am, but never really slept, way too nervous/excited.
  • Showered with a surgical sponge/medical soap that they had provided at the pre-op appointment.
  • Checked into the hospital at 6am.
  • Nothing to drink since midnight so really thirsty.
  • Taken back to pre-op area, changed into gown, vitals taken and hooked up to my IV (hand).
  • My sister and niece were brought back to hang out with me in the pre-op area.
  • Anesthesiologist came in to introduce himself, tell me what would happen and have me sign paperwork. I asked him if I could have something for my anxiety. No problem. It was put into my IV by a nurse moments later. I was now calm.
  • Surgeon came in to check in & answer any last minute questions. She met my sister & took her cell number to call her once I was in recovery.
  • Someone came in to roll me to the O.R. My sister & niece said goodbye and took my overnight bag with them.
  • Felt strange being wheeled around the hospital on a bed.
  • Got to the O.R. and I saw a few people in there getting things ready. A nurse put a mask on me and told me that I would do great.
  • Once under, a catheter was put in.
  • Flash forward – woke up in a recovery area. Lots of belly pain & it radiated through to my back/shoulders. Nurse was next to me watching vitals and administering pain meds. He stayed right next to me for a while.
  • Once pain was tolerable, I would drift in and out of sleep. Couldn't tell if I was out for a minute or an hour each time.
  • Surgeon came to tell me everything went well.
  • Catheter was removed.
  • Still really thirsty.
  • Someone came to bring me to my room. On our way, my sister met up with us and came along.
  • Nurses helped me get from one bed to another. Was hooked up to a machine to dispense pain meds & shown what to push.
  • Asked about a drink but unfortunately, not until morning. Was given mint-flavored sponge swabs that I could dip into water and wet my mouth/tongue.
  • Sister left, nurses checked in every few minutes.
  • Felt like I had to pee so was assisted to bathroom and told I had to go into this potty-thingy while there so they could measure my urine.
  • Midnight and can’t sleep. Decided to try a couple laps around the ward. Nurse helped me up and showed me how to take my IV with me.
  • Pushed button for pain meds about every 20-30 minutes.
  • 3am – another few laps around the ward. Nurses joking with me since I’m the only one up. More laps at 6am, 10am, 1pm & 4pm.
  • Between 8-9am – tray with water was brought in. Ecstatic about water, ignored the rest. Took a small sip but still felt it. Continued taking tiny sips every few minutes all day. Requested ice-chips too. Went through a few cups of those.
  • Noon-ish – Nurse from my surgeon’s office & nutritionist came to check on me. I was on track and asked if I could be released today. They’d let my surgeon know & she’d be there to see me after her appointments.
  • Around then, was switched over to oral pain meds. Nurse cut in half so easier to swallow.
  • 5:20pm – Surgeon came & OK’d my discharge.
  • Nurse came in to review instructions and meds to be picked up.
  • 6pm – Sister arrived to take me home. IV was removed.
  • Stopped at pharmacy and got home about 38 hours after I left the previous morning.
I hope this helps!
Click to expand...
Brenda, thank you so much for taking the time to be so detailed & informative. You have been such a great help & I really appreciate you for being so awesome! Hugs
 
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