This is my journal of my gastric sleeve experience
by
, 03-26-2013 at 10:32 AM (1634 Views)
3/22/13 was the day of surgery. I chose carefully my surgeon, Dr Ortiz, and had had the band done in 05 and then removed in 07 and so I knew the clinic and the staff already. Top notch. I arrived in San Diego on the 21st and stayed the night at the Tijuana Marriott. I'd been drinking protein drinks only for 3 days prior. At weigh in at Ortiz office I was 173. Obvious to me that I'd lost a couple durring the 3 days before. A few of us took the van from the Marriott to the clinic. I was still alone at this point and hubbs was to meet me at clinic that afternoon. They said I would be first to go in. They hooked up my IV and gave me some things that made me feel pretty darned good. Then I walked into the operating room and got on the bed. They put something in my IV and said I would feel dizzy. Sure enough, the room began to spin and I was out. I woke up to them calling my name and things were urgent. I was pretty sure that they were preparing to shock my heart the way they were putting things on my chest and such. Pretty soon 4 doctors were in my room and they were trying to tell me to breath or something. My heart was pounding I guess b/c that's what they were saying, and I had had a reaction to something. My heart rate was 120 and should have been 80. They think it was Reglan. I'm so sensitive to so many medications. My husband was there by then and he is a physician and I felt better knowing that he was there. Anyway, they did something right because my heart rate came back down eventually. I need to get the lowdown now that I am able to think more clearly. I also have anxiety issues big time when it comes to medical procedures and this was my fear realized. My anxiety could have been a part of this but I don't know. They checked me often. The first night my poor husband slept in a "love seat" and I slept in the hospital bed. I was able to walk the halls on and off all night and I was happy about that. I don't remember anything hurting up to this point. Truly nothing at all.
Saturday 3/23/13 I was checked out and sent to the Marriott to recover and was so thankful hubby was there. We walked a lot and he took good care of me. I slept okay but was somewhat uncomfortable Saturday night. Felt some pains of gas. Pretty uneventful though over all. Don't remember much about Saturday. Didn't feel wiped out or hungry at all. Felt swollen and looked it from water retention. Only slep about 4 hours that night but still felt refreshed in the morning.
Sunday 3/24/13 Still on clear liquids. Can only drink about 2 oz and try to do that every 2 hrs or so. More aches today but mostly fine and we walked about 2 1/2 miles to the DQ so hubbs could get a Blizzard. I got and icy drink but could only take a few sips. We walked again that evening and got some liquid yogurt from little store across the street. Things are freaking cheap in MX! That bag of drinks and yogurt was only about 3 dollars and would have been easily 8 here.
So I was prepared for my first day (Monday) of protein drinks and liquid yogurt. All hell broke loose Sunday night as the night was wearing down. I wanted to sleep so bad but was uncomfortable and could not breath very well in any position except standing. You can't sleep standing. I tried for hours and then at 1;30 AM I just got so frustrated b/c I was so worn out. Hubby had been sleeping from about 10:30 till 1:30 when my misery woke him up. I even began to cry a bit. I did feel ok with 3 pillows stacked on the bed and me leaning face first on the bed and the pillows supporting my stomach and my elbows also helping. I fell asleep this way for a minute or two around midnight but my legs couldnt stay standing of course. Soon as I'd lay, pain! Stand, no pain. Hubby helped and brought the chair in the room so I could kneel on it and then lay on the bed of pillows. Then he tickled my back and tried to get me to relax. It finally worked and I fell asleep but that's not comfy for long. But in sleepy mode I was able to get in the bed and after much adjusting fell asleep on the bed. So, I slept from about 2:30 until about 6. Not bad. I felt good when I awoke. So thankful for a husband like this.
Monday 3/25/13 Hubby flies out at noon today. After Sunday night wasn't sure that I was okay with it. Tried the yogurt and OMG it was the best tasting thing I think I'd ever had. Raisin flavor Activia. Something is going on with my taste buds because that was incredible. Everything tastes so good since surgery. It's been no big deal to eat the little tiny portions because I'm not hungry, I just know that I need to eat something. Eating slow makes it so enjoyable because the taste sure is good. Monday I went to clinic for wound cleaning at noon. Had a panic issue on the way but it wasn't bad and I talked myself out of it. My nurse is so sweet and I love her for her kindness. She knows my name and remembers my situation and she is just an awesome individual. The rest of the day I nap and feel GREAT. Don't need hubby now. Napped so often that my night was also a sequence of naps.
So here we are now and it's Tuesday 3/26/13 I'm about to shower and get ready to go to the clinic to have the drain removed. Little worried about that. I've heard good and bad. Wondering if I should take some of the adavan they gave me? IDK. I'll just take my regular pain meds (Supradol) and hope for the best.