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Sandra3

Introduction

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Sandra3
, 01-01-2016 at 10:27 PM (1568 Views)
Hello everyone!

I'm French, 43 years old, mother of three, married to my high school sweetheart.

Our jobs make us travel, we left France 14 years ago, and we've been so far living in New Zealand, US (DC and Phoenix), Mexico City, and we are currently in Taipei Taiwan for an other couple of years before heading back to France. Both my husband and I were raised in families who love to travel too and we had a childhood partly out of France. Sometimes it's hard because our loved one are always on the other side of the world and we miss them, but we like to make new friends, our routine is never boring, and since we are in Taipei, actually quiet challenging!(I don't speak Chinese!)

Obesity run in my family: I was chubby from the age of 8 years old, became "slim/average/than chubby again" from age 14 to 24 mostly because I was eating nothing, working out a lot ...and smoking (that was just plain stupid, but everybody was smoking at that time). Then with my first pregnancy, I quiet smoking, was in bed rest... I became overweight, then obese with more babies.

I tried so many diets in the past 20 years! but none would give me a definitive result, even if I did my best and counted calories for 11 months straight, waking up at night because I was starving and my belly growling, the weight always came back.

I was thinking about bariatric surgery for a long time, because I'm so tired of being tired all the time! hurt my joints or my back every two months... and feeling uncomfortable in my own skin...so as soon as we moved to Taipei in September 2014, I met my surgeon. I was planning on having the surgery last September (2015) but humidity was so strong, giving me many skin issues, that I decided to wait for better and colder temperatures.
So surgery is coming quickly now, it will be done on January 20.

I'm really stressed out about the anesthesia. And have lots of question marks for the "after surgery"....since I changed my dates but didn't change all my calendar (cheap non refundable tickets I got ages ago!), we are flying to the US in March, and then back home in France in May. Of course for the trip in May I should be 100%, but for March that might be an other story!

Happy New Year to all sleevers!

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  1. LaffeyTaffey's Avatar
    Why are you stressed about the anesthesia? I actually hope to become a anethesist nurse so I find this interesting. The surgery only lasts about a hour and you're woken up soon after.
  2. moonchild's Avatar
    Anesthesia is scary for a lot of people especially those who haven't had major surgery before. You're completely in the care of someone else and have zero control. For me personally, I'm a "hard stick" and was poked by needles five times before they got the IV going. When I woke up the back of my throat was shredded due to a difficult intubation. I've woken up after having surgery with uncontrollable crying which can be a side effect of the anesthesia. These experiences make me antsy to go under each time. Being nervous about anesthesia is completely understandable but just keep the big picture in mind to relieve your anxiety, remind yourself that the people taking care of you are professionals and won't let anything happen to. Also post a lot/search a lot on this site and you'll get plenty of advice and support!
  3. Sandra3's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by LaffeyTaffey
    Why are you stressed about the anesthesia? I actually hope to become a anethesist nurse so I find this interesting. The surgery only lasts about a hour and you're woken up soon after.

    I had already several major surgeries, one was more than 4 hours, 3 c sections etc...each time there is side effects, I can be sick for weeks after, my body doesn't like the chemicals and vomiting for two weeks after surgery is no fun, so with a sleeve I'm just really worried.
  4. Sandra3's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by moonchild
    Anesthesia is scary for a lot of people especially those who haven't had major surgery before. You're completely in the care of someone else and have zero control. For me personally, I'm a "hard stick" and was poked by needles five times before they got the IV going. When I woke up the back of my throat was shredded due to a difficult intubation. I've woken up after having surgery with uncontrollable crying which can be a side effect of the anesthesia. These experiences make me antsy to go under each time. Being nervous about anesthesia is completely understandable but just keep the big picture in mind to relieve your anxiety, remind yourself that the people taking care of you are professionals and won't let anything happen to. Also post a lot/search a lot on this site and you'll get plenty of advice and support!
    I had several bad experiences after surgeries, related to the anesthesia. And like you they never manage the IV right so I'm covered with bruises after, but that's the minor issue. Usually even the doctor is worried because I'm "the" difficult patient. I have several health issues that can just mess everything and it's really unpredictable. I did my research for more than two years, I've been reading lots of medical reviews, publications and books about bariatric surgery, met my surgeon six times and we had long meetings. My surgeon is actually making me stay two full days before the surgery to re do all tests and check again all my results with the cardiologist and pneumologist. He also decided to change his technique, he usually does the single incision, but to protect my liver he will do two more incisions. I guess the most difficult right now is to manage the growing stress...
  5. mellowjoy's Avatar
    I was also worried about the anesthesia because I had never had surgery. What made me feel comfortable was talking to the bariatric doctor, nurses and anyone else who would listen. On the morning of surgery I actually told the anesthesia doctor I was afraid. He assured me I was in good hands and he would take care of me. He said he only had one job during the procedure and that was to take care of me. Continue to ask questions until you get the answers you need to feel comfortable. Good luck on your journey.
  6. Sandra3's Avatar
    Thank you for your message Mellowjoy!

    Quote Originally Posted by mellowjoy
    I was also worried about the anesthesia because I had never had surgery. What made me feel comfortable was talking to the bariatric doctor, nurses and anyone else who would listen. On the morning of surgery I actually told the anesthesia doctor I was afraid. He assured me I was in good hands and he would take care of me. He said he only had one job during the procedure and that was to take care of me. Continue to ask questions until you get the answers you need to feel comfortable. Good luck on your journey.
  7. sraebaer's Avatar
    If you have had issues with anesthesia in the past, just let them know ahead of time. They have things they can do to help now! (Daughter just had surgery, always had horrible problems, but this time, none at all.)

    Best of luck, this will be a wonderful new year for you!
  8. Sandra3's Avatar
    Thank you for your message!
    I met my surgeon for the first time in September 2014, I gave all my history, and we spoke about it several times after.
    I will meet the anesthesiologist for the first time during my two pre op days on 18 and 19, they will do more tests and several specialists have a meeting before the surgery. Hopefully they can figure out a protocol where I won't be vomiting during and after surgery (as usual).

    It's really good new for you daughter, you must be so relieved!

    Hopefully it will be the same for me...but it's also my first surgery in Asia so I'm not really familiar with how things work here...even if I do trust my surgeon....we will see! I do hope this year will make a real difference in my health, I'm trying to look at things on a positive way and working on organizing details for our next trip right now to keep busy and keep anxiety away....


    Quote Originally Posted by sraebaer
    If you have had issues with anesthesia in the past, just let them know ahead of time. They have things they can do to help now! (Daughter just had surgery, always had horrible problems, but this time, none at all.)

    Best of luck, this will be a wonderful new year for you!