[CucAznWitR32]

Hello! My name is Sulee & I just recently scheduled my GBS for the begining of next year (Jan. 10th, 2007). I'm 20yrs old, 5'9 & 285lbs, fairly young I guess you would say. I'm going to be working with Dr. Tobin Schneider (Bay Area Gastric Bypass). When I went in for my first consoultation (11/20/06) I wasn't sure what to expect. Little did I know that I would be walking out of there with a date scheduled!! He went over everything & was very through with it all too. He covered things that I had no idea about

With my surgery only being a little over 4 weeks away, I'm starting to get jittery/nervous. I've never had any sort of surgery, let alone stay in a hospital over night besides from when I was born. I'm just curious about how the whole hospital experience was for some of "you"?? How was it waking up after surgery? Were "you" in a lot of pain?? Is there anything I should be sure to prepare myself for?? Also, once released from the hospital about how long was it before "you" were able to start going back to normal life style, activities, work, etc....?? Luckily, I'm pretty normal/healthy for the most part. But did anyone experience any major health issues afterwards?? If so, what happened? Was changing "your" diet after surgery difficult? Is it hard to be around people who are eating all the junky food that "you" are no longer supposed to eat?? (Just wondering cause of the fact that my Boyfriend is 6'1 147lbs & eats that stuff all the time & not ever gain a pound from it!) Also, when did "you" lose most of "your" extra weight & how much?? Did the 50% chance of death scare anyone else?? (Personally, I'm not really worried about it) Hmmm....... I think that's all of the questions I have at the moment. I'd LOVE to gain some more information that anyone has to offer. I'd be nice to talk with some new people who have had sucess with their surgery. Hope to hear from someone soon!!

Thanks,
Sulee
E-Mail: ScoopBas30@aol.com
MySpace: myspace.com/monkeez_wifey

[DocSanae]

Welcome to the board, Sulee, thank you for joining us.
Congratulations on getting your date, and yes, everyone has a roller coaster ride of emotions leading right up to the day of your surgery.
You're quite normal.
There'll be lots of people around to say hi, and tell you their experience.
Please browse through the posts in this site, much of what you are asking, you'll see that others have asked, and have had replies to.

(((((((((HUGS))))))) May your journey go well.

[fr1endly2]

Welcome to the board look forward to getting to know you thru your posts and enjoying your journey with you.
ALL the best
all the ups and downs are so worth it in return for getting
thin!!!

[Ciren]

Hello Sulee....Welcome to the board..,,,I know you have to be overwhelming and full of emotions and most do continously til that day comes....Congratzz on your new re-birthday....

[RePete07]

Sulee,
Hi! I am pre-op as well, I will be having my surgery next month too, I just don't have a definate date yet.
Maybe I was mistaken, but did you say that you went in for the first visit with your surgeon, and got a surgery date that day???!!!??? You are lucky! But, I have a little advice for you. I am definately not as experienced as most in this room, but there were a number of things that I had to go through before I could even get a definate yes or no for the surgery! One was a gall bladder U/S, and 2- two hour nutrition classes to be prepared for what was going to happen after the surgery, and an orientation class, a support group meeting, and last but not least, a psych eval. So, not to say you need to do all of this, but maybe getting into a nutrition class and seeing about some support groups in your area would not be a bad idea. The more help you get, the better, and it will definately help for when you come home, and are clueless of what to do, what to eat, more importantly what NOT to eat etc. Just a suggestion. Also the support group will help you meet other people that have already gone through what you are feeling, and maybe could give you some advise on things. This site is WONDERFUL, but it's always nice to actually be face to face with someone that can help you through all the new things you will be experiencing.
Well, welcome to the board, and I hope this info helps a little.

[Pillows]

Wow...you sure have a lot of questions. That is a good thing though. I would love to answer your questions, but I think you might get a better response if you try to let us get one out of the way at a time...lol. I will approach the aspect of life with a skinny man able to eat disgusting things in front of you since that seems to be my particular area of expertise...lol. I live with a man that can eat things I can't even look at without gaining weight and it is frustrating. Fortunately I don't get that bothered by it anymore since those things mostly make me sick so my desire for them is not as strong as it used to be. I have had a couple of obnoxious people that have tried to be cute or funny by waving their yummy food in front of me and I just wave the fact that I am smoking hot and will never be theirs in front of them. Just try to remember that nothing but cheetos taste as good as skinny feels....lol. (okay so not even cheetos, but it is a close race.
Janae

[CucAznWitR32]

RePete07:

Yes, that is true that I got a surgery date that day. I've never had any health issues except for being over-weight. That same day, I went & had all of my blood/urine work done, which came back normal. Last week I went for my psych eval & to meet with the dietition. I do have to go to a nutrition class, but am currently waiting for them to contact me with an actual date for that. I wasn't required to go to neither a orientation nor a support group before hand, but I was required to speak with 2 former patients who had been through the surgery already. I am actually going to go to a group meeting the weekend before my surgery for myself. Thank you for your input though!

[MSmom]

wow sounds like you have it all together, I have been waiting since april. Still have 6mo to go. good luck to you

[FemmeMode]

1. I'm just curious about how the whole hospital experience was for some of "you"??
2. How was it waking up after surgery?
3. Were "you" in a lot of pain??
4. Is there anything I should be sure to prepare myself for??
5. Also, once released from the hospital about how long was it before "you" were able to start going back to normal life style, activities, work, etc....??
6. Luckily, I'm pretty normal/healthy for the most part. But did anyone experience any major health issues afterwards??
7. If so, what happened? Was changing "your" diet after surgery difficult?
8. Is it hard to be around people who are eating all the junky food that "you" are no longer supposed to eat?? (Just wondering cause of the fact that my Boyfriend is 6'1 147lbs & eats that stuff all the time & not ever gain a pound from it!)
9. Also, when did "you" lose most of "your" extra weight & how much??
10. Did the 50% chance of death scare anyone else??

Hi Sulee....
I'm Deborah....I'm 38 and married have a little 3yo. I am nearly 8mos post op...so, if I can remember some of this...I'd love to answer your questions from my perspective. I numbered your questions...so it would be easier to follow - Ok...here we go!

1.) My hospital experience was pretty good - except for the initial coming out of anesthesia. I hated this feeling...and wanted water...but couldn't have it until I did the barium swallow. (making sure all my pipes were working correctly) I literally jumped out of bed when they offered me to do the swallow...b/c I was soooo thirsy! Couldn't wait! here is my pic!

2.) Waking after surgery was the WORST....I really hated it...but it went quickly for the most part...and I don't remember any pain until much later...but then the pain pump was hooked up...and I was GOoooOOd!

3.) I had one other surgery before my RNY....it was "day surgery" removing my gall bladder. NOW...THAT was pain. This was monitored pretty well...and over all I'd have to brag - "I was a trooper!" My nurses loved me b/c I jumped when they said jump...and walked as long as I could....pottied when they told me too...and fortunately I left the hospital 24hrs. after my surgery!! LOVED THAT...here I am going home! The flowers were from my sweet redheaded hubby and my momma!

4.) Best bit of advice....take chapstick...your lips will be soooo dry b/c of the anesthesia...and it helps! Then...WALK WALK WALK....even when you don't want to...WALK!!! Push thru the discomfort/pain....ask for meds if you need them!

5.) I had 2 weeks off.....and this was great! I started feeling better before this...even stopped my pain meds around day 8 or 9....but, didn't do my "JOB" until week 2. But still....I didn't feel "normal" until about week 4!!! JUST, very very tired.....it's just the recovery....but, I think I could still work as normal. EXCEPT...couldn't lift anything bigger than a bag of sugar for 6 weeks!

6.) NOT ONE major health issue. In fact, I had no comorbidities....but had reflux, sleep apnea, incontenence, sore joints, edema - all minor. But ALL were gone by 3rd month post op!!! LOVE THAT!!!!

7.) No health issues as I said...but, the changing diet was an HUGE adjustment!!! I really struggled...and tried to try different stuff...but had to go to NO PROCESSED food....only natural....and then had to watch everything I put in my mouth to see why I was getting the "foamies" sooo bad. Once I realized that I was eating tooo fast - and possibly not chewing so well. Once I did slow down and chew chew chew....foamies went away!!!

8.) It was hard...but not as hard anymore....I haven't had one bite of my hubbies birthday cake - THAT I MADE.....I'm shocked at myself!! But early on it was much harder!!! (Also...I have a rough time with sweets and unfortunately...I am not one who got "the dumping syndrome" -wish I would have!!)

9.) I lost really fast in the first 3 months!!! Month one - 36# Month two - 16 more. Month three - 15# Totalling 67# in the first 3 months. Then by six months I lost a total of 104#....(so over the next 3mos. an additional 37#'s.) Then last month I lost 7#...and this month another 7# so far...my eight mo PostOp anniversary is on the 19th...next Tuesday!
Here is my 7mos. comparison shot....from surgery day to Thankgiving! (loss of 111#'s)


10.) The statistic I heard was 1 out of 200 die. Not 50%??? I just found a thread that I posted 6 days after my surgery...here is the link: WOW...6 days POSTOP

Something I did before my surgery is.... I wrote letters to my dearest of loved ones....and got things together in my house.
The letters, for me, were for me to say everything I had to say before I went under the knife. I had only had one minor day surgery before this surgery...and it wasn't life changing. I'd never spent a night in the hospital....so it was a bit freaky. I just knew that I needed to dot all my "I's" and cross all my "T's"....and say everything I needed to say....so that if something were to happen....I'd have taken care of my loved ones here on earth.
I knew that for me....whatever happened was out of my hands...and I was making the right decision.

Hope all this helps...

[jonnyb's wife]

Hi there Sulee, I just had my surgery in November.
Every hospital is different so that one is hard to tell you. I did not wake up in a lot
of pain like I have felt before, however there again each person has a different pain
tolerance. I will tell you that they say the best thing is for you to walk and they are
right the best thing for you is to walk. Also remember to sip your water you have
to retrain your mouth and not gulp. You will wake up very thirsty and want to
drink like you do now and that will cause you a great deal of discomfort in your
chest and abdomen area I was in the hospital from the 17th of Nov. to 3rd. of Dec.
My surgery went bad because of poor heath and my lungs did not want to work
after the second surgery however if you do not smoke and are in fair to good health
then things will go well for you, there were 2 ladies in my class and they had there
surgery’s after me and they both left the hospital with in 3 days of surgery. Just
make sure that you are in good health and have confidence in you physician and
all will go well good luck LEE