Well, here I am.
I just posted all the previous blogs that I had been holding on to. I guess it's time to get everyone up to date. This post is technical and full of specifics for those that are interested.
My surgery was March 15 at Alabama Weight Loss Surgery Outpatient East. Dr. Lee Schmitt performed my Sleeve Gastrectomy.
Sleeve gastrectomy is a relatively new surgery in the bariatric field. It was initially the first part of a two part surgery called a duodenal switch. The DS was a radical surgery that was reserved for the extremely morbidly obese. These people were not candidates for traditional gastric bypass because their liver was too enlarged. Doctors noted that they were losing weight at nearly the same weight as bypass patients with only half of the surgery performed so the sleeve gastrectomy became a surgery of it's own merit.
In Sleeve Gastrectomy 60-80% of the stomach is permanently removed. This reduces greatly the amount of food that can be ingested post surgery similar to traditional gastric bypass. The difference is that the pyloric sphincter at the bottom of the stomach is left functional and the anatomy of the GI tract is left undisturbed. This prevents the undesirable dumping syndrome from which traditional bypass patients suffer.
I chose this surgery because I didn't want to get ill if i decided to eat a bite of my favorite foods. I chose this surgery because I wanted to lose weight at a slower, more natural weight. I chose this surgery because I wanted my digestive tract to stay plumbed the way it was designed to be.
My surgeon decided that I was an excellent candidate for Outpatient Sleeve Gastrectomy. I was young, I had no serious co-morbidities, and I was knowledgeable of the surgical procedure and the postoperative expectations.
I arrived at the surgical center at 6:30 the day of surgery. I checked in and was sent to a sort of triage station. Here, my history was reviewed and my vital signs were taken.
From there I went to my outpatient surgery room. IV was started, some meds were given and post op instructions were discussed. I went in to surgery at 10am. At 1215 I woke up in recovery. The pain was intense at this point. It's always intense when you wake up from anesthesia. They gave me meds and I went back to sleep.
I woke up back in the room I started in. My husband was there. I was hurting again so at this point they gave me Lortab Elixer. I had to swallow it. After a nanosecond's hesitation I gulped it and it didn't kill me suddenly so I felt like I was ahead of the game.
What seemed like a half a minute later (but i think it was more like 30 minutes) the nurse came back to get me out of bed and walking. I had a drain from my largest incision. She assisted me into my shorts and I was able to tuck the drain into my waistband. At least I had the smallest dignity of not walking bare-butt down the hallway.
I walked. I was a little unsteady at first but I walked regardless. I didn't stop after one lap. I walked and walked. I had ice chips and I walked some more. The nurses oohed and ahhed at my endurance. I explained that I was a nurse too and that I knew that walking would get me out of there.
My plan worked. I was discharged at 4pm. We stayed in our RV near the hospital. I walked the campground that evening. Every time I got a twinge of pain I walked and if that didn't help I walked some more. I sipped water and crunched Ice chips that evening. I did not try to eat anything like broth or jello on the first night. I let my new tummy rest and I walked and I sipped.
I made it through the first night ok. I woke up a couple of times but a good dose of pain meds sent me back to my slumber. I saw the doctor first thing the next morning. He checked my incisions, they were all fine, and told the nurse to pull my drain. She jerked it out and it felt like she pulled my belly button out with it, but turns out it was just the drain. My belly button lives to fight another day.
After the drain was pulled my pain went from about a "5" to a "1". I took one more dose of pain meds just because pain meds are fun but after that I was fine. Within 4 days I was back to my "normal". I was doing my regular household tasks, I was driving, I was cooking for my family.
It was a breeze. It was the easiest surgery I had ever had. All my presurgery worries were for naught. I hope if you are reading this and consider surgery you realize that my results may not be your results. I had an easy time but some have a harder time post op.
The dietary requirements post op are discussed in detail at the preop nutrition meeting. I felt prepared in my post op days. My only recommendation is do not over purchase supplements and soups before surgery. My tastebuds changed dramatically after surgery. You don't want to be stuck with 48 vanilla protein shakes if vanilla shakes make you want to hurl. Also, listen to your body and take it slow. It's not a race to get better or advance to the next diet stage. You will get there when your body is ready.
I'm six weeks post now and I have lost 60 pounds since that day I stepped on the scale and decided to do something about my weight. I'm smaller now than I have been in 4 years. It's not easy. It wasn't the "easy way out" I'm working harder now than I've ever worked before. I will address that in a future post. If you're considering surgery.... Good luck. Make the decision for you and no one else. You are worth feeling healthy and happy.
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