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I'm a 380lb, 6'1", 33 year old male.

I'm having a laparoscopic roux-en-y gastric bypass on Monday January 23rd at Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria.

My Pre-Op History will be here in the Okanagan on December 28th with my family doctor.

I will be driving to Victoria on January 15th and using the travel assistance plan TAP to cover the ferry charges.

I am meeting with an anesthesiologist on Monday January 16th at 1:30 at the RJH Pre-Admission Clinic. I will arrive a half hour early.

I will be seeing an internist for a consultation. That meeting has yet to be set but hopefully it will be in between the 16th and the 23rd.

Bowl prep January 22nd, surgical scrub that I am to pick up from a pharmacy the night of the 22nd, nothing to eat or drink after midnight, a second surgical scrub the morning of January 23rd.

I am to check in at RJH at 10:30.

If things go well I may be discharged on January 26th or 27th.

I expect to have a post-operation meeting with my doctor (Dr. Amson) the day of or after my discharge.

After that meeting if things go well I may expect my next meeting to be about a month afterwards.

After I am discharged I will be traveling back to the Okanagan.

For the duration of my visit I will be staying at the Easter Seals House (a cost of 25$ per night if you're curious).

I need to pick up a medic alert bracelet.

I need to know what my vitamin regime will be so I can purchase my first supply.

If anyone from the Okanagan, or anyone with similar vital statistics wants to talk send me a private message and I'll give you a call.

It'd be real nice for me if anyone reading this in the next three weeks left me any reply of any kind: how you feel, what I should be thinking about, any tips, or just a salutation.

Hi Jeff,

Congratulations on your surgical date.  It seems to me that you have everything organized.  You can buy your bowel prep and surgical brushes before the 22nd. Makes it so much easier not having to worry about that stuff. You will have too much other stuff that you will be thinking about, best to make it as easy for yourself as possible.  You can buy then at your local pharmacy store, ie: rexall, etc. The pico-salax has two doses in one box and then a citro mag.

Are you driving down to Victoria? Do you have another driver with you? If I can help answer questions for you, let me know. Frances

Congrats Jeff – It looks like you are all ready. 

Since you will be driving a bunch on the way home, make sure you have a pillow or two to hold against you and buffer you a bit from bouncing in the car.  Speed bumps are awful and I am sure my wife aimed for every pot hole.  Don't be a hero and try to do the first couple days without pain killers – ask the nurses for some if you are in pain and need some help.  On general principle ask the nurses for anything, they are there to help you and they are wonderful helpers.

Prior to the surgery you are going to need some distractions to keep you busy while you are waiting.  You are going to wait a lot.  So at that time some books, magazines, I watch videos on my phone and/or gameboy, are all a good thing.  After the surgery you don't really care all that much.    You will just want to sleep.

You have about four weeks now before your surgery so this is a good time to go exercise.  The better shape you are in prior to the surgery the faster your recovery time will be.  Also after your surgery, get up and move around.  Even just a little walking about the surgical ward is a good thing.  I drove the nurses a little crazy because by the second day I was up and walking around everywhere so often that they would lose me.  But I didn't experience much of the gas release pains from the lapro.  That could also be a benefit from the drugs too.

The medic alert bracelet is something you can decided on later.  I am still having trouble figuring out which one I want and some people don't have them at all. 

You will also have enough holes in your chest and tummy to show that something is up and they will be pretty clear for a few months. 

After the surgery it is not going to be as you suspect.  I thought I was prepared for all of this and the reality of the situation is far different than the books, guides and other people's experience.  You will go from feeling great and full of energy down to falling asleep curled up in a comfy ball in about three minutes.  Eating is going to far less a pleasure and more of something you need to do.  You will discover foods you really like (Consume) one day and then dislike the next.

And of course, you will discover foods that don't like you.  For me my list includes Lettuce, Potatoes, Rice, Bread, well done meat, Raw Apples, (of course don't even consider the skins of any fruit).  And you will likely get this feeling like you swallowed rocks and they are just sitting there on your chest.  It goes away after a while but scares the hell out of you in the mean time.

My roughest issue was learning to drink water again.  I love drinking water and I was the kind of guy that could knock back a cold glass of water as soon as I sat at a table.  Now I have to sip.  And it better be warmer water because if it is cold I will get this feeling in my chest like someone punched me.

There are two bodyily functions that are a bit disgusting that will likely happen.  First of all, you will get constipated.  That plugged feeling will happen because you back off on Fiber and water all in the first week.  Oatmeal was great for me.  Second one is you are going to burp.  A lot.  I ate something I shouldn't on a trip to Seattle and ended up burping constantly for over two hours.  Its just part of life, chew more and try to swallow less air.

You are going to be in great hands.  Amson is one of the most caring surgeons I have ever met.  It is really interesting to see him come in and check on his patients in the surgery ward. 

Good luck,

Blake

ps: If you are out walking about the hospital after your surgery, don't tell the nurses you used the stairs instead of the elevator.  That really ticked them off.

Congrats! Mine was 2 years ago in May.
A few things to add, my emotions ran all over the place afterwards, i had to stay in Victoria a week, and ended up leaving a few days early as I couldn't stop crying and missing my husband.
The pain for me was more annoying and lasted about two and a half weeks, before I could even go without tynol. I forgot I was suppose to take iron, and was so lightheaded for a week, I had to walk with someone.

Last but not lease, when your out a few months do NOT test the waters with sugar, fat and carbs! You may find, like me, you don't dump, and then your in trouble! !!!

Good luck!!!!!