Hi everyone,
Well today I am 4 weeks post op from my OOC RNY gastric bypass surgery in Seattle at VMMC. I had it on December 13, 2010.
I drove down to Spokane with my sister on Thursday Dec 8. We shopped before she drove me to the airport. I managed to click the seatbelt without an extender, but just barely, thank goodness I didn’t have lunch before take-off!! During liftoff I got a little teary. Just knowing that I was finally heading there to have this surgery and be relieved of all the problems I had with the previous surgery. Knowing that I’d finally become a ‘normal’ healthy person. I still get teary thinking about it.
I had all my pre-op testing the next day. I didn’t have to see anyone for the psychological evaluation. (Feel like I dodged a bullet there, lol). I needed to have an ultra sound of my leg because of a previous DVT. All was good with that. Next I saw the nutritionist, Julie. She was very nice and helpful. We were talking so much that I ended up being 15 minutes late for my Surgeon’s appointment. I didn’t get to see Dr Thirlby at that time because he was in surgery for the day, so I got to see one of the residents (I think that is what he is called). There wasn’t much to talk about there. I asked him if he could ask the surgeon if he could excise my old scar, he said he’d ask. After that, I saw the scheduler who went over my prepping procedure: washing, the laxative, check in time for surgery etc…Pre anesthetic clinic was last. I had the worst blood draw of my life there. He jabbed the needle I as far as it would go. No blood, so he starts to just starts to go fishing. I actually had to ask him to pull it out and try the other arm. I have had loads of blood draws because of my clot and have never had to be re-poked. But the overall experience went well. I was glad to know that Dr Thirlby wants his patients to have epidurals. I’m not sure what other methods of pain control there are.
I checked in for surgery at 7:30 am on Monday Dec 13. Surgery was scheduled for about 9:30 am. That went smoothly. I got to the prep room where I had to put on these Teds stalkings to help prevent clots, I think they were supposed to go thigh high. Ya right! To the knees was as far as those babies were going. I got my epidural, and I didn’t even feel it going in. The IV went in fine, on the second time. I usually have good veins but I think I was dehydrated because they only let you have 250 mls of clear fluid from the time you take your laxative, which is at 2 pm, to 2 hours before check in. So my veins had shriveled up. I saw Dr Thirlby for a quick moment before they wheeled me into the OR, I don’t remember what we talked about but he did write “yes” on my old scar, meaning he would cut it out. YAY!! Once in the OR, they had me shimmy off my nice big bed to one the size on an ironing board! Ten seconds later I was out.
I woke up in the recovery room around 3 pm. I felt bad for making my sister wait so long for me to wake up, so I “tried” to wake up faster. OK, like that was going to happen. Must have been the drugs giving me stupid thoughts. I didn’t realize that I would be getting an NG tube, but there it was running uncomfortably down my nose. They put it there so that the end inside me would be inside the stoma to keep it a certain size while it was healing. The nose hose was removed the next morning, thank goodness. It was like having a pea in my throat that I couldn’t swallow. My pain was intense when I woke up and the first thing I was asked was “how is your pain level?” I was instantly given something and felt nothing after about 5 minutes. I did have my surgery open not lap. Dr Thirlby only does open surgeries.
The next couple of days in the hospital were uneventful, which was awesome! I did get to have a private room which was fantastic. There was a TV and phone in every room as well as wifi. I wasn’t allowed to drink anything day surgery or the day after surgery. Just those delicious little sponge pops dipped in water to wet my lips and desert of a mouth. On the third day I was allowed clear fluids, an ounce every 15 minutes. Don’t order anything hot for your clear liquids, because it won’t stay that way after the first oz. I didn’t have any problems with drinking those ounces. I didn’t have any nausea at all, even before I started drinking. I still haven’t had any problems with drinking or eating foods to date. I still love water.
On the day of discharge, which was the 16th I was allowed full fluids. Those all went down well too. I did a lot of walking the halls. It felt good not to be in my bed. Especially because of my history with DVT and PE.
I was discharged at about 6:30pm. There was no rush because the nurses knew that my sister was in surgery and didn’t mind having me there while I waited for her to get into recovery. The nurses and PCT (patient care techs) are all so very nice there. Never once did they make me feel uncomfortable for being fat.—-I did hear on a show called Plastic Makes Perfect (slice network) that somewhere around 60% of nurses are repulsed by obese patients—Just thought I’d throw that in.
I got my prescriptions on the Friday so they were ready for me to pick up that evening. I had to do 2 weeks of self injections for heparin. Piece of cake, been there, done that. Mmmmm cake, haha- just kidding 
They leave some pretty nice bruises on the belly.
I did switch my hotel from the Best Western in Pioneer Square to the Inn at Virginia Mason. I will say it was a big step down, but the convenience was super. They only had twin size beds. They were low and soft. I didn’t have anyone to help me in my hotel room. I’ll be honest, it was hell. Oxycodone was my best friend! No worries, I didn’t turn into a junkie, I still have some left. I was used to the beds in the hosp with the rails to help pull myself up and over. There was nothing at the Inn, so I used the armchairs on either side of my bed, which helped a lot. I would only recommend this hotel for it’s convenience. I was there for 4 nights, 3 by myself and the last was with Steph, my sister, the night she was discharged.
On December 21 we had a car take us to the airport to head home. Ahhh home 
Checking into the airport in Seattle was just stupid. We explained to the staff that we couldn’t lift anything because we’ve just had major surgery. NO ONE could care less. I had this wonderful stranger help lift my bag on to the scale for me because the staff United Airline wouldn’t. And wouldn’t you know it, my bag was 7lbs over the 50 lb limit. Well that’s another $100 on top of the $25 it cost to check my bag. Steph’s was over too, so we ended up buying a box for $11 and checking it for $35!!! The men and women behind the counter did not want to help with the box and suitcases, they refused saying “I cant come out from behind the I might get hurt, you’ll have to ask someone out side to help” Steph finally found someone who works with the shuttle services to help, he was glad to, we tipped him well. The Spokane airport was a little better. This tiny woman for United helped take the bags off the carousel for us. I asked this nice gentleman outside to help with our bags, and he was glad to help, wouldn’t take any money. Nice to know that there are still some nice people left in the world. You know, you would think that a couple of large international airports would have some sort of customer service agents that could help out travelers who are in need, but not these ones.
Wow that was a big rant, but I guess I’m still ticked about it.
The weeks of full fluids when just fine. I really don’t mind the protein shakes, I find it fun to make them interesting. I really recommend the Torrani syrups for flavor. The mushy food stage was great too. I had no problems with the foods coming back up. The thing that worries me is that I don’t have a full sensation after eating my allotted amount. I am measuring, so I know that I’m not overeating. But I have read so much about people eating just a spoonful and having this overwhelming full feeling, I have yet to have that considering that my surgeon said that my pouch is tiny, 10 cc. Maybe my stomach nerves are still healing and I will develop that later.
Normally you are supposed to go back 2 weeks later for a check up and to speak with the NUT about the next food stage and have your staples out. But considering that I live about 8 hours from Seattle, Dr Thirlby agreed that we can have our local drs take out the staples. I had mine out 16 days post-op. I am still wearing my binder and have tape on my scar, I don’t want it to spread out. It’s nice and thin and I plan on using bio oil to help it heal. It’s about 8 inches long.
I am at 4 weeks now and I am allowed to eat what ever I want. That being said, I am choosing to stay away from all the junk food, potatoes, bread, oatmeal- really anything that is high in carbs and fat/calories. My surgeon doesn’t want this to be a diet and he doesn’t want it to be completely restrictive. He suggested my goal weight around 170 lbs. Which is way too high, considering that I’ve already bought clothes for a lighter weight than that. I am hardly hungry and have to remind myself to eat. I do have head hunger. It’s hard to break a habit that you’ve had for 25 years.
This has been an amazing experience for me and I wouldn’t change a thing. I am very lucky and grateful that I haven’t had one single complication thus far. I know that I am very fortunate to of had this surgery.
My weight loss time line:
Highest weight: 309 lbs
307 lbs when I went to see Dr Amson on March 17 of 2010.
Surgery weight: 282.0
Week 1 post-op: 272.5 — 9.5 lost
Week 2 post-op: 265.0 — 7.5 lost, -17.0 total lost
Week 3 post-op: 263.0 — 2.0 lost, -19.0 total lost
Week 4 post-op: 258.5 — 4.5 lost, -23.5 total lost
Wow, you made it this far??? Good for you, sorry it was soooo long winded. But thanks for reading 
Cheers, Sandi
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