I Made It To The Other Side

I have had no energy to post but it has been 4 days since I’ve had my lapband removed! It is definitely a different experience than having it put in.

Surgery Day:
Check in was at 5:30am. The operation time was 7:30am. My husband was with me and he doesn’t like hospital settings. So he cracked jokes or said things that were not nice. I know it was because of nerves but definbdid not make me feel supportive. Once checked in, you wait till they call you back to prep you for the OR. Gown change, IV set up & overall stats done. Made me very nervous I actually started to cry. It didn’t feel like I was there getting ready for very long but I was prepping for that hour. Once my husband came back to wait he got freaked out. I think he needed a setative more than me. I asked for one right before they rolled me into OR. I just got super scared & said my goodbyes to my hubby. Not a good feeling.

In OR I moved to a table and laid at a down ward angle. I think it was because it stretched my stomach area. But felt very odd. I made small talk with one dr about why he went into what he did. Then I heard part of his answer then was out.

After I remember waking up on and off to the sound of someone snoring. I asked if I woke up like that too. But faded in and out. I was told it was about an hour. I recall the snoring man, an older woman and then another man moaning really loudly clearly in a lot of pain. They all were in the spot next to me at some point.  After my surgeon was done he consoled my husband I was okay but wouldn’t let him back until I was completely awake. That was upsetting to him.

The next step was to take you to another bed, back where the prep room was. To change out of the gowns and to get help putting your clothes back on. This is where I saw my husband. The checkout nurse then takes you to a sitting area where you just kinda chill for a bit & wait for hubby to bring car around. I walked out of hospital which was a big walk and I owe it to my meds that made me able to do that.

Since then:
I have been napping less each day, finally pooped, went from clear liquids to soft foods. The first bite of eggs was amazing. It hurts to burp or clear my throat. I am glued shut versus stitches so I can shower. That has helped greatly. It’s been a struggle but each day is better and more mobile. I’m debating if I want to even have the revision done now. It’s hard to step away from being a mom/wife duties and effects my entire family. I’ve got a lot to think about while I recover.

It’s offically Lapband Removal Month

T-Minus countdown days starts NOW!

It is September and I am offically getting nervous for my surgery date that is quickly approaching ! To have this lapband removed will be a coordinated effort between what little I can do, what my husband can take on, and then how much my Mom can step in to help out. We have 2 small children to coordinate in the mix too. Both of which are too small to understand what will happen. I’m not wanting them to visit me while I’m in the hospital. I think that would scare my eldest too much. It will all work out in the end but just this anticipation is nerve racking.

This week I see my surgeon for a pre op appointment as I’m hoping to get a clearer run down of what I need to do to prepare. I also have to do a few remaining bloodwork. Im going to make a list of questions I need to ask when I’m there because I typically forget most of them.

One question in particular I’m curious to find out is how many patients who have the lapband removed choose gastric sleeve versus gastric bypass? Another Doctor mentioned to me that 75% of lapband revision patients who choose the sleeve end up coming back for another revision to gastric bypass! That number is astonishing to me. It definitely makes me consider bypass now. I haven’t found much online about it but coming from a Doctor who sees thousands of gastric cases per year, well it makes it something to consider. I’m a bit more nervous thinking bypass could be a better option but messing with the intestines and dumping syndrome makes me timid. Dumping is still present in the sleeve but percentages are lower.

I’ll post once I learn my next step!