I got up yesterday at the usual time and took a shower, being very careful to clean my belly button (my husband is a former OR nurse and I've heard horror stories of the stuff they find during scrubbing!) and folds. Got dressed in loose-fitting, comfortable clothes and slip on shoes with warm socks. Luckily, I had six months of dieting before the surgery and had lost almost 30# so I had plenty of loose clothes available. We left for the hospital about 8:30 for an 11am surgery.
Check in was unremarkable, then we were sent to surgery waiting for about 15-20 minutes before being brought back to the pre-op room. Once there, I changed into the blue gown (open in the back), the calf "massagers" and the treaded blue slippers before I got onto the gurney. The gown was then hooked to warm air blower - how great is that?!?! They covered my feel with a warmed blanket and reviewed my surgery with me. There was a TV in the room and my husband was with me. Very comfortable (aside from the fact I was starving and thirsty).
A different nurse then came in and started an IV. She numbed the area first so I never even felt it.
She also gave me an injection of heparin in my stomach (that did sting a lot but it passed after 15 minutes or so) and two pills (famotidine and metronidazole) with a teeny cup of ice water. That little bit of water tasted sooo good! The anesthesiologist came in and introduced himself and asked a few questions as did the nurse anesthetist. I was ready to go!We were then informed by the charge nurse that there would be about an hour delay due to some complications with the prior surgery. I dozed a while and used the bathroom while waiting. I admit, hearing that there was some trouble with the surgery before mine gave me a little bit of trepidation but not so much that I needed the Versed they offered. About 12:15 the OR nurse came and wheeled me off to the surgery room. I scooted from my gurney onto the surgery table and they gave me a nice support for my head and hooked up the EKG. They gave me an injection and put the oxygen mask over my face and I then was out until I woke in recovery.
When I woke up, I had a really dry mouth and a little abdominal soreness but it was really not bad. The nurses kept checking on me because I would drift in and out (I was so nice and warm and cozy, it was hard not to just sleep!). I looked at the clock when I first woke up and it was about two. They transferred me back to my original pre-op room about 2:45. There I was given a sip of water (heaven!) and allowed to sit up. I asked to walk around and visit the bathroom.
I did have some shoulder pain by now and the incisions were a little sore but walking seemed to help. I walked 15-20 laps around the nurses station and they decided I could go home. It was about 3:45. Stopped to pick up the liquid pain meds and I was home by 4:30.
Only attempted water and a little sugar free jello and was in bed by 9 pm. The whole process was smooth and I am thrilled with how easy it all was. Looking forward to getting off the liquid diet next week, though!
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