My surgery date was December 27, 2016.  It was two days after Christmas….two weeks since I’d eaten anything “bad” for me….even longer than that since I had a soda.  I was mentally ready for this and was beyond ready for my physical body to match my mental state.  We had to be at Wake Med (in Cary) at 8:30 am.  Once I got all checked in, things moved pretty fast.  I have ALWAYS had a hard time with getting an IV started (it took SIX sticks, a fancy machine to show them my veins and four nurses to do the one for my hernia surgery!) but this time it was like magic!  Off to a good start!  🙂

I was so afraid I would be super anxious but I was pretty calm.  I know there were many praying for me and I am confident that it made the difference.  In the presence of Jesus, there is PEACE and it was mine that day – believe it!  I remember them wheeling me back and talking to the anesthesiologist and saying, “I’m not asleep yet!!!”  as if he did not know!  🙂  The surgery was pretty routine, according to my Dr and the surgical notes with their $900 words and phrases!

In the recovery room, I was very groggy and just wanted something to drink.  They brought me water and meds and I was taken pretty quickly to my room.  (It’s usual for a gastric bypass patient to stay one night in the hospital…I was SUPER worried about how I would feel so I had even inquired about staying up to three nights!!)

Once I got into my room, I felt very at ease knowing the surgical part was over.  The nurses were GREAT…my sweet hubby and my parents were right by my side.  (My in-laws were on MJ duty.)  I sipped on liquids and honestly did NOT feel a ton of pain.  That night, I even got up to walk the hall a bit.  I made sure to do it right after a dose of pain meds so that in case I started hurting, I would not be chasing the pain.  Walking was fine.  The only nuisance was that I still had a catheter so dragging that around was just annoying.

I slept as much as possible that night (as much as one can in the hospital) and Mike stayed with me.  At 6 am, they removed my catheter (JOY!) and I was determined I was going to go home that day – I was feeling great!  I walked SEVERAL times and felt really good each time.  I didn’t have to take any more pain meds at that point and I sat up a good part of the morning.

The Dr came by after lunch and I let him know that I was SO ready to go home and he agreed!  Yeah!!!  I left the hospital around 3 pm.  I was ready to get home and get on with the recovery and figure out all the planning and sipping that was ahead of me!

Personal tips –

What to pack?  My surgeon and hospital team advised me to bring my own liquid protein, so I did.  (Isopure)  Phone chargers, iPad/tablet, books/journal, picture of family, chap stick, Gas-X strips (they pump your abdomen full of air – it will get trapped – it HURTS), brush/makeup/lotion, your own socks/slippers if you don’t like the BEAUTIFUL ones they have at the hospital…the slippers help when you are walking the halls!, mouthwash/toothbrush/toothpaste, pillow, robe.