Well, I’m sleeved.
Today is day 6 and I’m beginning to feel a little better. Still a bit sore in one spot, but otherwise able to get around pretty well.
Last Thursday, 1/6/11 I was sleeved, otherwise known as having the Vertical Gastric Sleeve operation, a weight loss surgery.
My doctor was Dr. Michael Hill (aka Dr. McDreamy) at Adirondack Medical Center. I researched weight loss surgery options for approximately two years before deciding on the sleeve. There were three other options made available to me, the Roux-en-Y, or gastric bypass, the Lap Band and the Duodenal Switch.
Each of these surgeries have their advantages and all surgeries have their disadvantages (including mine.) My goal was to select the right surgery for ME and MY body. To me, the least invasive procedure was most important. I did not want anything foreign in my body. I didn’t want my ‘plumbing’ rerouted. I simply wanted a method of restriction with the path of least resistance: VGS.
For those of you not familiar with the sleeve (as I’ll refer to it from here on out,) the surgeon removes a good portion of your actual stomach organ, approximately 75%. He takes the remaining stomach left and shapes into a long, narrow pouch or “sleeve.” The surgeon then staples and double stitches around the edge to make the pouch secure so there are no leaks. The size of my stomach now is supposed to be approximately 4-5 oz.
The surgery is perfomed via laproscopic surgery, i.e. not “open” where one would have a long, six inch scar with which to heal. Rather, I have 6 tiny incisions, approximately 1″ across in different areas of my stomach that were “ports” for instruments to be put inside my abdominals in order for the doctor to do what he needed to do inside. A camera, a scope, other instruments inserted so that the doctor may see what he’s doing and manipulate the other organs out of his way during the procedure.
I was in the hospital for 5 days and 4 nights. I went in on a Thursday and got out the following Monday. It IS a major surgery and although some doctors may only keep their patients one or two nights, mine likes to ensure there are no issues before sending a patient home. I did have a couple of complications, NOT with the surgery just my own body turning against me, which probably kept me there an extra day.
I found out I am allergic to Morphine during this procedure. I had never had Morphine before, so I had no idea. The first night in recovery I developed hives all over, especially my torso and stomach and back and face. Dry, raised, red welts that itched like you wouldn’t believe. I was also very nauseous. Â The nurse noticed it during the night and called the doctor with concern. They decided to take me off of the Morphine and try another drug for pain. I then had to go through 3 Benadryl treatments and it took approximately 3 days for the Morphine to work its way out.
My second set back was a brief blood pressure issue. My third night in, my blood pressure skyrocketed on one of my readings and alarmed the doctor. So I was kept another day and given a blood pressure medication to combat it.
My third set back was a little dehydration. After the nurses removed my IVs I wasn’t getting in enough liquids on my own, so they had to put them back in.
All is well now. Since getting out of the hospital and resting in my own bed, I feel a lot better already. So everyone always wants to know how much you’ve lost? The first week is a farce because the hospital pumps you full of so much liquid that you’re holding water. They say to give it a week and let things work their way out before you try to get a true weight reading.
Well, that’s all for now. Feel free to post questions as you please. 🙂
Brandy
aka “Sleevie”
sleevienicks 