Re: PRESURGERY ANESTHESIOLOGIST MEETING

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In a message dated 11/16/2000 3:18:16 PM Eastern Standard Time,

duodenalswitchegroups writes:

<< A QUESTION FOR EVERYONE: Has anyone met with an anesthesiologist

pre=op? How was this arranged? Has anyone had an epidural with

BPD/DS surgery (either open or lap)? I'd love to hear about your

experiences and take on things!

>>

The day I went to Staten Island University Hospital one week before my

surgery for my pre-op testing, I met with an anesthesiologist - he told me

what was available and what they would be doing - took all of 5 minutes and I

did NOT have the same guy the day of surgery.

The day of my surgery the anesthesiologist came into the waiting area while I

was still with my family but in the bariatric bed and put an IV with fluids

into my arm. I assume there was a mild anesthetic in the liquids. About 10

minutes later I was wheeled into surgery. I got out of the bed and hoisted

myself onto the small and COLD operating table lied down and then the next

thing I remember is them moving me off the operating table back onto the bed

once the surgery was over! My surgery was OPEN and I did NOT have an

epidural - the subject never even came up. I had minimal pain the first

night and none really to complain about afterwards. The morphine pump worked

fine and I also got 2 shots of Toradol each day and that really helped.

My sister said I told her I was in a lot of pain about an hour after surgery

when she saw me in Recovery, but I don't remember that at all - although I do

remember them rolling me off the operating table onto the bed and how bad

that hurt even though I wasn't fully awake yet. I think I called the OR

people who were moving me every 4+ letter name in the book! LOL!!! From the

time I can remember which is about 5 hours post op - as I said, pain was

never an issue and I went into surgery weighing 552 pounds. I was feeling so

good 5 hours post op that I was bothering the nurses aids in Recovery to get

me the score of the NY Mets playoff game. I had them in stiches. They got

me into ICU ASAP at that point so I could watch the game myself and I did and

then they kept coming to me to find out the score! Bahahahahaha!

I was on the morphine pump for 4 days post-op and then I was told to ask for

Percoset injections if needed and I think I only asked once due to a cough I

developed and the related pain from coughing. I also got Toradol until I

went home via injection. I was sent home with Hydrocondone for pain and took

about 4 pills over 4 days and then I didn't need any pain meds at all. I

think the taste of the crushed pills in the applesauce we put them in made me

decide I didn't need them anymore! LOL!!!!

Hope this helps and GOOD LUCK to ya - hope you have an uneventful SWITCH!!!!

Debbie R.

Dr. Jerzy Macura

Staten Island University Hospital

10/12/00 - 552# BMI 81 (surgery date)

10/17/00 - 533# -19 lbs. (in hospital)

10/24/00 - 511# -41 lbs.

11/14/00 - 491# - 61 lbs.

12/28/00 - next weigh in