Saturday, 13 July 2013

My gastric band surgery experience with The Hospital Group Dolan Park

 My fantastically supportive boyfriend completely exhausted bless him!
 About two hours after surgery
 The box my band came in :)
I officially have a gastric band! My dreams have come true! I am so happy!

I was banded yesterday with a 10ml band at Dolan Park Hospital, Bromsgrove. It's the hospital groups own hospital.

I arrived at my admission time which was 7am. I sat in reception area while they called everyone to there room. At 9am I was taken to my room number 10. My weight was taken. I had gone from 21st 6lb to 20st 8lb from the pre-op diet!

I settled in and waited for sometime. The nurse came in to admit me at 12pm, followed shorty by the anaesitist and Mr Richardson my surgeon. was quite a long surgical list that day so I was told I was on the afternoon list. As you can understand my anxiety level was increasing throughout the day. I had been NBM since midnight the night before so had a really bad dry mouth, and stated getting ulcers. Eventually the nurse came in to tell me to get showered, put on my paper pants and stockings.

I kissed my boyfriend good bye and walked down to the theatre with the theatre nurse who was lovely. I then went into the anaesthetic room to have the canulla placed. The anesethtisist was a lovely guy. I was then walked into the theatre and was introduced to the staff in there. I was told to lay in the table and open my gown. I laid down and placed my arms outstretched on the supports. A mask was placed over my face and I was informed of every step. I was aware of tears running down my face at the point. They talked to me while I had the mask on, then I began to feel funny and started wiggling my legs saying I feel funny, the last thing I remember is him telling me it's okay, then I came round.

When I came round in recovery, I was with the nurse who had taken me down before. I'm not sure how long I was there for. I woke up still intubated which was horrible. As soon as they saw me fighting the tube, they removed it. I was in quite a lot of pain and was seeing double from all the meds. They gave me more pain relief and I didn't feel sick at all. After a while I was taken back to my room where my boyfriend was waiting. I had oxygen in etc. by now it was 5.30 pm. The surgeon came to see me after but I don't really remember what he said. My blood pressure was very low and I couldn't drink due to the pain and drowsiness so I had 3 bags of fluid throughout the day and night.

The night nurse was not the nicest person. She seemed moody and irritated. I didn't really need that while I was in pain and feeling sick. She got irritated at me for not am drinking but when I explained I felt nauseous she said oh sorry ill get you some anti sickness.

After an awful nights sleep, I got up at 5.30am and attempted to wash myself. I was in quite a bit if pain. I then got dressed and the night nurse came in and gave me a heparin injection, painkillers and my breakfast, cranberry juice, a smoothie and a yogurt.

I struggled to get dressed on my own and waited for my boyfriend to return. Then we left it was 7.30am.

The journey home was fine. I find pressing a pillow against your stomach when you have position really helps with pain.

I was only able to have other than breakfast yesterday less then 1/4 Heinz soup and a miller light. Drank plenty of peppermint tea due to the gas pain but I slept through last night!

 Can't wait to start seeing results, I'm so full of hope


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