Cindy F.
January 17, 2013 - Pre-Admission Testing
Jan 18, 2013
I got the call on Tuesday, January 15th, that my surgery is scheduled for Tuesday, February 5th - in 3 weeks!! Pre-admission testing was scheduled for January 17th, so a very fast turn-around time. I was told my surgery was 9 am but Monique clarified that I have to be there for 9 am and the actual surgery is 11 am.
When you arrive at the hospital, you go to information, they direct you to pre-admission testing, they'll sign you in, give you your hospital bracelet like when you visit the bariatric centre, a list of tests and send you to see Monique. I was with her for about an hour and went over many forms, again, getting vitals taken. The respiratory therapist came in to show me how to use the device they use after surgery for clearing your lungs (one of those clear plastic machines with the balls in it, that you blow into and make the balls rise). Monique went over many of the risk factors and signs of trouble you may encounter after surgery (fever is a sign of a leak, and a warm red lump on your calf is a sign of a blood clot in your leg that can travel up through your body, and laboured breathing a sign of one in your lungs). She reviewed the do's and don't's after surgery and what to expect.
I then met with Rinette who went over the diet plan pre and post op. This was more interesting then when it was reviewed during the all-day info session. She talked about the importance of the various stages and why doing the pureed stage is needed to help the stomach adjust to some consistency. Some try to go right from liquids (and do liquids during the pureed stage) to soft foods and their stomachs don't always adjust or handle it well. She gave me the information for the shakes and gave me a sample. She noted that it's easier on your body if you can start decreasing calories / meals in advance of the 2 week pre-op diet. It's not such a shock to your body when you drop down to 900 calories (I think that's what the count was) per day.
From here, I went for blood work, x-rays (which took an hour and a half! the wait was crazy) and ECG (literally only 5 minutes with maybe a 5 minute wait). I began with Information at 10:00 and ended my day with the ECG at 2:00. It was a full, intense day! I ordered my shakes before leaving and the vanilla was back-ordered (which I wasn't happy about!!) so I ordered chocolate shakes and some bars. They assured me they should be here on Monday, in advance of starting on Tuesday.
My appointment for the pre-op weigh-in (to confirm I'm losing weight and following the shake diet) is Tuesday, January 29th, one week after starting the shakes and one week before surgery. I figured out that it will be 5 trips to Moncton (from Charlottetown) in the next 9 weeks!
