Surgery & Recovery

First, thanks for all the support via the comments made on previous posts.  Always nice to have people looking out for you!

Second, I am officially "banded"!  Everything went well.  We got to the hospital at 5:45am and I was called back around 6:15am.  After they prepped me for surgery they were going to allow my mom to come back and sit with me. 

Time for IV insertion:

• Attempt #1 nurse numbs the area around the crook of my right arm (with a shot) and then proceeds to try to insert the IV.  Yeah, not working.  I can feel her digging around in there and she keeps asking if she is hurting me to which I say "no", even though she is.  Finally she gives up and says she wants to try my left arm.
• Attempt #2 repeat steps and reacations above.
• Attempt #3 nurse brings in a special ultra-violet light that she can run over my arms to see my veins better.  Nurse states "I found one!  It looks perfect".  Splendid, I think.  Let's get this show on the road.  Not so fast - nurse can't "catch" this vein either.  Ok so if you are keeping track I've been poked by a needle 3 times and had an IV needle inserted 3 times....and nothing.  Time to talk to Jesus.  So we had a little convo while the nurse went to speak to the anesthesiologist to see if he had any advice.  Meanwhile, I notice that it is nearing 7am.  Hope my mom isn't freaking out because technically my surgery is supposed to start at 7:15am and she still hadn't made it back to see me.
• Attemp #4 - curtain opens.  "Hi Amanda.  I'm Dr. WewillGetthisIVinIfiHavetoDietrying. I will be using an ultra sound machine to insert your IV and we need to move you to a surgical room".  Swell.  So I am moved into a surgical room with 3 anesthesiologists and 2 nurses.  Quite honestly, I am not sure what happened in this room because a) I couldn't look and b) they kept asking me so many questions I couldn't pay attention.  Finally after 15 minutes, the IV was in. 

At this point I think (well, I know because she told me) my mom was brought back to see me and then they wheeled me straight into surgery.  They strapped my arms down and then they put an oxygen mask over my nose and mouth and told me to take deep breaths.  The last thought I had was "oh crap, this oxygen thing isn't working either" and then I woke up in Recovery.  I was in there for about 45 minutes - don't remember much about being here either.

Finally I was wheeled into the room I started out in.  I was still pretty out of it but I can remember one nurse asking if I wanted something to drink.  Did I want soda or juice?  As out of it as I was I remember thinking "hello, idiot, I just had BAND surgery.  I can't have soda".  Luckily my main nurse intercepted and said I could only have water.

Next thing I know it was time to go home. 

As far as pain - my throat really hurt from when they removed the tube and it hurts to go from either laying or sitting to a standing position, but other than that the only other pain I have is gas pain from the gas they pump into your abdomen.

So that's it.  I'm sleeping, watching WAY too much HGTV and trying to get my protein in.  Such an exciting week!  Actually, I am beyond thrilled.  The surgery is behind me and I can move forward in my journery.  I can't wait!