Blog Series: Part 1 - Starting My Journey
Part 3 - Preparing for My Hospital Stay Part 4 - Week 1 of Pre-op Hospitalization
I was admitted to the hospital to begin my pre-op hospitalization on Monday, March 3. I arrived at 9:30 am and went to admissions, where I signed some papers.
High-Cost Medical Expense Benefit
During the admissions process, I provided the hospital with a "High-Cost Medical Expense Benefit" (高額療養費限度額適用認定証70歳未満) certificate, which I had previously applied for and received from my local ward office. This certificate limits your monthly medical expenses based on your income, though it can only be applied to certain expenses.
Covered by the "High-Cost Medical Expense Benefit":
Surgery
Medical tests and appointments
Not covered by the "High-Cost Medical Expense Benefit":
If the patient chooses to stay in a private room
Hospital kits (toiletries and pajamas)
Meals
TV, fridge use, WIFI
Meal replacements (you must order your own and pay upfront)
To reduce expenses, I have chosen to stay in a shared room and opted out of the hospital kit, TV, and WIFI. I packed my own toiletries and pajamas, and I have enough data on my smartphone to comfortably watch videos and use the internet.
My Daily Schedule
6:00 am - Lights on, wake up (you can sleep until 8 am if desired)
7:00 am - Before breakfast, I must have my blood glucose level measured by the nurse and record my daily weight.
8:00 am - Breakfast
12:00 pm - Lunch is served
3:00 pm - Daily rehabilitation. I must do light exercise on a stationary bike while being monitored.
6:00 pm - Dinner is served
7:00 pm - My preferred time to shower
9:00 pm - Lights out, quiet time. You can choose to stay awake if you'd like. You can move to the common seating area if you're unable to sleep or want to play games or use your PC. I usually lie in bed and watch videos quietly until I'm tired enough to sleep.
Between 9am - 5pm - Various tests must be done (see below)
My Gastric Sleeve Pre-Op Diet Plan
At this point in the process, I will be put on a strict diet to prepare for gastric sleeve surgery. I will start with 1200 calories per day with solid (soft foods) and slowly transition into a liquid-only diet (meal replacements) at about 600 calories per day.
March 3-5 - 3 meals of soft food per day, 1200 calories
March 6-8 - 2 meals + 1 meal replacement for dinner March 9- 10 - meal + 2 meal replacements for each lunch and dinner March 11 - until surgery - 3 meal replacements per day (600 calories)
Gastric Sleeve Medical Test Schedule
Daily:
Blood glucose levels are tested by the nurse approximately 30 minutes before mealtime.
Every morning, blood pressure and blood oxygen levels are tested by the nurse.
March 3
X-rays (knees, spine, chest, abdomen)
Electrocardiogram (including CVRR) (measures heart rhythm and variability)
Body composition measurement (at admission)
CT scan (detailed imaging of internal structures)
CAVI/ABI (tests the health of arteries)
March 4
Fasting blood test (evaluates blood sugar, cholesterol, and other markers)
All-day blood glucose test (blood tested 8 times during the day, plus at midnight and 3:00 am)
Outpatient follow-up examination
March 5
Orthopedic consultation (spine, to discuss the results of the CT scan)
Neurology consultation (assesses nerve health and function)
Rehabilitation consultation and exercise plan (for daily exercise while hospitalized)
March 6
Bone density test (assesses bone strength and risk of osteoporosis)
Psychiatry consultation
Lumbar x-ray (detailed imaging of the lower back)
March 7
Pulmonary function test (measures lung capacity and function)
Orthopedic consultation (lower limbs, to discuss the results of the lumbar x-ray)
March 10
Echocardiography (ultrasound to assess heart function and structure)
March 13
Abdominal ultrasound (checks organs such as the liver, kidneys, and pancreas)
Body composition measurement (before discharge)
March 14
Vascular echography (ultrasound to assess blood flow and blood vessels)
コメント