Rebirth September 12, 2011

Sep 18, 2011

I had my surgery (RnY) Monday, September 12, 2011.  I am writing this post op a week out (Sunday).  I arrived at the Royal Jubilee Hospital for 6am check in and after getting my arm band and paperwork, I was ushered upstairs to the day surgery unit on the third floor.  The nurse who met me had me change into a gown and stored my clothes in the locker. I had decided to start a clear fluid diet on Sept 8 so that there would be less to purge on the night prior to my surgery. On Thursday morning, when I weighed myself, I was 228 pounds and taking tons of medication/insulin for Type II Diabetes, Hypertension, Diabetic Neuropathy, etc.  At 39 years old, I felt like time was running out if something drastic wasn't done (despite years and years of dieting).  When the nurse weighed me that Monday morning, I was 219 pounds....I had lost nine pounds in four days.  Wow.  My surgery was booked for 7:50am, the first of the morning. At around 7:20am, Dr. Amson, my surgeon, checked in with me. He started explaining the option of another surgery where the stomach would be left with a small pouch but the intestines would be reattached at a different point along the bowel. I felt panic he wanted to do this other surgery because I really didn't have the chance to look into and and/or make an informed decision. He agreed to go ahead and do the RnY as planned.
At around 7:40am, the porter wheeled me into a small holding area with several other surgical patients waiting.  I remembered telling the fellow beside me it were as if we were lambs lined up for the slaughter. Everyone started laughing...apparently, they were all thinking the same thing!  Within a few minutes, I was being wheeled down the hall to the OR and saw Dr. Amson along the way. He told me he would be there in a few minutes....no worries Doc, not like we can really start this without you!  In the OR, they transfered me to a small operating table with arms they attached to stretch me out. The Anesthesiologist started an IV and the nurses attached some devices to my legs that circulated air (to prevent post operative clots). The next thing I remembered, I was in the surgical recovery suite with nurses waking me up. I stayed there while they administered me insulin and constantly took my vitals.  My blood sugars just prior to the surgery were 6.3 and after surgery were over 14. Guess trauma does elevate the blood glucose levels. Finally, at around 5 pm, I was wheeled into the surgical short stay unit where they house 12 patients at a time.  I was told that was where I was going to stay until I was discharged. Reminded me a being wheeled into an ER unit.  For most of the rest of the day, I was OK but obviously in pain. It wasn't until later that night the pain started getting severe. I had tried to avoid taking any narcotics and only had Tylenol up to that point. The night nurse, Arminda, recommended I take some Dilotin to ease the pain and gave me a shot. That made a huge difference and I was even able to get a few hours sleep that night.

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