ObesityHelp

This post is regarding my date of surgery.

It was 4am in the morning, time to wake up, shower and get to the hospital.  I had to give a first morning urine sample to prove that I was not pregnant, and shower with anti-bacterial soap.

Once at the hospital, the pre-op nurse came and got me.  She weighed me (341 lbs.), and took me to the pre-op waiting room.  She gave me a gown to change into, and some blankets to keep warm.

She was really sweet and funny.  She went over the necessary paperwork, and said that the rest of the bariatric team should be trickling in one at a time now.  I would meet people, left and right, this is XXXXX one of the recovery nurses, this is XXXXX one of the anestheologists, and so on.   

One of the anasthesia docs came and put my IV in.  He asked a bunch of questions, but it was all good.  The pre-op nurse started me on some nexium, antibiotics, and then gave me a shot of blood thinner, and a "shot" of medication which helps with nausea right after surgery.

Then Dr. O. came in and said hello to both my husband and me.  At this point it would only be a couple of minutes until they took my back for surgery.

Dr. Martin the main anestisia Dr. came out, and then a few other team members came and wheeled me back to the OR. 

Once in the OR I was asked to scooch from the bed to the operating table.  There I was introduced to everyone (about 8 people), and then different people were doing different things to me.  One arm went one way, the other arm went the other way, the inflatable booties were put on my legs, and a strip was put on my forehead.  All along, each person explaining exactly what they were doing to me.  Then one Dr. said that I would soon start to feel relaxed, and then I was out.

Prior to the procedure (after I was out), a breathing tube was inserted into my lungs.   The next thing I remember was being in the recovery room, completely out of it.  I could hear, but I wouldn't open my eyes, or wake up.  I remember them saying that they were going to take me to my room.

While in my room, I guess I was still sleepy.  My poor husband sat there through this whole ordeal, and I didn't even acknolwedge him.  I finally woke up, about 3pm and told him to go ahead home and take care of our kids.  The next few hours I must have dozed in and out of consciousness.

At about 6pm and nurse came in and took my vitals, and asked me if I wanted to get up and walk.  I reluctantly got up and walked one time around the nurses station.

I felt pretty good after that, however my mouth and lips were dry as a bone.  My nurse said that all she could do was give me some swabs that you dip in water and rub in your mouth.  I agreed.  They were the best invention since sliced bread!!!

My mother called about 7pm and I talked to her, and then I told her to have my husband call when the kids were ready for bed, so that I could say hi to them.  (We lived long distance from the hospital, so everyone had to call me).  I talked to my kids about 8:30pm and then I rested for the rest of the night.

At 3am, the bed became very uncomfortable, and the nurse (Ruth) asked if I wanted to get up and go for a walk.  She said that she would get me a recliner/lounger.  I walked three laps around the nurses station, then rested in the recliner for the rest of the night.

The next morning, they took me down for my upper GI to make sure that  I had no leaks.  That stuff was nasty, but I made it through.  About an hour later, Dr. O. came in to check on me.  He said that my test was great and that I could come off all of the tubes connected to me, and start a liquid diet.

The nurse Rachel (so sweet), came in and removed my catheter, unplugged me from the IV, pulse ox meter, and oxygen.  That was a great feeling.  But most importantly of all, Rachel brought me water!!!!

That day I walked a couple more times.  I tried to bare the pain without the morphine drip, but Rachel said to take the liquid tylenol with codeine, and to ask for a morphine shot at bed time.  She was really a wonderful nurse.  This definately helped with the pain.

Each night, the nurse on duty would change my bandages, and empty my drain.  The drain had to be emptied a couple times a day.  They also had to measure my urine ouput each time I went to the bathroom.  

The next (and last) morning in the hospital, Dr. O. came in, said I was doing great, and that I could go home at any time.  He removed my drain, and my "packing" (which was sticking out of the main incision, the one that hurt and still hurts the most.).  The nurse (Danielle) came in and went through the discharge paperwork, and by 11am, I was on my way home.

My surgery experience at the hospital was great.  Everyone was so nice and helpful.  

Now it is up to me!  I am now on the loser's bench, and I need to follow my Dr.'s directions, rest, and sip my clear liquids for the first week.  I will check back later!!