deborah L.
2 months
Jan 21, 2007
Week 2
Nov 28, 2006
Weight loss
Nov 23, 2006
04/10/07 -60 lbs
06/01/07 -82lbs
Surgery
Nov 23, 2006
I got to the hospital the morning of Nov 13th at a little before 6am. Seems like that was the longest waiting of anything on this journey lol. I went into surgery at 7;30am and was not out until 2;00 pm. They took me to my room around 3pm. That is my 1st memory is waking up in my room, hurting, and being so very thirsty! They gave me pain meds in IV, why I didn't have a Morphine pump I don't know, BUT that WILL be my question Tuesday at the doc lol. I was not allowed anything but sugarfree breath mints.....so MAKE SURE that is on your "things to take to hospital list", certainly made me feel somewhat better.
My doctor is new at the DS thing. Matter of fact I am his 1st lap DS patient. Yeah yeah yeah I know......lol everyone screams make sure your doc has done at least 100 of em before you use him, well hellooooooooooo who is gonna be 1-99 then? LOL I am not afraid to die, IF it is my time I am gonna croak sitting right here, I cannot change that fact. Now I don't mean we just choose any Joe Shmoe.......but I feel if you choose a GREAT surgeon, as in my case he has done MANY RNYs the ability to do the DS isn't such a leap.
On top of everything else I am a revision which explains the extra time I was on the table. My doc had to cut the band out of my stomach as it was burying into the flesh. I have 6 incisions, all but one are less than an inch. The one on my left side-about waist line is about 2-2 1/2 inches. This is the only incision that had any pain (cut pain). This is where everything came out of ect...band, port, excess stomach.
The muscles are where the pain is I believe. Maybe the gas that they blow your belly up with too. My pain meds were given by IV morphine & Tordal (SP) on the day of surgery and the next day ( Monday & Tuesday). They also gave me antibiotics by IV those days. Weds. they took my IV away......no one has given me an answer yet about why....another Tuesday question for doc lol. They had me take Loratab by mouth.....ok that just plain HURT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was like pouring alcohol on a cut. Goshhhhhh that was tough to take, but soon I went to sleep.....LIFE WAS GOOD AGAIN!!!!!!! LOL
I am not sure how long it was before I was made to get up and walk, it was late in the night the day of surgery. I hurt getting up, but actually felt better standing and moving. Just a piece of advise.....get drugs before you are to get up.....lol it helps keep you relaxed and makes it somewhat easier I found.
I was not to crazy about the Heparin (sp) shots to the tummy for blood clots, they burn, but it goes away quickly. Those were done about 3x a day. Then there are those wonderful leg deals.......lolol the fill up with air and squeeze your legs........at first it felt pretty good like a massage.......after a while they became annoying! LOL
I seemed to have a low grade fever most of the time I was in the hospital, I have no idea why......but no one seemed concerned about it. BP was pretty dang high until I started taking my BP meds again. I was discharged Thursday 11/16. I got home and went to bed. I woke up and walked Friday morning about 1/4 mile. I have been very tired. Saturday I spiked a fever, and was achy, fever went to 102. I called doc office, had to leave message as they have a vm w/a different number but I also had extreme pain in right front portion of belly and could not get up to find a pen to call. I took the pain killer and went to sleep. I slept most of Sunday. I would try to wake up and drink......but it was hard. The drinking felt like razors going down my stomach. Doc nor I know why that was, but it is gone now. I went to the doc the following Tuesday afternoon, 11/21. He was concerned about the pain in my right side of stomach, and the fever. Dr Stewart sent me over to the hospital ER to have blood work & a CAT scan done....6 hours later everything proved to be ok.
SO BEGINS MY NEW LIFE
Oct 22, 2006
Post Date:
First I so want to thank each and everyone of you for your postings on this site. I have found the wealth of information incredible. The love and kindness shown to all is amazing!
I have not posted much on here but now is the time, and I so would like to join this "nationwide family".
I was banded
I do not even know how I came about finding out about DS. I thank God for His intervention as I am sure it was by His leading. I thank those of you that have personally discussed DS with me, and for all I learned from you.
This all leads us up to today, I have been approved for the revision to the DS. I have heard your advise to seek a surgeon that has done at least 100 surgeries, and that is great advise. I have made the choice to trust a doctor that is in
Anyway ladies & gents as it looks today I will be switched on
P.S. excuse any typos lol
