Caryn W.
First of all...I am only 210 pounds...I am a light weight Gastric Bypasser. Only because I have Barrett's Esophagus, that can lead to cancer if the acid in your stomach is not controled. I had been on Nexium for 3 years...to control this, but with that diagnosis you can guess that it was not controlled very well. My doctor basically was not going to let me leave the hospital without having the RNY done to preserve my stomach and what is left of my esophagus. (They use your stomach to replace your esophagus if you get cancer and it has to be removed.)
I got to the hospital at 8:30 on Wednesday morning for my surgery...*San Diego Naval Hospital. I didn't get taken back until after 11:00am. I was put under and the procedure began. They removed that lap band...and nicked my stomach in the process, which was dealt with when creating my new stomach. Then...while looking at my small intestine the doctor seen I had some adhesions so he took a biopsy and sent it off to the lab and waited for the verdic...none cancerous...let's continue. He then proceeded to do the gastric bypass....lasting a total of 7 hours of me being under anethesia...coming out of surgery with a partial collapsed lung.
I was then moved to my room where I had a push button to give me meds (Dilaudid), also a cathedar, and a drain, plus that annoying IV. I felt like frankenstien.
Actually first....I felt like I had been ran over...I was in pain..but my doctor said he was surprised I only pushed my pain med button a total of 5 times...
I went in more worried about DVT's than PAIN....i feel that PAIN is WEAKNESS leaving the body. So...around 6am..I was up and walking around. (Got out of surgery at 7:45pm, the night before.) I then went and had upper GI..and a CAT scan...to check for leaks, and a possible EB...Embolism. Which was both negative..
Later Thursday...around 4-5 pm...the POWER OUTAGE happend...now that was fun...considering the generators where crazy in our building...on and off the rest of the night. More of up and walking around...and sucking on the spirator..or whatever it is...for my lung and deep breathing exercises.
I had 4 MA's and one RN try to get blood from me on Thursday..very funny...considering i was gettin' heparin you would think that would have been easy...but...no..i was not bleeding...and they couldnt hit a vein if their lives depended on it. (I am a Phlebotomist) Finally...the morning crew came in...and a new MA came in and FINALLY got my blood, after listening to me at which vein to go to.
Finally Friday morning rounds...and the doctors are giving me the ok to discharge...woohoo. LIQUID LORTAB and MILK OF MAGNESIA and I am out the door..
