My hospital stay

This was Thursday, March 13 and Friday, March 14.

I was up early to shower with Dial soap and get all clean before going to the hospital. As figured, it was about a 7 minute drive - definitely worth the money of staying in a hotel to not have to worry about DC traffic.

We went up to the surgery floor and checked in. The guys were given a pager that worked anywhere in the hospital complex as well as a patient number so they could check on me on the scrolling patient information screens. I thought those were both nice things.

I was called back into a prep room where I had vitals taken, got to change into my stylish hospital gown and grippy socks, and then got hooked up to an IV. My IV was on my right wrist. After I was all situated, the guys got to come hang out with me.

Lots of people came to talk with me - the anesthetist, the surgeon, and a few others that I've forgotten. I got a blood thinner shot at one point so I was able to watch how that was given since I knew I'd be giving it to myself over the next few weeks at home. I had to tell lots and lots of people my name and birthday, so I got lots of birthday wishes. That was pretty sweet. Then the guys left, and I got some sedative in my IV. I remember being rolled out of the prep room, but I don't remember anything after that.

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There was a period of time between recovery and my hospital room that I was aware of what was happening, but I didn't talk at all. They've got this cool device to transfer people from one bed to another, it was like an air hockey mattress that inflated and it only took two people! Slide! Pretty spiffy.

I started coming to more and more. At some point the guys came in. I remember that I was SUPER nauseated in the beginning, but I got a patch and some zofran or something in my IV. Also pain meds. I was never on a patient controlled pump. My pain was pretty tolerable, but my throat hurt like hell. It definitely made it hard for me to talk or interact with my nursing staff. I finally got some Chloraseptic from the doc and that helped tremendously.

I started walking as soon as they would let me. The walk around my ward was probably 300-400 ft and I started off just walking to the end of the hall. Then I was up to 2 laps, then 5, and I did 7 by the end of the day. Apparently I really shocked the nursing staff with my determination - no one else in the wing was up and walking around. That made me feel pretty awesome and successful! I got to pee too, which was a weird feeling.

I was feeling pretty okay by the end of the day. I'd occasionally get a tight, hunger pang, sort of feeling in my chest/stomach, but it didn't stick around for long and I could burp a little which helped alleviate it. I was also able to spend a lot of time on this day in the chair in my room instead of in the bed. Although I dozed in and out a LOT.

The guys left after I finished all of my 9pm stuff. I opted for Zofran and pain killers before going to sleep so that I wouldn't wake up in pain in the night. I think that was a good call.

At some point too, some respiratory guy came by and gave me a thing I needed to breathe in to ten times every hour.

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The night was very broken up. I'd wake up every other hour and need to get unhooked so I could go to the bathroom. The nurse checked in on me every hour. But I did rest and sleep and that was really wonderful.

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In the morning, more people on staff visited me and I got taken down to radiology for a Barium Swallow test - i.e., the leak test. This was a true test of my willpower since the stuff I had to drink really made me want to vomit. I had to concentrate with all of my might to fight that urge. But I did, and my stomach passed muster - no leaks! Apparently I also surprised the radiology staff with my ability to stand during the test. They told me that for most WLS patients, the Barium test is the first time they've left their hospital bed, so they've got to do the test laying down. I was able to do it standing up which is supposedly significantly easier. Go me! I was feeling like a rock star.

Then it was back to the hospital room and P had arrived while I was gone. We had expected that I'd be released in the early afternoon, but I wasn't released until close to 7pm. But after the test I was cleared for liquids. Finally! My throat finally started to feel better at this point too. I had a popsicle and a few sips of chicken broth. Best popsicle ever.

At one point one of the docs came in and said that he wanted me to be up and walking before I could leave and P and I were just like, "but she/I have been walking!!!" And the doc looked a little sheepish about not having known that.

I started being able to have bowel movements at some point on Friday too. Pathetic loose liquidy ones, but it was nice to have proof that my system was working from the top to the bottom.

From there it was typical hospital stuff. Waiting, waiting, waiting. I got switched over to tylenol 3 since I was cleared to swallow things.  Finally I was free! They asked me if I wanted a wheelchair to take me down to parking and at first I said yes but then I decided why wait any longer. I wanted to get out of there and get home! So I walked down with P and he pulled the car to the elevator, and then we headed home.

I got all set up at home with my little table next to the recliner - drinks, meds, everything else. I slept in the recliner that night with a pillow on my stomach to protect it from cats.

And I think that's about it for the hospital part of things!

Congrats on a successful stay and being home to start your new life :)

Thanks!  Are you still stuck in the hospital?  Or are you free?

Welcome to the loser's bench! 

Thanks :D

Glad to hear that everything went so well at the hospital. They have awesome staff there, and it's so nice to always have a private room. :)

Ann

Thanks!  My last nurse was a bit of a flake, but everyone else was really great :D

Congrats! Thanks for all the details ! Since I never really have been hospitalized ( except for childbirth/delivery), I really felt like I was venturing into the unknown worrying about random details.  Your post helps to paint a picture for me- my date is coming up on the 26th  and now I have a better idea. I'm gonna try to do as much walking as you, too! thanks for the inspiration! 

I'm glad I could give you a better picture!  It can be a bit nerve-wracking when you don't know what you're getting into.  I'm one of those people who likes to know all the details.  

Welcome home! Your hospital stay sounds a lot like mine- pretty uneventful. I'm glad things went so well for you! Take it easy today. Congrats!