Oct. 18th Surgery - I survived, but now a setback...

So, it's been a while since I've had the desire to sit at the computer for too long, but I thought I'd stop by to give you an update. I had my surgery on Oct. 18th. My hospital call time was 9:15am. I arrived with my entourage at exactly that time. Checked in, and waited,,,, and waited... (special thanks to Linda for checking in on me!!) around 1pm, my beeper went off, and I jumped up so fast (at this point, I just wanted it to be over already), and they headed us up to the 4th floor. There I got changed into my lovely hospital gown, and booties, gave a urine sample, got a shot of heparin in my stomach, they took my temperature and my blood pressure, and I waited, not too long, just about 15 minutes. This is when my family could come in 1 at a time. I cried uncontrollably. After about 10 minutes of that, I calmed down, and before I knew it, my entire entourage was in that waiting area with me, and had me laughing a bit. Then a nurse came for me. Me and my family went in the elevator together, me and the nurse got off at the 8th floor and the family went up to the 9th. I said "Bye" rather quickly and didn't look at them as I left. We walked to a surgical prep area, where I was greeted by 2 anestesiologists, who had me lay on a table. The proceeded to have me open wide and do 'aaah' several times and played with my neck and chin for a bit. Saying nothing the whole time. I looked to the tech on the right and said "don't even tell me you are going to have to do this to me awake" and he said, yes, we do. They had to intubate me while awake - they said I had a difficult airway. I panicked, freaked, cried... you name it... and got no bedside manner whatsoever from the 2 anestesiologists. They had me inhale this stuff that puffed like smoke for 20 minutes; it numbed my throat and inside of my mouth. Then they squirted stuff around the inside of my mouth, like novacaine or something, that made me gag. Next they started wheeling me down the halls to the operating room. I kept my eyes closed because I was scared but then I opened them to see what it looked like - looked nothing like Grey's Anatomy. Next they put all of these pillows up on the operating table, then I had to assist them in moving onto that table - I kept saying, I'm not going to make it up there, but somehow I did. Last thing I remember is being propped on a bunch of pillows, with my neck hanging over them, and gagging.... Next thing I remember is waking up in recovery and them trying to get me to assist them in moving me onto a bed. Woke up in my room with them saying 'your family will be here shortly' and looked up and there they were. Cant remember much about the first night; only what the family says. They say I kept saying I needed drugs all night long, so they upped my morphine and gave me a shot of something every 6 hours. I do remember them telling me I needed to sit up on the edge of my bed. It wasn't so bad, but as I stood up, it just felt like gravity was pulling everything down. My mom and my aunt were able to sleep over with me, because I had an empty bed that night. Dr. Kirkland came in the next morning for 2 seconds, and he pointed to the green bracelet on my right hand that said "difficult airway" and said that it took 35 minutes for anesthesia to get me ready beacus of that, but that surgery went fine, no complications. He said because of the difficult airway, he may want to keep me an extra day to keep an eye on me. That day after surgery, I was also out of bed at 9am, getting washed by myself in a chair. Sat in that chair all morning; then around noon, took a walk around the whole floor, and then back in the chair until about 4pm. Felt pretty good. Friday, I was tired, and only got out of bed to go to the bathroom, which I didn't even want to do. Was tired and sore, and didn't even want to go home. They discharged me about 4pm, but I didn't leave until 7:30pm. First night at home I took a percocet, but it didn't help me sleep. Sleeping was a nightmare. Went from my parents bed, to their recliner, to my couch... back and forth. Awful. Same thing for the first 3 nights - I couldn't take it anymore. Finally made it to my bed, got on my side, propped with some pillows, and before I knew it, I was partially on my belly, with a pillow stuffed under it, and got some sleep! I called the Dr.'s office the next morning to make sure I wasn't damaging anything inside if I do sleep on my belly. She said my body will tell me what it can and can't do and I wont hurt anything inside. So sleeping has been better! I haven't had a percocet since my first night home. The week went by good. I was doing more and more on my own, even able to get in/out of bed and on/off the couch without assistance. Even showering and "WIPING" on my own by Monday! Well, showering I was able to do on my own from the beginning. Took brief walks during the day. Not much pain, just discomfort. Tolerated liquids very well. Was scared to move to full liquids - but got there with no problems. I just am very, very bored with this stage and have no desire to consume anything. No hunger whatsoever, but boy, do I want a cracker in the worst way! Fast forward to 1 week home, this past Friday night, where it was about dinnertime, I got up to go to the bathroom; and I looked down at my belly, and seen a trickle of fluid running down. So I wiped it up. Only to notice it kept running, like a faucet. It was semi clear with red/yellow fluid. I was freaking out. Called the surgeon. Dr. on call said he would like to make sure one of the internal incisions didn't open and suggested I go to the ER. Crying like a baby the whole time, we waited in the ER for 2 hours, as the fluid amount increased dramatically, when I moved, even more came out. Got into an exam room after 9pm, and the ER doc commented on how great I looked after just having surgery a week ago. She said she didn't think it was anything serious, and very common, that it could be a collection of fluid that builds up that just needs to be drained. We waited for Dr Fitzpatrick to come down, he is on Dr Kirkland's team. So it turns out that I have a seroma - it's a collection of fluid/blood that builds up after surgery beneath the skin, and is supposedly very common, not caused by anything I did. Drawback - they had to cut me open without numbing me first!!!!!!!!!!!!! They 'said' that the numbing part would hurt more than what they had to do.... If you can even believe that! So once they stuck scissors inside and cut me open again, to drain it, all this gross stuff kept coming out. They kept pressing my stomach to pu**** out. After doing that for a while, they stuck packing inside the incision under the skin, and left a small piece hanging out. Then they put lots of gauze on and taped me up; I have to pull the packing out tomorrow, and keep it covered; told me it could take days for it to finally stop draining. But they don't stitch me up again because they said it will heal from the inside-out, once all the fluid is gone. They said I don't show signs of infection, but if symptoms occur, I will probably end up back in the hospital. He said normally he'd assign a visiting nurse, but being that it was Friday night, and the weekend, that's not possible. Since I have a follow up appt. with Dr Kirkland next Tuesday anyhow, he could determine then if I still need a nurse. He said I would most likely still be draining by then. Very sore, very tired, very drained, we were home by midnight. I still didn't take a percocet. I think because I take so many vitamins and pills daily, the thought of taking another, is not appetizing! So here it is Sunday - still draining a lot! Gross. Still very, very sore. I feel like I've taken 2 steps back in my receovery and am very depressed and emotional. Need helping getting up from the couch again.

My gosh, you've been through the wringer, haven't you? Here's hoping things become more uneventful down the road! My surgery was delayed because the patient ahead of me ended up taking longer than the surgeon expected. I was supposed to be a "tricky" surgery because of my size and my sleep apnea, but I was able to be intubated while asleep and came through surgery with flying colors. Did you have open surgery? BTW, if you need something covering the drainage, sanitary napkins work really well. I know it sound weird, but my pals who are nurses swear by it. Get some rest, and take care! Kix

Michelle, I can relate to your post-surgery seroma, only too well, except mine was an infection where they removed my drain 6 days after surgery. Like you, I had to be cut open with no anesthesia, then they pushed and squeezed to get the pus/blood out; they even used a vacuum tube to get the rest of the "goo" out of me. I almost passed out from the pain, but they gave me a shot of morphine when they were done. Anyway, I went home with a sterile dressing packed down into the wound to keep it open so it could drain. My infection wound up recurring 3 weeks later, but the second time they were able to numb me before re-opening the wound. I took a strong course of two antibiotics to make the sure infection was gone, plus I had to keep the wound packed with sterile packing until it healed from the inside out. I'm super sorry you're having to go through something similar to my experience. But I can tell you that you will survive, it will heal and you will be okay! Best of luck on your continuing journey! Kellie Lap RNY 10/25/2006 396/230/165?

Kellie Sounds like your ordeal was much worse than mine... that must have been awful for you. How are you now, a year out?

Michelle, I'm so sorry you have had such a bumpy ride. Hang tough, it will be worth it, but, it will take awhile before you can appreciate it! Hugs, Lori

Hi Michelle, You poor thing, I am so sorry to hear about the problems that you had dear. I have not had the surgery yet but I am so close I can feel it. I was amazed at the fact that they intubated you awake. Now I am terrified ha ha. I have also been told that my doc may even put a tube in my nose. That really scares me half to death. I only hope that you will get better and no more problems arise for you. Keep us posted and let us know what all happens okay. Thanks for telling us about this cos I am not so much in the dark anymore. I know that I may have the same treatment because of my size. I am now around 550 pounds. God Bless you dear I will keep you in my prayers. See you later......Renee

Best of luck to you Renee I did not have to have a tube in my noise or a drain coming out of my stomach. Luckily. Keep us posted on your surgery status as well. I will keep you in my prayers.

Hi Michelle, Thanks for the reply, I am always looking for friends here cos where I am at home I never get to go outside of my house. I am totally homebound now. I did get a call today that all I am waiting on for my surgery is the consult with the doc. Hopefully that will be soon. I know that I may have lots of stuff happen to me but anything is better than living the life I am now. Hope you have a great day.....Write anytime okay? Hope you are feeling better......Renee