My Experience
I said I'd post the details of my expereince. Please don't read this if you are pre-op. My experience is NOT TYPICAL.
I had surgery on Wednesday, March 25th. My surgeon reported to my family that everything went perfectly during the surgery. During recovery/getting back into my room, I had a very hard time and got really sick. I threw up a lot of blood. The following few days were pretty scary. I ended being there 5 nights. I had major complications that required 4 blood transfusions, blood draws every 6 hours to check my hemoglobin (got down to 6.0), IV issues, food issues, and pain control/medication problems. My vitals were all very messed up and there were so many alarms and beeps I can't get that noise out of my head! We actually cheered on Monday morning when I had "rock star vitals!" My fabulous husband stayed every night in an uncomfortable chair. On Sunday night, he finally got a blanket that covered his feet! I know he didn’t sleep much and will crash soon. My 2 1/2 year old son came up for a little bit on Sunday night and all I could do was cry at first. He was afraid to even touch me, it was so difficult. By the time they left, he was touching my IV and “practicing slow walking" in the hallway with me. Today I told my husband my eye hurts and he said it would make sense since my eyes were rolled back in my head for so long! I am still passing a lot of blood, which is scary, I'm hoping that will stop soon. I had an appt. on Tuesday morning to check my hemoglobin again and to take out my drain tube (yuck). My hemoglobin was up a little more which was good news. Dr. Pierce came to my appt. himself to tell me the good news about my hemoglobin and he took out my drain. He's been wonderful. One day, he came to see me 3 times...once was at 11pm after he had already been home. The nurses were scared, stressed, and didn't get breaks because of me. They were all wonderful, and I got the big room on the right! It’s been a long, difficult recovery, for which I was not prepared. Honestly, I'm not sure if it was worth it yet. Yesterday was a better day, with less of the emotional roller coaster with the processing/memory of events. My husband even bought me a blackberry. I think it was an “I’m glad you didn’t die" present! He accepted a job (was laid off), but doesn’t start until April 13th, so he’ll be home with me until I go back to work---funny how things work out. We’re going to take daily field trips so I can walk and get back to normal as quickly as possible. Thank you again for all of your support, kind wods, encouragement and help!
Angela
I had surgery on Wednesday, March 25th. My surgeon reported to my family that everything went perfectly during the surgery. During recovery/getting back into my room, I had a very hard time and got really sick. I threw up a lot of blood. The following few days were pretty scary. I ended being there 5 nights. I had major complications that required 4 blood transfusions, blood draws every 6 hours to check my hemoglobin (got down to 6.0), IV issues, food issues, and pain control/medication problems. My vitals were all very messed up and there were so many alarms and beeps I can't get that noise out of my head! We actually cheered on Monday morning when I had "rock star vitals!" My fabulous husband stayed every night in an uncomfortable chair. On Sunday night, he finally got a blanket that covered his feet! I know he didn’t sleep much and will crash soon. My 2 1/2 year old son came up for a little bit on Sunday night and all I could do was cry at first. He was afraid to even touch me, it was so difficult. By the time they left, he was touching my IV and “practicing slow walking" in the hallway with me. Today I told my husband my eye hurts and he said it would make sense since my eyes were rolled back in my head for so long! I am still passing a lot of blood, which is scary, I'm hoping that will stop soon. I had an appt. on Tuesday morning to check my hemoglobin again and to take out my drain tube (yuck). My hemoglobin was up a little more which was good news. Dr. Pierce came to my appt. himself to tell me the good news about my hemoglobin and he took out my drain. He's been wonderful. One day, he came to see me 3 times...once was at 11pm after he had already been home. The nurses were scared, stressed, and didn't get breaks because of me. They were all wonderful, and I got the big room on the right! It’s been a long, difficult recovery, for which I was not prepared. Honestly, I'm not sure if it was worth it yet. Yesterday was a better day, with less of the emotional roller coaster with the processing/memory of events. My husband even bought me a blackberry. I think it was an “I’m glad you didn’t die" present! He accepted a job (was laid off), but doesn’t start until April 13th, so he’ll be home with me until I go back to work---funny how things work out. We’re going to take daily field trips so I can walk and get back to normal as quickly as possible. Thank you again for all of your support, kind wods, encouragement and help!
Angela
Oh my gosh, you poor thing! That does sound very stressful... Did they diagnose the reason for your losing/passing so much blood?
I'm glad you shared your experience here, and I have no doubt there WILL be pre-ops that read it. Maybe it will scare them away from having WLS, maybe it won't. But there ARE risks to this surgery, as with any other surgery, and no one should look at WLS through rose-colored glasses. The complication rate is pretty low, but obviously, things DO happen!
The good news is that those complications are usually pretty fixable, and YOU, and countless others, WILL reach a point where you do NOT regret having had this surgery. I would even venture a guess that someday down the road, when you're a shadow of your former self, you'll say without hesitation that you'd do it again - even knowing ahead of time you'd have the same complications!
There are a few here who have had their own "horror" stories, who will share their perspective, but let me just say - WELCOME TO YOUR NEW LIFE!!!
I'm glad you shared your experience here, and I have no doubt there WILL be pre-ops that read it. Maybe it will scare them away from having WLS, maybe it won't. But there ARE risks to this surgery, as with any other surgery, and no one should look at WLS through rose-colored glasses. The complication rate is pretty low, but obviously, things DO happen!
The good news is that those complications are usually pretty fixable, and YOU, and countless others, WILL reach a point where you do NOT regret having had this surgery. I would even venture a guess that someday down the road, when you're a shadow of your former self, you'll say without hesitation that you'd do it again - even knowing ahead of time you'd have the same complications!
There are a few here who have had their own "horror" stories, who will share their perspective, but let me just say - WELCOME TO YOUR NEW LIFE!!!
Imperfect does not = unsuccessful
Hi Angela,
Wow, what an eventful recovery you have had so far! I'm glad to hear you are home with your husband and are taking care of yourself. Did the surgeon say what caused you to lose so much blood? I'm sure in not time you will think that this was totally worth it, sometimes there are just more bumps along the way.
Thanks for sharing your experience. Everybody can be so different.
Take care of yourself and nice to have your husband home until you go back to work. Everything is falling just in the right places for you!
Stephanie
Wow, what an eventful recovery you have had so far! I'm glad to hear you are home with your husband and are taking care of yourself. Did the surgeon say what caused you to lose so much blood? I'm sure in not time you will think that this was totally worth it, sometimes there are just more bumps along the way.
Thanks for sharing your experience. Everybody can be so different.
Take care of yourself and nice to have your husband home until you go back to work. Everything is falling just in the right places for you!
Stephanie
Wow Angela - what a story! I am so sorry that things went so poorly for you! I guess the good thing is you didn't die, and you are here to tell a survivor story! Plus you did get the tool you need to get even healthier over time. I am also curious as to what the reason was for the bleeding - did something rupture? I shudder to think of how scary that must have been for you and your family.
Rest and heal - it will get better from here.
Amelia
Rest and heal - it will get better from here.
Amelia
Angela,
WOW.......Not a good way to start out, huh? I'm glad that all is getting back to normal.
Your poor hubby must have been so worried......A Blackberry....Nice guy......
I'm sure in time when you start melting away, you will say it was all worth it in the end..
Take care and healing vibes to you.......Kelly
WOW.......Not a good way to start out, huh? I'm glad that all is getting back to normal.
Your poor hubby must have been so worried......A Blackberry....Nice guy......
I'm sure in time when you start melting away, you will say it was all worth it in the end..
Take care and healing vibes to you.......Kelly
Angela,
I am so, so sorry to hear that you had such an awful start to a truly wonderful journey! I had a rough start myself - but certainly nothing like yours. I myself say and I have heard many others say this as well, that it was all worth it and I would do it all over again. It's hard to see right now - but give it a few months and you, too, will be saying this.
I'm glad to hear that Dr Pierce was as wonderful to you as he was for me - he truly has a great talent and bedside manner!
I prayer that you will continue to recover and that both you and hubby and get some much needed rest in the next couple of weeks.
Sending positive thoughts and hugs,
I am so, so sorry to hear that you had such an awful start to a truly wonderful journey! I had a rough start myself - but certainly nothing like yours. I myself say and I have heard many others say this as well, that it was all worth it and I would do it all over again. It's hard to see right now - but give it a few months and you, too, will be saying this.
I'm glad to hear that Dr Pierce was as wonderful to you as he was for me - he truly has a great talent and bedside manner!
I prayer that you will continue to recover and that both you and hubby and get some much needed rest in the next couple of weeks.
Sending positive thoughts and hugs,
Teri 
Angela, I'm so happy to hear you're on the road to recovery. I agree with Darla, pre-ops need to read these kinds of posts too because complications do happen and they need to be prepared for that too., It sounds like you're in very good hands with your doctor and husband. With our prayers added in, you'll be thankful very very soon that you went through it all.
Hugs,
Edi
Hugs,
Edi
Highest: 349
Lowest: 175
Surgeon's Goal: 189
My Goal: A healtier happier me!!
2014 update...regained but haven't lost faith.
((((((Angela))))) How scary for you and your family!! So glad things are better for you now. Glad DH will be home to help you. With a 2 1/2 year old you might want to think about help when he starts his new job (YEAH for him!). It might take a while before you are firing on all burners. The worst (hopefully) is over. Now remember, lots of TLC as you heal. Small steps and don't overdo. I speak from experience! Peace to you and your family.
Hi Angela-
I'm so sorry that you have had such a rough journey to start with. Things will only get better from here! Just remember, the best is yet to come and if you can come out of your post-op experience with a positive attitude you can do ANYTHING you set your mid to do.
Glad to har that your hemoglobin is on its way back up- that will help you more than you can know. Keep doing all the things Dr. Pierce tells you to do, and most importantly remember to sip, walk, sip, walk, smile, laugh, sip, walk, love, smile, sip, walk..........
Hope to see you soon!
Reenie
I'm so sorry that you have had such a rough journey to start with. Things will only get better from here! Just remember, the best is yet to come and if you can come out of your post-op experience with a positive attitude you can do ANYTHING you set your mid to do.
Glad to har that your hemoglobin is on its way back up- that will help you more than you can know. Keep doing all the things Dr. Pierce tells you to do, and most importantly remember to sip, walk, sip, walk, smile, laugh, sip, walk, love, smile, sip, walk..........
Hope to see you soon!
Reenie
Most Active
Recent Topics
