I'm home

FINALLY. I came home about an hour ago or so. I was able to have LAP vs Open. My surgeon came in pre-op and was disappointed that I hadn't lost weight to ensure a "lap". I told him that I had resigned myself to having an open and the gall bladder problems that I was having -- semented to me that an open would be in the works. Orginally I was told w/LAP I would be there till Thur - Friday at the very latest. Well I barely got to come home today -- that was only with a bunch of tears that it did happen. I had some minor (doesn't seem minor now) bladder problems. I am still having problems. The intern this morning told me that I would be able to come home today and they would either send me home w/a catheriter or teach me how to strait cath myself. I was very adament that I did NOT want that to happen. I insisted on seeing my surgeon this morning. I did not agree w/what the senior resident had to say. My nurse kept telling me she didn't know if he would be in. I was very adament that I needed to see Dr. Sunby. He had told me that he would be in to see me in the morning...and I was planning on that. He did come in...and WOW did he have a lot to say. I had a rather not so good experience with the hole thing. My depression was in full force because of it. (IE: The coordinator/diatition told me that one thing would happen and then they tell me different. Every nurse would come and tell me different and yell at me because this or that was being done). Anyway, he told me that he had talked to the Sr. Resident and had thoughts on what needed to happen. I told him I felt very strongly that by them continuing to straight cath me was going to only make matters worse. I expressed my "concerns" on how I don't "pee" only a very few times a day and that they are only giving me 6 hrs in between and that isn't a enough. He smiled and said he agreed. He explained -- I already knew this and tried telling the nurses -- that my new anatomy wasn't the same as theirs and I wasn't able to drink like they do so I will only pee little amounts. He wasn't sure what the problem was but it would be taken care of. I told him that I was positive that I have an infection and that because the specimen that was sent to the lab last night was "sent w/wrong test" now I have to do another one... SOOOO he said I could come home w/o cathing and all that jazz. That if I don't pee I need to call/be seen. Wouldn't you know it. With in an hour of coming home today I was able to pee 2 times. Hurt like heck in my side and burned too. The 2nd time there was little bit of pink/blood. I called my mom and she said I should call my PCP since Dr. Sunby is an hour away and there wasn't any chance I would turn around and go back in there. So I called the Dr. on call - who is my husbands PCP. He called the hospital here in town and ordered full urine cultures and also called in an antibiotic. He told me to take that until I hear from him otherwise (if I need a different med) I also discussed w/my surgeon something else that happened last night. I was given Elixer Beneydril for an allergic reaction that I developed from the tape and EKG strips. I immediatly got sick. Like...w/in 2-3 seconds of swalling it. I was puking my brains out. For the rest of the evening I was unable to tolerate anything in my pouch (new stomach). I was able to do very small sips of water = like if I sucked on small ice chip. He said that he would discuss w/the "resident" -- and he said "That is why residents/interns are ONLY residents/interns" Didn't help me any. If they are going to treat me they need to know the diet guidelines. I had a hard time with alot of things. One of those things was that I was not aloud to have ANYTHING in my mouth. Not even toothete to moisten it till late Wednesd. and that was only 1 oz of protien drink an hour. I mentioned to the nurse that I was given the directions of from the coordinator and the diatition of what to expect and it didn't happen...not a good experience. I also had problems getting my call light answered. It was very common to be 30-45 min. each time. One time it became serious so to say. I have very very bad veins. The IV monitor started "beeping" saying it needed air. Well....20 min. AFTER I had pushed my button someone came in. In that time I also had diaherrea (sp??) and took myself to the br even though I wasn't aloud to walk on my own. Well...my IV went bad and had to be taken out. Had my call light been answered right away that wouldn't have happened. I had a CAT scan scheduled for yesterday afternoon..>Guess what they needed an IV. After they tried few times I refused any more and they did it w/o. The scan was okay. I didn't have to have IV the last day. My dr. was understanding and the only reason he kept me was because I hadn't peed. I had an EKG because I had chest pains in recovery, an Ultrasound of my legs because one of them became swollen and extremely painful in the middle of the night on my 2nd night and then yesterday had to have a CAT scan because I had horrible pain in my side from the time I woke up in recovery. My liver was manipulated alot and so that was the problem there. All in all -- I feel pretty good. My gall bladder being taken out and the affects from that were way worse than the actual WLS itself. I have rash(es) all over my belly from breaking out, yeast infection, blisters near the insisions....but in the end it will all be worth it!! Gotta go. I have cut and pasted this and added few things from another post and my email list. I will write more later. Love, Gala

I am so sorry to hear that you had such a hard time in the hospital. But I am glad youre home now - welcome to the losing side! (Its great that you got lap - Open incisions are so ugly!) -Sherrie

by the way, I read your profile and was truly touched by your list of things you want to do - I understand!! I have done already more then 75% of the things on my preop list - you will be amazed how quickly you find your list getting checked off! -Sherrie

Welcome home Gala. I've thought about you each day since your surgery, wondering how you were getting along. Sorry you had such a stuggle. I hate to be the bearer of bad news BUT it will get worse. At least the first 2-3 weeks. You'll be asking yourself - "What in the world did I do to myself?". This is a normal reaction and I think most people go through it. You'll find yourself with a bad case of "head hunger". You'll have eaten your allotted amount of food in one sitting and you'll find yourself still hungry. You might "mourn" food. Especially at potlucks, babyshowers, refreshments, get togethers, etc. The way you feel full will change. Instead of having that "satisfied" feeling of being full and you know you've eaten well, you'll feel a "pressure" in your pouch. You'll still be hungry and you'll want to eat some more to try to get that same pre-surgery feeling of being full. If you overeat you'll You'll only be able to sip a couple sips of water and then feel like you can't drink anymore. It will be a struggle to get 32 ounces of water in each day. You'll only be able to eat 1-2 TBSP of food before you have to stop eating. These things will improve. I'm 4 months out now and I can drink a lot more normally. I can finally take normal sized drinks. I've gotten used to my "new" feeling of being full. These things take time. It won't happen in just a week. Good luck Gala and welcome home. I hope your bladder problems get better with the antibotic. One day you'll be saying that if you had it to do over again, you would have WLS all over again. Complications and all. Melody

My goodness...Bless your heart. I feel your pain Sister. I have to 2nd everything that has already been written on this site for you. You hang in there and keep up the good attitude. I'll be keeping you in my prayers that you heal quickly. Take care and God Bless Alfreda