I've been sprung... (long)
I had my surgery at 8:00 on Thursday morning and am happy to report that I was sent "home" yesterday. I'm sticking around Hamilton for a couple more days just to play it safe. As my wonderful angel, Sher1ock, can attest to, Marathon really is in the middle of nowhere so I thought remaining near St. Joe's for a few extra days would be prudent.
This whole experience has been nothing like I would have expected. The nerves never really kicked in. Even when I was being prepped in day surgery I felt like it was happening to someone else. I have nothing but the greatest respect for everyone at St. Joe's. I was made to feel at ease at each and every step of the process. I met my anesthesiologist, Dr. Dauphin, about an hour before surgery and he really set the mood for the entire day. He was super friendly and I trusted him immediately. As an obese person I sometimes feel "less than" and judged by others. I'm thrilled to say that I felt none of this from the staff at St. Joe's.
Dr. Dauphin prepped me for anesthesia and Dr. Gmora's super smiling face greeted me. "Any questions?" he asked. I simply asked him if he had a good night's sleep the night before and he assured me he did. Dr. Dauphin then placed the mask over my face and said, "Relax and we'll see you soon." I semi-woke in recovery. I remember feeling nauseated but the staff were very adept at getting rid of it. I moved to my room between noon and 1:00. I spent a little extra time in recovery because of the nausea.
What I remember:
1. I had, and still have, NO pain. I didn't feel any kind of surgerical pain, no gas pain, no back pain - NOTHING! I asked Dr. Gmora if he actually did anything and he assures me the bypass was done. The four small incisions are there but that's my only proof.
2. Thankfully, I was able to void almost immediately post op. I've had issues in the past where I needed to be catheterized because my bladder just wouldn't empty. The first nurse I had was wonderful. She told me just to relax and wait (don't force) and it would happen... and she was right! The real urge to urinate only returned yesterday and I'm happy to feel that sensation.
3. I had one issue on Wednesday night. Even though I wasn't having any pain, I wasn't too anxious to experience it so I did accept pain meds a couple of times a day. Once I was allowed to start sipping, the nurses brought me Tylenol Elixor for pain control. It was strong tasting and syrupy. I didn't enjoy it AT ALL! I managed it the first time but on Wednesday night I thought I was going to die after I took it. I couldn't even manage the 15 mL they gave me. About an hour later I felt so nauseated and remained that way through the night. I wa**** with a ton of anti- nausea meds and it finally calmed down at about 4:00 a.m. I thought for sure they would keep me in the hospital an extra day because I completely stopped drinking after I took it. Dr. Gmora came to see me yesterday morning and tells me, "Ah... I think I know what happened.... There's sugar in the elixor and it sounds like you dumped." DUMPED??? One day post op and I dumped already??? He was thrilled - me, not so much at the time but, as he explained, "Try to remember that experience when you're tempted to reach for a cupcake."
4. I really don't feel like I had surgery at all but I think the anesthesia is playing with my mind. I'm finding it difficult to concentrate on things for more than a few minutes at a time. Reading is a real struggle and I'm a voracious reader so that's a little annoying. I presume the fogginess will abate with a little more time.
5. There were four of us having surgery on the same day. I met Patrick and Kerstin Jane as well as another woman who knew nothing about OH. It was nice to put faces to the names. I was the only one released yesterday but I expect Patrick to be sent home today and Kerstin tomorrow.
I'll make an effort to get in some real walking today. I think we'll head over to a mall somewhere. I've been sipping but it's a real effort - especially the protein. My goal is to get in a minimum of a litre today (but hopefully more.) I finally understand what everyone means by eating/dinking being a chore. I find it hard to believe that I ever found eating an enjoyable experience. For the moment it feels more like work.
Thanks to everyone for their well wishes and their support. A super special thanks to my angel, Janet, for going above and beyond the call of angel duty. I'll keep you all posted as to my progress.
Thea
This whole experience has been nothing like I would have expected. The nerves never really kicked in. Even when I was being prepped in day surgery I felt like it was happening to someone else. I have nothing but the greatest respect for everyone at St. Joe's. I was made to feel at ease at each and every step of the process. I met my anesthesiologist, Dr. Dauphin, about an hour before surgery and he really set the mood for the entire day. He was super friendly and I trusted him immediately. As an obese person I sometimes feel "less than" and judged by others. I'm thrilled to say that I felt none of this from the staff at St. Joe's.
Dr. Dauphin prepped me for anesthesia and Dr. Gmora's super smiling face greeted me. "Any questions?" he asked. I simply asked him if he had a good night's sleep the night before and he assured me he did. Dr. Dauphin then placed the mask over my face and said, "Relax and we'll see you soon." I semi-woke in recovery. I remember feeling nauseated but the staff were very adept at getting rid of it. I moved to my room between noon and 1:00. I spent a little extra time in recovery because of the nausea.
What I remember:
1. I had, and still have, NO pain. I didn't feel any kind of surgerical pain, no gas pain, no back pain - NOTHING! I asked Dr. Gmora if he actually did anything and he assures me the bypass was done. The four small incisions are there but that's my only proof.
2. Thankfully, I was able to void almost immediately post op. I've had issues in the past where I needed to be catheterized because my bladder just wouldn't empty. The first nurse I had was wonderful. She told me just to relax and wait (don't force) and it would happen... and she was right! The real urge to urinate only returned yesterday and I'm happy to feel that sensation.
3. I had one issue on Wednesday night. Even though I wasn't having any pain, I wasn't too anxious to experience it so I did accept pain meds a couple of times a day. Once I was allowed to start sipping, the nurses brought me Tylenol Elixor for pain control. It was strong tasting and syrupy. I didn't enjoy it AT ALL! I managed it the first time but on Wednesday night I thought I was going to die after I took it. I couldn't even manage the 15 mL they gave me. About an hour later I felt so nauseated and remained that way through the night. I wa**** with a ton of anti- nausea meds and it finally calmed down at about 4:00 a.m. I thought for sure they would keep me in the hospital an extra day because I completely stopped drinking after I took it. Dr. Gmora came to see me yesterday morning and tells me, "Ah... I think I know what happened.... There's sugar in the elixor and it sounds like you dumped." DUMPED??? One day post op and I dumped already??? He was thrilled - me, not so much at the time but, as he explained, "Try to remember that experience when you're tempted to reach for a cupcake."
4. I really don't feel like I had surgery at all but I think the anesthesia is playing with my mind. I'm finding it difficult to concentrate on things for more than a few minutes at a time. Reading is a real struggle and I'm a voracious reader so that's a little annoying. I presume the fogginess will abate with a little more time.
5. There were four of us having surgery on the same day. I met Patrick and Kerstin Jane as well as another woman who knew nothing about OH. It was nice to put faces to the names. I was the only one released yesterday but I expect Patrick to be sent home today and Kerstin tomorrow.
I'll make an effort to get in some real walking today. I think we'll head over to a mall somewhere. I've been sipping but it's a real effort - especially the protein. My goal is to get in a minimum of a litre today (but hopefully more.) I finally understand what everyone means by eating/dinking being a chore. I find it hard to believe that I ever found eating an enjoyable experience. For the moment it feels more like work.
Thanks to everyone for their well wishes and their support. A super special thanks to my angel, Janet, for going above and beyond the call of angel duty. I'll keep you all posted as to my progress.
Thea
Want to join the CRAZY TransCanada Challenge?? Just message me. Here's a link to the rules: http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/on/4570778/REPOST-The-CRAZY-TransCanada-Challenge-Rules/
is Gailupnorth.
The a, glad to hear all went well. Don't overdo it at the mall. Had a similar experience of dumping when I was at home. The codeine the hospital prescribed for me is not a bariactric friendly syrup. If you have nothing to do in Hamilton, the art gallery (free admission) has a new exhibit of William Kurilek's work. He's more of a prairie boy but I think he also did some work up on northern Ontario. Whatever though, take care and take it easy.
Diana
Take it easy while you recover. You may not have pain but that doesn't mean you push yourself. Rest when you need to. 
So glad you're doing so well. I, too, had minimal surgical pain, but I did suffer from gas pain under the ribs, and you're very lucky to not have that one. Sounds like you're off the a great start! We should talk about Marathon - my cousin and her family live there, I'll bet you know them!
Had RNY surgery July 22/11, St. Joe's Hamilton, with the awesome Dr. Scott Gmora. Had abdominoplasty August 2/13, Scarborough, with equally awesome Dr. Michael Kreidstein.
So glad you were discharged and everything went so well. You certainly made my first shot at "angel duty" a breeze. Keep us posted, and we look forward to seeing you in Ottawa in due course.
Walk, sip, fart, walk, sip, fart...
If you don't have one, pick up pedometer at the mall...a few more steps every day.
... remember - you will stall!
Walk, sip, fart, walk, sip, fart...
If you don't have one, pick up pedometer at the mall...a few more steps every day.
... remember - you will stall!
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