Re-cap of week one

written yesterday for my profile Here is a recap of my first week as a post-op as I recall: 6-21: 0430 leave for hospital 0530 arrived at hospital, go to pt registration............... 0600 get taken back to room in pre-op holding, IV, TED stocking, heparin shot, I tell them I think they have the wrong bed, ins will not pay for the big bed at my weight. I'm trying to stay calm, just wishing they would hurry up so hubby could come back to the room. Have to switch beds to the regular one. 0700 finally bring hubby and step-son in but it's almost time to go, not thrilled about that. 0710 leave for the OR, stay on the bed in the hall for a while, I'm doing real well with my nerves, kinda dosing (NO drugs at this point) 0720 go into OR, use the air-pal to slid my onto the OR table, talk with anesthesiologist, Dr Burry comes in and asks if I still want to do this and I say yes. That is the LAST thing I remember until after being in my room for about an hour. 0730 Lap RNY 1015 hubby is informed that surgery is over, everything went fine, a little while later Dr Burry comes out to talk to him. 1145 get to my room........sometime after that I vaguely remember a bunch of the folks from my unit (I work one floor up) coming in and out. Use my PCA just in case. Just keep thinking this bed is uncomfortable. 1900 I realize the air-pal is still under me on the bed and I'm leaking around the JP drain so everything is wet. I'm thinking I should get up anyway. So I stand for them to change the linens and stuff. Walked next door to my surgery buddies room, they tell me I was pretty out of it at the time. Sent hubby home at some point, not sure when. One of the best things about my stay is a friend of mine that had the surgery was my day-tech the whole time I was there. THANKS for everything Tammy. Can only have ice chips. Called my sis to let her know I was more alive than the first time she called right after surgery. Called hubby again. 6-22: 0100 ready to get up and walk so I stop using the PCA for a while. Walked around the unit then had one of my buddies from my unit come and walk with me to my unit. Took my ice, cath and IV pole up to my unit to visit for about a half hour. 0800 Hubby came back the next day, left step-son at home. Doc came by. 0900 went down for leak test, that stuff was nasty, kinda gross the first thing you can drink is yellow and vile and more than I'm supposed to drink at one time. After can't start on liquids until they call and get an order. Hubby walks with me every few hours. I can finally drink clear liquids. I'm amazed at how good I feel. I'm a baby and only used the PCA 2 or 3 times all day on Wed. Hubby slept on the hard couch and I slept in the uncomfortable bed. 6-23: 0700 full liquids today, they bring me some luke-warm vanilla CIB GROSS Dr Burry comes by a little later and starts talking about anatomy of the stomach so I think he is going to tell me something was a little off. Well, he tells me I have a beautiful pouch, he says he may not always remember my face but he will always remember my pouch, LOL, he probably says that to all the girls. Get the IV out, then the JP drain OUCH. I'm out the door by 10 am. My sister Cindy came down that day to stay with me. Got my Lortab liquid. Didn't do too well that day getting my fluids and protein in. 6-24: Protein 60 grams Fluids 34 oz 6-25 Protein 82 grams Fluids 61 oz 6-26: Protein 82 grams Fluids 62 oz 6-27: Protein 76 grams Fluids 82 oz went to WalMart and walked around for about a half hour 6-28: So far 48 oz fluid and 53 grams of protein. Bad thing has been the heat, haven't been able to get out and walk. Sister went home this morning; hope she wasn't too bored I couldn't do much. The only pain meds I've taken since coming home has been one dose of the Lortab before bed, stopped that last night. I just have an occasional twinge or stabbing pain in the same place, just left of the belly button. The drain site is not leaking anymore. If the bloating from the surgery gases (not mine, LOL) would just go away I'd be a happy camper. My favorite protein drink is EAS Advantage vanilla, 6 oz h2o, a teaspoon of instant decaf and one equal. I drink 3 of these a day, with 22 grams of protein per drink, more if using skim milk, but it tastes the same to me with water or milk. I have tried samples from BariatriceEating.com but haven't found any I care for yet. As I type this I'm still stuffed from the ½ cup instant taters I had for supper. I see the doc on Thursday and should be changed to the pureed stage, what fun........ 6-29 Had a real BM this morning

I'm glad things have gone so well for you! Keep up the good work. Had an appeal meeting with my insurance which we ended because my attorney would not be allowed to speak. We are filing a complaint with the department of labor. I hope to be where you are within the year. Caryl

Good luck Diane, I hope you feel as great as I do in 2 weeks, I am totally amazed at how well I feel. I was approved for 6 weeks of short term disibiliy and I plan on taking every day of it. Actually my doc said I probably could go back at 4 week on restricted lifting but I work on an ortho floor so that's really hard to do. And since my hosp ins wouldn't pay for my protonix, they can pay for 6 weeks short term disibility, to look over you and your doctors and nurses

Ahhhhhhh...........guilt, the thing that makes nursing great It's not your fault your unit is short staffed, mine either. This surgery is the first step in taking care of ourselves!!!!!! We can NOT take care of our patients if we can't take care of ourselves.

Hi Sandra and everyone else. I have been an RN for 24 years fighting weight since childhood I laughingly say I was born a 6x. I am scheduled for surgery on the 25th of July. I too am having a lap RNY and I hope it goes as well as yours Sandra. Take care everyone Lori Malady Maryland