My surgery experience
Well, now that my friend's memorial service is over, I feel like I can start posting again. The weirdest coincidence is that she passed away in the hospital the morning I was released from the hospital. ANYHOO...here is the run down for those who might be wondering what their experience might be like.
9/1/09 Surgery
I woke up, took a shower, attempted to do something with my hair sans product, took a valium, and was off to the hospital. I arrived at the hospital 10 minutes early and had to wait outside the day surgery door with my boyfriend and all of my crap. Once someone got their I was given a gown and booties to change into, weighed, gave a urine sample and was off to go lay down and wait. They took some blood, started an IV (which took forever due to my tiny veins) and introduced me to everyone on the surgical team- that took about an hour and a half. My surgeon came in at at 8:00 I was wheeled to the OR. I got up on the table, was told to breathe through the CPAP like machine and woke up two plus hours later in recovering hurting like HELL. Apparently my liver didn't shrink as expected and he had to move that sucker around a lot to ensure a laproscopic surgery. The anti-nausea patch they gave me prior to surgery wasn't working either, so I got IV anti-nausea meds. I was in recovery longer than expected due to the nausea and pain issue. Once I was moved up to my room, I slept for a bit and got up and started walking- at least every four hours. I was shot up with Heparin (anti-clotting) that FYI burns like a mofo, more pain drugs. No ice chips, but I did bring some Ora-Moist disks: Don't buy these, they didn't work and just made this disgusting gel goop stick to the roof of my mouth. Definitely a wasted $10.
9/2/09 Leak Test
This was the bane of my existence that day. The dye made me wicked nauseous
and it took a while for the dye to work its way down. I had to drink 2 oz of this crap and my pouch was not only riding the vomit comet, but was FULL. I was shuffled back and forth between my room and xray about 4 times. Once they determined there was no leak, I was given more anti-nausea meds and Lortab. I HATE LORTAB. Lortab made me puke...violently...TWICE. Thanks to Lortab, I was going to be kept in the hospital an extra day. Thanks to Lortab, I got to find out what crushed up Vicodin tastes like- note to self, take anti-nausea prior to drinking Vicodin water. Today I also realized that my taste buds no longer liked fake lemon flavor- tasted like Pledge...either that or the hospital was making the Crystal Light Wrong.
9/3/09
Woke up feeling good. Took a shower and did my hair. Walked more than I had in the past two days. No more nausea and only took pain medication once. Was told I was going home the next day. My IV had blown and was infiltrating, so the attempt was made for another one, but after 8 attempts and 7 more blown veins (they even called people in from other areas of the hospital to help), it was decided to just remove it as I was doing well getting fluids in on my own.
9/4/09
Release day. I was told I was being released in the morning, so I had myself (hair AND makeup) ready by 10am...and the waiting began. It was a good thing overall to wait as my nurse realized that my other nurses weren't paying a damn bit of attention to the flaming red band on my wrist that said, "TAPE ALLERGY" or the large red note on my chart (they were using non-satin tape, but not paying attention to the adhesive). He was not amused and changed my dressing, making sure to use hypo-allergenic tape and to send me home with some. Turns out...it still messes up my skin. Finally after my nurse calling Dr. G's office and my boyfriend calling Dr. G's office, I was released around 1pm. I came home and within the half hour received word that one of my dearest friends, mentors, and teachers had passed away that morning. Emotionally, this has been one of the hardest processes of my life. I was hoping to see her on or around my birthday and I can't believe that the greatest woman I have ever known (outside of my mother) is gone. She would have been right by my side and I would have been right by hers had I known she was ill.
So, there's my experience thus far. I'm getting in about 80g of protein thanks to my samples of Nectar and my minimum 64 oz. of fluids. I'm walking alot. Hell, I even went to Target on the 5th to get groceries. I would say that my main issues have been tape- literally blistering and peeling my stomach, the soreness from my drain tube, and trying to not overdo it. Today I have been in bed A LOT due to the memorial service yesterday- outside, backyard, in the sun, hot, and the emotion of the situation. I survived the food deluge that resulted and good things are coming from my friend's death. My spirituality is revived and I have heard her voice guiding me as it always has.
Thank you to everyone here for the support and prayers over the past several months. Tomorrow I get my drain out and I know I will feel a bit more human after that...it's totally grossing me out.
9/1/09 Surgery
I woke up, took a shower, attempted to do something with my hair sans product, took a valium, and was off to the hospital. I arrived at the hospital 10 minutes early and had to wait outside the day surgery door with my boyfriend and all of my crap. Once someone got their I was given a gown and booties to change into, weighed, gave a urine sample and was off to go lay down and wait. They took some blood, started an IV (which took forever due to my tiny veins) and introduced me to everyone on the surgical team- that took about an hour and a half. My surgeon came in at at 8:00 I was wheeled to the OR. I got up on the table, was told to breathe through the CPAP like machine and woke up two plus hours later in recovering hurting like HELL. Apparently my liver didn't shrink as expected and he had to move that sucker around a lot to ensure a laproscopic surgery. The anti-nausea patch they gave me prior to surgery wasn't working either, so I got IV anti-nausea meds. I was in recovery longer than expected due to the nausea and pain issue. Once I was moved up to my room, I slept for a bit and got up and started walking- at least every four hours. I was shot up with Heparin (anti-clotting) that FYI burns like a mofo, more pain drugs. No ice chips, but I did bring some Ora-Moist disks: Don't buy these, they didn't work and just made this disgusting gel goop stick to the roof of my mouth. Definitely a wasted $10.
9/2/09 Leak Test
This was the bane of my existence that day. The dye made me wicked nauseous
and it took a while for the dye to work its way down. I had to drink 2 oz of this crap and my pouch was not only riding the vomit comet, but was FULL. I was shuffled back and forth between my room and xray about 4 times. Once they determined there was no leak, I was given more anti-nausea meds and Lortab. I HATE LORTAB. Lortab made me puke...violently...TWICE. Thanks to Lortab, I was going to be kept in the hospital an extra day. Thanks to Lortab, I got to find out what crushed up Vicodin tastes like- note to self, take anti-nausea prior to drinking Vicodin water. Today I also realized that my taste buds no longer liked fake lemon flavor- tasted like Pledge...either that or the hospital was making the Crystal Light Wrong.
9/3/09
Woke up feeling good. Took a shower and did my hair. Walked more than I had in the past two days. No more nausea and only took pain medication once. Was told I was going home the next day. My IV had blown and was infiltrating, so the attempt was made for another one, but after 8 attempts and 7 more blown veins (they even called people in from other areas of the hospital to help), it was decided to just remove it as I was doing well getting fluids in on my own.
9/4/09
Release day. I was told I was being released in the morning, so I had myself (hair AND makeup) ready by 10am...and the waiting began. It was a good thing overall to wait as my nurse realized that my other nurses weren't paying a damn bit of attention to the flaming red band on my wrist that said, "TAPE ALLERGY" or the large red note on my chart (they were using non-satin tape, but not paying attention to the adhesive). He was not amused and changed my dressing, making sure to use hypo-allergenic tape and to send me home with some. Turns out...it still messes up my skin. Finally after my nurse calling Dr. G's office and my boyfriend calling Dr. G's office, I was released around 1pm. I came home and within the half hour received word that one of my dearest friends, mentors, and teachers had passed away that morning. Emotionally, this has been one of the hardest processes of my life. I was hoping to see her on or around my birthday and I can't believe that the greatest woman I have ever known (outside of my mother) is gone. She would have been right by my side and I would have been right by hers had I known she was ill.
So, there's my experience thus far. I'm getting in about 80g of protein thanks to my samples of Nectar and my minimum 64 oz. of fluids. I'm walking alot. Hell, I even went to Target on the 5th to get groceries. I would say that my main issues have been tape- literally blistering and peeling my stomach, the soreness from my drain tube, and trying to not overdo it. Today I have been in bed A LOT due to the memorial service yesterday- outside, backyard, in the sun, hot, and the emotion of the situation. I survived the food deluge that resulted and good things are coming from my friend's death. My spirituality is revived and I have heard her voice guiding me as it always has.
Thank you to everyone here for the support and prayers over the past several months. Tomorrow I get my drain out and I know I will feel a bit more human after that...it's totally grossing me out.
http://theincredibleshrinkingfattie.wordpress.com/ H/W: 375, S/W: 300, C/W: 285
oh girl - i'm so glad that you're doing ok. I'm so sorry to hear about your friend. Death is hard, both of you are in my thoughts.
I had my IV blown out too - and my vein is still jacked up due to the f'in nurse that kept trying to force fluid through it. I have NEVER wanted to beat someone so bad in my life. Once that drain comes out - life gets sooooo much better!
If you need anything - let me know
Rebecca
I had my IV blown out too - and my vein is still jacked up due to the f'in nurse that kept trying to force fluid through it. I have NEVER wanted to beat someone so bad in my life. Once that drain comes out - life gets sooooo much better!
If you need anything - let me know
Rebecca
On September 8, 2009 at 12:14 PM Pacific Time, Rebecca C. wrote:
oh girl - i'm so glad that you're doing ok. I'm so sorry to hear about your friend. Death is hard, both of you are in my thoughts. I had my IV blown out too - and my vein is still jacked up due to the f'in nurse that kept trying to force fluid through it. I have NEVER wanted to beat someone so bad in my life. Once that drain comes out - life gets sooooo much better!
If you need anything - let me know
Rebecca
http://theincredibleshrinkingfattie.wordpress.com/ H/W: 375, S/W: 300, C/W: 285
My deepest sympathies for the loss of your friend. I wish you a speedy recovery; and it sounds like your are on your way. This will be an amazing journey for you, as it was for me. I think the most important thing to remember is that it is your journey--no one elses. Don't get caught up comparing yourself to others...everybody is unique. I wish you an incredible journey--you will be in my prayers.
I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of your friend. You're already going through such an emotional experience and that is difficult enough to deal with under normal cir****tances.
Thanks for sharing all the little details of your experience. It really helps us pre-ops to get an idea of what to expect. Sounds like your doing great!
Thanks for sharing all the little details of your experience. It really helps us pre-ops to get an idea of what to expect. Sounds like your doing great!
SW 233/ CW 144/ GW 145 HT 5'6"
cellodiva
on 9/8/09 5:53 am
on 9/8/09 5:53 am
Hey there girl!!! Glad to have you back on. A friend of mine recently came out with the following saying I never heard before, kind of strikes home. "BEHIND EVERY PAGE, A NEW ADVENTURE" -- it was in reference to some music we were playing and laughed at the time, but it is kind of my thought process now.
Onward!!!
Onward!!!
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