Finally home from my RNY (2/28)! 2nd trip back to hospital due to complication

Hey there-I JUST now got home from the hospital. The surgery went well on Thursday and I was doing fine. Of course I was sore and in pain but that was normal. The pain was like what I felt after my two c-sections.  It is frustrating because it is so hard to get out of bed when you are hurting like that. You just don't realize how much you use your stomach muscles. But each day-the pain is less and less.

 So they sent me home on Friday. I started running a fever on Friday night and into early Saturday morning. My husband called the doctor and he told me to go back up to the hospital to the ER. So we went and waited and waited and waited and waited. Ugh!! I was in a lot of pain and feeling horrible because I was achey with fever and the ER is just an incredibly uncomfortable place.  Also during that time-my bowels decided to start getting active.  So it sounded like I had volcanos erupting in my stomach.

They did a chest x-ray, which showed a little bit of pneumonia in my left lung (which can sometimes happen after surgery). So they started me on iv antibiotics in the ER. Anyway-they also did an upper gi to test me for a leak (which can be a serious complication). They admitted me to the hospital and told me that the doctor would talk to me in the morning regarding the upper gi results. I was sort of freaking out because I know exactly what a leak means--that they would have to go in AGAIN and fix it. And the LAST thing that I wanted was to have surgery again. The thought of it just made me cry. So we spent Saturday night in the hospital. I was just weak and exhausted.  I was not allowed to drink anything-which was also scaring me because it made me think that they were prepping me for surgery.

Fortunately the doctor came by early Sunday morning and said that there was no leak and that  the pneumonia  was causing the fever. So-they kept me one more night (last night-Sunday) and I got a bunch of iv antibiotics. My wbc count is now normal! Yea!! And I came home today! I am so, so glad to be home!

So my advice to my pre-op friends is this:  do your deep breathing exercises with that apparatus that they give you. (not sure what it's called?) All of the nurses and the doctor told me that it was so important. And I admit-I had not been very good about using it right after surgery.

So far, though, everything else is going well. I'm not having trouble with nausea or drinking, etc.  I am now back to my full liquids diet so I am focusing on getting my liquids/protein in.

Thank you all so much for your support! This board has been so incredibly helpful to me!!

Hugs,

Pam

Pam,

I am so sorry to hear this! I am glad that it wasn't a leak and they were able to give you the medicine that you needed  and are on the mend.

I pray that the rest of your journey is a smooth one!

Take care,

Thank you so much! How has your recovery been?  I see that you had surgery the day before me! :)

The device is called an incentive spirometer and since I used to be a respiratory therapy tech I know all about how important they are for preventing pneumonia. It's a simple device that just takes a few seconds to use and keeps your lungs expanded and clear. At least you caught it early and are on the mend!

Thank you Karen! Now I know what to calI  it!!  That is so crucial to do those deep breathing exercises!!

So sorry you had a rough start but glad you are now on the upswing! I had my RNY on 2/27 and I'm doing good - feeling better every day, which I know you will as well!  Spirits up!

Thank you so much, Chrissy! Now that I'm on the mend-it is amazing how much better I feel with each day!!! I LOVE that I can now get myself up and out of bed so much more easily now. Can't wait to hear more about your journey!!

Hugs,

Pam

Hope the rest of your recovery goes smoothly.  I used to work in cardiopulmonary and have not bothered with my breathing exercises and surgery is the 13th.  I better get cracking!!!

Great testimony. Thank you and be well!