Good Morning. What do you remember about your first 2 weeks post-op?

The memories are getting fuzzier about what my first 2 weeks-post op were like in general. I remember a few very specific things but trying to remember generally is a little tough. Maybe just posting what I remember will jog my memory.

So, let's see... In recovery I remember waking up and not being able to breathe and fussing with the nurses about hooking up my CPAP. They had to get a tech to come in to figure out how to get the oxygen flowing through the tubes, and the tech was a little hunk of a guy. I got to my room and one of the first things I remember was my support angel standing at the foot of my bed looking a little concerned...then she took over and got me some attention from the nursing staff--a take-charge general if there ever was one. What a great angel. My first walk was solo.  The nurse was very busy so she got me up and into the hallway and said, get going, see you later. My second walk was with assistance from another very handsome nurse. Where they got those good looking guys I'll never know. lol 

I didn't see my husband until the next day. My angel had called him to find out how I was doing after surgery and he let her have it. Apparently the hospital didn't tell him how to find me, and there are 2 waiting rooms, which he didn't know. So about 9:30PM he went home in a nasty mood. That's why my angel was standing at the foot of my bed when I woke up. She drove to the hospital and found me. 

They, let me check out the next day when hubby figured out how to find me.  

Ok, I have to get ready for work. I'll continue the story when I can get back online. Y'all share your stories for our new folks to read and comment on. Have a good one!

--gina

   

I'm a lightweight with drugs too so I don't remember recovery at all.  My hospital stay was ok, great attention, but they kept pumping in fluid and I kept retaining it so I had to have lasix twice.  Had trouble keeping my O2 level up but they let me go home with a promise to use DHs oxygen if needed.  After I was home, I was fine.  Did my pain meds a few times but nothing serious.  My sister took me the day after I got home for a pedicure.  The most amazing thing was I felt no hunger at all.  None.  I did my walk, rest, sip routine.  Warm stuff did better than cold but no real issues at all.  The gas wasn't even as bad as I expected from having open surgeries before.  Of course, I fart really well    and that helps.  I had started on benefiber while I was on the liguid diet and stayed on that.  They wouldn't let me out of the hospital until I had a bm and had done a suppository.  I stuck to my program to the last item and never had any problems.  I was really ready for each diet change, but waited for each one.  It really is such a short time in the grand scheme of things and it is worth doing it right and not getting in trouble.

Hi Gina..

.My first two weeks were kinda a haze now but I kept a journal for the first year...I went back and checked it after seeing this post this morning.  I had I was confused, scared and nauseated beyond belief!  I had buyers remorse and felt terrible.  I had in capitol letters What did I just do????  Remembered going into surgery shaking like a leaf but with the hopes I was doing something positive for me!  Flash forward to today.....Glad I did it and sorry I didnt do it sooner...Have a great day!!!

I remember "fighting" my way back when waking up. I tend to wake up fast but fuzzy. And my lips were dry! After getting to the room, I was on a tear to get up and walk so I could get rid of the catheter. And THEY didn't want to let me up til someone was free to walk with me. Even tho dh was there. I finally was enough of a pain in the ass for them to get someone free, LOL.

So once the catheter was removed, I spent about every 30 mins peeing...I went into overdrive with the fluids. My night nurse made the comment that I had more output than anyone else on the floor!

The next day a good friend came by to see how I was doing. She had been thru the RNY a few years before. I also remember having nightmares and starting hallucinations...apparently they took me off one of my medications which has to be titrated off, not stopped abruptly. When I finally asked why I wasn't getting the med, they said there was no order from my surgeon. When I saw my surgeon later that morning, I mentioned it and he said HE had orders in for ALL my meds and went out to find what in the hell happened. I got ALL my meds after that. And I never found out whose fault it really was.

I also didn't care for the nurses in the unit...they were told we had to use medicine cups to sip from to keep us at an ounce at a time...I kept spilling mine on me due to my Essential Tremors and it took my surgeon's order to get them to change that. When they contacted me for a survey, I let them know what I thought of their inability to think outside of the box! I also let the Patient Coordinator know about the mishap with my medications.

I was VERY glad to get out of there and get home. The first week home, dh was still on lifting restrictions as well, so we had our pet sitter come in to help with the cat litter boxes. By the second week, I was more than ready for soft foods.

I do remember my initial weeks but this was good to do so newbies can see what happens.

Liz

 

 

 

Oh my! The little cups is stupid. How many patients would they have that could even take too many or too big of sips? None I think. I have essential tremors also although I am most fortunate to have it mild still. I count my blessings as I teach a medical skill at a vocational school and if they become pronounced, I would have to quit teaching that class (my bread and butter class). I have to take my hat off to you as you and hubby were on light duty as the same time. You made it through it - that's what counts! (I have 6 cats - not by choice but by unusual cir****tances but what a great solution to use a pet sitter)

We have 7 cats and two dogs...but ONLY had 5 cats at the time. My biggest problem was keeping them from sleeping ON my stomach.

Yeah, ET sucks pond water....

I was told i looked like I got hit by a truck right after surgery .  The pain medications pretty much did me in for the entire  four days in the hospital  but I did get up regularly to walk the floor , pee , take showers etc .  I think I was total pan in the ass disconnecting  the blow up leg thingies and oxygen to constantly to get out of bed ... but I took my doctors instructions to walk constantly very seriously .

What i didnt do enough of was  blowing into the little thingy .. and as a result I had lung issues  which were finally resolved by my walking .  

I felt amazing like nothing ever happened. Except the eating part, I remember feeling everything going down all the way through my guts. And how 1 oz of water was an achey feeling going down, oh and one day I forgot my PPI and holy cow was my tummy sick and on fire. At three weeks I was already eating soft foods , and as much regular food as tolerated. Ha looking back I love this journey, it's only been 5 months and I've come a long way. I'm 2 pounds from the doctors goal, and I've changed mine from 137 to 130! Maybe 120! We'll see. Anyway I am glad to be over the first 2 weeks. 

Ugh! I remember the narcotics and anesthesia making me sick in the first 24 hours and it freaked the nurses out how bad my dry heaves were. Then I wasn't needing any pain meds and people (nurses too) found that odd. LOL I could not twist my torso to get out of bed by myself.

I had a wonderful experience. The hospital staff at Overlake Hospital in Bellevue were WONDERFUL! I was aware of another WSL patient who seemed to struggle more with pain as I observed her during my walks (which were, by the way,never escorted because once on my feet I was just fine and walking without any issue). I walked more than I was asked to and I hardly ever had gas but I burped a boatload so as long as it got out, it was OK. Only used my pain button once or twice (I didn't pu**** my daughter did) as it was not enough pain for me to stress over. The medical staff, nurses, and aids, were just the kindest people. One of the aids was a former student of mine from years before so I had a lovely visit with her. I'm grateful for my experience every time I read about those who had trouble. I did know (from these boards) that it would be wise to bring some of my own liquids in case what the hospital had didn't agree with me. I brought low-sodium broth as I'm salt sensitive and knew from the boards that I'd be pumped full of IV fluids and did not want to retain any more fluid than I had to. My room was beautiful and the shower was like a fancy hotel room shower. I received a personally signed piece of stationary wishing me good luck in the future after my surgery. It was signed by many of the staff with lovely comments on it. I did have robotic surgery and from what I understand, although a longer surgery, an easier surgery for recovery. 

I came home and immediately started pruning and gardening. I had no hunger and had TONS of energy that would last for a few hours and then I would rest and then get up and have energy again. I adjusted to liquids very well and was moved through the stages a little earlier than the scheduled stated. I had some issues at about 2.5 months out incorporating meats into my diet that lasted for almost 2 months. Now I'm better. I did not throw up during the 2 weeks post op and maybe had a tiny bit of nausea, I can't remember.