curvalicious1
Hospital stay
Jan 25, 2010
On January 19, I went in to the preop area and had my labs drawn. I also met the anesthesiologist, Dr. Roslin and the PA that works with him. I was nervous as a box of rocks. My family was able to be in the preop area with me. My DH and daughter kinda kept my mind busy. My daughter is 2 and I wasn't really sure they was going to let her in but I'm glad they did. I was in that area for about an hour. Then I walked back to the OR and got on the table. Next thing I know I'm in the recovery room looking under my gown to make sure I had the surgery. I had no pain (at first) and felt like my normal self. I was so surprised. I thought something happened and I was unable to have the surgery...lol. Doc came in and let me know my surgery was very straight forward. It took 3 hours. He took out my gallbladder and appendix. I thought he was going to do a hernia repair but he didn't see one. Anyway I was happy that things turned out ok.By the time I got to the floor I was having pain about every two hours. Then I asked the PA about a pain pump. Then she noticed I didn't have one and it was supposed to be ordered for me but no one called the consult for the pain Doc. I wasn't upset, being a nurse I know crazy stuff happens like that all the time. So they called the pain Doc and I was very happy. That night I wasn't up to walking around but I did sit on the side of the bed a few times.
The next day I was up early because I had to do my upper GI to check for any leaks. Yeaaaaa, no leaks and I can eat ( or drink rather) Clear liquid diet for my entire stay. Ouch! I don't recall the pain of gas being like this. If any air is swallowed it hurts like hell.I never knew I swallowed air until now. Ouch.
Anyway ,they decided to pull out my foley around 1p and I noticed I wasn't peeing adequately. I know every one is different but I was starting to get short of breath when I moved around. I asked my nurse to call the resident to let him know of my issue. They decided to do a fluid challenge ( or a bolus of fluid thru my iv.). It didn't work. I asked the nurse to ask for a diuretic. The resident was afraid to order it and I had to wait till morning rounds. I thought OK in the morning is OK, it is 3am now, so that's just a few hours.
Get this... When the team came in I let them know I need some lasix and that I was fluid overloaded and having difficulty breathing when I got up to do anything. They actually argued with me and told me I was probably dehydrated. I told them all I was an ICU nurse and I know that I need to have some lasix and this was not normal to have overly swollen legs, concentrated urine and shortness of breath. Individually yes but all together no. Doc was like well we'll do another fluid challenge and check blood gases and do a ct scan. They were thinking I had a clot in my lung. O lord these residents are insane. Why they don't want to listen to the nurse? What does a clot have to to with concentrated low amounts of urine? Get real. OK we'll do these silly test at least I will know I don't have a clot in my lungs. A few hours later all the tests were normal and the resident came in with his tail between is legs saying..."you are fluid overloaded we are going to give you some lasix". I just said .."ok. that would be great." But in my head I was saying all kinds of things. If i didn't have a strong heart I would have been done for. I was just happy I was getting my lasix. Needless to say I got anything else I asked for...lol. After peeing like a race horse, I was no longer short of breath and walking in the halls like a good patient.
Later that day pain management Doc came in to see me. I had been with out my pain pump for a few hours now. She wrote me a script for some pain meds and proceeded to tell me she doesn't take my insurance. What? Are you serious? She said some other stuff after that but it just sounded like bla bla bla after that. Do you know she came back the next day right before I was to be discharged? I really didn't want to see her and she had nothing to say to me that she didn't say before. Now I have to pay her another 200 bucks for another day. That sucks!
Anyway, I finally made it home. Went in on Tuesday and home on Friday.
