EFDinSC
18 Days After LapBand Surgery
Jul 05, 2009
I had every intention of keeping a blog about this whole experience starting with the day after my surgery. It didn't work out that way. My surgery was on June 17th and seemed to go very well. The surgeon said everything looked good, and I went home with nothing but optomistic thoughts that afternoon. By evening, I was feeling pretty bad: unable to keep even the melting ice cube down and coughing violently which just made me throw up constantly. (What was there to throw up??)I put in a call to the doctor's office the next day and was assured that everything was "normal."
Day three I was pretty sure that my recovery was anything but normal, and placed another call to the office. I was told to return to the surgical center so they could give me fluids to re-hydrate me. While there, my surgeon also removed all the saline from my band. No relief whatsoever.
Went home with the hope that things would improve. They didn't and the next day I was told to go to the hospital for direct admission. More fluids. Still coughing and throwing up. My surgeon said he would schedule a scope and I had that done. He found a huge hiatal (sp?) hernia, all twisted and hidden behind scar tissue and who knows what else. They scheduled me for surgery and took care of that problem.
I remember being wheeled back to my room after surgery and then about 14 people jumping all around me. I was having difficulty breathing, fluid on the lungs, and next thing I knew, I was coming to in the ICU. 5 days later I was moved back to a regular room for one night and then released.
Recovery has been very slow. Two surgeries, two anesthesias, back to back....make for a rough time. Each day I get a little stronger. I have no problems getting my fluids down and I actually enjoy the protein shakes. I had my post-op visit on Thurs. and the doc seemed happy with everything. I started back on my anti-depressants and now I feel much better - emotionally and mentally.
Next office visit is July 16th and I expect that he'll give me a fill. Looking forward to improving every day!
