Surgery is done

Jun 09, 2012

I was so nervous and scared going into the hospital on my surgery date (June 8, 2012).  I even had thoughts of if I was doing the right thing.  I kept saying to myself that yes it is the right thing.  It was my fears which were trying to take over.  I had my surgery at Toronto Eastern General Hospital.

First thing I did was get registered and then I was sent upstairs to the first waiting room.  I was then called in by a nurse to get ready, gown on, blood thinner given through injection and my IV put in.  This nurse was so nice.  She had been there for 30 years.  I didn't even feel the IV go in, thats how gentle she was.  She even put it in my arm rather than my hand so I could have more use of my hand after surgery.  Once she was done, she sent me back out to the waiting room where my boyfriend was waiting.  About 15 minutes later, a group of us were called to follow another hospital worker to a different waiting room.  This was the last stop before going into the operating room.  We patiently waited about an hour  before my surgeon Dr. Mary-Ann Aarts came out to talk to me.  She asked me in her happy demeanor how I was feeling and if I lost any weight while on the Optifast.  I told her I lost 10 pounds in the 2 weeks but about 17 or 18 pounds total since starting the process.  She was pleased.  She then told me she would be back in about 10 minutes and then we would get under way.  It was about 20 minutes before one of the operating room staff members came and got me.  We walked to the area where the operating rooms were and We went into operating room 2.  When I walked in there was 2 other workers, one on a computer and one getting the tools and stuff ready.  Thea anesthesiologist came in and introduced himself.  I got up on the operating room table, laid straight while the worker who brought me in strapped me in place.  The aneasthesiologist then put an oxygen mask on me and told me to take 10 deep breaths, he handed the mask over to the other worker and just before he started putting the anaesthetic in me, Dr. Aarts came in and introduced me to everyone...basically just told me who I was.  The anesthesiologist then told me I will be asleep in 30 seconds.  I don't think it took that long even though I tried fighting it for the fun of it.  I started feeling the tingling in my arms first and then as the room started to spin I said one last prayer in my head before going under.  My initial surgery was scheduled for 12:15pm, but I think I went in around 12:45pm.

Next thing I remember was waking up in recovery.  Everything was so blurry and spinning.  I had 2 recovery nurses on either side of me talking.  I looked at the clock and tried to figure out what time it was and it was around 5:30 or 6pm i think.  After a few minutes, I asked for my boyfriend.  They said he can come in, in a few minutes as they wanted to check me over first.  In between checking me over and getting my boyfriend, I fell back to sleep.  He came in and I immediately woke up when he said hi.  I don't rember alot of our conversation but I do remember asking if I was snoring because I didn't have my CPAP mask on for my sleep apnea.  They all said no. I was surprised and was thinking what was it about the surgery that stopped my snoring.  I was able to go to my room at 7pm rather than 8pm bacause my vitals were good so I got the ok.  I also apologized to the recovery nurse for something but I can't remember.  I do remember her saying to me, don't worry, I was the perfect patient.  I am sure they get weird comments or remarks all the time.

Once in my room, I got all situated and felt I had to go to the bathroom.  I can't remember if I went but I do remember almost walking into the wall from the anaesthetic..lol.  The nurse had to help me.  The rest of the night was a blur, I just could not stay awake.  I remember my boyfriend told me the surgeon came out to see him at around 4pm, but she said she was done around 3:30pm.  She told him the surgery went as planned and was successful.  That made me happy.  My boyfriend left around 8:30pm.

Overnight hospital stays really suck.  All night you hear beeps and buzzers going off and nurses coming in to check your vitals.

My first full day in the hospital was me still trying to stay awake.  For breakfast they brought me an apple juice and diet strawberry jello which I found to be too sweet.  I used the medicine cups they gave me to dilute my apple juice.  I had to take  15 ml every 15 minutes of my diluted apple juice.  For lunch, they brought me apple juice, chicken broth and strawberry jello again and for supper the same except beef broth rather than chicken broth.  My boyfriend stayed with me until about 8:30pm.  They gave me some percocet for pain and I was out like a light shortly after.

one thing that I could not stand was this medicine they gave me twice a day called Pantoloc.  It is for stomach acid and just a heads up if you haven't had your surgery yet...its disgusting.  They will also give you a blood thinner shot twice a day, usually in the stomach.

After my second night, I got the good news that I was able to go home.  I was so happy to go.

I only had a few issues that bothered me.  Not once did they offer to let me shower or bath.  I also asked the day after surgery if my wounds would be cleaned up and changed because all it had was the same tape put on by the surgeon and dry blood from the surgery.  The one nurse said they will do that before I leave but they didn't.  I also had a numbe left hand and fingers the whole time after surgery (well the numbness slowly went away but by the time I left, it was only my fingertips that were numb).  I still never got an answer why, just that they would check.  I just figured that it was the way my arm was situated during surgery.

Overall, I didn't have any major issues.  Right now I am just learning how to fit everything in such as my vitamins, meals and water.  I am finding that hard but I think I may just make a big chart with what is needed and a time schedule.

I would also like to thank everyone for their support.  I think it is a major part of recovery.

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