It has been rough

May 04, 2012

I had surgery on 2/6.  My mom drove me up and dropped me off.  I did all my stuff and they took me back pretty quick.  I started having some anxiety about surgery and possibly dying on the table.  I left a "just in case" note for my husband and daughter... I was asleep before they wheeled me to the OR.  When I woke up I was so weak.  I kept going in and out of consciousness.  I was finally able around midnight to get up and walk a bit.  The next day was better.  I walked a bunch and was ready to go home.  The two hour ride home hurt a little, but I was glad to be home.

I was okay for about 4 weeks.  Then I caught a bug my daughter brought home where we were all throwing up for a day or two.  After that my body gave up.  For 6 weeks I was unable to keep down food.  At first I was getting in my liquids, but after a few weeks they didn't want to stay down either.  I went to my local hospital and they gave me fluids and potassium-- they also did an X-ray with Barium and I did not have a stricture.  A week later I went back for more fluids and potassium.   After a few more days my mother put her foot down, came over to my house and drove me the two hours to Jacksonville back to the hospital I had surgery at.  She told me it was ridiculous.  I had been calling my doctor's office, but the first appt they could give me was three weeks from then. 

We waited in the ER lobby for a good 5-6 hours before we were taken back.  They decided around 2 am they were going to admit me and my mom left.  I was in the hospital for 11 days and I thought I was going to die.  They kept pushing off my procedures because my potassium was so low they didn't think my heart would survive anesthesia.  They said there was "slight narrowing" and did widen my throat although it did nothing to help my vomiting, nausea and dizziness.  My body got weaker...  I wasn't able to get to the bathroom by myself anymore.  I would get so dizzy I would throw up; I didn't have the muscle tone to walk anymore.  My husband came to visit twice, he brought my daughter the first time, but they said she wasn't allowed.  My Dad came once and my Mom came up three times.  I have always had bad veins, and then also being dehydrated they had a lot of problems sticking me.  They also had to draw blood constantly because of my low potassium... I was stuck over 50 times.  They sent people from the ER,the surgical unit, and anesthesia to try and stick me countless times.  They were giving me potassium and an anti-nausea medicne that would eat my veins and they would have to try and get a new IV everyday.  I was stucking my hands, wrists, arms, legs, feet, chest and neck.  I was told I need a picc line, but the doc's wouldn't put it in.  Then my Dad started calling the hospital and finally after 7 days of being hospitalized they put in the picc line that went in through an artery in my arm straight to my heart.  After that was put in On Friday after 10 days, my mom drove back up and got a little pushy with my doctors.  I started seeing double vision.  They sent a psychiatrist and optomitrest to see me.  The psychiatrist gave me some happy pills and anxiety meds and the optomitrest said he though my issues were from a  folic acid deficiency.  He said if he prescibes they IV drip it wouldn't hurt, but if it was the culprit we would get results fast.  As of 10 pm the nurses still had not gotten the go ahead to give me these meds (which were suggested at 4)... my Mom went a little nuts and made them call the doctors who gave the go ahead for the meds.  When I woke up the next morning I felt SO much better!  They released me that day... I was set home with a walker and I have been very weak, needing lots of help, but I am finally home with my family. 

Another positive.  I am two months out since surgery.  I have lost 85 pounds total, 70 since surgery.  My husband misses my boobs :)  But at this point he is happy I am alive and able to eat again!

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