4 days Post-Op...my story of the last 5 days

Jun 25, 2010

The day before my surgery I was on clear liquids.  I made a chicken flavored Ramen noodle soup and drained all the juice off the noodles, put it in an insulated coffee cup, and sipped on it all day.  I was not really ever hungry, ironically.  I was supposed to drink my first bottle of Magnesium Citrate at 4:00 and then a second one at 6:00.  Since my surgery was a couple of hours from home, I decided to stay at a hotel the night before.  I checked in and drank my first bottle at 3:30.  It wasnt until it was almost time to drink the second bottle that it began to work on me.  (To my advantage, my stomach had been a little upset that morning and I had some diarehea, so a good bit of my "clean out" had already started.)  The first bottle went down pretty easy.  It wasnt near as bad as I had expected.  I had kept them on ice all day to get them really cold, and that helped.  The second bottle was not so easy to get down.  By that time, I was already on the toilet.....(sorry if TMI)
I did manage to get a good nights rest and arrived at the surgery center just before 6 am.  and was taken back to pre-op about 6:15 or so.  I had a WONDERFUL nurse....they prepped me, my husband came back to see me before I was taken into surgery, and still NO NERVES!! I was so content about my decision to do this, and still I have NO regrets!!  They gave me something to "relax" me and from that point forward I dont remember a thing!! Until I woke up in recovery with a very painful feeling in my chest.  My nurse told me that it was probably from the incision where the retractor was at.  And she gave me some more pain meds.  What I know now was that it was more than likely the pain from the carbon dioxide that the doc  fills your chest up with during surgery.  That lasted just over 24 hours. 

I was released from the surgery center at about 2:30 pm.  I went to the hotel where I stayed for another 48 hours.  My doctor made rounds and came and checked on me each night, and would have probably come more often had I complications or problems.  I did call the office and speak with the nurse during the second day because I was unable to keep my pain meds down, and was vomiting foam.  Over the next 8-10 hours probably I was unable to take the pain meds, or sip water without vomiting the foam.  My nurse suggested I switch to ice chips, but even then I vomited.  I finally decided to try the suppositories that I was given for nausea.  The foam was pretty gross, but there was no acid, no taste, just foam.  I did vomit some blood along with the foam the first two times, but it was dark and was probably from the surgery itself.  It was not bright red in color, so I was not alarmed.  My doc came by around 5 pm and I had not had any nausea or vomiting since just before 4pm.  He told me that alot of times what happens is the esopogus kinda "stacks up" after surgery and the foam is just from the siliva and liquids hanging up in there.  He also said that I would take a turn in the next 12-24 hours and all of it would stop.  He was right!! I didnt have anymore vomitting and no more nausea.  My sister and I actually went to Walmart to get me some popsicles and get her some dinner, and I did fine.  Walked slowly and rested when I got back to the hotel.

The next morning, I was to check in with my doctor by phone and update him on how I was doing.  He gave me the go-ahead to go home.  I will go back to see him next week for my one week post op check up.  

Since I have been home, I have not taken any pain meds at all.  I am not having any of what I would call pain.  Discomfort yes, but no pain.  I have been resting alot. The first day home, I took a slept quite a bit.  The third day post op I stayed up all day.  No napping.  I took it pretty easy, just didnt sleep.  I was sipping water, chicken broth, and eating more than my share of popsicles all of those days..  I didnt know I would love them so much....lol!  Today on day 4 post-op I woke up feeling very drained.  My arms and legs felt as if they weighed a ton.   I rode to Walmart with my sister and pushed the basket until it got too heavy and then I just walked.  It was really hot today too so I am sure that didnt help any, but I was completely exhausted.  When we got home, I took a three hour nap!! I was more tired than I thought....lol!  When I woke up I did feel better.  But I will take it a little slower for the next few days, and I will probably try to take a short nap during the day too.  

On a VERY bright note, I am 13 lbs. down today from surgery!!! WOOHOO!! Anyone considering this surgery, I would very highly recommend it! It is not something that I will ever regret!!!

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