Surgery story & one week post-op

May 30, 2011

It's amazing to me how slow time passed before the surgery and here it is, one week after surgery. All that waiting and it's so weird to realize it's over, the hardest part is over. Now I just live the plan, use the tool, and live my life. It's all in my hands now. I don't have to wait on anyone else to decide what is best or not best for me.

On the 24th, my hubby and I checked me in around 7am and waited for a while in the waiting room. Evergreen Hospital has this great computer/tv screen where you can keep track of where your loved one is. They assign you a number and the screen will change depending on where you are; waiting room, pre op, surgery, etc. That was handy for my hubby.

We were taken back to the pre-op area and I was weighed in. 274lbs. My beginning weight. I changed into the gown and then it was time for the IV. It took two nurses and three tries to get it in and it hurt like crazy. Then we just sat there and waited some more. Dr Billing came in and asked if I had any questions, asked if I'd gotten any rest. I told him it was more important that he'd gotten the rest.

The anesthesiologist came in and introduced himself. I told him I was super nervous and he gave me a shot in the iv to relax me. Then it was time. They wheeled me out of the room and the last thing I remember was kissing my husband goodbye, then I was out. Whatever that med was, it was neat!

The next thing I knew, I was in my room. I don't remember anything about waking up or being in recovery. I was just suddenly awake in the room. Hubby said I cried out when they transferred me from the stretcher to the bed. I told him I was sorry if it embarrassed him. He said not to worry, he was more trying to hold himself back from beating them up for not being careful with me.

I learned to know and love my pain pump. It was wonderful. I wish I could have that for the rest of my life. I got up and walked as soon as I could. They wanted me to go to the bathroom but for some reason I just couldn't pee. They did a bladder ultrasound and it was very apparent that I needed to go. A catheter was ordered. Ugh. It hurt like hell. But I kept doing what they told me to.

I sipped at water and had nibbles of jello. The broth was utterly repulsive. I kept walking and walking whenever I could. The night was miserable because of my back. I can't lay flat on my back, even reclining hurts. But I couldn't get on my side.

The next morning I started in on the nurses saying I wanted to go home. They took out the catheter and said I could go after I went pee. Well, crap. My surgeon's assistant came in and discussed the surgery with me. (This was one of the disappointments I have. I never saw my surgeon again after that one glimpse pre-op. I'd heard he had such a great bedside manner, but I never saw it... or him.) The surgery went well, he told me. One tiny complication was that some staples came loose and they had to use sutures to make sure the pouch stayed shut. Though he didn't tell me, I discovered it later, this resulted in a 3 inch long incision directly below my jp drain. Other then that, all went perfectly text book.

So, the PA also agreed that I had to pee before I could go. Roger and I got dressed and ready and then I began trying. And trying. And trying. I would spend 10 minutes in the bathroom, run the water as I tried, everything to try and pee and I couldn't!!! It was so frustrating! I was sipping for all I was worth, it was insane! As the hours passed (yes, hours) I started crying cuz I was tired and hurting and I just wanted to go home. Finally FIVE hours later, they did a bladder ultrasound again and saw there was some in there and for some reason, the pressure against my bladder helped and I was FINALLY able to go in and pee.


We were released very soon after and went home. I couldn't have been more happy.

The first few days were great. I was up and around, sipping and sipping at my crystal light and protein drinks. Everything was going well. I was hoping to get on the scale and see a giant number drop, but we all know that's crazy. I came home and was 3 pounds heavier from water weight, but lost that by the next day.

Around Friday, I stretched to get up into a cupboard and felt this horrific pulling. My jp drain incision had split open at one end. Oh my ouch! My poor hubby got a weak stomach looking at it. Since then, the pain has been really bad. After a few moments of walking, the pain makes me hunch and cry.  I'm such a big baby. Saturday we noticed the incision was reddening and getting hard around the outside.

Sunday I called the on-call doc cuz it started draining - outside the drain. They said it was normal. I figured it could wait til my appointment on Tuesday morning. Then I got a fever, and another, and another. I called the on-call doc again (who honestly sounded so put out, I knew I wouldn't get anywhere). He said to go to the ER or try to arrange a time to see him on Monday. After discussing it with hubby, we both decided we'd rather just wait til the appointment Tuesday. I hate the ER and wouldn't want to risk making it worse by going there.

Today, Monday, has been much better. I'm still having fevers, but low grade. The incision is still red and hard and now it looks like it's puckering a bit, like it's healing around the drain. I think it'll be fine, though I may need some antibiotics.

As for the whole food issue, I haven't had any problems. I had one incident with eating a bit too much of a popsicle and it made me sooo full it was miserable. I hadn't noticed getting full, maybe because it was so cold. But that is the only problem I've had. I am getting in plenty of fluids and protein... maybe not enough, but plenty. I get a bit lightheaded if I don't eat on time, which is weird, I thought you weren't supposed to get hungry after the surgery.

I've lost 7lbs which is nice. This is the lowest I've been in almost a year. I will admit, again, that I hoped it would be more, but I think we all do at first.

As I mentioned tomorrow is my first post-op appointment and I am seriously hoping this darn drain gets taken out. I hate it. Hate it.

But regardless of pain and drains and discomforts, I am so happy to be done with the surgery, to be on the other side, to be on the losers bench.

  Start the "Eye of the Tiger",  cause I'm ready to get to work.

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