Attack of the Surgical Tape!!!

Dec 10, 2010

Now that I am released from the hospital and back at the hotel and FINALLY able to sit up in a chair without my abs feeling like they are going to explode I can tell my tale of revision surgery!

I had to be at the hospital on 12/6/10 at 7:30am.  I was given IV fluids, my legs were wrapped for circulation purposes and put on my gown.  I was given a blood thinner and some antibiotic drips were started.  Mom was called back after about 30 mins and spent about 20 mins with me before the transport guy came back to get me.  I had to use the bathroom twice before I was rolled back -those IV fluids go thru quickly!  I was rolled back to pre-op and was re-introduced to my bariatric nurse Susan and then my anesthesiologist who explained what he was going to do.  Of course, I had to pee so bad that I was just praying Dr.K got there soon because I wasn't allowed to go to the bathroom - they prefer you have urine in your system so it's easier for them to know when the foley is inserted correctly!  Luckily Dr.K arrived about 2 mins later and I was wheeled into the OR.  I was asked to move to another gurney and then my arms were layed down and I was out....

I don't remember waking up in recovery - when I remember waking up was in my actual room.  The surgery took just under two hours to complete.  Dr.K had a bit of a surprise when he opened me up as it appears my previous surgeon used a stalastic ring around my stoma which he did NOT indicate on any surgical reports - so it took him a bit longer to get that out and re-do my sleeve. 

All I can remember of that night is coughing and coughing.  Everyone kept telling me it was just my throat getting use to the NG tube and I told them NO - it feels like something is stuck in my throat because I can't breathe.  The told me it might be a mucus plug and to keep coughing it up.  So I did - for about 3 hrs I kept coughing and then they noticed my heart rate was decreasing rapidly then going back up then decreasing so they called in a cardiologist who said I had to go to ICU for monitoring.  While I waited to be transported I had one HUGE cough and up popped something in my mouth - nothing but a 3 INCH PIECE OF SURGICAL TAPE!!!! Yup - it was stuck on my NG tube and was accidentally pulled down my throat during surgery which they didn't know had happened.  My mom took it to the nurses and I think everyone in the hospital heard about it in 15 mins...Dr.K didn't think I should have to go to the ICU but the cardiologist who was on duty made me go so down I went.  They were very nice and I spent 1 night and the next morning I went back to my regular room.  This of course caused them to run a bunch of heart testing on me including an ultrasound and EKGs, etc...more money more money!

I had AWESOME nurses - Rosemary and Angelica - they are wonderful!  Unfortunately they were off the day I left but I said my goodbyes the day before.  The night nurses were great too!  The only ones I had complaints about were the phelbotomists - they couldn't draw blood from a stuck pig - EXCEPT my ICU God - he was unbelievable - able to get blood from the tiniest vein in my wrists with no pain!  I usually have very good veins but they all kept getting blown out...that is the one part I will not miss! 

I spent 3 1/2 LONG days in my room.  I was released pretty quickly as I wasn't expected to leave until Friday but Dr.K gave me my walking papers on Thursday.  I got my catheter removed on Wednesday - talk about horrible! I don't know how they expect you to walk so much with such and uncomfortable thing dangling from your plumbing smacking you on your thigh with every step making it more and more irritating! The first thing I asked Rosemary Wed AM was PLEASE take out my catheter - I told her there was a $20 in it for her...LOL! 

I didn't have anything to drink the first night or the 2nd, I was allowed ice chips the first day but at night I was allowed nothing but these swabby things...yuck.  Tuesday I was given the ok by Dr to start the blue water to see if there are any leaks - it's really just Dasani water with blue food coloring in it and if the blue leaks into the drains then he knows there's a leak...no leaks for me!  Wednesday I was on stage 1 which was clears.  

Wednesday was one of the worst days because the gas set in...talk about pain!  Luckily, THursday am I woke up at about 2am and whoosh...my plumbing had woken up and I had the runs about 6 times, luckily I could feel the gas coming down so no accidents but it wasn't the most comfortable thing! 

Once Dr.K found out I had my bowels moving he came in later that day, said I could go home, to give me lunch on full iquids and make sure I could tolerate the Vicadin and then send me on my way....I think Mom had the room packed up in 20 seconds flat before he had even left...LOL! 

Overall, I was very happy with the staff.  My mom was motivation enough to get out walking and I actually felt better when I walked so I did 3 times around the nursing station every 2-4 hrs.  My walker was the squeekiest thing tho - other patients were complaining about me walking at 3am...oopsie!  Angelica gave me a shower on Wednesday which hurt because the binder is off but it felt good. Pretty sad when you need two people in there re-doing my dressings and putting my binder on - all because my boobs are so big one had to hold one up while the other did the drying, taping, etc....at that point tho you really don't care! 

Dr.K came to see me every morning around 4:30am.  It was our standing date...then he flew off to Delano for his other surgeries - yes, the man flies his own plane - is there anything he CAN'T do???  I'm in utter awe.  He is just fantastic.  He called me today to ask how I was doing and feeling, just wonderful!  I see him next Friday to get the drains pulled and then I'm headed home on the 19th...I'll keep you posted!



 

2 Comments

About Me
North Lauderdale, FL
Location
30.7
BMI
Surgery
12/06/2010
Surgery Date
Jul 21, 2001
Member Since

Friends 55

Latest Blog 15

×