The weekend before Monday's surgery

Mar 05, 2010

The liquid diet seems like it flew by.  It was hard to get use to it on day 1, but by day 2, I was adding fruit and ice and blenderizing it to a slush.  I could tolerate it then.  Monday at 6 am I need to be at the hospital.  My surgery is suppose to be the first one at 7:30 am.  Today the nurse at the hospital called and told me my pre-op labs showed some concern.  Apparently my kidney function was down, indicating I was possibly dehrydated.  She said she had already spoken to Dr. Scott and would not let this interupt my scheduled surgery but instructed me to drink losts of water this weekend and stay hydrated.  I guess its the combination of this high protein diet I am on, combined with the diuretic I take for my high blood pressure. 
The phone woke me up.  I kept trying to wake up this morning, but it was as if I was unable to open my eyes.  It was 11 o'clock when the phone forced me to open my eyes.  When I was talking to the nurse on my cell phone, the house phone was ringing as well.  A message was left, and it was the hospital again, but this time a different person.  Already upset at the first call, I called the second number back.  It was the hospital telling me I would need to bring $500 with me on the morning of my surgery to act as a payment toward what the insurance may not pay.  She said, "no one told you this already?"  Of course they hadn't.  By the time I got out of bed I was crying hysterically.  A combination of low blood sugar from sleeping so late, dehrydration, and frustration just spilled out as I sobbed uncontrollably.  My husband found me in this state.  I sobbed on his shoulder and he was asking me if I have had second thoughts about the surgery.
After a protein shake (I could barely make it, due to lack of concentration, and my sobbing) I finally felt better.  OMG.  This has been such an ordeal for me.  I am hopeful for the surgery to go ok, and worried like crazy all at once.  What will be different about eating?  This is such a HUGE decision making process.  I am literally changing a major part of my life, and I am so scared.  As I read all the success stories on here, and receive support from all my OH friends, I am encouraged.  Thank you everyone for your kind wordsand encouragment.,  It means more to me than you will ever know. 

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