macloyd2006
Recovering from RNY Surgery
Oct 18, 2009
After a 4-day hospital stay, I returned home this morning. My surgery went well and I felt fairly well on the afternoon/evening of my surgery day, all things considered. I had a JP drain tube on the left side of my abdomen, a urethral catheter, and an IV cocktail of fluids, vitamins, and antibiotics. I also received breathing treatments from the respiratory therapist every four hours. Every other treatment included an added medication to break down mucus (I cannot remember the name). This added medication has an odor similar to that of "rotten eggs" as I was warned by my respiratory therapists. I had to have this medication added to my normal respiratory therapy with PEP valve. I had nothing by mouth for the entire day of surgery.
The following day, I progressed to ice chips (30 ml/hr), but when I received one of my breathing treatments with the added medication, I became nauseated. I maintained the nausea for about an hour or so before finally vomiting. A little while later, I vomited again. The vomit was confirmed by the staff to have been "old blood" from the surgery itself--not current bleeding, which I'm sure would have led to further action. I regressed to nothing by mouth for the remainder of that day. I also had stomach cramping with the nausea and although it subsided somewhat after I had vomited, I remained nauseated throughout the night and was given four separate doses of medication delivered intravenously.
Two days post-surgery was my 40th birthday. I felt a lot better when I got up that day and was allowed once again to have the ice chips (30 ml/hr). The entire staff and my roommate were awesome about my birthday. My mother had flown in a few days before surgery to stay with us and helps us through the logistics with our kids and to offer me her support. She and my husband were faithful visitors and helped me walk the halls frequently, which started the day of my surgery. I have had 5 previous surgeries (4 within the past 10 years) and as everyone will tell you, walking as soon as possible post-op is a very important part of a quick recovery.
Three days post-surgery, I advanced to a clear liquid diet, to which I was able to adapt well, cumulating to my discharge this morning. It's good to be home, but I still have a long road ahead.
