mlssadwn
My Hospital/Surgery/First Days Post Op
Feb 28, 2011
Post Date: 2/26/11 11:46 am
What a crazy 3 days its been! Okay so my surgery was on Feb 23rd at 7a.m which meant I needed to be at the hospital by 5. I live like four hours away so my husband, his best friend, Josh, and I packed our stuff and headed out the door at midnight (and no we did not nap before or anything) Earlier that day we dropped the kids (ages 5, 3, ad 1) off at Grandmas and did a ton of laundry as I read it feels really nice to come home to clean soft sheets and clothes. Anyways we arrived at four thirty and my Hubby and Josh got the blankets and pillows and immediately passed out in the car (no hotel because they are "men" lol)
So I went into the Admin. area and got my weight (220) and my temp (norm) and blood pressure (128/82 norm) and all that jazz and got changed into my gown. It was awesome actually :) like three times as thick and expected, nice pale purple and connected to it were these two long tubes that once I laid down were inflated like a blow dryer! WOW it was filling my gown with hot air that was so nice. I got my IV started in the bend of the elbow and put some soft warm (but ugly) socks on.
The anesthesiologist (sp?) came in then to let me know what was gonna happen, he said that we would knock me out, insert a catheter, preform surgery, take catheter out, and hopefully there woont be much if any nausea (HA!), he shook my hand and said he looked forward to seeing me later and left. Then the Bariatric Department lady (a bypass patient herself 7 yrs ago) came in to go over post-op diet and lifestyle with me. We had talked serveral times before that so we mostly just giggled over the "sip, sip, walk, walk, rest, repeat" stuff (Oh BTW this site is on my recommended support group/reading material list from the hospital) While we were giggling the Surgeon came in and was going over my chart. He said he was happy about the weight loss from Nov/Dec ( I was 250lbs then) so he was going to "try something for me" turns out he was going to try the SINGLE INCISION! Oh man I was so excited! I had read it was rare and I certainly didnt expect it myself. Well with that he also said he was going to use a 32Fr bougie which I wasnt expecting since im on the smaller side but maybe it doesnt matter??? Anyhoo he left and I donned a funny hat and walked into surgery.
The table was so small I felt like i would surely fall off but the machines and lights and ppl in the masks were just like it is in the movies. I laid down and had the mask put over my face and that was it lol I had a catheter put in after i was out and it was removed before i woke up so no discomfort there. Waking up felt like waking up from a DEEP sleep. As soon as my eyes opened, however, BAM! puked up blood :( not pleasent at all. It took them three tries but we finally got a medicine that worked on the nausea. I woke up again for the second time in my room (private) with my hubby sitting there. I was so out of it and for some reason I could hardly talk. Im assuming that was from the endoscope. I also had lots of phlem to cough up (which HURT)
I slept a lot that first day but around nine p.m I was able to get up to go pee and then stayed up and visited with my Hubby. I was on a patient controlled morphine pump and was pushing that button as often as allowed (not from pain but more like i wanted to get it before it got me) By the next day though i was only using it before i went on walks. I was to try and walk at least four times a day. The second day was when we started the liquids test. Before releasing you they want to know that you can handle your liquids and stuff. It HURT! Every time I tried to drink anything I had pain/pressure in my chest. Everytime I drank i regretted it. I finally got two oz every hr for three hrs test down. Then the Dr came in and asked if I wanted to go home. I said yep yep and in twenty min I was in my car. It was late (around 7pm) so there was no way I could fill my pain meds untill the next day which was daunting. The ride home I laid back and slept, got out every hr and half to walk but it was painfull. Buyers remorse so BAD! I never expressed that to my Hubby or family for fear of guilt/embarassment but it was there. When we got home I went straight to the shower (so nice and I can shower and bathe like normal) and then to bed. The next morning I had my first dose of pain meds and YA! SO MUCH BETTER!!
Now Im on day three and LOVING it. It still gets sore if work too hard but the pain is only a six or so, with my meds its only a three. Hardly noticeable. I find that I still cant believe I had surgery. So weird to think that it actually happened. Lol anyways I am able to eat a whole popsicle now (takes about thirty min) and my meds and tea and warm water go down with minimal discomfort. If anyone has any questions please dont hesitate :)
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About Me
Red Bluff, CA
Location
19.2
BMI
Surgery
02/23/2011
Surgery Date
Dec 03, 2010
Member Since
