gaylene P.
3 month anniversary
Jan 10, 2008
Well I have to say what a flake I am for not updating this thing.Not good. Well its my 3 month surgiversary and Im down 40 pounds. Wish it were more but cant complain.I am 4 pounds from the 100s.I feel terrific. The only thing I can say that is difficult is getting my exercise in.I try to walk a mile every morning in my neighborhood and sometimes again in the evening and Im doing some hand weights but I am hesitant on joining a gym because I have done it sooooo many times before and get stuck in a contract and never go. I would like to buy an eliptical trainer but they dont fold and I dont really have the room for it.So for now walking will do til I get off my lazy butt and find something better.Til next time.Bye Bye
Day 2 at Home
Nov 15, 2007
This day I didnt feel so good. I had pain in my left side when I drink and it hits the stomach. I called my angel Heather and she said it happened to her on occasion.The board said everything from call the doctor to dont worry its normal.Most said the camera went in on the left side and you will be sore on that side for weeks. I wrote to Carol who had hers a week before and she said she had it for three weeks and it went away.Today I had jello but mostly all water and a protein bullet..My hubby BBQd himself some burgers and OMG they smelled so good.He apologized but he was making them to last him the whole week because he has to start back to work the next day.I told him he didnt make me fat and dont worry about it.
Day One at Home
Nov 15, 2007
I started the protein bullets. I have to hold my nose and gulp it down. Yuk-Nasty. I am drinking my water and taking walks up and down the street.I really feel good. I did some laundry and my hubby helped me change the sheets on the bed. I cant beleive how good I feel.
Day Four Going Home
Nov 15, 2007
I have to say Dr Rumsey is the greatest. He came to see me everyday and has such a warm smile that just puts me to ease.. This morning Friday morning my IV went out again and the nurse called Rumsey and he said he would be in soon to discharge me and not to restart.. Yay!.He came about 10:30 asked if I was ready to go home.I said of course. He put a little medicine cup in front of me and filled it with water and said this is what you drink every 20 minutes at home.He was very kind and told me instead of having to drive all the way from Corona to San Diego in a week I can call his office and make an appointment in two weeks in Riverside.He had my hubby go across the street to his office and get the advanced diet for week two.He is so special-Ha Dr Rumsey and my hubby!.The hotel is next door to the hospital so me and my hubby just walked to the hotel and got in the car to go home. We were instructed to stop once to let me out to stretch my legs and walk a little.So from Corona we stopped in Temecula in a little strip mall and walked and then on the road to home.HOME SWEET HOME. I slept in my regular bed the first night and then on.Was a little uncomfortable on my left side but ok on my right.
Day Three
Nov 15, 2007
Ok so day three-Thursday just sipping water and walking all over the halls..My back pain was entirely gone.BeccaBoocoo called me how nice of her.At pre-op they told us not to weigh ourselves while in the hospital because some people have gained up to 15 pounds from the IV fluids but of course on my 3 am walk I asked my male nurse to show me the scales and yes I had gained 3 pounds. Not 15 but still I didnt like 3.I should have listened-but do I ever? Went to exercise class again at 11am-kind of dumb but gets us moving and good for circulation.
day 2 post surgery
Oct 29, 2007
Day two-I'm still feeling pretty good. They asked if I wanted broth or popscicle or jello and I really didnt want anything but my ice chips but I told them I would try a popscicle. It was grape and yummy and went down fine.I had about 1/2 of it.About 9am a little student nurse came in to take out my foley catheter.I had to actually tell her how but she did fine.I then took a wonderful shower.It felt so good.At 11 I was instructed that I would be going to "exercise class"About 9 of us big people were tucked into a tiny room with iv poles and did some stretches and leg exercises down on the fifth floor. It lasted about 45 minutes.About 2 pm I finally went pee pee.My IV went out on my left arm and the wonderful IV team came in and put it in my right. My angel Heather came to see me. She brought me a cute little stuffed black and white cow that was so soft.She stayed with me and my hubby giving him great tips on what was about to happen in our lives.it meant so much to me for her to drive all the way from Corona to San Diego to see me..My hubby also brought me a pretty vase with purple flowers. I had a great sleep that night.The Diaudid helps LOL>
More of surgery day October 9th 2007
Oct 24, 2007
OK I was then wheeled into the OR. I really was hoping they had given me some Versed-(the feel good med) before they wheeled me in there but they didnt. I mived over to the operating table and they adjusted the mirrors,the monitors,the instruments. The anesthesiologist asked me to raise my shoulders so he could put a rolled towel under my neck and then told me to stretch my head back so he could see the alignment of my neck.Scary.I need the Versed then! He put the mask over my face and I was gone.All I remember in the recovery room was the nurses saying we want to move her to the room but they arent discharging patients fast enough and the room needs to be cleaned. I mustered up the energy to say please someone tell my hubby that Im not still in surgery-you just are waiting for a room cause he'll worry.Then at 1:30 I was finally wheeled into my room.I heard a nurse say Gaylene you are now in your room You are on the 7th floor room 731.I opened my eyes to see my hubby and the nurse putting a B/P cuff on my arm.
I felt great-hardly any pain. I had a Dilaudid IV PCA which worked great.Every 4-6 hours they came in and pushed Toradol-a pain releiver and I cant think of the name of it but its an anti-ulcer med. And I also got some antibiotics per IV.That night at 5:30 I was already up and walking.I was a little dizzy getting up but did fine.My hubby went to the hotel room and had a good nights sleep. I walked every 2 or 3 hours thru the night. I had my sqeeze booties on and that was the only thing I really needed help with. I walked and walked and walked cause I know how bad built up gas can feel.I have to say the only pain I felt was in my back. I am sure it was from the way I was positioned thru the surgery.
I felt great-hardly any pain. I had a Dilaudid IV PCA which worked great.Every 4-6 hours they came in and pushed Toradol-a pain releiver and I cant think of the name of it but its an anti-ulcer med. And I also got some antibiotics per IV.That night at 5:30 I was already up and walking.I was a little dizzy getting up but did fine.My hubby went to the hotel room and had a good nights sleep. I walked every 2 or 3 hours thru the night. I had my sqeeze booties on and that was the only thing I really needed help with. I walked and walked and walked cause I know how bad built up gas can feel.I have to say the only pain I felt was in my back. I am sure it was from the way I was positioned thru the surgery.
Day of surgery
Oct 24, 2007
Well we got up in the morning and I took my Betadine shower and as instructed took my ID,socks and incentive spirometer with me. My husband and I walked over to the hospital.All us pre-opers waited in the waiting room and a nurse came out and said ok follow me. Each nurse grabbed a chart and called us to a regular hosptal room-pulled the curtain and had me take everything off and put on a hospital gown.She put my hospital ID band on and then proceeded to give me a heparin shot in the belly.Hey no one told me about that but they use a bitty bitty needle and you barely feel it. In a few minutes a surgical tech came and got me and my hubby and we all took the elevator to the pre-op room.I was placed on a guerney and the very nice nurse started my IV in my left arm in one try Yay! And they use Lidocaine first which totally takes the pain from the hose they stick in you next. Ok then the anesthesiologist who by the way calls you the night before to introduce himself and ask you some questions came in and told me how everything was going to go.I told him I just didnt want nausea .he said ok I'll give you 4 meds so you wont be nauseated. And you know I wasnt at all the whole visit.Then my lovely DR Rumsey came in and asked if I was ready.I told him totally.His warm smile and laugh just puts me at ease.
My surgery
Oct 19, 2007
October 8th-My hubby and I drove to San Diego from Corona.We left about 10:30 and checked in at the Sommerset Suites.I tell you that is a great place.Each room is suite.Not fancy or anything but very clean and has its own kitchen. My husband made himself a load of burritos the day before and took and bunch of water,chips and nuts and lived on that for a week-never going out or going to the hospital cafeteria. It is very much withing walking distance to the hospital-as a matter of fact. I walked to my pre-op the next morning and walked to the car after surgery. The cost was 89.00 a night and they have continental breakfast.My husband would stay with me all day at the hospital and then go over to the hotel at about 10 pm to have a good nights sleep.I didnt mind a bit. I didnt need him at night.Thats what the nurses are paid for.
I was scheduled for my PREP class at 1:30 at the hospital. I drank my Milk of Magnesia before I went to class.I walked over and sat in a room with 4 others who were having their surgery the next morning as I was all at 7:30. Two of them Dr Tanakas ,one Zorn and me with Rumsey.We filled out a bunch of admit papers-health questionaires.We were all measured for our abdominal binders.We watched a ten minute video on how to use an incentive spirometer and then they watched us to make sure we knew how to use it.She told us how the next day was going to be.Gave us a bottle of Betadine wash and told us in the morning to shower from the waist down with it. I was suprised at how organized it was.They told us it was going to take 4 hours but it took one and a half. I went back to the room and had my first MOM attack of diarrhea but it wasnt bad-not even any cramps.We drove to Viejas casino.Dropped a couple hundred dollars (ouch) and went back to the room where I had maybe two more poopies and went to bed.I wasnt scared or hesitant at all.
I was scheduled for my PREP class at 1:30 at the hospital. I drank my Milk of Magnesia before I went to class.I walked over and sat in a room with 4 others who were having their surgery the next morning as I was all at 7:30. Two of them Dr Tanakas ,one Zorn and me with Rumsey.We filled out a bunch of admit papers-health questionaires.We were all measured for our abdominal binders.We watched a ten minute video on how to use an incentive spirometer and then they watched us to make sure we knew how to use it.She told us how the next day was going to be.Gave us a bottle of Betadine wash and told us in the morning to shower from the waist down with it. I was suprised at how organized it was.They told us it was going to take 4 hours but it took one and a half. I went back to the room and had my first MOM attack of diarrhea but it wasnt bad-not even any cramps.We drove to Viejas casino.Dropped a couple hundred dollars (ouch) and went back to the room where I had maybe two more poopies and went to bed.I wasnt scared or hesitant at all.
I got a date
Sep 30, 2007
9/28/07 I went to work today sad and defeated. I had been trying all day to get a date for surgery out of Myla in Dr Rumseys office.She just kept telling me my chart is on Drs desk waiting for review.So while at work I tried one more time to call Myla at 5pm and she gave me October 9th.She didnt have a time yet but she said she will call me with that.I thanked her profusely and went out to tell a couple coworkers.I really felt kind of flushed and faint telling them.Thats like in 12 days!! Then I called my hubby,my angel Heather,my Mom and my son and daughter. Now I am happy!!!
About Me
corona, CA
Location
31.4
BMI
Surgery
10/09/2007
Surgery Date
Nov 08, 2006
Member Since
