oxbumblebeaxo

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I weighed myself this morning and I was down almost 2.5 lbs. I went to the doctor all by myself. Rode to the train station walked across the parking lots and boarded the train and got to the hospital and sat for a few minutes then I was off to the surgeons office which is a block away. I got taken right away . I am not used to that usually it is a long wait. Denise the NP is the best she is so kind and caring and listens to everything. I get motion sickness on the train so I do not go back for 6 weeks unless there is a problem. Yippee. I had my labs drawn at Kaiser then I was off to find a birthday cake for my hubby. came home and relaxed. Busy day. Happy  Birthday honey.

I am at a plateau and m weight is not moving on the scale but my clothes are loose. I go to the surgeon tomorrow so we will see what happens. I am still on a soft diet and feeling good but the scale will not budge.

It started Sunday when we left  Walmart. I needed a new pill organizer and wallyworld is down the road from out development. We went in I felt great but when we got to the truck I felt wiped out. I came home laid around and than drank some chicken broth and felt somewhat better. I noticed that I had not went number two today.
Monday morning I awoke with a toothach (just what I need) and a yucky feeling in my belly, not my pouch, still no number two. Well I have been taking stool sofners for a almost 5 days now and not working. I slept on and off all day yesterday and still felt like I wore myself thin over the weekend.
Tuesday I went some to the bathroom but it feels like there is more. I can not relax I have an appointment with the surgeon at 1120 am today in Washington. So that means train ride and more worry. I did go again but I think I am worrying myself sick.  Thank God  I am going to the doc .

 I I have been antsy for a couple of days and my Husband said we can go for a ride. We went to Lowes and walked around for an hour and a half and I felt good. I love  Lowes, we got a new door bell that you can program with differant tunes for holiday and such. I almost got a new swing for the backyard from him,lol. After  that we went over to see our grandchildren and my oh my how they have grown. Our grandson ALex is 13 lbs and he is not even 2 months old. I had to see my little  princess Aislin because I missed her so much, she gave me flowers and it was so sweet.

So I was out for 4 hours I took a 4oz yougurt with me and a bottle of ice water and some diet snapple and it was all good. I am adjusting well right now. I will be on puree by Tuesday when I go to DC to see the surgeon. Life is good.

I am doing well just getting antsy to get out and about. Getting my daily requirements of protein and fluid in. Down 11.2 lbs.

The day of my surgery I was in recovery all day waiting for a bed on 5north where the bariatric unit is. Around 8pm or so I was pushed up in the bed I was to remain in my entire time I was in the hospital. My post op RN and a tech wheeled me up hit a corner and wow did I feel that one. I had the PCA (pain pump) but I do not think morphine is a long lasting drug unless you hit the button every 8 minutes.
I arrived to the floor and was told I had the VIP suite. I remember laughing about that one. But to my surprise I did it the the room at the end of the hall room 557N. It was a single room with 6 huge windows and a love seat and  a wing backed chair with throw pillows on each. And a end table plus a large chair for me when I was to get out of bed. This room even had a flat screen TV 30 inches hanging on the wall.
My husband was there waiting for me as the post op RN passed me on to the Floor RN who happened to be the charge nurse for the night. Elizabeth was my Rn and Jenny was my Tech (my angel in the night). I received the best care the night of my recovery. Oh and by the way my room had a view of the Washington Monument. I used to joke with my hubby if I was having surgery in downtown DC than I better have a room with a view, well low and behold I did. The room had 6 huge window and one did the the Washington Monument that is the way my bed faced.
The whole entire time I was there students and techs and RT commented that this was the VIP suite and I was the only person on the floor with HBO and a flat screen.
Friday morning the day  after my surgery
Jenny got me out of bed on the chair and the Dr came with approx 16 students I felt like I was on ER or Grey's anatomy.I even walked the hall way 3 times on Friday from my room at the end of the hall to the elevators which separate north from the south(MASON DIXON line) lol.Oh and Dr. Lin said I could have some crushed ice to suck on. Well the O2 and the asthma my mouth felt like cotton thank God for ice and mouth swabs the first night and the ice the second day.
Oh and my catheter was pulled by Laura my RN for the day. Now I had to produce urine in a 8 hour window or be recathed oh no not me. Joesph was my tech for the day he  helped me get washed up. I was out of bed the whole day until my breathing episode around 7. A new set of nurses and a new tech .Sugi my RN was a sweetheart with a heart of gold and Howard was quiet but had a dry wit about him.At 730 pm I got into bed and my hubby headed  to catch the train, to get home. . I did well all day Friday until my O2 rate was low and my asthma kicked in. And of course my diabetes which is well controlled by diet roared it head. 2 units of insulin were given along with the daily dose of heparin. Well an IV push ativan for me because I was going into panic mode at this time. Respiratory came in 2x with neubulizer treatments to open my airways.  It hurt to breath because of the surgery my muscles were very sore to take a deep breath. I received magnesium today.
Saturday Day 3
The day you can sip some juice, I made urine all night long approx 100cc an hour so no more catheter talk. I sipped the amount that was told my nurse was Laura again a great RN and my tech was Lowell he was from Nigeria. Very good but not too talkative.At this time I had 44 hits on my pain pump and now it was d/ced . I was using my pain pump sparing and at this time I was getting PO dilaudid so much better pain protection. My hubby came up later in the day thinking that I was going home today but at 7 pm I was told no go because the drain they put in during surgery was producing too much and my blood count was down. 2 more units of insulin a round a magnesium, and I am good to go. I walked the hall 4 times on Saturday I was feeling great. I walked the halls 4 times today. I was determined to get the heck home and get some sleep.I got into bed my hubby went home and I had Sugi and Trenita  all night long. And I received two rounds of Potassium, boy does that hurt and burn your IV site. I had to had another on put in today by Laura she was so good I did not even feel it..
 
I did not sleep well in the hospital due to the fact that I had med students in all the time with me and lab techs and nurses and technicians and so on and so forth. I was up and down all night in the bed going to the bathroom.
Day 4 Sunday
The students were all in early with my discharge scripts and excited to release me my Nurse was Joy and tech was Joseph again. It was a glorious day. I had to wait for my drain to be pulled. Two 3rd year med students who were Rn's before med school came in the proceeded to pull my drain out. It felt weird. I got all my discharge papers and was told I could wait for transport or walk out. I WALKED OUT OF THE HOSPITAL ON A BRIGHT SUNNY SUNDAY MORNING BOUND FOR HOME SWEET HOME.
The whole time I was in that room with 6 windows it stormed and rained and was dreary. But the day I am released it is a beautiful day. I got in our truck and we were home in a 1/2 hour. My daughter and sister came down from NJ to help me for a few days and they were so surprised about how well I was getting around. In fact they left on Tuesday night for home. I am doing so much better that expected. I take the pain meds less and less and I am tolerating a full liquid diet. So far I am happy I went thru with the surgery. Oh an I am down 8.8 lbs as of today Thursday a week after my surgery.

Hubby and I got to DC at 6 am and went into registration. I got all the paper work done earlier by the Internet which made things easy. Gus got a beeper and I was called back to pre op.  I got changed and got all my vitals and into a lovely gown that was too big. Imagine that too big. The first part of my surgery was the filter to be inserted to protect against blood clots. It did not take long but the bed I had to lay on was like a hard table with a 1/2 inch piece of foam on top. The shaved me in a couple areas near the pubic region , took a picture with a machine which caused a heated sensation on my torso. almost like a hot flash.  Then inserted the catheter with the filter.  Took another picture with the same heat rush. By this time I had a melt down because my sciatica was in agony and I had to be still. Silently I cried.The whole time I was in the room in radiation a radio was playing a pop station and the Doc was quizzing the staff as to who was singing the song.


I was on my way back to the pre op area with my male nurse. By this time I had a second IV put in because the RN in pre op put in in the bend of my arm the first time and it infiltrated. A tech inserted a new one. One by one the surgical team came in and introduced themselves. Everyone was so nice. i had to pee but I figured it was close to surgery time I knew I was going to get a catherter. Dr. Lin came in and talked to me an I sighned another consent form then I was wheeled back to the operating room. My husband was with me the whole time in pre op ,the only time he was not was when I went for the filter insertion.
I got wheeled back and was moved on to the table when they placed a mask over my face and the next thing I know I woke up in recovery with the sweetest nurse. I had to wait for a bed so I was there til 8pm. My surgery was scheduled for noon and I was out by 2 pm in recovery, but no bed was ready yet.
Part 2 tomorrow.

Feeling good not much for the computer but as soon as I feel better I will update. 1st dose of calcium/ multi and my meds are in plus 8 oz of juice with water and an 8 oz protein drink . Life is getting better. But I still have hunger pangs is this normal?

A short note I am home and the family members are here taking care of me and cooking and the smell is making me sick. Imagine that the smell of food making me sick. Will follow up later.

Yeah I made it thru the day. One hour left to drink and I am having  sweet tea. My stomach is hungry but that will change tomorrow. My wonderful hubby bought me a 22 inch flat screen for our bedroom for my recovery time at home. I am not nervous but tired. I cleaned yesterday and today and packed my hospital bag. I am ready. First procedure is at 8 am report to DC at 6 am no traffic. God has planned me a great travel day. My gastric bypass is scheduled for noon. Hubby has his call list for everyone. Jello was great today and the chicken broth gave me indigestion. I swam for 45 minutes til I had a bathroom call. I am showered, shaved my legs and underarms and washed my hair and ready. It is a relief that in a few short hours I will be on the Journey of my life. Sit back buckle up and wait for the stewardess we are on our way. I have had many calls and emails and all my friends on face-book are the best. My husband can not keep up with everyone I know. Next entry will be as soon as I am up to it . Wish me luck I am on my way to the woman that is inside of me. BLAST OFF TO THE JOURNEY OF A LIFE TIME. WISH ME LUCK. I AM ON MY WAY.