Home - Post Op Day +5

Oct 25, 2009

Just got home from the hospital after laproscopic RNY.  I had expected to keep up posting while I was in the hospital but I think I only turned on my computer once and that was a quick look at facebook and could barely keep my eyes opened to post anything. 

My expected uncomplicated surgery ran into a snag once that got inside.  Turns out I had a large than expected hiatal hernia, my stomach was pushed into my esophagus above the diagraphm.  When they pulled my stomach down out of my esophagus, they found a hole in my esophagus.  Well, they had to repair that before they could proceed with the bypass surgery.  All in all, I was in surgery for 4 hrs.  Quite a shocker for my husband who was expecting to hear from them after 90 minutes.  I did not get out of post op and into my room until almost 7:30PM.  And I thought I would be able to watch the biggest loser!!!  Anyway, I became friends with my PCA.  At first they had me on morphine 1.5 mg every 10 minutes and I was hitting the buttom whenever the light said GO, it felt so goooood to go right back to sleep.  I ended up with 2 drains, one on each side

After the first day, I started to itch and they said I could change to Dilaudid.  Well that never happened til about 11PM the 2nd night.  I was a little steamed because the oncall resident had a bad attitude and said "What do you want me to do about it the dilaudid is the same family and will still cause you itching".  I had a bit of an anxiety attach and could not breath, once I calmed myself down I was much better.  But my feeling were, hey buddy, I itch, help me out here.  He really made me feel like I was bothering him and the fact that it took so long was a mystery in itself.

Anyway, my doctor (Dr. Goede) made round late on Thursday night and he said he wanted to keep me until Sunday.  He was concerned because I was running a temp and had some atelectasis in my L middle lobe.  I was fine when I was up walking but it hit me big time when I layed back down because I did not have the lung expansion I needed.  I used my incentive spirometer religously.  The first day I could only inhale up to 1000ml, the next day I made it to 1250ml and each day a little more and I started feeling better.  I still can not do what I should.  My best is 1750ml and sometimes with good medication I can get to 2000ml.

I am home and it feels good to be home.  Thanks for all the good wishes, it is amazing how much you appreciate those kind words.

I will update often.  I am very tire now and am going to go take a nap.

Later.

Pat

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About Me
Council Bluffs, IA
Location
24.2
BMI
RNY
Surgery
10/20/2009
Surgery Date
Jul 17, 2009
Member Since

Friends 35

Latest Blog 24

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