SURGERY - THE DAY HAS COME & GONE ALREADY!

Jun 15, 2009

Guess it's time that I update my blog.....
I had my surgery a little over three weeks ago on May 21st.  RNY - I'm not sure if I had the medial or proximal.  I'm not sure which!  Rather stupid of me for not knowing.  It doesn't say on any of my hospital release papers...I briefly remember having a short conversation with Dr. Oh right before they gave me my knock out IV...If I remember correctly I asked him to do the most drastic he could - that I never wanted to be fat again. Dr. Oh laughed and said, "good for you."  I think he told me that my insurance pre-qualified me for the proximal - crap - here all along I thought I was going to receive a medial.  Looking back at all my paperwork - it doesn't specify proximal or medial.  So much for good communication - guess I flunked that course.  Wednesday, June 17th, is my 4 week check up.  I'm going to make sure I ASK and also get a copy of my surgery report/records then to bring home so I know exactly what was done.  It makes a big difference as to what/and how many vitamins you need to take and also for the protein shake amounts.  GOD I FEEL SO STUPID!

Onward I go with my true life story.  I checked into St. Francis Hospital in Federal Way, Washington on May 21st at 10:00 (nervous and scared to death I might add).  My hubby drove me, helped me get checked in, and then he headed to work for numerous meetings at Boeing regarding more layoffs and cutbacks.  I went under the knife at approximately 2:30pm not knowing for sure if my husband would still have a job when he came back to see me that evening.  Hey they actually got the IV in me on the second poke!  I have collapsing, rolling, hidden, nasty little veins.  My all time record for pokes in one sitting is 13!  The hospital staff was very friendly and they put a nice heated blanket on my lap.

I woke up at around 6:15pm - very groggy and felt like I was more dead than alive.  Not much pain, but felt so naseauted.  I don't remember how long I was in the recovery room.  I do remember someone telling me that my surgery was over and that it went very well.  All I felt like doing was puking and trying to sleep.  The dry heaves were definitely not fun, but not quite as painful as I expected either.  My husband, and my younger daughter (daughter came up from Oregon) came to visit me around 8:00pm???  Again I just don't remember much - all I remember is I was happy to see familiar faces, but felt so sick I really didn't want any company and was trying so hard not to vomit.  After a short visit I sent them on their way.  I just wanted to be left alone - I felt so bad.  Not any real pain, just felt so sick.  The nurses were very nice and kept giving me anti-naseau meds in my IV - but unfortunately they didn't work.  It was a long, long, very miserable night of dry heaves and trying to get any water in by mouth - well it just came back up.  The nurses came quite quickly when I rang the button because I had to pee in the middle of the night a couple of times.  By the next morning I was able to get up on my own and make it to the bathroom.  I did have a roommate but she was very nice and quiet - I felt bad that she had to listen to my dry heaves.  It seemed as if the nurses were giving me more anti-naseau meds every hour - but it probably wasn't quite that often.  Time passes slowly and strangely when you feel more dead than alive.  I remember thinking over and over how could I have done this to myself.  To top off the naseau I also had a very severe case of restless leg syndrome - actually I would have to say it was more like RESTLESS BODY SYNDROME!!!  I've had this problem off and on for quite a few years.  But this was by far the very worst.  Perhaps it was brought on by all the meds????  I could not relax or lie still.  I felt like all my nerves were on fire and trying to jump out of my body.  I couldn't hold still for blood pressure, temperature checks, or anything.  When Dr. Oh and Hirai came to check on my I was literally writhing on the bed.  Think they thought I was nuts.  Given more meds to relax me.  Felt worse and dry heaves continued.  I was sent down for an CAT Scan.  They had to inject die into my IV. Vein collapsed and it took numerous tries to get one started.  My body squirms and discomfort were so bad I just wanted to scream!  They wanted to give up on the IV because I had been poked so many times, but I told them it had to be done.  Finally succeeded and my results came back good - no leakage.  Also had to drink awful stuff to have an ultrsound - I couldn't get it all in, but got enough in and ultrsound results were alright too.  Thank God!  Now if I could just quit with the dry heaves.  Wanted to go home so bad!  I was told because of my naseau and not getting enough liquids in I would have to stay an extra night.  Depression set in and my restless body problems continued.  I tried walking around the nurses station, puke pan in hand, trying to gain some relief - to no avail.

Tired and time to get a protein shake for dinner - so will continue tomorrow........????

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