RizingPheonix
Can I please go home?!
Dec 07, 2014
Alrighty, its been days and all I want to do is go home!!! Seriously now!
I think I discovered one of the 7 hells and its post operative migraine while in the hospital! More on that in a bit though...
Ok, surgery went great, turns out I had a significant hiatal hernia as well, so along with my VSG, my surgeon fixed up the leaky spots. I had no idea the extent of the hernia or that I'd be getting a two for one in the "significant" surgery category, but its all done and now its just the healing aspect. The first few days were intensely painful, I felt like I couldn't even breath! I told them I felt like I was having a heart attack because the left sided chest pain was unreal! I was then advised I'm not having a heart attack, instead, I'm feeling the area of hernia repair. Ouch! They couldn't stabilize my pain after the surgery until I was put on ketamine. It relieved the pain and I could think clearly for a few minutes but it didn't last unfortunately. I was put on a PCA pump for pain and the vomiting started immediately. Just out of surgery and vomiting blood not only puts the fear of God into you, but teaches one all new levels of pain and suffering.
Turns out the distal end of my stomach, just before my pyloric valve was unusually thick (a genetic quirk) and required more staples then other parts of my new stomach. I guess I really did have a stomach of steel. Regrettably, it swelled and blocked off any exit from my stomach, thus the constant, and I do mean constant, vomiting and dry heaves. My pain pump and I were become close friends. So, treatment was low dose steroids, since they have a tendency to interfere with the healing process, I was monitored closely and this is when the headaches started showing up. I am not fond of narcotics, never have been and hate relying so heavily on them to even breathe because the pain was so severe, not to mention the fact that they tend to make nausea and vomiting worse, I started to wean myself off the meds. I wasn't as successful as I wanted but I did eventually get off them completely. It took about a day, while the steroids opened up the end of my stomach, and it seemed things were moving along well, until the migraine I was trying to deny, found me.
They ask you what you pain level is and this one hit with a vengeance 9/10, and I've been suffering from migraines since my pre-pubescent years, so this is not may first rodeo. My surgeon immediately hit me with inject-able Imitrex (aka Sumatriptan) and I was able to finally sleep. Then the weekend. My surgeon doesn't do weekends, early mornings or late nights, he's been at this game too long for such nonsense. So, I already knew I'd drawn a "stay in hospital till the big dog lets you go" card. The doc covering wasn't familiar with Imitrex or its dosing options. I suffered a great deal but, hopefully, he's learned at thing or two about migraines and no one will suffer like I have again. Hopefully.
I started my full liquid diet and that has been a rough ride. I am having trouble distinguishing between hunger pains and everything else swishing about in my belly. Of course I get the intense hunger pains that are accompanied by waves of nausea, regardless, there is constant pressure. It always feels like I've taken in too much. I was given single ounce cups and advised to drink nothing more than one ounce/15 mins. As it stands, I'm lucky to get 3 ounces in 2 hours. I have no idea how I'm going to combat dehydration at this rate. My surgeon did warn me that because of the extensive surgery I underwent and the thickness of my stomach lining, I was facing extended time in rehabilitation. So, for ever week of clear fluids the average patient is on, I am looking at double. So it will be a long road ahead but what is done is done. Now its just a matter of healing and shopping!! Ok, so that part is going to have to wait till my clothes are falling off, but what a reason!!!
So, here I am, waiting for my surgeon to find a break between morning surgeries to come in, say hi and send me home. It would be really nice to lay in my own bed with my hubby just a few nights before he leaves for the other side of the planet. I'm sentimental that way.
