shirleyfhoffman
MY SURGERY STORY
May 23, 2011
I will be 3 weeks out tomorrow. I am a stay-at-home mother of three children ages 6, 5, and 3 and we homeschool them so I didn't have time to get nervous about my surgery until I was at the hospital. I had to leave my house by 5:30 A.M. to get to the hospital by 7:30 A.M. for my 9:30 surgery.My husband prayed with me before I went in. Then he kissed me and told me that him and the kids would be there when I woke up. He parked and waited for the kids to wake up. Then he took them to breakfast and played at the park till they called him to tell him I was in recovery.
I had to walk into the hospital and check in by myself. A lady passing a kidney stone walked in and I was kind of early for my check in, so I let her cut in front of me. I've had a kidney stone before but it was too big to pass and I had to have surgery to remove it so I felt her pain. Then I checked in and was told to wait till someone came to get me.
I waited in the waiting area till a nurse came to get me and walked me to another waiting area. I sat in the second waiting area for about 15-20 minutes and THAT's when I started getting nervous. I'm talking, my stomach was in knots and I had to poop nervous! They came back to get me to get me prepped for surgery. I had to take all of my clothes off and put a gown on. It was a heated one that had a place for a hose to go in that would blow warm air into it. I was nervous and sweating though so I told them I didn't need it to be warmed. I also had to put on some purple no-slip socks on that they gave me. I put all of my clothes in a bag with my name on it that they gave me. I sat and waited.
Then, I nurse came over and started checking my information and handing me papers to sign...
Then the phone rang and it was the opperating room telling the prep room that they were ready for me!!! I was SO nervous that I was about to run out of the room and I didn't care who saw my big 'ol butt out of the back of my hospital gown! The nurses started scrambling then. They didn't even have my IV in yet!
The anesthesiologist came over to me and started asking me all the same questions the other lady had already asked me. I had to sign some papers for him too. I never mentioned being nervous, but he told me that as soon as they had my IV in, he'd be back with some happy medicine.
Then I saw my surgeon walk out of the opperating room across the hall and walk right up to me. He asked me all the same questions everyone else asked me (name, birthday, what I was here for today). Then he asked me if I had any questions for him and I asked, "Will you say a prayer?" AND he did! He prayed that God would guide his hands and help the surgery be an uneventful one. Then he prayed that God would watch over me durring my surgery and recovery. He prayed I would have a speedy recovery so that I would be able to become the wife and mother that I have always wanted to be. He even said, "In your name, Lord Jesus, amen." Suddenly, a wave of calm rushed over me and I knew I would be okay. I was ready to go!
They got my IV in really easily and even gave me some numbing medicine before they put my IV in so I didn't feel a thing. It was great! My anesthesiologist came back and gave me my happy medicine.
Then they wheeeled me across the hall to my opperating room and I had to move from my bed to the operating table. They asked me my name, birthday, and why I was here again. I laid my head down and put my arms out on the table and was out!
I don't remember much from the recovery room except they kept trying to talk to me and all I wanted to do was sleep. When I did wake up, they asked me if I was in pain and I tried to say yes, but fell back asleep first.
Eventually, they wheeled me back to my room but I was still in and out. I remember hearing some kids in the hallway and thinking, "Those kids are loud! Where are their parents and why are they folloing me?" Then I realized they were my kids. LOL I remember wanting my husband to stay longer, but I fell asleep before I could ask him to stay.
He went home with the kids and I slept till the afternoon. I woke up and told the nurse taking my vitals that I had to puke. She gave me some medicine, but I still had dry heaves. She gave me something else and the next thing I remember is waking up around 8 O'clock feeling great. The nurse that was taking my vitals asked me how I was feeling. I told her I was ready to walk. I overdid it so I was tired and I wanted to go back to sleep. I had alot of gas pain in my neck and shoulders so I was pushing the button for my pain medicine ALOT! I was sleeping most of the time, but I could only get medicine every 6 minutes. If I pushed it too early it would beep a few times to tell me that I couldn't have any medicine right now. I remember pushing the button in my sleep cause it would beep to tell me I couldn't have any medicine and wake me up. I also had some weird things wrapped around my feet that would squeeze them and let them go to prevent blooc clots.
The next day I slept alot in the early morning but by about 10 A.M. I was feeling SO much better. I got my catheter out and they took me off of my pain button. I was able to walk without bringing that stand with me. I walked for an hour. I was burping and farting and it made my neck and shoulders feel SO much better!
I got chicken broth that night for dinner. 1oz. every 15 minutes for a total of 4oz. It was great! I also got ice chips. They gave me 1/2 apple juice and 1/2 water. I was allowed to drink 1oz every 15 minutes.
I got to go home the next morning. They gave me some lortab right before I left and a pillow for my stomach. It was a rough ride home. I got home and slept alot.
By the third day home (5 days out from surgery), I was taking adult liquid tylenol durring the day and lortab at night. On the 7th day, I was off all pain medicine and started walking on my elliptical every day for 30 minutes (10 at a time) I was even able to have relations with my husband that night.
I will be 3 weeks out tomorrow and I am feeling fantastic! I even walked on my elliptical for an hour today! I have lost 20.5 pounds in the 20 days since my surgery and 75.5 pounds total! I know it's still early, but having the RNY is the best thing I have ever done for myself! I don't have any regrets at all. I can't wait to play with my kids instead of watching them from the park bench!!!
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About Me
CA
Location
27.3
BMI
Surgery
05/03/2011
Surgery Date
Mar 24, 2011
Member Since
