How surgery went and how I’m feeling
Well, some people have been calling, emailing and texting to see how I’m feeling. And I thought noone noticed. Here’s the scoop.
BEFORE SURGERY
- Due to issues with my insurance I actually didn’t know for sure until late Thursday morning that I could have the surgery. Talk about stressful! That whole situation made me want to eat even more! I was so close to ordering lunch when the call came with the final financial details.
- I arrived on time at the hospital on Friday. The staff didn’t rush to check us in or anything but they did offer me some coffee. Very friendly, too bad I wasn’t allowed any.
- I was taken in to pre-op, where I discovered that surgery wasn’t for another two hours. And the nurse thought my Dad was my husband.
- The nurse killed my hand placing the port and line on the back of my hand. My Dad thought I was a wuss. If he annoys me again in this manner in the future I will be seeking volunteers to help me hold him down while I shove a giant needle into the back of his hand and root around with it.
- I met the anesthesiologist and asked him if anyone ever backed out after getting into the pre-op area. He asked me if I wanted to, I told him no. I wondered if some people might decide they’d miss the food too much to have the surgery.
- I saw my surgeon. Let me say this. He’s so good looking I can’t keep myself from smiling when I see him. Yes, yes, he’s nice too.
- I was taken into the surgery room, where it was cold. The room was full of machines, computers and monitors and medical equipment. There was a lot of beeping and dinging noises.
- They moved me onto the table and started connecting things to me. One of the doctors put a big patch of some kind on me and when I asked what it was for he told me it was “to ground me, so you don’t get shocked when they cauterize you”. I remember that worrying me and starting to ask a question but they were putting the oxygen mask on and the next thing I knew I was in the recovery room.
AFTER SURGERY
- I woke up in the recovery room. I remember drifting in and out – anesthesia does that to me. I remember being told that everything had gone well and that I’d be getting moved to my room shortly. The nurse in Recovery was very nice.
- Unbeknownst to me, my Dad was in a panic. The surgeon had told him all went well and that I’d be getting moved to a room shortly. More than two hours went by and he still hadn’t seen me and didn’t know where I was. He was not pleased.
- I was taken to a private room with a lovely view. I was connected to a morphine pump. Good thing, because it was about then that I realized I felt like a truck was parked on top of my chest and stomach. That was also the moment that I realized I wasn’t hungry.
- About this time I realized that my mouth was so dry I felt like I’d swallowed all of the deserts in the world. I was informed I was not allowed to have anything to drink until the next day. The nurse did find a spongy thing on a stick so I could wet my lips.
- I asked if I could walk to the bathroom. I’m told this is the quickest any of the patients have wanted to walk. I wasn’t trying to be an over achiever or anything, I just didn’t want to have “an accident”.
- I ask why my pain seems to be primarily on the left side of my stomach. I’m told that this is where the biggest incision is and where my band was placed.
- My Dad made it to the room about fifteen minutes after I got there. He stayed a while and then left later in the afternoon to go home and have something to eat.
- One of my friends from work stopped by. She got to meet my surgeon and she thinks he’s good looking and has a nice bedside manner too. I was clicking my morphine button the whole time she was there and basically fell asleep right in the middle of a conversation with her.
- I’m told my oxygen level is a bit low and I overdid it walking to the bathroom and that I need to use a commode instead.
- I was told I needed to be moved into a semi private room. I walked there, hanging on to the pole with the morphine and fluids.
- I woke up several times through the night, due to pain in my hip. The bed was awfully uncomfortable.
DAY AFTER SURGERY
- I tell the nurse coming on I can’t get the bed to raise. She discovers that it had a problem and wasn’t behaving. Apparently this is why I was so uncomfortable, because the bed never adjusted or inflated or whatever it’s supposed to do for sleeping.
- I was taken down to Radiology for a Barium Swallow. The doctor put the stuff into a glass with ice and told me to drink while standing in fromt of the machine. That stuff was absolutely the vilest tasting stuff I’ve ever had. It’s worse than the stuff you drink before a CT scan. The test went well and I was sent back up to my room.
- My surgeon came back. He told me I was going to be discharged.
- I slept some more, until my Dad came to take me home.
- 24 hours had passed since surgery and I still wasn’t hungry but I was thirsty.
- I went home. I had a little visit with my Mom and Dad and then slept some more.
- I began drinking according to the post surgical diet instructions, which call for 4 ounces per hour but no more than 1 ounce at a time.
- I have Tylenol 3, which has codeine, for the pain.
AFTER THE DAY AFTER SURGERY
- I still feel like there’s a semi parked on top of my stomach.
- I’ve taken myself off of the Tylenol 3.
- I’ve been resting a lot. Today is Tuesday and I’m still not hungry. I am thirsty though. I’m not used to drinking in tiny little sips.
- I made the mistake of going to the grocery store today. I overdid it. Now I’m really hurting and really tired and heading back to the couch.
Category: Bariatric surgery & Health, Family, Food, Health
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Debbie,
Thanks. You’re always welcome to visit.
Val
dear valmg
im so happy to here all went well with you we were so worried im sorry we didnt stop by to see you yet we wanted to let you rest how ever im so happy you are doing good and all went well good luck with your jurney on weight loss take care deb
Debbie M.s last blog post..Wordless Wednesday
Hi Leslie.
Thank you, I appreciate that.
Val
Hi Karen.
Thanks.
I’m grateful for the support I’ve been receiving from my online friends. It means a lot.
Yes, the grocery store turned out to be a bad idea.
Val
Hi Lynne.
Thanks for the compliment. While I have been known to enjoy relaxing and being pampered, I don’t enjoy feeling helpless or powerless. Which is why I went to the grocery store, something for which I’m still suffering from apparently. I’ve learned my lesson and have gone back to resting.
Val
Hi Charla.
Thanks, I appreciate it.
Val
Hi Clair.
Thanks!
Val
Hi blueyes.
Thanks!.
I have a lovely bruise creating all sorts of colors on the back of my hand right now as I type.
Val
Hi Elizabeth.
Thanks!.
Yes I definitely overdid because I’m still hurting.
I’m going back on the Tylenol 3 tonight.
Val
Hi Corrin.
Thanks! Yes everything went smoothly.
Think thin please. LOL.
Val
Hi Judi.
Thanks. I’ve been hurting for 2 days now and think I need to go back on the T3.
It all went bad after going to the grocery store.
The surgeon’s office told me I have to rest so since hubby isn’t working tonight I’ll probably take the meds again.
Val
Valerie! Congratulations on your surgery. I’m impressed you were off of T3 so quickly and then to the grocery.. goodness woman!
Get well soon.
Judi / madaises last blog post..Hummingbird Time – Summers Coming
Val I’m so glad everything went okay! Bad girl for going to the store though, you don’t realize how much you use your stomach until you basically can’t. Take the Tylenol if you feel you need it! Hugs, girl.
Elizabeths last blog post..Wordless Wednesday- LOL TV
Sounds like everything went smoothly. Take it easy and we’ll all be thinking about you!
corrins last blog post..Colgate Wisps – A Shack Pack Necessity
I’ve been checking out the material on the right. #123 on the Mom’s Blog is a good number nationally, right? You are the best.
pat.s last blog post..WW: Scaled for figure – 6 feet
I held back asking you so many of the things you covered in this post. I think a story about Dad in panic could be Jean Kerr funny but them it’s poking fun at Dad. I’ll be going through a lot of the same issues in two weeks. Meanwhile, I love the button–I don’t have to type in and get to your posts fast. IU may forget to leave comments but I do read them all mostly–I admit to skimming the ads.
pat.s last blog post..WW: Scaled for figure – 6 feet
You must have had the same nurse who blew my vein in the back of my hand trying to get blood because for some ungodly reason she couldn’t seem to hit the friggin huge vein in my arm. Glad your doing better and remember taking it easy may aggravate you because you aren’t doing anything but it helps you heal faster
blueyess last blog post..Poor Lions
Get well soon, val. Take care.
Clairs last blog post..memories of a small town vacation
Oh Val! First, let me just say, what an excellent post! I certainly couldn’t type a single word only 2 days after a surgery!
Next, I am so glad to here you were able to have the surgery and that you are home recovering. I’m sure your family will take good care of you and you’ll be back on your feet in no time. Now, no more over doing it, everything else can wait, you just take it easy and get well!
Val, you have been through a lot! You are in my prayers, too, that you get well as quickly as possible!
Charlas last blog post..Save Money on Organics
thanks for the update. i have been thinking about you and wondering how things are going. i hope your recovery continues to go well.
thank you for the recap. It sounds like you are doing as well as can be expected. You went to the grocery??? Bad girl.
I’m keeping you in my prayers!! You are a brave lady!!!
Keep the faith!!!
Leslie
I like the metaphors you use to describe much of your experience.