Diane Z.

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So, I'm back home and ready to talk!

My surgery was scheduled for 5pm on Wednesday 12/17.  I had a "last meal" on Saturday of Outback Steakhouse ribs and scallops.... yum.  The real indulgence was that I bought some cupcakes since I figured that frosting would be a big no-no post op.

On Sunday, I went on all clears.  I did it a day early because I wanted to make sure that I made my weight, plus I just wanted to make sure I was good & clean.  My surgeon required the bowel prep the day before surgery, so Tuesday I stayed home and drank the magnesium citrate and waited for the explosion.  I guess I must have been pretty empty because it was no big deal... I tried to keep myself busy and took an Ativan for anxiety. 

Wednesday, hubby left work early and picked me up and we left for the hospital at 1pm or so.  I wanted to be there early on purpose.... I did take another Ativan to keep the nerves at bay. 

Pre-op nurses were a frickin' riot.  They told me that the surgery was set for 6pm (apparently it had been pushed back but we had not been told.)  We were kidding around with the nurses and when the surgeon and the anesthesiologist showed up, I was strangely calm about the whole thing.  I kissed DH and told him I'd see him later.

I came to in recovery and was told that all went well.  They wheeled me up to my room and I asked "where's my husband?"  He wasn't there, and I was surprised because it was close to midnight at that point.

At 1am he was there in the room - and he was absolutely hysterical!  Even through my morphine haze I knew this was not right.  He's normally a typical strong guy and I have never seen him cry.  He was bawling... told me that nobody had come out to tell him that the surgery was over and when he tried to get info, nobody would give it to him.  He was convinced that I had not made it... he was beside himself.  He's never had surgery or had to wait until someone came through surgery, so I'm pretty upset about the whole thing.

Next day I'm in a complete morphine haze, but I asked the surgeon what happened.  He claimed that he went to the waiting area and my husband was not there, so he left him a message on his cell phone.  My hubby's cell was losing charge and was beeping when we were in the pre-op area so now I understand.... My hubby claims that he never left the area and he's convinced that he's being lied to.  I'm caught in the middle because I think it's a misunderstanding - hubby is a very black/white type person - but there's not much I can do about it.

So anyway - my best friend came up to the hospital and hung out with me on Thursday.  I went down early for the swallow test which was no big deal.  I was pretty much in a morphine haze for most of the day anyway... my friend was completely amused that I was slurring my words and having conversations with my eyes closed.  I'm kind of a control freak, and even when I have a few drinks, I never lose control.  So she pretty much had a field day with me!

Friday arrives and I'm feeling damn good.  My roommate is awesome; I have spent a lot of time talking to her and her husband.  I even met her sister who came to visit and had RNY two years ago.  She looks fabulous and is inspiration to both of us!  My surgeon shows up and tells my roommate that she's going home.  Then he tells me that my blood count is low, he's worried about internal bleeding, and he's going to keep me an extra night and give me vitamin K and iron to see if it improves.  I'm disappointed, of course, but I'd also rather be safe then sorry.  I'm now walk walk walking all around the hospital and the nurses are shocked that I'm not going home because I'm really doing well.  

So, I get another roommate who had the same surgery (different surgeon, though).  She's nice and we alternate going for walks and doing what we need to do.  Now I've been walking all over the wing and have found several people I knew from the bariatric pre-education program.  There are quite a few of us on the floor, so I'm pretty much walking and soc ializing with the other patients.

Saturday I'm packed and ready to go, and the surgeon tells me again: you're not going home.  My blood count did not rebound.  I'm totally frustrated but what can I do?  I have to trust his opinion... so now I'm like the "goodbye ambassador" of the floor.  Now everyone else I know is going home today.  (Turns out one of the other patients was about to leave when his drain hole started bleeding... the nurse had the paperwork all ready to send him home, and they decided to keep him another day.)  

So, on Sunday they let me go.  Not because my numbers looked better, because they didn' t change much.  But I was climbing the walls and I think he knew I wasn't going to stay anyway.

I have to do labs and follow up tomorrow, but I feel fine.  Hopefully all will go well and we can have a Merry Christmas at home!

I'm back!  I had my surgery at 6pm on Wednesday.  Everything went well and I was supposed to come home from the hospital on Friday, but my blood count was lower than expected so the doc kept me a few extra days to be safe.

I am feeling totally fine - no nauseau and very little pain.  The pain meds are working fine.  I am doing as they say and sip sip sipping, and walk walk walking.

I'll probably post more tomorrow when I have a little more energy...