BARBI & JANE'S UPDATE

[Guest guest]

Hi Everyone,

I checked into NYU at 6:30 a.m. Thursday (4/26/01) morning and it was

pretty smooth sailing for me. I have to say that NYU was very

efficient and by 6:45 a.m. I was in a room with a gown on waiting to

be wheeled into surgery. Dr. Ren came into the room and we talked

for a few minutes. I also met with the two Drs. doing the

anesthesia. Dr. Ren told me that my surgery took 3 hours. I woke up

in the recovery room and the last thing I remembered was my mom and

my hubby looking at me before I said I feltpain and then I drifted

off again. I was in recovery for a long time since a bed in

the " step-down " unit was not available. I really didn't mind since in

recovery I had my own nurse. My mom stayed with me until I was

brought to the 14th Floor and put in a private room at about 8:00

p.m. I have to say that the 14th floor had such great nurses. It is

NYU's transplant ward and all of the nurses I had were top notch. I

woke up with the IV pain pump and it took a few adjustments before

the dosage was right. I spoke up when the medication wore off too

fast or I was in any pain. Adjustments were made right away. Pre-

ops SPEAK UP!!! Don't assume that the pain meds will be always right

because everyone has a different tolerance. I have a very high

tolerance to narcotics and my pain pump had to be upped a few times.

I was allowed to have gauze soaked in ice chips right away and that

kept me going until Friday a.m. when I was allowed clear liquids. I

was on an IV antibiotic, pepcid and D5W (sugar solution) along with a

morphine drip and pump. Friday morning my foley catheter came out.

Friday afternoon, my stomach became very bloated and painful. Dr.

Ren ordered a leak test and it was okay. Friday night she came to

see me late and the foley had to be put back in because I couldn't

empty my bladder fully. I also had alot of gas that I couldn't pass

and she had the nurse give me a dulcolax suppository after the foley

was put back in. I felt a little down because I felt like my

recovery was going backwards. By Saturday afternoon, I was finally

able to pass my gas and the foley came out again and I was able to go

on my own. I then started with a little diarahea from the

suppository, but no more gas pains. I came off the pain pump and was

put on crushed percocets on Saturday afternoon. Also one drain was

taken out. Then today,(Sunday) I had yogurt for breakfast and pureed

chicken (one bite), mashed potatoes and carrots for lunch then my

second drain came again and I was discharged at 2:00 p.m. Barbi came

down to visit and she looked great. Her spirits were up. She

expects to be in until Monday or Tuesday. She is still on liquids

and needs to start pureed food before her discharge. She is taking

very little pain medication and has no foley either. Tomorrow she

anticipates starting a pureed diet. She feels good. The blue food

dye got into her hair and the nurse tried to wash it out without

luck. Her mom was staying with her for a few more days. She wasn't

happy with the nurses on the 11th floor. The nurses were okay,

mostly the aides gave her a hard time. I also had a run in with the

same resident that she did. I straightened him out just like she

did. He needs lessons in bedside manners. Well, I am taking a

rest. I'll talk again later.

Jane J., BMI 42

Post-Op

April 26, 2001

Lap BPD/DS

Dr. Ren

NYU Medical Center, NYC

www.thinforlife.org