My Switch Story (Long)

[Guest guest]

I went to Staten Island University Hospital. The worst part of this was the pre-admission testing. Everything was just too long waits.

For the operation itself, On Sunday eveving April 22, we checked into the little hotel the hospital runs for out-patients and families from out-of-town. The place in nice, nothing fancy. Just your basic room. I had an 8:30 am appointment at the hospital the following morning, staying at the hotel eliminated a long drive the day of the surgery. The following morning we rode the bus supplied over to the hospital. We only had to wait a few minutes to be asked in to start preping. Room 1 seemed to be just a staging area where I got on the hospital gowns and finished paperwork. Finally, they were ready to take me to pre-op and I said " see you later " to my husband (he was a wreck). In room 2, pre-op, a bit of waiting and more checking paperwork. Then an IV was started, I was visited my Dr. Macura and introduced to his associate. The aniestieologist and he explained about what would happen. After what seemed like a long wait I was taken to the OR. Strapped down and the aniestiologist said he was giving me something so he could check my airway. Next thing I remember is coming to in the recovery room. I was trying to get the airtube out, nurses kept telling me it had to stay until I was more awake. I remember trying to let the nurses know I was awake, I shook the siderails and waved my hands, but funny, I couldn't remember how to open my eyes. LOL Finally I remembered and opened my eyes, they came right over and took the tube out. The nurse asked what my pain level was from 1 to 10, I remembered what someone on the DS list said and told her 10. I had an NG tube still in. The nurses were trying to figure out how to get my cpap mask over my nose with the tube and just put an open O2 mask on me for the time being. I remembered that some people use full nose and mouth masks and suggested it to the nurses. They called down and had something sent, it worked fine. I was feeling a bit better now. No pain to speak of. The nurse kept pressing the button for the morphine pump for me. I slept on and off, there always seemed to be a nurse next to me. My husband was allowed to visit for a few minutes, it was now about 6 pm. He had tried to visit right after the doctor talked to him, but I was still asleep. I was finally sent to a room about 8 pm. I tried to keep above the pain, by hitting the pump button every half hour and when I knew I was going to be doing something that might cause pain. It seemed to work, I seldom had to use the pump when there was any pain. Later the nurses told me that I used a lot less than most people. Guess my method worked.

The NG tube was removed Tues. morning and I was finally allowed ice chips and a liquid diet. I bless the nurse who found some broth and juice for me early Tues. BTW the nursing staff was great. They really went out of their way to be sure I was well taken care of. The only time I had a problem was when there was an emergency on the floor, I had to wait a while for non urgent care.

Dr. Macura said the operation itself took 1 1/2 hours and I was amazed to see that the incision was only 6 inches long. I’ve seen pictures on the DS site with much longer incisions.

By Thurs. I was getting tired of being in a hospital. I was upped to stage 2 food which added yougurt. Dr. Macura walked in asked if I wanted to go home tonight. I said SURE. I thought things were set. About 3:30 pm the doctor group (only thing I can call them, don’t know their names) walked in. Asked how did I do on the stage 2 foods, I said fine, no problems. They said OK, I can go home tonight. Good, I thought, HA. They didn’t write the orders. I didn’t find this out until 6 pm. I cried to my poor over worked nurse (3 new admissions came in at the same time, she was swamped) She had to call an Intern to write the orders. I was finally discharged at 8 pm. They couldn’t find the only large size wheelchair. An aide remembered a patient on the floor who had her own chair, so she borrowed it so that I could finally leave.

We went to the hospital’s hotel to stay until my doctor’s appt the next Tues. The next few days went by slow. After the drugs wore off, I discovered that my knee had gone out so I couldn’t do much walking. I lived on Egg-drop soup, yougurt and protein drinks, then added Tofu and then chicken by Sun.

Saw Dr. Macura on Tues. He removed the drain lines (didn’t hurt, but not fun) and said I was healing just fine. Sent me home until my next visit in 3 weeks.

I felt so good to leave NYC, that I drove home. LOL

Rita Black10/17/2000 First Consult. Dr.MacuraOpen BPD/DS 4/23/20014/23/01 - 400 lbs. BMI 635/1/01 - 391 lbs. BMI 61