my surgery yesterday

[Guest guest]

Hi Everyone!

I wanted to give everyone an account of my surgery. I had the MGB yesterday, on

5/25/00. I am now officially known as " The Tornado Case. " My surgery was

scheduled to occur during a tornado that passed over Durham and made the power

flicker off in the hospital. So, they didn't want to start any more surgeries

until the storm passed. As a result I was in the holding area for over 90

minutes because they were afraid the power would go out and they would have to

be on the generator. I guess if I was going to chicken out I had over an hour

and a half to do it! The weird thing is that when I initially got down to the

holding area I was suddenly very nervous, but then I had to wait, and wait, and

wait. . . and the more I waited the calmer I got (which seems paradoxical to

me). I did have some headphones with me and listening to music was a big help.

By the time I got into the O.R. I was perfectly calm and discussing a possible

MGB research project with the nurse anesthetist! She is interested in doing a

study about " quality of life " pre and post MGB. We were discussing various

measures she could use and the various methods she could collect data. Too

funny!! She was great, her name is Ruth Long. And, the nurse who put in my IV

was also great, her name was Sheila. Actually, all the staff and nurses were

great (except one during the day shift who was sort of bland -- she wasn't rude,

she just had no personality and seemed to lack confidence). Even the

registration guy was a hoot! He said his wife is considering this surgery!

My surgery was scheduled for 10:30 but didn't actually happen until close to

1:00. It took 38 minutes and Dr. R said everything went well. He said all my

internal organs looked well, and my liver looked " exceptionally well " . I have

felt pretty good and left the hospital this morning around 8:00. I would have

left earlier but the nursing shift was changing so I couldn't. Dr. R came in at

6:30 and woke me and my mother up! He waltzed in and said, " Good Morning " and

opened wide the blinds. It was pretty funny. I think of him as a hummingbird.

I really have a fondness for hummingbirds.

I agree with everyone that it is important to get up and walk as soon as you

can. It really gets the gas jostled around so that hopefully you will pass it.

I never in my life hoped for a fart like I did last night!! :-) I walked the

halls and dropped by to see Nate and ine. Nate was having some pain, and

ine said she was doing fine, she just wanted to keep sleeping. My mother

drove me home to Southern Pines this morning and the drive wasn't bad. It does

help to have a pillow to cushion your tummy. But, actually the bumps on these

NC roads were good for jostling that gas and I think it helped me toot out the

rest of it (sorry, hope no one is offended by that). So, I have been home since

about 10:00, sleeping on and off and trying to figure out the supplement

schedule. Yuuuuuuuummmmmmm -- carafate!! It tastes like chalky pepto bismal.

So, I am doing well. I am relatively free of pain at this point, feel quite

alert, and fortunately have had little to no nausea, and no acid reflux.

And, Missy, I hope your surgery went well today! Sorry I didn't find you, but I

was ready to get out of there as soon as Dr. R gave me the go-ahead.

Anyway, it is nice to be on " the other side " and I thank you all for helping me

in this journey. You are a great group!!!

Sincerely / e (Southern Pines, NC)

MGB 5/25/00

The Tornado