Random Thoughts

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 7/12/00 4:57:17 PM Central Daylight Time,

UNCLawyer2B@... writes:

Was Theresa the

lovely lady with the tan who spoke to us? She was the only post-op whose

name I missed. All the post-ops looked super and were supportive of the

surgery.

>>

Hi Donna!!

This is from Raleigh. I was at the clinic on Tuesday and spoke to you

guys along with Ellen and Barbara. I had on a greenish skirt. I wish I could

have stayed longer for all the introductions. I really did want to meet each

of you but I was on the way to visit a friend in the hospital who just had

MGB and I had to be at work at noon. I have corresponded with you private

e-mail so I really wish I knew who you were now!!! Hope to see you at the

29th meeting!!

in Raleigh........no " h " in

[Guest guest]

Donna,

I am so excited. I can't contain myself. I hope I can go to sleep so I can

get up early in the morning to be at the hospital on time. I hope to see you

soon.

Your Lightermate/litermate

in Durham

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone,

I'm a post-op that doesn't post much (I'm at the gym, LOL!!!) but wanted to

chime in on a few things here.

IV's~ What ebbieday said about the IV's and starting proximally is correct.

However, I have to say that when the nurse went to start my IV, she asked me

where I wanted it placed. She did know I was a paramedic though, so maybe

that played into it. Personally I chose my forearm. The hand hurts, and I

don't like it in the anticubital because if you have a tendency to bend your

arms when you sleep, a) it will stop the IV from running, and it hurts

after a while if you crimp it up like that. I had this problem when I had my

gallbladder removed. Another note for the record. I have huge veins. I am

sure the nurse had no doubt whatsoever that she would hit it the first time.

Stevie Wonder could hit that vein!

Pre-Surgical Medication~ Some people are very susceptible to Versed, one of

the drugs they give you right before you go into surgery. I am one of those

people, I literally do not remember the nurse walking away from my bed after

giving the injection! I certainly don't remember even being wheeled into

surgery, I suspect hey had to lift my big body onto the table themselves.

However, my mother, who had the surgery directly before me, remembers

climbing onto the OR table and having her arms strapped down and such. But

you will not remember the ET tube, for whoever asked. You need to be

completely knocked out, so you don't have a gag reflex (except in extreme

situations, which this is not). You will also be extubated long before you

awaken. So no worries.

Acid reflux~ Prior to surgery, I had esophageal reflux so bad that I was

never ANYWHERE without my tums. I even had times where I would be treating a

patient and would have to stop and pop a few tums. At night it would wake me

up, especially if I did not have a lot of pillows. I am a little over 6

weeks post op now, and have not had an episode of esophageal reflux ONCE.

This is probably the most amazing 'side effect' of the surgery to date. And

let me add that I have eaten chili and spicy buffalo wings already, so it's

not something that is occurring because of diet changes. The wings were so

hot I was crying! (although I could only eat 4 of them, LOL). Before

surgery, this would have been a 6 tums episode, with an OTC tagamet thrown in

for good measure. I have had one episode of bile reflux, that was at 4 weeks

post op, and that was probably more because I ate too much than anything else.

I hope this helps the aspiring and scheduled pre-ops alike. Good luck on

your journey!!!

in NJ

MGB 6-1-00