Guest guest Posted March 8, 2004 Report Share Posted March 8, 2004 Dawn, Way to go girl! Welcome to the losing side. So glad to hear that you are doing so well. That was a big deal just to sit at the computer long enough to write that long synopsis of your surgery. So happy for you and now enjoy the benefits of this surgery. A. B. LAP RNY 3/22/03 Dr. Steve Weinstein, MD. Mobile, Alabama BMI 65/42 386/255-131LBS. 59 years old Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 8, 2004 Report Share Posted March 8, 2004 Dawn, Way to go girl! Welcome to the losing side. So glad to hear that you are doing so well. That was a big deal just to sit at the computer long enough to write that long synopsis of your surgery. So happy for you and now enjoy the benefits of this surgery. A. B. LAP RNY 3/22/03 Dr. Steve Weinstein, MD. Mobile, Alabama BMI 65/42 386/255-131LBS. 59 years old Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 8, 2004 Report Share Posted March 8, 2004 Congratulations and great story!!! I hope I am so lucky if and when I get this done. Alice hardestyal hardesty@... Home from the hospital... Morning All, Arrived home yesterday afternoon from the hospital..Had my surgery on Friday . I was to arrive at 9 for a 10:30 surgery time..we arrived an hour early as we live almost 2 hours away...This was not a good idea..as i paced the halls and considered running from the building numerous times..lolol Then ,, everytime i would turn to walk down the next hallway.. i would see myself in a window...You know how when you see your self in a window pane..and you look really thin and then you realize you are only seeing half your body and then try to move yourself to one side and you just dont fit...lolo well that is what kept me from fleeing the sceen...so i stayed...they finally took me back to get prepped for surgery and i sent my wonderful husband off to get a newspaper and something to eat...well.. then the Dr. assistant came to see me and wanted to ask my permission to let some high school students observe my suryery..I said absolutley!!..then it dawned on me that this could be good or bad....He could do an excellent job..to show off for the audience or be distracted...lolol I was hoping for the first observation...I was finally taken back for my surgery at 12:30 after a call was made to my husband in the waiting room to let him know that i was just getting started and not just finishing...and off i went...to the beginning of my new life.. I awoke in the recovery room around 3 and remained there until 5:30 when there was a bed available for me upstairs... when i arrived at my room..i made my first walk since surgery...I walked from my room to the nurses station .and then back to my bed...it was really not to bad... I was settled in to the bed..and was experienceing my first cathater experience..I was nervous about this as i had never had one before and was glad it was inserted while i was asleep... My mouth was so dry it was unbelievable...and they give you these little green sponges soaked in water..which were like the BEST LITTLE SPONGES SOAKED IN WATER...i had ever had...lolol I sent my husband home since it was such a long day around 6:30pm..he was such the trooper,,,and looked exhausted ..I had blood pressure cuff looking things on both legs which blew up every couple minutes to help with the blood flow in my legs....I got up again around 8pm and walked the length of the hallway...it was a little easier than the first trip...but still hard to stand upright...alot of pressure and gas build up from the lap procedure..The wonderful nurses were fabulous...and in the early evening they brought in my first shot in the thigh of medicine to prevent blood clots...it didnt hurt so,, it was ok.... THE NASTY BLUE STUFF...They brought me in a little cup of this blue stuff for me to drink..there was of checking to see if everything was sealed up...it was the most discusting salty stuff i had every tasted....they were looking for it to come out of the tube that was left around my stomach.which had a small bulb the size of a small hand on the outside which i attached to my nightgown.. there was a little line of blue that seeped but only enough to leave a small line of sediment along the bottom....was up agin around 12 midnight had second shot of blood thinner and again 4am and again at 7 so had one more shot of blood thinner and then was able to leave off the leg blood pressure cuffs starting saturday morning as i was up walking enough that i didnt need it...Saturday i tried to walk every 2-4 hours it really helped me to feel better and to get the gas moving around in my stomach..My wonderful husband called me in the morning before he left to go to work...and my best buddy called to say she was coming up to spend the afternoon with me...The Dr. came in saturday as was thrilled with my walking around and had scheduled to have a GI XRAY around 2 to see how everything had sealed together and if all was good i could move through my 3 stages and go home on sunday!!!! YEA,,Hospital beds are aweful... Around 2 they came to get me to go to xray for my test...They told me i would have to drink two different things and to take a mouth full and swallow all at one time...THE HORROR.. i thought we were suppose to only take small sips...LOLOL they promised me that everything would be fine as they needed the pouch to fill and then drain during the xray...The wonderful xray teck then game me a small glass of clear liguid..which must have been a close family relative to the NASTY BLUE STUFF from the day before which i took a mouth full and swallowed and was very excited not to have to repeat....then they gave me a glass full of white chalky stuff which after the NASTY BLUE STUFF " S COUSION i was thankful to drink..everything looked wonderful!!! YEA!!! Now i could have liquid...lolol I was taken back to my room where i was given 3 little medicine cups of water to drink, each one to spread out over an hour...( you look at this little cup and think i can drink that in one gulp!!!) but let me tell you...if you take little sips it is amazing how filled you are when you try to take little sips over the course of an hour..YOU ARE SOOOOO FULL it is uncomfortable..and so then i would get up and walk to help move things through my new pouch...My best buddy came and brought my a beautiful nightgown in size large I wear a 3x now (with a card saying when it gets too large for me to pass it on to her...) ..with a fabulous teddy bear with an incision down the front of her ....and stuffing removed,..with the stuffing left in her butt...she is just the cuttest thing. she walked with me and around 7pm i was starting to get really tired...since i had not slept well the night before..so off she went...The pain was really hardly nothing...from 4am to 4pm on saturday i had had 10 pushes of my morphine drip ,,when i asked my nurse if that was alot..he laughted and said no...you can have 8 pushes an hours..lolol so i guess things were going well...at 8pm saturday evening i asked for some pain medicine so i could sleep...after taking my sip of pain medicine my nurse informed me that i had just taken the equivalent to 2 percocets...I informed her that i was allergic to percocet...(WELL DOCUMENTED IN MY CHART) and she said you are kidding right? i said nope..and she immediatley left the room to call the doctor and the pharmacy ...saying..how could this happen...she returned to ask me questions about my reaction to percocet..which was heart palputations , breaking out into a sweat, feeling nausous ..etc..but that had been 20 yrs ago...She was a nervous wreck...as the Dr. was paging her back..they put the sides up on my bed and said she would be keeping a close eye on me to make sure i was ok...after checking with the pharmacy, they told her that the Doctor on call said to go ahead and give me the pain medicine in spite of my reaction..as she felt like it was not an allergic reaction (Throat closing ..etc..)and it was the medicine they used after bupass...so the nursing staff keep a close eye on my for the next 3-4 hours...it was not bad at all, but real scary in the beginning...so it worked out ok..At midnight i had my cathater removed..which was not bad at all..I was very nervous about this procedure as this was my first one...but am here to tell you..it is nothing and over before you can say...supercalafragalisticxpealadocious...lololol Sunday morning...I watched alot of tv...and was so ready to move through my stages to go home...my husband called to let me know he was coming with our oldest daughter to get me at around 1pm i told him i would be so ready!!.. At Breakfast time they brough me three little medicine cups of Chichen broth...THIS WAS THE BEST CHICKEN BROTH IN THE WORLD!!! so i procceded to drink the first...real slow...did i tell you that this was the best chicken broth in the world? I drank on whole little cup and could not believe how full i was...i had to walk again..They also are bringing me antacid twice a day..which doesnt make any sense to me..since it is going into a place where there is no acid.. The doctor came into see my around 10am and said all was wonderful and that i was the poster girl for bypass surgery and that the whole staff was proud of the way i was recovering..and that i could go home...!!!! My husband called at around 11:20 to say he was on his way...so i was now looking for the nurse to take my IV out which had started to swell...and then the only thing left was the tube in my stomach to drain out any fluid from the incision.. I had the IV removed from the back of my had around 12:00 and was left with what my husband call the Hamburger Helper Hand...LOLOL It was more painful than the 6 little incissions on my stomach. (Fluid had built up from the iv needle coming through the vein so the iv fluid was being delived under the skin in the top of my hand instead of in the vein) I was then brough a carnation instant breakfast for lunch..the last test..of being able to leave...It was strawberry..and didnt taste very well but i took small sips and by 2pm was looking for the Dr. to come remove the tube in my stomach so that i could shower and go home with my family ...The Dr removed my tube which seems to be 12 feet long when it is coming out..and then i proceded to take my shower...BOY was that nice...and i was dressed and ready to leave by 2:30pm on Sunday...The hospital stay was wonderful and the ride home was a little ruff...alot of bumps..but i did sleep some... I arrrived home yesteday to our 4 dogs that greeted me like they had not seen me for 3 yrs...my husband had to get them out of the house so that they would not jump up on me..and then i greeted each one individually so they could welcome my home...I slept in the extra room last night...ON MY SIDE...GRIN for about 3 hours at a time...and started my day today taking my medicine for gall bladder,, sprinkled in a small glass of crystal light lemonade..then i have started in on my protien drink for the day... So this is where i am so far..I know it is probably more than you want to know but thought it might be helpful for someone who has not had their surgery yet... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 8, 2004 Report Share Posted March 8, 2004 Congratulations and great story!!! I hope I am so lucky if and when I get this done. Alice hardestyal hardesty@... Home from the hospital... Morning All, Arrived home yesterday afternoon from the hospital..Had my surgery on Friday . I was to arrive at 9 for a 10:30 surgery time..we arrived an hour early as we live almost 2 hours away...This was not a good idea..as i paced the halls and considered running from the building numerous times..lolol Then ,, everytime i would turn to walk down the next hallway.. i would see myself in a window...You know how when you see your self in a window pane..and you look really thin and then you realize you are only seeing half your body and then try to move yourself to one side and you just dont fit...lolo well that is what kept me from fleeing the sceen...so i stayed...they finally took me back to get prepped for surgery and i sent my wonderful husband off to get a newspaper and something to eat...well.. then the Dr. assistant came to see me and wanted to ask my permission to let some high school students observe my suryery..I said absolutley!!..then it dawned on me that this could be good or bad....He could do an excellent job..to show off for the audience or be distracted...lolol I was hoping for the first observation...I was finally taken back for my surgery at 12:30 after a call was made to my husband in the waiting room to let him know that i was just getting started and not just finishing...and off i went...to the beginning of my new life.. I awoke in the recovery room around 3 and remained there until 5:30 when there was a bed available for me upstairs... when i arrived at my room..i made my first walk since surgery...I walked from my room to the nurses station .and then back to my bed...it was really not to bad... I was settled in to the bed..and was experienceing my first cathater experience..I was nervous about this as i had never had one before and was glad it was inserted while i was asleep... My mouth was so dry it was unbelievable...and they give you these little green sponges soaked in water..which were like the BEST LITTLE SPONGES SOAKED IN WATER...i had ever had...lolol I sent my husband home since it was such a long day around 6:30pm..he was such the trooper,,,and looked exhausted ..I had blood pressure cuff looking things on both legs which blew up every couple minutes to help with the blood flow in my legs....I got up again around 8pm and walked the length of the hallway...it was a little easier than the first trip...but still hard to stand upright...alot of pressure and gas build up from the lap procedure..The wonderful nurses were fabulous...and in the early evening they brought in my first shot in the thigh of medicine to prevent blood clots...it didnt hurt so,, it was ok.... THE NASTY BLUE STUFF...They brought me in a little cup of this blue stuff for me to drink..there was of checking to see if everything was sealed up...it was the most discusting salty stuff i had every tasted....they were looking for it to come out of the tube that was left around my stomach.which had a small bulb the size of a small hand on the outside which i attached to my nightgown.. there was a little line of blue that seeped but only enough to leave a small line of sediment along the bottom....was up agin around 12 midnight had second shot of blood thinner and again 4am and again at 7 so had one more shot of blood thinner and then was able to leave off the leg blood pressure cuffs starting saturday morning as i was up walking enough that i didnt need it...Saturday i tried to walk every 2-4 hours it really helped me to feel better and to get the gas moving around in my stomach..My wonderful husband called me in the morning before he left to go to work...and my best buddy called to say she was coming up to spend the afternoon with me...The Dr. came in saturday as was thrilled with my walking around and had scheduled to have a GI XRAY around 2 to see how everything had sealed together and if all was good i could move through my 3 stages and go home on sunday!!!! YEA,,Hospital beds are aweful... Around 2 they came to get me to go to xray for my test...They told me i would have to drink two different things and to take a mouth full and swallow all at one time...THE HORROR.. i thought we were suppose to only take small sips...LOLOL they promised me that everything would be fine as they needed the pouch to fill and then drain during the xray...The wonderful xray teck then game me a small glass of clear liguid..which must have been a close family relative to the NASTY BLUE STUFF from the day before which i took a mouth full and swallowed and was very excited not to have to repeat....then they gave me a glass full of white chalky stuff which after the NASTY BLUE STUFF " S COUSION i was thankful to drink..everything looked wonderful!!! YEA!!! Now i could have liquid...lolol I was taken back to my room where i was given 3 little medicine cups of water to drink, each one to spread out over an hour...( you look at this little cup and think i can drink that in one gulp!!!) but let me tell you...if you take little sips it is amazing how filled you are when you try to take little sips over the course of an hour..YOU ARE SOOOOO FULL it is uncomfortable..and so then i would get up and walk to help move things through my new pouch...My best buddy came and brought my a beautiful nightgown in size large I wear a 3x now (with a card saying when it gets too large for me to pass it on to her...) ..with a fabulous teddy bear with an incision down the front of her ....and stuffing removed,..with the stuffing left in her butt...she is just the cuttest thing. she walked with me and around 7pm i was starting to get really tired...since i had not slept well the night before..so off she went...The pain was really hardly nothing...from 4am to 4pm on saturday i had had 10 pushes of my morphine drip ,,when i asked my nurse if that was alot..he laughted and said no...you can have 8 pushes an hours..lolol so i guess things were going well...at 8pm saturday evening i asked for some pain medicine so i could sleep...after taking my sip of pain medicine my nurse informed me that i had just taken the equivalent to 2 percocets...I informed her that i was allergic to percocet...(WELL DOCUMENTED IN MY CHART) and she said you are kidding right? i said nope..and she immediatley left the room to call the doctor and the pharmacy ...saying..how could this happen...she returned to ask me questions about my reaction to percocet..which was heart palputations , breaking out into a sweat, feeling nausous ..etc..but that had been 20 yrs ago...She was a nervous wreck...as the Dr. was paging her back..they put the sides up on my bed and said she would be keeping a close eye on me to make sure i was ok...after checking with the pharmacy, they told her that the Doctor on call said to go ahead and give me the pain medicine in spite of my reaction..as she felt like it was not an allergic reaction (Throat closing ..etc..)and it was the medicine they used after bupass...so the nursing staff keep a close eye on my for the next 3-4 hours...it was not bad at all, but real scary in the beginning...so it worked out ok..At midnight i had my cathater removed..which was not bad at all..I was very nervous about this procedure as this was my first one...but am here to tell you..it is nothing and over before you can say...supercalafragalisticxpealadocious...lololol Sunday morning...I watched alot of tv...and was so ready to move through my stages to go home...my husband called to let me know he was coming with our oldest daughter to get me at around 1pm i told him i would be so ready!!.. At Breakfast time they brough me three little medicine cups of Chichen broth...THIS WAS THE BEST CHICKEN BROTH IN THE WORLD!!! so i procceded to drink the first...real slow...did i tell you that this was the best chicken broth in the world? I drank on whole little cup and could not believe how full i was...i had to walk again..They also are bringing me antacid twice a day..which doesnt make any sense to me..since it is going into a place where there is no acid.. The doctor came into see my around 10am and said all was wonderful and that i was the poster girl for bypass surgery and that the whole staff was proud of the way i was recovering..and that i could go home...!!!! My husband called at around 11:20 to say he was on his way...so i was now looking for the nurse to take my IV out which had started to swell...and then the only thing left was the tube in my stomach to drain out any fluid from the incision.. I had the IV removed from the back of my had around 12:00 and was left with what my husband call the Hamburger Helper Hand...LOLOL It was more painful than the 6 little incissions on my stomach. (Fluid had built up from the iv needle coming through the vein so the iv fluid was being delived under the skin in the top of my hand instead of in the vein) I was then brough a carnation instant breakfast for lunch..the last test..of being able to leave...It was strawberry..and didnt taste very well but i took small sips and by 2pm was looking for the Dr. to come remove the tube in my stomach so that i could shower and go home with my family ...The Dr removed my tube which seems to be 12 feet long when it is coming out..and then i proceded to take my shower...BOY was that nice...and i was dressed and ready to leave by 2:30pm on Sunday...The hospital stay was wonderful and the ride home was a little ruff...alot of bumps..but i did sleep some... I arrrived home yesteday to our 4 dogs that greeted me like they had not seen me for 3 yrs...my husband had to get them out of the house so that they would not jump up on me..and then i greeted each one individually so they could welcome my home...I slept in the extra room last night...ON MY SIDE...GRIN for about 3 hours at a time...and started my day today taking my medicine for gall bladder,, sprinkled in a small glass of crystal light lemonade..then i have started in on my protien drink for the day... So this is where i am so far..I know it is probably more than you want to know but thought it might be helpful for someone who has not had their surgery yet... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 8, 2004 Report Share Posted March 8, 2004 welcome home, dawn! wow, u must have some good meds. if you're so inclined the files section has a " weight loss chart " to track your progress. sounds like you're hitting the ground running;-) lori h. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 8, 2004 Report Share Posted March 8, 2004 welcome home, dawn! wow, u must have some good meds. if you're so inclined the files section has a " weight loss chart " to track your progress. sounds like you're hitting the ground running;-) lori h. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 8, 2004 Report Share Posted March 8, 2004 Thank you. This is such a helpful post. All the detail is so comforting. Jayne Lap RNY 5/14/04 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 8, 2004 Report Share Posted March 8, 2004 Thank you. This is such a helpful post. All the detail is so comforting. Jayne Lap RNY 5/14/04 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 8, 2004 Report Share Posted March 8, 2004 Dawn, Thanks so much for telling us your story. I love that you have such a great since of humor. I hope that I will. Keep us informed on your loosing side. Vickie 5'01 " 214.8 BMI 41 awaiting insurance approval Heavenly Scents Candle Company Vickie 523 Dickson Circle Sherman, Texas 75090 website: www.heavenlyscentstx.us e-mail: rasmith@... Home from the hospital... Morning All, Arrived home yesterday afternoon from the hospital..Had my surgery on Friday . I was to arrive at 9 for a 10:30 surgery time..we arrived an hour early as we live almost 2 hours away...This was not a good idea..as i paced the halls and considered running from the building numerous times..lolol Then ,, everytime i would turn to walk down the next hallway.. i would see myself in a window...You know how when you see your self in a window pane..and you look really thin and then you realize you are only seeing half your body and then try to move yourself to one side and you just dont fit...lolo well that is what kept me from fleeing the sceen...so i stayed...they finally took me back to get prepped for surgery and i sent my wonderful husband off to get a newspaper and something to eat...well.. then the Dr. assistant came to see me and wanted to ask my permission to let some high school students observe my suryery..I said absolutley!!..then it dawned on me that this could be good or bad....He could do an excellent job..to show off for the audience or be distracted...lolol I was hoping for the first observation...I was finally taken back for my surgery at 12:30 after a call was made to my husband in the waiting room to let him know that i was just getting started and not just finishing...and off i went...to the beginning of my new life.. I awoke in the recovery room around 3 and remained there until 5:30 when there was a bed available for me upstairs... when i arrived at my room..i made my first walk since surgery...I walked from my room to the nurses station ..and then back to my bed...it was really not to bad... I was settled in to the bed..and was experienceing my first cathater experience..I was nervous about this as i had never had one before and was glad it was inserted while i was asleep... My mouth was so dry it was unbelievable...and they give you these little green sponges soaked in water..which were like the BEST LITTLE SPONGES SOAKED IN WATER...i had ever had...lolol I sent my husband home since it was such a long day around 6:30pm..he was such the trooper,,,and looked exhausted ...I had blood pressure cuff looking things on both legs which blew up every couple minutes to help with the blood flow in my legs....I got up again around 8pm and walked the length of the hallway...it was a little easier than the first trip...but still hard to stand upright...alot of pressure and gas build up from the lap procedure..The wonderful nurses were fabulous...and in the early evening they brought in my first shot in the thigh of medicine to prevent blood clots...it didnt hurt so,, it was ok.... THE NASTY BLUE STUFF...They brought me in a little cup of this blue stuff for me to drink..there was of checking to see if everything was sealed up...it was the most discusting salty stuff i had every tasted....they were looking for it to come out of the tube that was left around my stomach.which had a small bulb the size of a small hand on the outside which i attached to my nightgown.. there was a little line of blue that seeped but only enough to leave a small line of sediment along the bottom....was up agin around 12 midnight had second shot of blood thinner and again 4am and again at 7 so had one more shot of blood thinner and then was able to leave off the leg blood pressure cuffs starting saturday morning as i was up walking enough that i didnt need it...Saturday i tried to walk every 2-4 hours it really helped me to feel better and to get the gas moving around in my stomach..My wonderful husband called me in the morning before he left to go to work...and my best buddy called to say she was coming up to spend the afternoon with me...The Dr. came in saturday as was thrilled with my walking around and had scheduled to have a GI XRAY around 2 to see how everything had sealed together and if all was good i could move through my 3 stages and go home on sunday!!!! YEA,,Hospital beds are aweful... Around 2 they came to get me to go to xray for my test...They told me i would have to drink two different things and to take a mouth full and swallow all at one time...THE HORROR.. i thought we were suppose to only take small sips...LOLOL they promised me that everything would be fine as they needed the pouch to fill and then drain during the xray...The wonderful xray teck then game me a small glass of clear liguid..which must have been a close family relative to the NASTY BLUE STUFF from the day before which i took a mouth full and swallowed and was very excited not to have to repeat....then they gave me a glass full of white chalky stuff which after the NASTY BLUE STUFF " S COUSION i was thankful to drink..everything looked wonderful!!! YEA!!! Now i could have liquid...lolol I was taken back to my room where i was given 3 little medicine cups of water to drink, each one to spread out over an hour...( you look at this little cup and think i can drink that in one gulp!!!) but let me tell you...if you take little sips it is amazing how filled you are when you try to take little sips over the course of an hour..YOU ARE SOOOOO FULL it is uncomfortable..and so then i would get up and walk to help move things through my new pouch...My best buddy came and brought my a beautiful nightgown in size large I wear a 3x now (with a card saying when it gets too large for me to pass it on to her...) ..with a fabulous teddy bear with an incision down the front of her .....and stuffing removed,..with the stuffing left in her butt...she is just the cuttest thing. she walked with me and around 7pm i was starting to get really tired...since i had not slept well the night before..so off she went...The pain was really hardly nothing...from 4am to 4pm on saturday i had had 10 pushes of my morphine drip ,,when i asked my nurse if that was alot..he laughted and said no...you can have 8 pushes an hours..lolol so i guess things were going well...at 8pm saturday evening i asked for some pain medicine so i could sleep...after taking my sip of pain medicine my nurse informed me that i had just taken the equivalent to 2 percocets...I informed her that i was allergic to percocet...(WELL DOCUMENTED IN MY CHART) and she said you are kidding right? i said nope..and she immediatley left the room to call the doctor and the pharmacy ...saying..how could this happen...she returned to ask me questions about my reaction to percocet..which was heart palputations , breaking out into a sweat, feeling nausous ..etc..but that had been 20 yrs ago...She was a nervous wreck...as the Dr. was paging her back..they put the sides up on my bed and said she would be keeping a close eye on me to make sure i was ok...after checking with the pharmacy, they told her that the Doctor on call said to go ahead and give me the pain medicine in spite of my reaction..as she felt like it was not an allergic reaction (Throat closing ..etc..)and it was the medicine they used after bupass...so the nursing staff keep a close eye on my for the next 3-4 hours...it was not bad at all, but real scary in the beginning...so it worked out ok..At midnight i had my cathater removed..which was not bad at all..I was very nervous about this procedure as this was my first one...but am here to tell you..it is nothing and over before you can say...supercalafragalisticxpealadocious...lololol Sunday morning...I watched alot of tv...and was so ready to move through my stages to go home...my husband called to let me know he was coming with our oldest daughter to get me at around 1pm i told him i would be so ready!!.. At Breakfast time they brough me three little medicine cups of Chichen broth...THIS WAS THE BEST CHICKEN BROTH IN THE WORLD!!! so i procceded to drink the first...real slow...did i tell you that this was the best chicken broth in the world? I drank on whole little cup and could not believe how full i was...i had to walk again..They also are bringing me antacid twice a day..which doesnt make any sense to me..since it is going into a place where there is no acid.. The doctor came into see my around 10am and said all was wonderful and that i was the poster girl for bypass surgery and that the whole staff was proud of the way i was recovering..and that i could go home...!!!! My husband called at around 11:20 to say he was on his way...so i was now looking for the nurse to take my IV out which had started to swell...and then the only thing left was the tube in my stomach to drain out any fluid from the incision.. I had the IV removed from the back of my had around 12:00 and was left with what my husband call the Hamburger Helper Hand...LOLOL It was more painful than the 6 little incissions on my stomach. (Fluid had built up from the iv needle coming through the vein so the iv fluid was being delived under the skin in the top of my hand instead of in the vein) I was then brough a carnation instant breakfast for lunch..the last test..of being able to leave...It was strawberry..and didnt taste very well but i took small sips and by 2pm was looking for the Dr. to come remove the tube in my stomach so that i could shower and go home with my family ...The Dr removed my tube which seems to be 12 feet long when it is coming out..and then i proceded to take my shower...BOY was that nice...and i was dressed and ready to leave by 2:30pm on Sunday...The hospital stay was wonderful and the ride home was a little ruff...alot of bumps..but i did sleep some... I arrrived home yesteday to our 4 dogs that greeted me like they had not seen me for 3 yrs...my husband had to get them out of the house so that they would not jump up on me..and then i greeted each one individually so they could welcome my home...I slept in the extra room last night...ON MY SIDE...GRIN for about 3 hours at a time...and started my day today taking my medicine for gall bladder,, sprinkled in a small glass of crystal light lemonade..then i have started in on my protien drink for the day... So this is where i am so far..I know it is probably more than you want to know but thought it might be helpful for someone who has not had their surgery yet... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 8, 2004 Report Share Posted March 8, 2004 Dawn, Thanks so much for telling us your story. I love that you have such a great since of humor. I hope that I will. Keep us informed on your loosing side. Vickie 5'01 " 214.8 BMI 41 awaiting insurance approval Heavenly Scents Candle Company Vickie 523 Dickson Circle Sherman, Texas 75090 website: www.heavenlyscentstx.us e-mail: rasmith@... Home from the hospital... Morning All, Arrived home yesterday afternoon from the hospital..Had my surgery on Friday . I was to arrive at 9 for a 10:30 surgery time..we arrived an hour early as we live almost 2 hours away...This was not a good idea..as i paced the halls and considered running from the building numerous times..lolol Then ,, everytime i would turn to walk down the next hallway.. i would see myself in a window...You know how when you see your self in a window pane..and you look really thin and then you realize you are only seeing half your body and then try to move yourself to one side and you just dont fit...lolo well that is what kept me from fleeing the sceen...so i stayed...they finally took me back to get prepped for surgery and i sent my wonderful husband off to get a newspaper and something to eat...well.. then the Dr. assistant came to see me and wanted to ask my permission to let some high school students observe my suryery..I said absolutley!!..then it dawned on me that this could be good or bad....He could do an excellent job..to show off for the audience or be distracted...lolol I was hoping for the first observation...I was finally taken back for my surgery at 12:30 after a call was made to my husband in the waiting room to let him know that i was just getting started and not just finishing...and off i went...to the beginning of my new life.. I awoke in the recovery room around 3 and remained there until 5:30 when there was a bed available for me upstairs... when i arrived at my room..i made my first walk since surgery...I walked from my room to the nurses station ..and then back to my bed...it was really not to bad... I was settled in to the bed..and was experienceing my first cathater experience..I was nervous about this as i had never had one before and was glad it was inserted while i was asleep... My mouth was so dry it was unbelievable...and they give you these little green sponges soaked in water..which were like the BEST LITTLE SPONGES SOAKED IN WATER...i had ever had...lolol I sent my husband home since it was such a long day around 6:30pm..he was such the trooper,,,and looked exhausted ...I had blood pressure cuff looking things on both legs which blew up every couple minutes to help with the blood flow in my legs....I got up again around 8pm and walked the length of the hallway...it was a little easier than the first trip...but still hard to stand upright...alot of pressure and gas build up from the lap procedure..The wonderful nurses were fabulous...and in the early evening they brought in my first shot in the thigh of medicine to prevent blood clots...it didnt hurt so,, it was ok.... THE NASTY BLUE STUFF...They brought me in a little cup of this blue stuff for me to drink..there was of checking to see if everything was sealed up...it was the most discusting salty stuff i had every tasted....they were looking for it to come out of the tube that was left around my stomach.which had a small bulb the size of a small hand on the outside which i attached to my nightgown.. there was a little line of blue that seeped but only enough to leave a small line of sediment along the bottom....was up agin around 12 midnight had second shot of blood thinner and again 4am and again at 7 so had one more shot of blood thinner and then was able to leave off the leg blood pressure cuffs starting saturday morning as i was up walking enough that i didnt need it...Saturday i tried to walk every 2-4 hours it really helped me to feel better and to get the gas moving around in my stomach..My wonderful husband called me in the morning before he left to go to work...and my best buddy called to say she was coming up to spend the afternoon with me...The Dr. came in saturday as was thrilled with my walking around and had scheduled to have a GI XRAY around 2 to see how everything had sealed together and if all was good i could move through my 3 stages and go home on sunday!!!! YEA,,Hospital beds are aweful... Around 2 they came to get me to go to xray for my test...They told me i would have to drink two different things and to take a mouth full and swallow all at one time...THE HORROR.. i thought we were suppose to only take small sips...LOLOL they promised me that everything would be fine as they needed the pouch to fill and then drain during the xray...The wonderful xray teck then game me a small glass of clear liguid..which must have been a close family relative to the NASTY BLUE STUFF from the day before which i took a mouth full and swallowed and was very excited not to have to repeat....then they gave me a glass full of white chalky stuff which after the NASTY BLUE STUFF " S COUSION i was thankful to drink..everything looked wonderful!!! YEA!!! Now i could have liquid...lolol I was taken back to my room where i was given 3 little medicine cups of water to drink, each one to spread out over an hour...( you look at this little cup and think i can drink that in one gulp!!!) but let me tell you...if you take little sips it is amazing how filled you are when you try to take little sips over the course of an hour..YOU ARE SOOOOO FULL it is uncomfortable..and so then i would get up and walk to help move things through my new pouch...My best buddy came and brought my a beautiful nightgown in size large I wear a 3x now (with a card saying when it gets too large for me to pass it on to her...) ..with a fabulous teddy bear with an incision down the front of her .....and stuffing removed,..with the stuffing left in her butt...she is just the cuttest thing. she walked with me and around 7pm i was starting to get really tired...since i had not slept well the night before..so off she went...The pain was really hardly nothing...from 4am to 4pm on saturday i had had 10 pushes of my morphine drip ,,when i asked my nurse if that was alot..he laughted and said no...you can have 8 pushes an hours..lolol so i guess things were going well...at 8pm saturday evening i asked for some pain medicine so i could sleep...after taking my sip of pain medicine my nurse informed me that i had just taken the equivalent to 2 percocets...I informed her that i was allergic to percocet...(WELL DOCUMENTED IN MY CHART) and she said you are kidding right? i said nope..and she immediatley left the room to call the doctor and the pharmacy ...saying..how could this happen...she returned to ask me questions about my reaction to percocet..which was heart palputations , breaking out into a sweat, feeling nausous ..etc..but that had been 20 yrs ago...She was a nervous wreck...as the Dr. was paging her back..they put the sides up on my bed and said she would be keeping a close eye on me to make sure i was ok...after checking with the pharmacy, they told her that the Doctor on call said to go ahead and give me the pain medicine in spite of my reaction..as she felt like it was not an allergic reaction (Throat closing ..etc..)and it was the medicine they used after bupass...so the nursing staff keep a close eye on my for the next 3-4 hours...it was not bad at all, but real scary in the beginning...so it worked out ok..At midnight i had my cathater removed..which was not bad at all..I was very nervous about this procedure as this was my first one...but am here to tell you..it is nothing and over before you can say...supercalafragalisticxpealadocious...lololol Sunday morning...I watched alot of tv...and was so ready to move through my stages to go home...my husband called to let me know he was coming with our oldest daughter to get me at around 1pm i told him i would be so ready!!.. At Breakfast time they brough me three little medicine cups of Chichen broth...THIS WAS THE BEST CHICKEN BROTH IN THE WORLD!!! so i procceded to drink the first...real slow...did i tell you that this was the best chicken broth in the world? I drank on whole little cup and could not believe how full i was...i had to walk again..They also are bringing me antacid twice a day..which doesnt make any sense to me..since it is going into a place where there is no acid.. The doctor came into see my around 10am and said all was wonderful and that i was the poster girl for bypass surgery and that the whole staff was proud of the way i was recovering..and that i could go home...!!!! My husband called at around 11:20 to say he was on his way...so i was now looking for the nurse to take my IV out which had started to swell...and then the only thing left was the tube in my stomach to drain out any fluid from the incision.. I had the IV removed from the back of my had around 12:00 and was left with what my husband call the Hamburger Helper Hand...LOLOL It was more painful than the 6 little incissions on my stomach. (Fluid had built up from the iv needle coming through the vein so the iv fluid was being delived under the skin in the top of my hand instead of in the vein) I was then brough a carnation instant breakfast for lunch..the last test..of being able to leave...It was strawberry..and didnt taste very well but i took small sips and by 2pm was looking for the Dr. to come remove the tube in my stomach so that i could shower and go home with my family ...The Dr removed my tube which seems to be 12 feet long when it is coming out..and then i proceded to take my shower...BOY was that nice...and i was dressed and ready to leave by 2:30pm on Sunday...The hospital stay was wonderful and the ride home was a little ruff...alot of bumps..but i did sleep some... I arrrived home yesteday to our 4 dogs that greeted me like they had not seen me for 3 yrs...my husband had to get them out of the house so that they would not jump up on me..and then i greeted each one individually so they could welcome my home...I slept in the extra room last night...ON MY SIDE...GRIN for about 3 hours at a time...and started my day today taking my medicine for gall bladder,, sprinkled in a small glass of crystal light lemonade..then i have started in on my protien drink for the day... So this is where i am so far..I know it is probably more than you want to know but thought it might be helpful for someone who has not had their surgery yet... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 13, 2004 Report Share Posted August 13, 2004 i got back from the hospital a few hours ago...and i have to say that my experience was a lot worse than i expected. i actually felt better at the hospital because of the morphine, steroids, etc. that they had me on. but now that i'm home...i feel terrible. i have no appetite at all. the thought of food makes me feel sick. the pain medicine they gave me makes me gag. and my mouth is so swollen that i can barely swallow. i had my surgery wednesday morning...and it's now friday afternoon. how long before i will have an appetite again?? i know i really need to eat!!! my whole body just feels awful. any advice would be much appreciated. Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 13, 2004 Report Share Posted August 13, 2004 i got back from the hospital a few hours ago...and i have to say that my experience was a lot worse than i expected. i actually felt better at the hospital because of the morphine, steroids, etc. that they had me on. but now that i'm home...i feel terrible. i have no appetite at all. the thought of food makes me feel sick. the pain medicine they gave me makes me gag. and my mouth is so swollen that i can barely swallow. i had my surgery wednesday morning...and it's now friday afternoon. how long before i will have an appetite again?? i know i really need to eat!!! my whole body just feels awful. any advice would be much appreciated. Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 13, 2004 Report Share Posted August 13, 2004 I feel for you. I know right where you are. I had my surgery on a Thursday and while I was in the hospital, I thought " this isn't so bad " . Well you're right, when you get home, it sucks. I would say that Saturday night, Sunday and Monday morning were the worst for me, absolutely miserable. That would be the dreaded days 3 and 4. I had to force myself to eat, especially taking the meds. I found alot of comfort in plain ol' chicken and beef broth. Also I liked the chocolate boost thinned with milk. Do you have a humidifier? I had one 24/7. The nasal spray and decongestant were a must. I used a siringe used for babies to take my meds. Gets it as far back in the mouth. I was actually avoiding taking meds because of the taste. Following the meds with warm chicken broth helps. I know you don't think this now but in a few days you will feel much better. Hang in there. > i got back from the hospital a few hours ago...and i have to say that > my experience was a lot worse than i expected. i actually felt > better at the hospital because of the morphine, steroids, etc. that > they had me on. but now that i'm home...i feel terrible. i have no > appetite at all. the thought of food makes me feel sick. the pain > medicine they gave me makes me gag. and my mouth is so swollen that > i can barely swallow. i had my surgery wednesday morning...and it's > now friday afternoon. how long before i will have an appetite > again?? i know i really need to eat!!! my whole body just feels > awful. any advice would be much appreciated. > > Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 13, 2004 Report Share Posted August 13, 2004 I feel for you. I know right where you are. I had my surgery on a Thursday and while I was in the hospital, I thought " this isn't so bad " . Well you're right, when you get home, it sucks. I would say that Saturday night, Sunday and Monday morning were the worst for me, absolutely miserable. That would be the dreaded days 3 and 4. I had to force myself to eat, especially taking the meds. I found alot of comfort in plain ol' chicken and beef broth. Also I liked the chocolate boost thinned with milk. Do you have a humidifier? I had one 24/7. The nasal spray and decongestant were a must. I used a siringe used for babies to take my meds. Gets it as far back in the mouth. I was actually avoiding taking meds because of the taste. Following the meds with warm chicken broth helps. I know you don't think this now but in a few days you will feel much better. Hang in there. > i got back from the hospital a few hours ago...and i have to say that > my experience was a lot worse than i expected. i actually felt > better at the hospital because of the morphine, steroids, etc. that > they had me on. but now that i'm home...i feel terrible. i have no > appetite at all. the thought of food makes me feel sick. the pain > medicine they gave me makes me gag. and my mouth is so swollen that > i can barely swallow. i had my surgery wednesday morning...and it's > now friday afternoon. how long before i will have an appetite > again?? i know i really need to eat!!! my whole body just feels > awful. any advice would be much appreciated. > > Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 13, 2004 Report Share Posted August 13, 2004 HI Tom, I'm really sorry to hear you feel so bad-I didn't have much appetite in the first few days either-plus it's been high 80's 90's here and who wants to eat in that heat? Re the nausea, I was told by my Dr adn pharmacist-you may want to check with yours-that I could take liquid gravol for nausea, as long as I don't take is the same time I took my pain meds-had to be at least an hour apart. Also, they said, the more nutrients I got in, the less nausea I would have,and that if I felt nausea, to drink vitamin c enriched apple juice, or ginger ale/sprite-somethign to soothe my tummy. Hope this helps! Connie > i got back from the hospital a few hours ago...and i have to say that > my experience was a lot worse than i expected. i actually felt > better at the hospital because of the morphine, steroids, etc. that > they had me on. but now that i'm home...i feel terrible. i have no > appetite at all. the thought of food makes me feel sick. the pain > medicine they gave me makes me gag. and my mouth is so swollen that > i can barely swallow. i had my surgery wednesday morning...and it's > now friday afternoon. how long before i will have an appetite > again?? i know i really need to eat!!! my whole body just feels > awful. any advice would be much appreciated. > > Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 13, 2004 Report Share Posted August 13, 2004 HI Tom, I'm really sorry to hear you feel so bad-I didn't have much appetite in the first few days either-plus it's been high 80's 90's here and who wants to eat in that heat? Re the nausea, I was told by my Dr adn pharmacist-you may want to check with yours-that I could take liquid gravol for nausea, as long as I don't take is the same time I took my pain meds-had to be at least an hour apart. Also, they said, the more nutrients I got in, the less nausea I would have,and that if I felt nausea, to drink vitamin c enriched apple juice, or ginger ale/sprite-somethign to soothe my tummy. Hope this helps! Connie > i got back from the hospital a few hours ago...and i have to say that > my experience was a lot worse than i expected. i actually felt > better at the hospital because of the morphine, steroids, etc. that > they had me on. but now that i'm home...i feel terrible. i have no > appetite at all. the thought of food makes me feel sick. the pain > medicine they gave me makes me gag. and my mouth is so swollen that > i can barely swallow. i had my surgery wednesday morning...and it's > now friday afternoon. how long before i will have an appetite > again?? i know i really need to eat!!! my whole body just feels > awful. any advice would be much appreciated. > > Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 14, 2004 Report Share Posted August 14, 2004 I know you don't want to read this from me. But hang on. Be of the best good cheer you can. And it will get better. Ok. You may do better with tylenol (liquid, I'm figuring, probly the stuff for children, but with a dose adjusted to your body size, by pounds, if the pain meds are making you queasy. For some folks, that's the case.) The antibiotics can also be nasty -- if the one they gave you makes you lose nourishment, ask if there's another that can be substituted. Ask, too, about anti-nausea meds. There are good ones available. Ice. Humidifier. Sudafed or something of its ilk, unless your doc said don't. Surgeon is your best source of help, and if you're still miserable by the time you read this, and nothing helps, give the office/doc/out-of-office number a call. They can't help if they don't know what the trouble is. Meantime, it will get better. You're in the short rows now. That doesn't mean that you have to be miserable now. Just that it's gonna get better soon. Honest. And hey -- if you feel that you have/need to go back to the hospital, nothing wrong with doing so. Really important to keep fluids and nutrition working for you. Cammie > i got back from the hospital a few hours ago...and i have to say that > my experience was a lot worse than i expected. i actually felt > better at the hospital because of the morphine, steroids, etc. that > they had me on. but now that i'm home...i feel terrible. i have no > appetite at all. the thought of food makes me feel sick. the pain > medicine they gave me makes me gag. and my mouth is so swollen that > i can barely swallow. i had my surgery wednesday morning...and it's > now friday afternoon. how long before i will have an appetite > again?? i know i really need to eat!!! my whole body just feels > awful. any advice would be much appreciated. > > Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 14, 2004 Report Share Posted August 14, 2004 I know you don't want to read this from me. But hang on. Be of the best good cheer you can. And it will get better. Ok. You may do better with tylenol (liquid, I'm figuring, probly the stuff for children, but with a dose adjusted to your body size, by pounds, if the pain meds are making you queasy. For some folks, that's the case.) The antibiotics can also be nasty -- if the one they gave you makes you lose nourishment, ask if there's another that can be substituted. Ask, too, about anti-nausea meds. There are good ones available. Ice. Humidifier. Sudafed or something of its ilk, unless your doc said don't. Surgeon is your best source of help, and if you're still miserable by the time you read this, and nothing helps, give the office/doc/out-of-office number a call. They can't help if they don't know what the trouble is. Meantime, it will get better. You're in the short rows now. That doesn't mean that you have to be miserable now. Just that it's gonna get better soon. Honest. And hey -- if you feel that you have/need to go back to the hospital, nothing wrong with doing so. Really important to keep fluids and nutrition working for you. Cammie > i got back from the hospital a few hours ago...and i have to say that > my experience was a lot worse than i expected. i actually felt > better at the hospital because of the morphine, steroids, etc. that > they had me on. but now that i'm home...i feel terrible. i have no > appetite at all. the thought of food makes me feel sick. the pain > medicine they gave me makes me gag. and my mouth is so swollen that > i can barely swallow. i had my surgery wednesday morning...and it's > now friday afternoon. how long before i will have an appetite > again?? i know i really need to eat!!! my whole body just feels > awful. any advice would be much appreciated. > > Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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