My Durham Experience Part 2

[Guest guest]

Part 2 --

Thursday morning was the day of my surgery. I wasn't scheduled until

10:30; they said to be there by 9:30. We got to and filled out

paperwork and I paid the bill. THAT did not seem right--a patient

should not have to pay for their surgery--that's what insurance is for!!

Then we sat and waited for them to call me back. Eventually they did,

and I think I was asked 3 different times by 3 different people over the

next hour or so, what procedure was I having. They gave me some fancy

duds to put on, which included some funky white stockings. Then, I had

to take the test (Dr. R's test). Next the IV gal came in and I really

stressed that this was the worst part of the whole thing for me, so

PLEASE get it the first time. I also asked if she HAD to put the IV in

my hand. She did a wonderful job, only one jab and it was in the inside

of my arm! So nice!!

Okay, so now a nice gentleman comes in...he's the anesthesiologist. He

asked me some questions and I asked whether the slight headache I had at

the moment would feel worse when I came out of surgery. He said...Nope,

I'll fix you right up!! LOL We walked to the OR and I gave my glasses

to my friend. Walked into the OR and it was freezing in there! I can't

see anything without my glasses/contacts, so there were just blurs with

voices in that OR with me. One of the " blurs " took off my robe, and

asked me to lay down on the table. Then they placed a warm blanket over

me and strapped my arms straight out from my sides. The nice

anesthesiologist blur asked how that headache was feeling. I replied,

" Wow, it's not..... " (Didn't get to finish that sentence 'cause I was out!)

I remember waking up in the recovery room and looking at the clock...it

was a bit before 1 pm. I had walked to the OR a bit before noon. I saw

beside me and asked her how my liver was. That was my big

worry...that my liver would have prevented me from having the surgery.

She said it was fine, and then I replied " Thank you, God! " . I drifted

in and out, trying to force my eyes open, and saying it felt like

someone kicked me hard in my stomach. Apparently I kept asking if my

liver was okay. It also was difficult to take a really deep breath, I

wanted to, but I felt like some big person was sitting on my chest.

That got better as the day went on. The feeling that someone kicked me

in the stomach wasn't really a pain, more of a soreness, a nuisance.

And it really didn't feel like it was in the stomach, but just below my

boobs. That also got better as time went on.

Next I remember waking up in my overnight room. I lifted up my gown and

checked out my tummy. After prying my boobs from my tummy (I really

think they glued them!!) I saw that one of my portholes was bleeding

through the bandages. I couldn't find the nurse call button, so I

yelled out... " Helloo!!! and " Liissaaa " . The nurses and my friend came

right away and they changed the dressing. I asked to get up; they

unhooked me from the leg thingys and took me to the bathroom. Then they

tried to get me back in bed but I told them I wanted to walk. They

seemed surprised (apparantly I had only been in this room about an hour)

but allowed me to only walk one length of the hall before getting back

in bed. I walked as often as I could, and drifted to sleep when I was

in bed. I asked for some ice chips (very, very thirsty!) and tried a

couple spoonfuls of broth at one point. I continued the sleep/walk

thing. Sometime early I got up, went to the bathroom and got dressed.

I walked the halls til came at 6:30. Dr. Rutledge came and talked

to me, answered some questions, and released me.

We went directly to the hospital to check on the others. We were only

able to find Beth and . We chatted with them for a bit and headed

to our hotel. I emailed my friends and family while ate breakfast.

She had tried to sneak it into her room and I told her to just eat it

in our living room. She thought it would be too hard to see/smell food

and not be able to eat, but it didn't affect me at all. We both decided

to take a nap around noon, I think. After about 2 hours, she woke me

up, because she was concerned that I didn't have my TED stockings on. I

took a shower and then tried to locate Debbie since they were in the

same hotel. Eventually we found her...she had a hard time getting out

of the hospital, partially b/c her hubby got lost and had a hard time

filling prescriptions. She came down to our room and visited for a bit.

Then and I went to a movie (Autumn in New York). We then

emailed/surfed the web/watched TV. We didn't go to bed until 1 AM.

The next morning we took it easy lounging in the hotel and getting in

touch with Blair (had also tried to locate some others with no success).

We decided to go to a movie before we were to meet with Blair and her

hubby. Did some quick shopping for new underwear for me (I'm very picky

about the brand...Jockey french cut briefs only!) LOL I bought them a

few sizes smaller since I'll be shrinking out of my

current-getting-a-bit-holey ones. Once we got to the theatre, we

realized that The Patriot would run too long for the meeting time with

Blair and her hubby. So we saw Autumn in New York again! Headed over

to Applebee's. Blair and I had soup (YUM!). We were supposed to see

Space Cowboys, but it was sold out. The Replacements was a hoot! It

was a very enjoyable evening.

and I went back to the hotel room to veg in front of the TV. I got

confirmation that my plumbing was working fine after the surgery, so we

let our family know that we were indeed coming home the next morning.

[NOTE: I do NOT recommend that you leave early by any means! We had

flight reservations that could not be changed without a hefty penalty, I

felt better than OK, and wouldn't fly home alone. I am a self-pay

(charged everything but our food, and we are really, really going to be

struggling to make ends meet) so money was an issue. However, if I felt

the least bit unsure about leaving b/c I wasn't up to par, then I would

have stayed and not worried about the money. You really, really should

follow Dr. Rutledge's orders to stay the full 7 days!!]

The flight home was good (my flights seem to always have

turbulence...and we experienced a might big drop, but I was fine). I've

been better than ok since being home as well. I have been cooking,

cleaning, doing laundry with no problems. I still havn't experienced

any hunger. I do get tired in the afternoon, but I have always had that

happen, even before surgery. I do notice that I haven't been able to

stay up til midnight or later like I usually do. I have been going to

bed around 10 pm. I have been walking everyday, and plan to join the

YMCA when I drop about 30-40 pounds.

Another wonderful thing about this surgery....I get nauseous very

easily. I cannot even watch my children on a carousel without feeling

sick! I have not had one bout of feeling nauseated. When I fly, I have

the barf bag ready. I wore the patch for my flight out to Durham. No

nausea. I followed directions about wearing the patch before and after

surgery. No nausea. And I wore a patch home for the flight (it comes

off tonight). No nausea!! I am completely thrilled about that!!! The

patch may cause dry mouth, but I'd much rather be thirsty than deal with

nausea.

I am so thankful to my husband for allowing me to go through with this

before we knew if insurance would pay. Paying for this will be long and

difficult, but he feels there is no pricetag for the benefits we'll see.

He has listened patiently to all the MGB stuff I have talked about with

him. He is the best!!

My friend deserves a big thank you for all that she did before and

during our trip to Durham. It truly was helpful and fun to have her with.

Thanks also to Dr. Rutledge for giving me hope! I haven't felt that in

a long time, if ever!

And most of all, I am thankful to God for seeing me through this. He

was by my side through every part of this journey and made His love for

me evident in the people we met, and various events that occured on our

trip! I truly feel He led me to the MGB site and that " He put a new

song in my mouth! " (Psalms 40:3) At the very beginning of this journey,

I did not want anyone to know that I was going to have this done. I

feel very differently now. I have an incredible testimony to share and

I plan to share it with anyone who will listen!!

Now as for the money part of the surgery....we are incredibly in debt,

but we both feel it was worth it. We felt led to have the surgery now,

and not wait for insurance to come through. I can be a worrier when it

comes to money, but I am learning to let it rest in God's hands. He

will take care of us. We will make it through it, whether insurance

decides to pay or not. I will trust in Him.

I drink V8 Splash and some other fruit juices (most of the time

diluted), water, chicken broth, beef broth. I have tried saltines in my

broth. I've tried yogurt and I have to water it down to make it

palatable. I don't miss eating food (yet), and have even cooked for my

family with no cravings for food.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions --

bardell*worldshare.net (replace the * with @)

Joyfully,

Tricia in IL

MGB 8/10 at