Re: : Re: My surgical experience

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In a message dated 11/12/01 5:36:34 PM, duodenalswitch writes:

<< > It worked fine!

Thank God! I wonder if you're as much of a baby as I am?>>>>

Oh, I'm such a WUSS. I can't believe I birthed two children! Honestly. I

ha a seven page list of questions for Dr. Gagner at my initial consult --- He

must have thought I was insane. LOL

> They couldn't even get me a pump immediately after surgery (can you

> believe I had to be put on a WAITING list???),

NO! This is WRONG! Gee, wait 'til they find out what a bitcher I am!>>>>>

I was so relieved that the nurse on call was so attentive. That made all the

difference. But, I still couldn't BELIEVE that I had a scheduled surgery

with an order for a pain pump and they didn't have one when I was out of the

OR!

> And, then I experienced some nausea (the nurse was very attentive

> in recovery and gave me anti-nausea meds immediately -

Want to know how *sick* I am? I'm putting in my order tomorrow for

25 mg. Compazine suppositories (just in case) AND 5 mg. epam

(Valium) liquid suppositories. I don't want anyone running out of

anything in the hospital or afterwards, and if it won't go in one

orifice, I'll put it in another! Aren't I weird and paranoid?!>>>>>

NO, it just helps you to feel more secure to be prepared. I'm the same way.

However, I didn't really experience much nausea. I brought up the question

with the surgeon (whether to get nausea meds prescribed BEFORE the surgery)

and his response was I may NOT experience nausea and this would be a waste.

Turns out, I didn't experience nausea except immediately after surgery. I

don't know if it was because the nausea was taken care of immediately that it

went away or what, but I'm GLAD I didn't experience it for more than a

fleeting moment (or few moments until the meds took effect).

> Then, not even 24 hours after the surgery, my vein blows and it's

> the midnight shift and the nurse doesn't know how to re-insert a

> new one!

This, too, is awfully disturbing. Mount Sinai is supposed to be a

GOOD hospital!>>>>>>

Well, the attending doctor said not to worry about inserting it repeatedly

b/c it would be out the following morning. that's part of the reason a lot

of effort wasn't made to get it right and also I didn't put up much of a

fight. The oral percocet was fine and it really helped me think clearer and

be less sleepy.

> So, I'm put on oral (crushed) percocet not even 24 hours out of

> surgery! It was fine!

Wow! This is amazing. The fact that your surgery was done

laparoscopically MUST have a lot to do with your reaction.>>>>>

Oh, I'm SO GLAD I had the procedure laparoscopically. I really was odd in

that my response was so overall positive. I haven't experienced many

setbacks (just some gas on ocassion and bad case of spastic colon/IBS mainly

due to stress). My body adapted REALLY well to the surgery. I'm so relieved

this was the case.

> PS --- the shaking mentioned *could be* due to the epidural

>(and the nausea could have been partly due to it, although nausea

> can certainly be caused by the surgery alone not the form of pain

> control used

Really? I thought that the nausea, etc. was almost always due to

pain medicine (see how I love to toss around those generalizations?).>>>>>>

I think that this depends on the epidural and doses of what meds are in it.

I'm not sure exactly what component of the epidural can instigate shakes but

I certainly got them with my labor epidural (I realize this is a totally

different one than what is given for the DS), but I remember there was one

component that was mentioned as causing shakes (even itching)... It may be

present in different doses, etc. for the DS epi.

all the best,

lap ds with gallbladder removal

January 25, 2001

Dr. Gagner/mt. Sinai/NYC

nine months post-op and still feelin' fabu

preop: 307 lbs/bmi 45

now: 205 lbs/size 16/large!!!