My surgery story

[Guest guest]

Dear All,

I have received several private requests from future and

prospective patients of OHSU and/or Dr. McConnell to tell them how my

experience went, so I decided I'd post it here in case anyone else

was curious.

OHSU:

I arrived at 10:30 for my 11:00 appointment, only to find I

should have been there at 7:30 but through a mishap I had been told

the wrong time. I was immediately taken to the pre-op area, which

was a very large room with a nurses station in the center and beds

lining the walls. Once there I put on the hospital gown.

Then I rode my bed (through hallways and waiting rooms - I

hate that!) to the pain management clinic. A wonderful nurse named

started an IV and then I was walked across the hall to have my

epidural placed. I had an epidural placed years ago when I had a C-

section, and I remember no pain, just a strong tingley feeling

running down my leg as the needle went in, so I was expecting no

problems with this.

The room was very small with a table in the center and some

cabinets lining a couple of the walls. There was a woman standing

next to the table and two men sitting up on top of the cabinets, plus

and I. This was the pain management team. I was introduced,

but I really can't remember their names.

The epidural placement was pure hell! I had to climb on the

table and lay face down with my head turned to the side. Then I was

strapped down across the sholders and thighs, and sheets were placed

across my body until only a square shaped area of my lower back was

visible. Towels were also placed around and over my head, leaving a

few inches of visible space to see and breathe through.

Suddenly, PLOP! A cold wet something landed on my back. The

woman belatedly said " OK, this is going to be cold and wet... " and

then proceeded to smear this stuff around on my back. I asked what

it was and someone told me it was betidine to prevent infection.

Then more was plopped on my back and again, after the fact, the woman

warned me it was about to happen. This happened at least three

times. Each time I flinched and each time someone told me I'd better

lay still or they'd have trouble placing the epidural.

Then I could hear a man behind me reading instructions to

whoever was doing the actual placement! That was creepy, I couldn't

help wondering who was putting in the catheter and how many they'd

done if they needed step-by-step instructions, but I didn't feel I

was in a position to start questioning things.

Then I was given a shot to numb the back, but the only thing

that got numbed was the skin, so I was totally un-prepared for the

pain. They had to try several times to get the needle in the right

spot, and I was crying out loud by the time it was over. First was a

feeling of pressure, building to pain, increasing to a hot spreading

agony. Each time someone said " OK, a little sting here, like a bee

sting " There is no bee on the planet capable of inflicting that much

pain, unless he was 6 feet tall and carrying white hot ice pick!

After the second try, the man calling out instructions said

something like, " Let me know when you hit bone. " Eek! I could feel

it when the needle hit the spine, kind of a scraping and pushing

sensation. Then hands were feeling around on my back and it was

decided that the needle was not in the right spot so I had to go

through it all over again. Through it all was crouched down

face to face with me, wiping my tears and trying to talk me through

it. Quite honestly, I felt that he was the only there who cared

about me.

When I realized that, I started crying again, and a male

voice told me, " If you'd stop moving this wouldn't hurt so bad. " I

believe he was referring to the way I kept flinching and the way my

muscles kept quivering around. I couldn't help any of it, it just

kept happening, and I resented the implication that I was somehow

trying to be a difficult patient. I think that all my back movement

stemmed from an instinctive response to having my spine messed with.

After all, it's natural to protect your spine, and I apparently have

very strong instincts in that area.

Finally the epidural was placed, (luckily the whole thing

only took 20 - 30 minutes), and I walked back to my bed. Then it was

time to get wheeled back through hallways and waiting rooms to the

pre-op area.

I'd barely got back to the pre-op area when a nurse came and

told me they were ready for me. So I was wheeled back through halls

and waiting rooms to another room. I have very poor eyesight and no

longer had my glasses, so I can't really describe the room except to

say I don't think it was actually the OR suite. I saw no large light

fixtures over the bed and no medical equipment in the room. There

were several staff members in the room and we got right with it.

I transferred to another bed that had two extensions on

either side so my arms could stick out. As soon as I laid down I

felt uncomfortable, there was not a lot of padding and I have

arthritis in my lower back, so I asked if they would put a pillow

under my knees. A nurse replied that the Doctor doesn't usually like

to do that but they'd ask. I also realized that my arms would not be

very comfortable at the angle they were at, so I also asked if they

would put something under the arms. They said they'd see. Then a

mask was put over my face and I was out like a light.

After the surgery....

I awakened with a start, and realized that I was in almost

unbearable pain. I was yelling about the pain and almost in a panic,

but through it all I was able to pick out specifics. I realized that

there were lots of people about, and that they were moving very

quickly but without undue excitement. I could hear them talking to

each other and realized that they were saying the epidural wasn't

working. I could taste blood in my mouth and started vomiting, but

that stopped almost immediately. I could hear my surgeon giving

instructions about what to check and what to watch out for. I

realized that my pain was in three specific areas: my lower back

(apparently they did not put anything under my knees and my back was

spasming), my incision hurt with a hot, burning pain, and my right

shoulder felt like it had been wrenched out of it's socket.

Then an arm appeared and an ice pack was placed in areas of

my body while a female voice kept asking me if I could feel the ice

pack. I realized that I could feel it in some areas but not in

others and somehow that helped calm me down. Now someone was talking

to me and I was able to tell them where the pain was. As soon as

they had mapped which areas were hurting, it became obvious that my

left side was not hurting, my right side was.

Suddenly I was rolled over (ouch!!!), I could feel the

slightest sensation of someone handling the epidural, and the pain in

my lower back disappeared. Back on my back and the ice pack appeared

again. I felt a lot calmer as I was able to tell them when I could

feel the pack and when I couldn't. On my side a couple more times,

each time a significant amount of pain disappeared. After maybe 5

minutes I was completely pain free. Whew!

Now that I didn't hurt, I felt embarrassed about all the

yelling, so I started apologizing and asking if I'd kicked anyone or

hurt their ears, etc. The staff started laughing and told me

everyone was fine, everything was OK, no problem, etc.

I think I fell asleep again, because the next thing I knew I

was waking up in a whole new, comfy bed in a well lit room with

curtains for walls. Sitting in the room was a nurse who identified

himself, (sorry, can't remember his name) and asked me how I felt,

could he get me ice chips, was I warm enough, etc. This was ICU.

Somehow I was under the impression that I was supposed to get up

right away, so I asked him if I could get up now. He was surprised

and told me it was only about three hours after the surgery and I

should wait a little.

I slept off and on throughout the rest of the day and night.

Every time I woke up, there was either someone sitting in the room

with me or a head immediately poked around the corner to ask if I

needed anything. The next morning I again asked if I could get up,

and was asked if I could wait just a little longer.

About 9 or 10 in the morning two nurses appeared and asked if

I still wanted to get up. They helped me out of bed and into a nice

padded armchair that was big enough for me to sit in comfortably.

They put pillows behind my head and tucked blankets around me and

brought me a tray with some applesauce. I ate about two tiny bites

and then sipped water. I was in the chair about two hours, my bed

linens were changed, I took a nap in the chair, nurses came and

talked with me, I wrote a brief message that another nurse posted

online for me. It was great.

I was sad when the nurses said I was doing so well I'd be

moved that afternoon to 6CVA, because they were all so great. At the

time I was getting ready to go, my husband and kids arrived to see

me, and accompanied me to my new digs. My six year old was allowed

to get in the bed and ride with me, so I was pushed through the

inevitable hallways and waiting rooms and across the skybridge at the

head of my own little parade. My little girl was waving and blowing

kisses, it was really fun.

Once in 6CVA the royal treatment picked up again. The day

after I was transferred there, I just couldn't wake up. My surgeon

visited at least three times, obviously very troubled. Turned out I

was somehow over-medicated. That got fixed and the next day I was

awake and ready to go.

Although I slept a lot, if I had any need, someone was right

there to cheerfully take care of stuff. My surgeon visited at least

once a day, sometimes twice. I walked a lot, did my breathing

exercises, ate occasionally, whatever I wanted. The pain management

team also visited several times, but I didn't feel like they were any

more caring about me than they were before. I guess that was the

major disappointment of my whole hospital experience. The rest was

great.

On day five I checked out and returned home. I think I

should have stayed longer, my surgeon asked me to consider it, but I

really wanted to go home to my family. I had a few minor

complications after I was released, but those have all been

successfully treated and I'm feeling fine now. I've lost 30 pounds

since my surgery 17 days ago! I still can't eat a lot, I still sleep

a lot, and I have found I can't stand to get cold, but I'm generally

happy and glad I did it.

I know a lot of this deals with my unhappy experience with

the epidural, but the amount of time spent actually experiencing pain

as a result of the placement and the time feeling pain directly after

the surgery was mercifully brief, and after that the epidural really

was my best friend. I don't know if I could talk myself into getting

one again, but I have also been told that most people don't have

nearly as much trouble with it as I did, so I would still recommend

it for others.

All in all, my experience with OHSU was positive and I

wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone else.

DR. MCCONNELL:

Dr. McConnell is quiet and reserved at first, but he really

warms up as you get to know him. On my first visit for my consult he

took great care to make sure I understood the RNY and the BPD/DS,

what was involved in the surgery and what to expect afterwards. He

really likes his work and does a great job.

When I next saw him during my pre-admit workup he seemed more

personable as we discussed the particulars of my surgery. I had been

reading up on a lot of things and was asking him about this and that,

he really seemed amused and said he'd try to do everything just the

way I wanted.

Dr. McConnell visited me a lot after the surgery and actually

apologized because he forgot to look at my overies during the

surgery! I'd asked him to because I have PCOS and was really

interested to see if there were cysts on my overies. But that was

OK, I thought it was amusing to have a famous surgeon apologizing to

me for something like that.

After I got home I got calls from the doctor twice inquiring

about my recovery. That's pretty cool, in my book. Anyway, my wound

is very straight and not as large as I'd expected. My recovery has

been fairly uneventful and as rapid as could be wished. I couldn't

have had a better surgery if I'd had it done by anyone else.

Once again, I would have no problem recommending Dr.

McConnell to anyone. I'm already hoping that he'll do my hernia

repair (if needed).

Hugs,

Shelly

PBD/DS 9/24/01

OHSU in Portland, OR

Dr. McConnell

[Guest guest]

Shelley,

Thanks for sharing your journey.....it parallels mine except for the

epidural placement which to me, was a non event. They were very gentle and

kind with me and since I have a hearing impairment they made sure I knew

what was going on. The only difference between you and me is I had mine

placed in the surgical suite so when they were done I was flipped over and

the surgery began (after they knocked me out though!)

I also felt I was over medicated but that might have been becuz obese people

seem to hang onto the drugs alot longer than those who are not obese. I(m

guessing here) I do not remember waking up in recovery nor ICU I do

remember 2 nurses fiddling with my ring and trying to get it off and I kept

telling them that happens all the time (meaning hot weather makes my fingers

swell up and here it was Nov LOL) I never once opened my eyes during this

time! (that I can remember)

I do remember Dr Welker standing at the foot of my bed but I have no idea

when it was and he said everything turned out just great and to that I said

" thank you " then fell promply back to sleep. I have no memory at all of

being transfered from ICU to my room! I believe it was day 2 before I began

coming around again....and all I wanted to do most for all the time I was

there was sleep.

Anyway, thanks for sharing........it brings back memories!

And congrats on the 30 lbs already gone!!!

Hugs, Judie

[Guest guest]

--The epidural placement was pure hell! I know a lot of this deals with my

unhappy experience with

the epidural--

Though your epidural experience was bad, it was not your fault nor should it

have happened. Having worked in a university hospital I know for a fact the

adage " Watch one, do one, teach one " is true. I am torn between the need of med

students to learn procedures and the situations their learning puts patients in.

In any case, a patient always has the right to request someone else do the

procedure. It seems most of us have a great respect for those in the medical

field and feel we don't understand the procedure or that somehow if it isn't

going right it must be our fault (expecially when told 'it wouldn't hurt so much

if you would lie still'). But placement of an epidural should not be more

uncomfortable than a pressure feeling like someone pushing on your spine with a

finger and a small bee sting, not the 'six foot variety with white hot ice pick'

..

Sharon in KY

312 lbs

BMI 57

Post-Op Dr. Hares 9/24/01

---------------------------------

[Guest guest]

Thanks for sharing your story Sherry. I have only seen epidurals placed with

the patient sitting bent over a little...it separates the vertebrae and it is

easier to place the needle and then catheter.

I enjoy reading others stories from start to finish. I had my surgery in June

in NYC.

[Guest guest]

Did you have an epidual when you had your surgery in NYC?

[Guest guest]

no epidural.

[Guest guest]

sorry I havent replied sooner but I havent been online at all

to answer your question ...no I didnt have an epidural, I had general

anesthesia...I dont think I would have let them give me an epidural if they

tried.