Alice is back... Sorry kind of long

[Guest guest]

My story..... I flew to San Diego on 8-23 and on 8-24 did all my pre ops. 8-25

was bowel prep and 8-26 I was at the hospital at 4:30AM for surgery. Surgery

went well and I was later released to my room. I don`t remember anything between

there. I was out of it most of the day but they did get me up to walk that

evening around 10:00PM. 8-27 I awoke a little more with it and was looking

forward to the leak test that would then allow me to have ice chips, broth and

Jell-O if I had no leak problems. To this point my most pain and discomfort was

an extremely throbbing left shoulder from what was expected was a gas pain and

the worst cotton mouth from not drinking that I ever had in my life. I was taken

down for the leak test and immediately became suspicious when the tech took

about 8-10 different shots

and would not say a thing to me. Then back to my room and the Doctor who was

filling in for my Doctor came in and said I had a leak and still nothing by

mouth until they solved it. After consultations they decided to keep me there an

extra day or two and feed me through my feeding tube and do another leak test on

8-31. That went on through 8-28, 8-29 and then 8-30 my surgeon came in and

released me to go back to the hotel with an appointment the next day for the

second leak test. My friend Terry sprung me from the hospital and we went to the

room. I prayed and asked for all the prayers that I could get to make Tuesday`s

leak test good. 8-31 We went to a seminar at the Doctor`s office and then on to

the second leak test. My surgeon was to meet me there to look at it. I prayed as

they were doing it and when they were done the gal looked at it and said it did

not change one bit from last time. I almost went into tears. My surgeon came

along and went to look at it and then came back out and said that it did look

the same as last time but she was not convinced it was a leak. She said if I

lived there in San Diego she would start letting me drink and just keep a very

close eye on me but as I had to came back here to Alaska there was only one way

to tell for sure and that was with a CatScan and they could do it right then. I

ran into the room and had that done and waited back outside for results. She

came out shortly and said there was no leak, so

there never had been one. I was ECSTATIC!!! She said lets go up to the 6th floor

and get that drainage tube out of you and get you some water. I was so HAPPY!!!

She moved me right on to soft foods as I had already moved through the clear

liquids when I was taking nothing. We went back to the room and I had broth and

later Jell-O that day so I did not rush it even though I could have. 09-01 Ate

cottage cheese for breakfast and that did well. Then we messed around and

shopped most of the day. Later I ate cottage cheese with tuna mixed in it. That

was good and also did well. 09-02 Went for post op appointment, got the feeding

tube taken out and was given a clear bill of health and released to come home on

9-03 and go to work on 09-07. I was feeling great. 09-03 Spent most of the day

flying home. A little tiring but I felt great for the most part. 09-05 Well here

I am posting to all of you. Before surgery I had lost 13 pounds, by their scales

in San Diego, from my highest weight here in Alaska. This morning on my scales

here in Alaska, which are the ones I will go by from now on for consistency, I

have now lost 30 total!!!!! That is 13 pre op and 17 since surgery, 10 days. I

am very happy with that. I feel fantastic and seem to have good energy. I will

keep

you all posted on progress.

Alice

Alice hardestyal hardesty@...