My update - very long

[Guest guest]

I'm fianally getting around to posting my story after spending a week

wading through all the posts I missed.

My surgery was Nov 14. I checked into the hospital on NOv 13 as Dr.

Hess wants you a day early. They do various tests, liquid diet for

lucnh and supper. A " sparkling laxative " which tastes like really

really fizzy lemon lime soda. And an enema in the evening. Overall

the day was so boring. My husband went out and bought cards so we'd

have something to kill the time. Nov 14. Surgery went well. They

had me stand briefly that night. Th NG tube is bad. I remember

gagging quite a few times. A nurse finally told me to breathe in

through my nose and out my mouth. That helped alot. I never breathe

through my nose otherwise. BUt since I slept most of the day it was

tolerable. NG tube removed the next day. I instantly felt about 100

times better. I couldn't believe it. I instantly had energy. By

after lunch I was getting in and out of bed by myself and walking

everywhere. I had virtually no pain. I loved my epidural. It got to

be a joke with the nurses because I was out walking so much. My hubby

had to go home so I was always out walking because I had nothing

better to do. I couldn't sleep more than 15-20 mintues at a time so I

was even walking in the middle of the night. The epi messed with my

sleep patterns but since I didn't feel tired I didn't mind.

Every day the anastegiolist came and asked how I was doing. I said

great and so they left. No change to teh epi. I felt great. I

couldn't believe you could feel this good after surgery.

Day 5 - leak test. No food or water after midnight. FIne except they

don't know when your test will be. As the morning progressed, I'm

dying of thirst. The nurses have no idea when I'll go for my test.

FInally at 10:00 when my epi was almost out they pushed to get me in

since they didn't want to have to use another whole bag of medicine on

me. About 10:30 I finally have my test. First they make you drink

this vile liquid that I think they said was iodine. They thinking was

that if you have a leak, your body will absorbe the iodine versus if

they use the barioum and you have a leak it will stay there forever

and if you ever have to have another test they won't be able to tell

what is the new barioum versus what is the old. SOunded logical at

the time. The iodine made me feel so sick and then they wanted me to

drink the barium right away. I had to wait for my stomach to settle

down. SUrvived the test but felt horrible. Worse than I ever did in

the days after surgery. Plus upon getting back to your room, they

made you drink some milk of magnesia. Believe me I more than had my

quota of thick nasty liquid for the day.

Within 30 mintues of getting back to my room my epi ran out for good.

Keep in mind that it was still set at an 8 which is where it had been

since immediatly coming out of surgery. I asked for pain medicine

right away anticipating I would be getting hit. Even with the

percoset two hours later I was dying. Basically I alternated percoset

and turodol every two hours for the next 18 hours. At one point I

feel asleep and when I woke up I couldn't move at all. The spot where

the epi was hurt so bad I couldn't move any of my back muscles and of

course my front hurt. Thankfully the nurse arrived pretty quick with

medicine and within about 15 mintues i was able to move again.

The next morning the young Dr. HEss suggested I take the turodol

through my central line. As soon as the nurse started pushing it into

my line I got really warm and started feel sick and within 15 mintues

I was throwing up. She kept saying there was no way I could have

reacted that fast since according to her it would take at least 10

mintues for it to get from the line into me. I don't know but there

was no way I was going to let them give me that again. I spent my

last two days in the hospital sick to my stomach and in pain. I

really felt like I had started my recovery over again. They released

me on day 8 and I went to stay in a hotel until my post-op appointment

on day 13.

My first day out of the hospital was the absolute worst of all

recovery days. I felt so sick. Everything tasted horrible and my

arms were so heavy I could hardly lift them. I kept pushing liquids

and ice chips were my saving grace. My hubby went and bought me an

ice shaver and that drastically improved my ability to get liquids in

although I still couldn't drink water. Day 12 I discovered fresh

apple juice from cracker barrel. I drank a half gallon in 24 hours.

Not only have I not had any problems getting the amount of liquids in

I neeeded since then, it seemd to clear my taste buds and water began

to taste good too.

My appointment went well and I was cleared to go home. THe drive is

about 6 hours or so and ended up being about 9 hours with all the

stops. I was really wiped out by the time we got home.

SInce then I've started on solids and everything has been going well.

I can see my energy buidling each day. I was having alot of burning

when I ate or drink and Dr. hess called a prescripstion for Nexium in

and that has helped alot. I'm only getting about 40 grams of protein

in a day at this point but the Dr. said that was okay for now. I

haven't started any of my vitamins yet. I just look at them and my

stomach rolls. They said I didn't need to worry about it till 3-4

weeks out so I hope things get alot better in that area by next week.

Dr. Hess

Nov 14

-30

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the info. . I hope you are feeling better.

Where did you stay (hotel)? A 13 day follow-up seems long, from what

I have been hearing from other people. Were you an exception to the

rule? If I get approved, I'm pretty sure I'll have to go it alone at

the hotel. Do you think that's do-able? I see Dr. Hess on Dec. 13th

for my initial consultation and tests. I guess I'm pretty nervous,

and even more, scared that my insurance will turn me down. Do you

live in Illinois? I'll have about a six hour trip as well, and I

live near DeKalb, Illinois. I hope you are feeling better day by

day! E

[Guest guest]

I am very happy that you are on the road to recovery. You had a hard time,

but I promise you that this will be a distant memory in the neaer future.

Good luck. Ellen(Pam