CeeCee's Big Adventure...average, normal, really...Thank God! - ThinnerTimes

CeeCee · 02-16-2007, 04:20 PM

>I thought this might help some newbies and others lurking nearby see that sometimes, surely most times, all goes well!
> My PCP put gastric bypass surgery "on the radar" 2 years ago. She said that of all her patients, there were perhaps 6 she would recommend for this. She thought I would be a good candidate, because, basically, I'm healthy as a horse, I just weigh too damn much! (Okay, she didn't put it exactly that way!) Any health problems I have were, and are, weight related. I have been sleeping with my CPAP for going on 3 years- love it, what a difference it has made! I have high BP; not wicked high, but the fluctuations were putting me at risk for a stroke. As of this past summer, my cholestrol was getting a bit too high; considering all things and family history, I am now on Lipitor.
> Anyhow, this past Sept. I had my regular 4 month follow-up with my PCP. I started to ask her about who she might recommend as a surgeon if I were to go that route. She jumped on the question- to paraphrase: "I'm so glad you brought that up, because I would have if you hadn't! I attended an amazing seminar last week..." She told me that it was all about weight loss surgery (WLS). She looked me in the eye and said "Kiddo, you stand a better chance of surviving the surgery than you do of living much past 60 with that weight on you!"
> Well, you don't really have to hit me between the eyes with a rock! I asked her who she would recommend; she answered there were 3 in RI she would recommend. i got names and numbers, then googled all 3. I called #1 on my list, got an appt for 11/19/06. Oooh, that fast, I'm thinking, but it will still take a year to jump through all the hoops I've been reading about for the last 2 yrs.
>Saw the surgeon; filled out the most complete medical history ever! He looked at me and said "I think you might be a good candidate; we could probably do you after the first of the year! My jaw hit the floor! "I thought it was going to take a whole year! I was going to tell you that surgery can't interfere with my wedding in Oct.!" He looked at me and said my big problem was going to be trying to figure out what size wedding gown!
> Next step- psychological evaluation. The psychologist sat there and read questions off his laptop for 2 hrs. I knew I was clear when he started talking a bit about what I should expect after surgery!
> Now I had to see the dietician. We chatted for 20 min. She documented my weight-loss efforts.
> In the beginning of Jan I saw the surgeon again; he had read all the reports. He said it was a go as far as he was concerned, we just needed Blue Chip approval. 3 business days later, I got the call! How was 2/12 as a surgery date? I was flabbergasted, flummoxed, and elated all at the same time!
>A couple weeks later, I did all the pre-op testing. Nothing wierd, the ususal stuff: blood, bp, urine, more med history.
> 2/12/07...The Day! Fortunately, my surgery had been moved up from 2 pm to 10 am. Got to the hospital at 8:30. Took me in the back, took my clothes off, whole bunch of different doctors and technicians asked me more questions, explained surgical steps. My fiance was there the whole time. There was even a bio-tech guy who checked my CPAP to make sure it was in good working order! The OR nurse came to get me, kissed my fiance, told him I loved him. They wheeled me into OR; just as I started looking around, they put me out.
>Next thing I know: I'm tired, sleepy, vaguely aware of an ache. They didn't have a room yet! Got to my room at 9 pm- that is where it got crazy!
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*&?...At 3 am I am awakened by a loud argument in the next room; whether the door was opened or closed, I would have heard this! (Mind you, this is my very 1st night in any hospital!)I heard a nurse or someone arguing with another woman, the patient. I heard something about cigarettes, oxygen, etc. Yup, the idiot- who was on oxygen!- had started to light up a cigarette! Then I heard the security guard finally break in with a bellow: "That's a felony in this state, lady!" More argumentative words from the patient. Finally, I heard security escort her off the premises. Later in the morning I heard from one of the nurses that she had tried to get readmitted!
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>Next morning I am hustled downstairs for xrays to see if there are any leaks. Very cool- when I came out of surgery, I was laying on a hovercraft-type mattress. They never had to take me out of bed! This mattress blows up wicked fast, like a life raft, and a cushion of air helped them slide me onto the xray table. I drank about 1 oz, in three swallows, something that tasted like Joy dishwashing liquid. This other dr was able to look at a "window" that showed him the liquid as it travelled. Clean slate from him! Yay!
> Get to my room- I'm allowed water! Apple juice! Bacon and eggs! (Kidding!!) New roomie too. The snoring little old lady who had the thermostat set at 80 was gone, and in her place was the other RNY my doctor had done just a few hours before me! So, we compared notes, etc. Even though she was almost 15 yrs younger, she went in with more health problems. It's her story to tell, but I will say this: we both had the same procedure on Mon. I left Thursday, she wasn't going to be released until, hopefully, Sat.
> Anyhow, lived on water and apple juice all day Wed. Thurs am: "Why is my roomie getting protein drink and I'm not?" Bless her, must have been a hospital volunteer "Don't know dearie, ask your doctor. You got just what was ordered." Then she came back w/another tray with more juice and coffee (There is a God!) Asked me if I wanted my oatmeal reg or strained? I got one sip of that coffee, then that tray was whisked away. Now I have a tray with more juice, and a Diabetic Boost, vanilla. What luxury! I take tiny sips, take 2 hrs to drink 2 or 3 ozs. More for lunch. Then one of those fabulous bodily functions that nurses watch for and document. Yay for me! PT took me for a walk. Then one of the nurses aides. More bodily functions. Then, Heaven on Earth! A sponge bath! Felt almost human. My IV came out while I was trying to blow my nose. The surgeon said you don't need it, I wasn't using hardly any of the morphine. Really, it only hurts when I laugh, cough, blow my nose, (damn allergies!),or stretch too much.
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>Got out of bed by myself! Performed a bodily function un-escorted! Life was good- and I had only taken a jazzed up liquid Tylenol type thing at bedtime. Dr. comes by around 11 am. If I don't mind taking care of a drain myself, how bout I go home? To my own house? To my own bed with the flannel sheets? Yes, yes, yes!
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>Friday morning- to prove the Good Lord has a sense of humor: Just after I get up, I start hearing funny noises from the cellar. Yup, the blower on the forced hot air furnace went. Which means the furnace won't go on either. My honey has a funeral. He zooms off, zooms home, cancels the rest of his day, loads me up with blankets, pulls an electric space-heater from the cellar. Furnace man arrives, takes 2 hrs to fix- we needed a whole new blower.
>Also, in the interest of full discretion: the drain I still have is leaking a bit at the site. Surgeons office said that as long as the bulb-thingy was still filling, just keep gauze around the leak. I have a special number to call if it gets worse or there are any changes.
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>So, there it is at the end of my first full day at home. I had an open Roux-en-Y at Miriam Hospital on 2/12/07. Last weight I remember is 325. I'm not fond of scales, so I will probably leave subsequent numbers to the doctors- for a little while, any how!

pegasus · 02-16-2007, 04:32 PM

as a newbie, and just starting the whole trip, your story was well worth the read..... I'm so glad all is going well for you, except the incident with the furnace..!!!

please keep us posted on your progress; you must be so glad to finally be on the losers side......!!!

chilmoe · 02-16-2007, 05:20 PM

love how you wrote you story, glad you are home and resting and have heat now

take care, feel better soon, and pop in here when you can so we know you are still doing well

ceekerr · 02-16-2007, 08:39 PM

Glad you're home and doing well - Thanks for posting all the details - it really does help all us pre-ops here. The more we know, the better prepared we are. Thanks bunches.

Princess · 02-16-2007, 08:46 PM

Thanks for the story, entertaining read, keep them coming!

Glad to hear you are doing well!!

JenBear7 · 02-17-2007, 07:57 AM

THanks for the details. Glad you got your furnace fixed. Cant wait to see you in that wedding dress!

I am assuming we'll get pics of course. Gratz on a great surgery! Keep us posted!

Duckie · 02-17-2007, 09:20 AM

I'm invited to the wedding? aren't I? lol

Sounds like everything went very well for you. That's great. Glad you have heat again. It's been SO COLD!! Walk, sip, rest... repeat!!!

CeeCee · 02-17-2007, 09:45 AM

...I took my first hot shower! Took it real slow and easy, shampooed, soaped, everything, rinsed. Girls, there's one thing to being in the house for the next week- I've allowed myself to not put any stuff in my hair! I am giving my hair a holiday from chemicals and hot air! No one to see me but my fiance, and we all know love is blind!
>One of my reg. prescriptions is a big ol' capsule; all right, not that big. Still, I remember the dr. telling me "nothing bigger than a dime". Well, it's definitely longer than a dime. Called that special tel #, spoke with the nurse practicioner. She thinks I'll be all right, as it is designed as a time-release gel. If there is a problem today, I'll have to call back and see if I can get the prescription changed.
>My drain...still leaking a bit, but non-medical me did some experimenting.
When I was in the hospital, and when I left, it was just dangling from my abdomen. (They hold it in with one or two stitches.) It doesn't hurt, but heck, in bed, walking, karate practice, it is getting swung around a bit! So I said to myself, "Self, why don't we have it hang from some tape instead?" Using the paper tape that you can use with dressings, I experimented. First time it was too high- despite suction from the bulb, it still needed help from gravity. So, I taped it lower and voila! It even stayed stuck on long enough in the shower- I just changed it afterwards. Since I've done this, I've measured a few ml's more, but better out of me than in, better in the drain than on my sweats! As everyone keeps saying on this forum, sometimes the patient does know best! Heck, someone at the hospital should have thought of this! Oh well, no real harm done...
>BTW, that old furnace blower must have been on it's last leg for a while! We haven't upped the thermostat, but it is soooooo much warmer in here now! I wouldn't be suprised if we end up using a bit less heating oil!

Duckie · 02-17-2007, 11:43 AM

YEAH for the shower! I am concerned about your prescription. We can't take time released stuff after the surgery. You will need to get that changed hon. Sorry.

Hunnyblonde · 02-17-2007, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duckie

YEAH for the shower! I am concerned about your prescription. We can't take time released stuff after the surgery. You will need to get that changed hon. Sorry.

My surgeon specifically changed one of my prescriptions to something non-gel capsule as she doesn't feel that we can break down the gelatin capsule post-op. I think it falls into the fruit skin, corn category of things we don't do well with. However, as we all know, every surgeon is different and we should follow our own surgeon's recommendations.