Hi All! Back Online! - ThinnerTimes

Tara · 03-03-2005, 08:35 PM

Tonight is my first night since before surgery that I am on the computer. As some may know, I had a really difficult hospital stay. My surgery was pushed back to the 2nd surgery on 2/1 because they thought my blood pressure was too high. I went through surgery with flying colors. Dr.C did it lap. I was having a lot of pain in the middle of my stomach and was still really out of it for a long while after the surgery. I was having extreme pain that was enabling me to get out of bed easily. But of course, the nurses insisted I needed to walk. By the next day, I was feverish and still in a lot of pain. I was still so out of it a lot of this is still foggy. Thank god Dr.C thought there might be something wrong and made the decision to go back to the operating room. I had a leak and fluid in the other portion of my stomach. I needed 2 pints of blood.
That surgery went well and so I thought I was back on track. I ended up staying 1 week in ICU. Dr.C was still concerned because I was still having pain in the middle of my stomach and I was still really out of it. I ended up having I think 6 CT scans but on one of those they discovered my Pancreas was swollen. I had Pancreatitus. That's what was hurting me.
Then my white blood cell count was still high and I still had a fever. That warranted me staying in the hospital longer to be monitored. I was still having difficulty walking because of the pain and my feet and hands were swollen like baseballs. Still the nurses couldn't understand why I couldn't walk more. Dr.C opened the top portion of my incision because he thought it was infected. There lied the culpret of my fevers. It was infected. As soon as it was cleaned out, I started to feel better.
I was released on the afternoon of 2/16 with home healthcare coming to put me back on a portable IV for 10 days at home. I am proud to say that I have no more tubes hooked to me now for the past 3 days and I am slowly getting my strength back. I have to be back to work on 3/16 so I hope I will feel up to it soon. I can barely stand the whole time it takes to take a shower without feeling woozy. Any suggestions?
Sorry I haven't checked in sooner but I was kind of not wanting to talk about the ordeal. Dr.C was great. He always had my wellbeing in mind but I had a terrible hospital stay and was very angry about my treatment for awhile. I am struggling with finding food choices that don't make me throw up. It is getting better though day by day. I have an appt. tomorrow so I'll update my profile then. From last week's weight I only lost 13lbs. from my pre-op appt. weight. I guess I should be happy with that since I was being fed through IV and virtually no exercise. At one point in the hospital I was 26lbs. heavier then my pre-op appt. weight. That's how much fluid I was retaining. Scary huh!
Well, it is all behind me know and I am trying to move on. I thank God that I am still here to watch my son grow up and hopefully live a healthier lifestyle. Thanks for listening. My intent is not to discourage or b---h, but to let you all know what happened if you were wondering.

Blueyz · 03-03-2005, 09:03 PM

I am so happy to see you here. I was really worried about you and asked Kelly F. about you. She kept us posted.

I got woozy in the shower, too and had to get out fast, so I wouldn't pass out. It gets better. Soon, you will be able to stand longer and be stronger every day.

I am so glad Dr. Callery took good care of you. He is my hero!! I owe my new life all to him. Keep us posted on how you are doing. Hope to meet you at the post-op meeting if you go.

Take Care

Jeanie · 03-03-2005, 10:15 PM

When I was first post op it killed me to take a shower. I got really dizzy when I was in there, and then I always had to lay down when I got out. It took every bit of energy I had just to take a shower. I HATED taking a shower, but it was something that had to be done. Other wise I would stink up the house.

It gets better. I got more energy as time went on, and I now enjoy taking a shower again.

watergirl · 03-04-2005, 06:57 AM

You poor dear! My gosh, I didn't know the extent of your hospital stay. I'm so sorry you had to endure such an ordeal. I'm so glad to hear that you are doing better day by day.

I understand the shower thing. It got me so bad early post op, I had to get out of the shower, soaking wet, and go lay down on my bed. I couldn't call out either for help, because I was so weak. I called Kelly and said, what's going on? She told me to increase my water intake.

Don't worry about that extra weight, it's all fluids and you'll drop it in a week. When they weighed me prior to leaving the hospital, I was 16 pounds heavier than when I went in. Talk about a shock. I was like, I thought I was supposed to loose weight from this surgery. Trust me, it does come off.

Glad to see you back here posting again!

pambragg · 03-04-2005, 07:10 AM

Tara,
I am so sorry to hear that you have been having such a rough time. Thankfully it sounds like it is all behind you and you will start gaining strength and energy each day. Remember, sip, walk, rest. Repeat! Take care and looking forward to meeting you soon.

Barbarajo · 03-04-2005, 07:14 AM

Tara,

Wow...... Thank God you are alright now.

The shower and everything else. It took me about a week to be able to take a shower without major effort. Every morning when I woke up was a new day and I could do new things. You will see that too. Good luck keep on typing on the fourm if you have more questions.

bridgetgirl · 03-04-2005, 07:18 AM

Thanks for coming home and checking in, ya know mommas been worried about ya!

Many of us have been where you have been, just not all at the same time! You poor thing! I got the pancreatitis just as you did (the worst pain in the world and oh! the depression!) Gerry had a leak and had to baack in and Christina had a wound infection that required being opened back up as well.

Glad to see you checking in and keep us posted. We have all been worried about you! Hope to see you soon. Perhaps atthe East County Support Group Meeting next week?

HAMPTON5555 · 03-04-2005, 08:46 AM

Tara,

So glad you feeling better and posting again. You must be very special to get 3 complications when most of us don't get any!! Just kiddin', I am so sorry for all the pain you must have had to endure. We have been worried about you and was happy for any info Kelly could find about you. I bet you family is glad your home and doing better.

Your energy will increase, I know it sounds hard to believe right now but it will. One of my first outings was to Wallmart and I barely made it to the front door before I was ready to go back home!!

Rain

Christina · 03-04-2005, 10:30 AM

Tara,

It is so good to hear from you. You gave us all quite a little scare you know. I am so glad that the bad part is over with you and you can get on with your new life. Thank goodness you were in great hands with Dr. C. I know what you mean about the care at Pomerado. If you were at all like me I loved the care in the ICU. As soon as I got to the floor I wanted out!! I thought the care was horrible on the floor. I was so glad I was in ICU for so long because I didn't have to stay on the floor as long as others did.

Keep us updated on your progress when you can. Rest and sip as much as possible. I know that Dr. C will write you out of work for longer if you need it, don't be afraid to ask.

Keep your chin up girlfriend, the worst is over and you survived!! YAY!! Welcome to the other side.

Kelly · 03-04-2005, 05:28 PM

Wow Tara, I know you were on nice meds in the hospital and that's probably why I did not get the full story, but wow. I did not know half of that. I am so glad you are starting to get better. I go back to work on 3/8, call me if you need anything. Also, I am going to the East County support group next week. It would be great to see you there.