I have been meaning to write this blog for about a week now, but the last few weeks have been a bit of a whirl wind! I checked into the hospital on Monday, July 15th to have revision surgery. Dr. Douglas Krahn was going to remove my non functioning lap-band and convert to gastric bypass. I had been awaiting and preparing for this day for weeks. In the week leading up to this day I had to do many things to prepare my body for this surgery. I went on a 8 day all liquid protein diet, and began exercising daily to help optimize my recovery at my doctors orders. The day before surgery I had to drink a bottle of magnesium citrate to flush my intestines and make sure my body was completely empty! Upon admission to the hospital the nervousness of the journey I was about to embark on hit me like a ton of bricks, but I was ready for it. They got me all set up with my IV fluids and let my parents and family come back to visit me. Dr. Krahn and Dr. Chin and his P.A. Sam all came to check on me and let me know how the day was going to play out. Soon it was my turn to be wheeled into the OR to be prepared for surgery. As soon as they wheeled me in, I started to panic. It was finally real! I have been watching WAY too much Grey's anatomy and the OR was nothing like I had seen on T.V. LOL. My anesthesiologist was about 178 years old, and the only thing that I could tell myself so I wouldn't freak out was that he was VERY experienced in his field!. Before surgery I tend to have a mini panic attack, and the nurses were amazing. She held my hand, and that really did help alot, and before I knew it, I was asleep. The next thing I recall was waking up to a very bright light over my head. I was hurting so bad, and the thirst that I had was unbelievable. I remember moaning and saying that I hurt so bad and I was so thirsty. Apparently I was a bit too loud, and one nurse told me that I needed to be quiet because I was not the only one in the room. She is really lucky I was incapacitated at that point. The next thing I recall is waking up in my room with all my family sitting around staring at me. I was very groggy, and it feels weird to be the center of attention like that. I was hurting pretty bad at that point so the nurse said she would get me something to help the pain. This is when the hell started. They gave me a very strong pain medication called dilaudid. To put it lightly, this pain med JACKED ME UP. I was a miserable wreck for the next 48 hours. Nausea is one of the worst things in the world, especially nausea that cannot be relieved. They gave me anti-nausea medication through my IV. Every time they would put something else through my IV it would light my arm on fire with pain. Those days were NOT fun in any way. All I could do was close my eyes and try to wait for it to pass. Day two was exceptionally rough. They took me down to do an upper GI to make sure that everything was ok. Combine nausea with having to drink a thick syrup and stand in front of an x-ray machine and I was in tears. They took me back to my room, and when I arrived my two moms were there to visit me. I felt so bad to have visitors and I couldn't even speak to them because of the nausea. The bright spot of the day is when I received a beautiful bouquet of flowers from My Todd. Be still my heart <3. The second night at about 2 AM I reached my breaking point. Every time I would turn around they would be putting something else in my body through that IV, and my right had had swollen to about two times its regular size. I honestly starting thinking that they might be trying to kill me. I asked them to please stop, as I would rather have pain than nausea. They gave me an oral mild pain med and I finally was able to fall asleep and I woke up day three feeling worlds better! Sam came to visit me that morning and asked me if I wanted to go home and I said YES! My mom and dad came to pick me up and I was discharged from the hospital that day and headed home to begin the recovery process. My hospital stay was less than desirable. I had some really sweet nurses,and some not so sweet nurses, but either way, I made it through and I am excited about the journey that has officially begun!
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