Emergency Surgery

Hey Everyone: I cannot post much right now but, since you are my family, I wanted to tell you that I had emergency surgery on Tuesday at around 5 pm. On Monday evening, I started having terrible abdominal pain. By midnight it was unbearable so I called my surgeon. It took him over and hour to call me back but, when I explained my symptoms (crampy stabbing pain right near my belly button) he told me to go to the ER. Unfortunately, I had to go to the hospital a half hour away (where my surgeon is affiliated) and not to my local one (literally 2 minutes away). Anyhow...my friend took me (my husband is out of the state) and, while I was there, the pain intensified to the point where I really wondered if I would be better off dead. They gave me a shot of morphine that did NOTHING. It did not touch the pain. Within 20 minutes, the pain had radiated to my ribcage and chest and I started heaving saliva (there was no food in me to throw up). They gave me another shot of morphine...a higher dose...and again, the same thing. Within 20 minutes I was heaving again because of the pain. They attempted morphine a third time. I was bawling my eyes out begging them to DO SOMETHING because their plan was not working. Oh...and they kept giving me anti-nausea meds...that did not help, either. Finally they gave me some other high-dose medication and that, blissfully, took the edge off the pain and helped me sleep. They brought me in for a cat scan and initially thought I had a hernia and scheduled me for emergency surgery. Unfortunately, their surgery scheduled was totally packed so they did not operate until around 5pm. It was okay, though, because the second medication they gave me was wonderful. After the surgery, Dr. Abkin let me know that I did not have a hernia...but a kink in my bowels (I think there is a name for it but I cannot remember now). When people are overweight, their bowels, intestines, etc. are firmly held in one place. When you lose the weight rapidly, your insides are free-flowing because of all the extra room...and it gives them the opportunity to kink up. So what Dr. Abkin did was sew my intestines (?) to my stomach lining so that it could not move freely anymore. I was released from the hospital yesterday and was in SO MUCH pain! Last night was so bad that, until the Percocet kicked in, I could not even lay down at a 10 degree angle. Once it kicked in, I was able to lie down (thank God for Percocet). Today I am still in a great deal of pain but I guess I just have to wait to get better. My blessed Mom came up from Florida to take care of me. I'll tell you, this ordeal made me realize who I can count on in my life...and who I can't (finding someone to watch my son while I went to the ER is another drama I don't want to get into right now). Now I have to get better and plan for my son's surgery on the 26th (waaaah). So, anyhow, there's the deal. Thanks for listening to me... Love you all! Jersey

Oh my goodness...what an ordeal. I am praying for you. I hope you get to feeling better soon. Thanks for all the detail of your issue. It helps for me to know what to look out for. Keep the faith... --Kelly

Oh Jersey I'm so sorry this happened to you. Please rest up & feel better soon. You'll be in my thoughts. Carly

I hope you feel better very soon. What is your recovery time? Did they do Laproscopic surgery? How do you keep this from happening or is it just someting that happens? If I were close, I would have cared for him and he would have been well cared for. I know how bad it sucks to not have a close family network. All of our family is in PA. There are very few people who I trust my kiddos with here. God Bless! Jen

Jersey, I can soooooooooooooo relate to this. The same thing happened to me in June of last year. I had emergency surgery at midnight! I am so thankful for my loving surgeon that night because he was called at 11pm by the nurses (I was already an admit) because they couldn't get my pain under control and he drove right over! There was no time for my DH to get to the hospital by the time he got there and said he was doing surgery so he called my DH on the phone after surgery. This is actually common. And sooooooo painful! I am praying for you my friend!!! And yes you do find out who you can count on! It's so wonderful your mom came up to take care of you!! Let me know when you feel up to posting how you are doing!! Julie

Oh sweetie, I am so sorry you had to deal with this, but glad that you're better. Take your drugs and feel good soon. Sending love and hugs, Ronna

OMG Jersey, I'm so sorry you had to go through so much pain! I'll be praying for your recovery and will keep your son in my prayers as well. Let us know how things go with him! Take Care Kay

Oh my goodness! God bless you!! I will keep you in my prayers. I am glad that they were able to find and fix the problem so quickly, although I bet it didnt seem so quick for you. Any way, you need to rest and let your mom take care of everything while you heal. blessings, Cathy

That's terrible. I hope you recover quickly and get to feeling better. Let us know how you're doing. Karla

Jersey, I hope you feel better! I am so sorry you are going through this. If I was closer I would have taken your son in a second. I wish there was more I could do. Just know you and your son are in my thoughts and prayers.... ~~hugs and well wishes~~ Chris